9781631051289TemptedbytheCowboySullivan (9 page)

“True, but I’m not
lookin
’ for love.”

“No one is ever looking, Jason. It just finds us when the
time
is right.”

“Well it’s not the right time.”

She patted his cheek with her hand right before she leaned
in and kissed him.
“If you say so,
son.”

Chapter Seven

Peyton sighed as the last of the patrons left the bar at
two a.m. It had been a long night
and the fight Jason
had been in, didn’t help. She found herself worrying about it after he’d left.
His eye had begun to swell even before he disappeared. The blood on his lips
bothered her too. She wanted to hold him, care for him, and the thought drove he
r nuts. She should call him, but then again she shouldn’t.
She didn’t need him or so she kept telling herself. He could be the hero for
some other woman. Not her. She didn’t want him to be her hero, right?

“Well, tonight was an interesting night,” Dan said
, stopping next to where she stood putting clean glasses
away.

“It sure was. Same Saturday night we always have, except a
few fights tonight.”

“One especially.”

“Leave it be, Dan.”

“He was protecting you, Peyton.
Nothing a good man wouldn’t do.”

“Well I
don’t need a man to
protect me. I take care of myself.”

“I know, honey, but guys like Jason need to be the hero
sometimes.”

“He can be someone else’s hero.”

“He wants to be yours.”

She let out a disgusted sound from deep in her throat, the
sound almost lik
e a sigh. She didn’t want him to be
her hero, right? Well maybe just a little. It was kind of nice to have a guy
jump to her defense for a change. Jason didn’t need to know that though. He
needed to leave her the hell alone to give her some space.

“Think a
bout it, Peyton. He’s a
good guy.”

“I know he is, Dan. I’m not looking for a permanent fixture
in my life though. I’ve got too many things going on to have time for a man.”

“You need to make time. Jason isn’t the type of man to wait
around forever, honey.
If you want him, you’d better
go after him.”

Dan walked back to the other side of the bar to fiddle with
the cash register while she contemplated what he said. She knew Jason was a
ladies’ man. She watched him pick up women every weekend while she worked t
he bar, not that she was paying attention, mind you, but
she’d see the women flock to him. He had a reputation for being good in bed and
she could attest to that fact easy enough since he’d rocked her world the night
before without much effort at all. Did
she want more?
She didn’t know. The life she’d set up for herself didn’t have room for a man
in it on a long term basis, but she could do short term fling with him without
too much effort on her part, sure enough.

As her cell phone started jingling in her
pocket, she wondered who would be calling her this time of
night. After she set down the glass rack in her hand, she grabbed it from her
pocket and glanced at the screen.

Jason.

“Hey,” she said, answering on the third ring. “How is your
eye?”

“Fine.
Listen
I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Trying to take care of
your problem for you.
I get you’re the independent type and I overstepped my
boundaries. I’m sorry.”

“Did you have a talk with your mother?”

He laughed. “What makes you think so?”

“Because that s
ounds like
something Nina would say. The few times I’ve had a chance to talk to her, she
sounded like a very insightful woman.”

“Okay, yeah, but it’s true.”

“All is forgiven.”

“Are you sure? That was too easy.”

“What can I say? I don’t hold a grudge.”

“Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “How did work go after I
left?”

She continued wiping glasses to put them away as she
cradled the phone between her cheek and shoulder. “Smooth as every other
Saturday night with a bunch of rowdy cowboys.”

“That good, eh?” h
e asked,
laughter in his voice.

“Yep, but at least I didn’t get hit on again.” She ran the
dry towel over the surface of the bar.

“Too bad.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I imagine you get hit on a lot.”

“Actually, no, I don’t. I think a lot of men are put off b
y my piercings and tats.”

“I think they are sexy, especially your tongue ring when
you sucked my cock.”

“Bad boy.”

“You like bad boys, don’t you, Peyton?” he asked, his tone
now gone serious.

“Yeah, kind of.”
Shivers rolled down
her back as he dropped his
voice into a low growl.

“Do you want me to come by your place tonight?”

“I think it’s a bit late for any extracurricular activities
tonight, don’t you think, Jason? It is two in the morning.”

“I’m up for it.”

“I bet you are, cowboy, but I think I’ll pass.
I’m really tired since I didn’t get to sleep in this
morning and I cleaned house all day before I came to work.”

“Sorry about the text earlier.”

“No problem. It’s fine. Oh, thank you for the flowers by
the way. They’re beautiful.”

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

H
e almost sounded shy and unsure
of himself on the phone. “It was to me. You’ll never guess what?”

“What?”

