Chapter 9
I stared at another glorious sunset off the Mesa Verde horizon, taking a deep breath from my perch on top of a picnic table. The sun was almost gone, painting the earth in deep blues and blacks. A slight chill from being higher in the mountains drifted over my exposed legs, reminding me I needed to put on my sweatpants. The mosquitoes circled me like prey, finding me a delicious dinner. I was exhausted from the day, but a hum of energy still whirred inside me.
The wood creaked as a figure stepped up next to me, his profile straight ahead.
“Hey.” I peered up at him, seeing Goat leap up after him, snuggling between us.
“Hey,” he replied curtly.
Oh good, the asshole was still on duty.
Smith had been a bastard all day, snippy and short with me. Never looking at me or getting near, though he treated Goat like he was the best thing alive, offering him treats and love like a grandma at Christmas. My dog was starting to follow him around more than me, which really annoyed me.
We had taken longer than we thought at Monument Valley, doing a few small hikes with Goat before Smith took us to Mesa Verde National Park, checking out the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. The moment I stepped into the first residence, I knew we’d be there for the rest of the day. Finding the dwelling absolutely fascinating, I fell in love with the life I could still feel vibrating through the preserved homes, like an echo of the past. I wanted to absorb everything, see everything. I was so thankful Smith brought me there, though most of the day I wanted to ask what had crawled up his ass and died.
Speaking of ass. Oh my god. All day my gaze was locked on his as he hiked in front of me, his basketball-style shorts clinging to every curve of his firm backside. The fabric did nothing to hide the enormous bulge that man carried with him. I couldn’t stop, even when he was being a jerk, obsessed with watching him move, getting more obvious as the day wore on.
It wasn’t my fault. I mean, ever since I accidently—okay, it wasn’t an accident at all—caught a glimpse of his naked butt when he was rinsing off this morning, I blamed him. Holy shit, I had only seen bodies like his in men’s fitness magazines where they had been airbrushed to look that good. The way my chest twisted angered me. I had never been shallow or boy crazy.
And this was Smith Blackburn.
Smug Bastard.
Womanizer and jerk.
My preteen self didn’t understand why my adult self was having such a problem computing that. Weren’t you supposed to get wiser with age, not stupider?
Clearly my education turned me into an idiot, because I hardly took in the beautiful, unique terrain, my awareness overtly tuned to him, his proximity or the fact he went out of his way not to touch me.
“I started the fire. Burritos tonight?”
“Sounds good.” I batted away a mosquito. “Thanks.”
He grunted in response. His phone buzzed in his hand, making his jaw clench, shoving it back in his pocket. His cell was going off all the time, though he never picked it up.
“Someone really wants to get a hold of you.” I poked at the topic, curious if he’d tell me. Whomever was on the other end wanted to talk to him.
“I’ll feed Goat,” he mumbled, stomping away from the table to the van, calling after my dog.
“Good talking to you,” I yelled dryly at him, annoyed by his testy mood, my brain rolling around with who could be calling him, causing such a reaction.
A woman? I snorted to myself. Knowing him, probably several dozen. Each time it rang was probably a different one.
“Hey?” A voice broke through my thoughts, making me jump and peer down at a guy walking up to the table I was standing on, a beer in his hand. “Oh sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” An easy grin widened his mouth, showing off his perfect white teeth. He wore green khakis and black T-shirt. He looked to be in his early twenties, tall, lean and toned, deep chocolate skin, soft brown eyes.
Really cute.
“No, it’s okay.” I waved my hand, feeling a warmth tap at my cheeks. “Just thinking.”
“Hope I didn’t interrupt any deep thoughts.”
“Deep?” I sputtered in laughter. “No. Certainly not that.” I started to step off the table, and his hand darted out, helping me down.
“Thanks.”
“My mama raised me to be a gentleman.” His grin was so easy and happy; I couldn’t help but smile in response.
“So, you’re the one.” I snapped my fingers. “I heard about you. Most of my friends think you are myth, but I believed.”
A laugh belted from him, his smile hurting my cheeks. “See… if you believe, a miracle will find you.” He winked.
“Or at least meet you in Colorado.”
A flirty grin hooked his mouth. “Lucky me.”
Someone cleared their throat, jerking both our heads toward the noise. Smith stood there, his arms crossed, his expression detached, but I could sense irritation ticking at his jaw.
“Oh, sorry.” The guy backed up, his head swinging between us. “Stupid of me to think—”
“No.” I shook my head. “We’re not together. Just friends… or actually, he’s friends with my older brother… He dated my sister…” Shut up, Kinsley. Now. I pinched my lips together to keep from spewing more.