“Those are the first flowers I’ve ever gotten.”

“Really?
A beautiful woman like you?”

“I guess I never found the right guy.”

“I’m the right guy then.”

“I suppose so.” Silence stretched for several minutes while
she continued to clean and stock before it was time to leave.
“You still there?”

“Yeah.”

“I better go. I’m almost done here and I need to head
home.”

“Let me walk you to your car.”

She laughed as she blushed.
“How?
You’re at home.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You’re not?”

“I’m outside the bar.”

“You’ve been out there this whole time we’ve been talking
on the phone?” she asked, peeking out the blinds to see his truck sitting near
the curb with hi
m leaning on the hood talking on his
cell phone.

“Yeah.”

“You’re a nut.”

“Are you going to let me walk you to your car?”

“If you insist.”

“I do.”

“Let me grab my purse and I’ll be right out.”

“Okay. See you in a minute.”

She clicked the phone shut as she s
hook her head. “The silly guy is standing outside by the curb talking to
me on his cell.”

“Sounds like he’s smitten,” Dan replied, heading toward the
back office.
“Bitten by the bug.”

“I’m headed out.”

“Okay. Be careful going home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yep.
You be careful too.
Talk to you then,” she said, pushing open the door and locking it behind her
with the key Dan had given her. She turned around to face the gorgeous man
standing not ten feet from her. He made her breathless just looking at him. Th
e floodlight on the street shadowed his face beneath his
cowboy hat so she couldn’t see his eyes, but she knew they stared right through
her. She could feel the heat of his gaze without seeing his face. “Hi.”

“Hi yourself.”

“How’s your eye?”

“Swollen shut
almost.”

“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have been hurt defending me.”

“I wanted to or I wouldn’t have.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, babe, but I wanted to help and you shut me
down.”

“I don’t need a hero.”

“Yes you do and I want to be your hero
.”

“You don’t understand. I haven’t needed anyone for a long
time.”

“We all need someone sometimes.”

“Not me.”

“Yeah, even you.” He ran his finger down her cheek. “Even a
tough girl like you needs a man once in a while.” His hand snaked around the
back of
her neck, pulling her in close. “I’m going to
kiss you now.”

“What about your lip?”

“My lip can handle a little
lovin
’ from you.”

“I’m glad because I want to kiss you too.”

He tilted his head to the side as his lips brushed hers.
She wanted more, so much m
ore. The feel of his mouth
brought with it the memories from his loving the night before. She found
herself pushing her tongue into his mouth, capturing his tortured groan with
her own. As they kissed, her world spun out of control. She’d come to need this
man more than she ever thought possible in such a short
time.

“Come home with me.” She gasped as his hand found her
breast.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I need you.” He pushed his palm against the crotch of
her jeans, grinding the stiff fabric into the engorged
button between her legs. She moaned softly. “Please.”

“Anything you want, darlin’.”

“I want you.”

“Let me walk you to your car and I’ll follow you home.”

“Okay.” The breathless sound of her voice echoed in the
dark night surrounding them.
God, I sound desperate,
but I don’t care.

Within a few short minutes, they pulled into the driveway
at her place as he parked his truck behind her. Was this crazy? She thought so,
but really they probably only had tonight. He’d go on his way, find someone
else to fuck on a regular basis, and she’d be alone…again.

The moment she stepped out of her car, he swept her up into
his arms before he walked toward the front door. She squeaked as he picked her
up, but ended up winding her arms around his neck. His sc
ent drew her into his web of seduction as she found the
crook of his neck with her nose. “You smell nice.”

“Thanks. I showered before I came back to town.”

“For me?” she asked when he stepped up on the porch.

“Yep.
I needed to get the
blood off my face and
a shower felt
good
.”

“I’m glad. Freshly washed cock is the best.”

“You don’t say?”

“Oh yeah.”
She fumbled with the
key from her perch in his arms. He waited patiently as she jammed it into the
lock and turned, then opened the door.

“We could always take a
nother
shower. I’m kind of partial to freshly washed pussy too.”

Once he released her legs, she slid down his body, noting
every bulge, muscle and contour of his impressive frame. “Oh, sounds like fun.
I need one after the smoke and stink of the bar.”

“The
n let’s share it. I’d like to
soap every inch of you.”

She took his hand, leading him toward the back where the
bathroom stood off her bedroom. The place seemed small, but since it was just
her, it didn’t matter. Although, being such a big guy, the place f
elt even smaller. She’d bought the house with the
inheritance from her mother when she passed. It was the only thing she owned
outright, but it gave her the peace of mind knowing she always had a place to
live.