“Oh.” The guy looked unconvinced, but his shoulders eased down a bit. “I was coming over here to invite you, both of you, to our bonfire by the river. Bring alcohol. I mean, if you want to.”
“Okay,” I replied, my head bobbing. I needed a little fun and deserved to meet cute boys. Just because Mr. SB crashed my holiday, I wasn’t going to let him curb my fun. Like he was constantly telling me, I needed to live and let loose. “That would be fun.” I grinned at my new friend.
“Great,” the guy replied happily. “We’re over there.” He pointed to a big fire down by the river, a dozen figures moved around, laughing and chatting by the fire, music streaming up to us.
“Okay, let me change and I’ll head over.”
“Cool.” He nodded, the huge smile not leaving his face. “Sorry, I’m already failing at being a gentleman. What was your name?”
“Kinsley.”
“Pretty name for a gorgeous woman.”
A derisive snort came from the side, causing my eyes to dart to Smith. He shook his head, patting Goat, muttering something under his breath.
“Thank you.” I glared at Smith, then turned back to the new guy. “And yours?”
“Marcus.” He treaded backward. “Hope to see you over there, Kinsley.” He watched me, then turned and jogged back to his group.
Not wanting to hear a peep from Smith, I strode past him, opening the back door of the van.
“You’re seriously going over there?” Smith was next to me, his shoulders puffed out, his arms folded.
“Yeah, why not?” I grabbed a pair of jeans from my bag. “Sounds fun.”
“Because…” He huffed, his feet shuffling like he was searching for words. “That guy only wants to get into your pants.”
“So?” I dug deeper, looking for my hairbrush.
“What do you mean, so?” His arms dropped, his head tilting. “You don’t care he will spend the evening trying to get you drunk so you will sleep with him?”
“Nope.” I grabbed my face wash and mascara. I wasn’t big on makeup but thought a spritz of vanilla spray and mascara would aid the “sweaty-camping” look. “He’s cute.”
“Kinsley,” Smith growled.
“What?” I shrugged, turning to the campground bathroom. “Aren’t you the one telling me to live in the moment? Be spontaneous and have fun?”
“Jesus, that backfired on me,” he muttered so low I thought I imagined it.
“And…” I paused at the women’s restroom, the handle in my hand. “How do you know I won’t be doing the same to him?” I grinned at Smith before stepping through the door, feeling pleased at my exit, protected by the symbol on the door keeping him out.
Screw him and his cancerous mood.
Should have known Smith would have no line of decorum.
The door swung back, hitting the wall as he stomped in.
“What are you doing?” I stared at him in the mirror.
He blinked at me as if he had no answer, wondering the same thing. “Are you preening for this guy? He’s barely out of diapers. This douche doesn’t care about anything more than you having tits.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I have a pair, huh?” I turned, glaring at him. “And he’s around my age. But since you think I’m a baby too, I don’t see the problem. Oh, did I not ask for Daddy’s permission to go play with my friends?”
“Don’t ever call me that.” He gritted through his teeth, his hand rolling up.
“Then stop acting like one. Even my own brother doesn’t give me this much degree.”
Smith stepped into my space, his body looming over mine, fury flaming his eyes. “Maybe he should.”
“Fuck off.” I tipped my head back, not backing down. “You are not my dad or my big brother; you don’t control me,” I seethed. “Stay home, Grandpa. I’m fine going on my own.”
“You are not going to hang out with a group of guys you don’t know. By. Your. Self.” His chest pushed into mine, the heat of his skin absorbing into me. He glowered down at me, his jaw twitching. I held his gaze, snarling back at him, but in a blink the moment flipped. The fusion of rage and lust slid down my breasts, past my stomach, planting itself between my thighs.
Our faces only inches apart, sweat tickled the back of my neck, my body acting without my permission, curving slightly into his. He sucked in. My nails dug into the counter when I felt him through his shorts.
Holy shit. Hard and freakin’ huge, his cock pressed into my hip.I froze, not wanting to show any reaction, but my chest moved in and out, my skin flushing with desire.
His gaze dropped, locking on my mouth. The need to kiss him consumed me; my gaze drifted to his mouth, my tongue automatically sliding over my bottom lip.
It was as if I punched him in the face. He jolted back, inhaling sharply, his expression turning murderous, his frame expanding with rage.
“Do whatever the fuck you want,” he growled and stomped out of the bathroom, leaving me pinned to the counter in utter bewilderment.
It didn’t take long before his words sank in, filling me with fire, determination, and fury.
“Fuck you, asshole… I will.”
?
Music from someone’s RV filled the night, the crackling of the fire and voices wrapped around me like a blanket. The little gathering grew as more people joined the festivities.
I was on a mission now. When Smith left the restroom, I added a little lip gloss and mascara. I pulled my hair out of the ponytail it was in, fluffing it before I strolled over in my tight jeans, formfitting tank, with my lightweight jacket.
Smith didn’t speak as I passed him, but true to his word, he followed me, beer in his hand, Goat at his side.
“Hey!” Marcus shot around the bonfire the moment he spotted me. “Glad you made it. You want a drink?” His gaze roamed down me, taking in the subtle changes from earlier. “A beer? Think we have tequila too… and vodka…”
“Beer’s fine.” I smiled up at his open face. It was nice to see someone so happy. The thought had me glancing over my shoulder at Smith. As I figured, he scowled, his massive chest spread like he was showing every male in proximity he was the head lion.
Rolling my eyes, I followed Marcus to a cooler, his hands already digging through the ice, twisting labels my way to choose. “You’ll probably like this one. It’s light.”
“Actually, I want that one.” I pointed at a dark stout.
“Really?” Marcus palmed it, his eyebrows lifting as he handed it over to me.
“Really.” I twisted off the cap, ignoring the tiny prickle of irritation at his assumption girls liked the lighter beers, which probably the mass majority did. Dark coffee and beer had always been my preference.
“I like it.” He smiled down at me, clanking his bottle into mine. “So, Kinsley, tell me what has brought you to this corner of Colorado?”
“On a road trip, heading to Rhode Island for my brother’s wedding.”
“And you’re from?”
“San Diego.”
“That’s where I’m heading,” he exclaimed, his eyes widening. “What are the odds? Like two ships passing in the night. I think this was fate, Kinsley.”
A choking snort came from my right, my gaze sliding to the figure standing nearby. Smith held his beer to his mouth, looking out at the river, but I could see the smug, condescending smile twitching his mouth.
“Hey, man.” Marcus greeted him. “You came too… goodie,” he muttered quickly, making me laugh. Marcus’s face lit up at my response, liking that I might also feel the same. “Oh, who’s this little guy? Aren’t you cute?” Marcus went straight for Goat, bending over to pet him. My mouth opened to warn him, but another part of me wondered if Goat was better with men since he instantly liked the huge dick next to him. Maybe it had just been Nathan and Ethan.
I was wrong.
The second Marcus reached out, I saw the shift in Goat. It happened so fast. A deep growl rolled up Goat’s chest, his mouth opening to give a warning nip at the air, jolting Marcus’s hand back. “Oh shit.”
Smith moved in a blink, stepping before Goat, his hand going into Goat’s fur. Goat ducked behind Smith, cowering away from the new guy.
“What the fuck, man? You don’t shove your hand into a dog’s face you don’t know,” Smith snapped.
“Oh god, sorry.” I moved in front of Marcus, trying to defuse the situation. “Goat’s scared of men. We think he was abused before we took him in. But he’s really sweet. He wouldn’t actually bite you.”
Marcus brows lowered in confusion, glancing at the dog who supposedly hated men hiding behind the biggest and most alpha one here.
“Except him it seems.” I flipped my hand over my shoulder. “Have no idea why.”
“He is a good judge of character,” Smith muttered just loud enough for me to hear as he rubbed Goat’s head, comforting him with words I didn’t catch and giving him a little treat.
“Yeah, cool. Okay.” Marcus stepped back, forcing a smile on his face, placing his attention on me. “Let me introduce you to my friends.” He took my hand pulling me toward his group on the other side. I hesitated, looking back at Goat, but he had perked back up, panting and hopping around Smith for another treat.
Why was Goat okay with him and no other guy? Nathan was a nice guy, though I couldn’t say the same for Ethan, but Goat would even growl when my dad came to visit.
Seeing that he was fine, I followed Marcus, downing half of my beer, wanting to drown all the strange moments today. Especially the ones with Smith.
Marcus’s friends were all doing shots, a few girls already hazy-eyed and giggling.
“Shot?” Marcus handed me one.
“Sure. Why not.” I lifted one shoulder, downing it with the rest of the group, ignoring the feel of eyes burning into me from across the bonfire.
For once I wanted to be a carefree twenty-two-year old. No responsibilities, on vacation, with a cute guy showing interest.