Blaine, Destiny - Roping in Forever [Forever 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) (3 page)

Bella smiled at the woman who’d been a lifelong friend of her mother’s.
Nancy
was pretty, but she’d been used up pretty good by some of the cowboys around there. If anybody knew men,
Nancy
probably earned her right to form expert opinions.

“You’d better listen to me, Bella. I know what’s
what
around here. You don’t wanna mess with that look Corbin has in his eyes. He’ll bring down hell on those who stand in his way of getting what he wants, and that Leary boy is no match for a Cansey. Why, Corbin’s very own uncle used to look at me that way, and I’ll go to my grave knowing Mac Cansey was the one who got away.”

Mac Cansey was nothing but a drunk, but Bella didn’t bother telling
Nancy
the facts. He was, and perhaps always would be,
Nancy
’s blind spot, her truest weakness.

“I have plans for Corbin,” Bella said, thinking she never wanted to end up like
Nancy
, with an apron pocket full of regrets. “I’ve waited all my life for that damn cowboy. If he wants me now, he’s gonna know how it feels to stand at the back of the line and watch from the rear of the pack.

“Way I see it, one of these days, he’s gonna have to man-up. If he doesn’t do it soon, I’m gonna look somewhere else and I might as well start with Benson Leary.”

Chapter Four

Benson tilted his hat toward Travis and Corbin. Travis tossed up his arm and waved, slapping his palm against the Formica table. Corbin didn’t bother. “I didn’t think the guy had the nerve to come in here after he left with my girl.”

Travis chuckled. “Your girl? Since when?”

“Shit, man, you know how she’s always rattled me.”

“I never saw her shake you enough to make you mind your manners and keep your pants up.”

“This coming from a man who’d fuck around the clock if he had a different woman waiting at the stroke of another new hour?” Corbin asked, arching his brow. “I swear I’d like to beat Benson’s ass just for looking at her like he’s done been there and done that.”

“We’ve been on the circuit,” Travis reminded him. “We don’t know for sure what Benson’s been up to, or for that matter, what Bella’s been down on.”

Corbin snarled. “Watch it.”

“I’m just sayin’. For all you know, Bella’s already shined and polished something other than his belt buckle.”

Corbin sneered. “Shut up, Travis. Here she comes.”

Bella had just about made it to their table when Benson caught her arm. “Sweetheart, I wanted to ask you something.”

Corbin cut his gaze toward Bella. Her back was to them and Benson was very much aware of the fact that Travis and Corbin were watching him. Corbin almost fell out of the booth trying to stretch and bend so he could watch the whole Bella-Benson saga unfold.

“Ask away, Benson,” she chirped, acting and sounding a little too excited about all the attention.

“There’s a new club opening right outside Shamrock this weekend. Wanna go check it out? I could pick you up around seven on Friday.”

“What the hell does he think he’s doing?” Corbin rasped, keeping his voice low.

“Sounds to me like he’s introducing little Bella to his way of life and he ain’t wastin’ a cowboy’s second doin’ it up right.”

Corbin grated back a round of curse words.

“I don’t go to clubs, Benson,” she said sweetly.

Corbin released a burdened sigh and settled his back against the vinyl seat. “See there? What’d I tell ya?
My girl
.” He poked his thumb against his chest. Then, he grabbed his cup and slurped down a hearty drink. After a stifled burp, he quickly said, “But I admit that was a close call.”

“I hope you’ll reconsider,” Benson said, refusing to take a no and go.

“You ain’t out of the woods yet, Smokey,” Travis said, swinging his arm over the back of his seat so he could look on with direct interest.

“This isn’t your typical club,” Benson explained. “I get VIP service since I know the owner. If you’re with me, you’ll be treated like a star from the moment we arrive there.”

Corbin gripped the table with both hands. “What the hell is he doing?’

Travis looked over Corbin’s shoulder. “Looks to me like he’s scheduling a date with
your
woman.”

“Here,” she drawled. “Give me a call. We’ll talk about it.”

“I’ll do it,” Benson said, rolling his tongue over his bottom lip and looking at Bella like she was the dessert he’d forgotten to eat.

Corbin slumped in the booth, trying his dead-leveled best not to gawk at the slip of paper in Benson’s hand. About the time Bella headed their way again, Corbin grabbed his hat and took off for the exit.

“Hey Corbin. I was just coming to wait—”

“You can keep right on waiting, Bella. I’ve lost my appetite and I may never get it back.”

* * * *

Truth told, Corbin had never been hungrier. He stalked around the barn that afternoon madder than a caged bull waiting for his first rodeo. He’d been unable to think of anything other than Bella since he’d returned from
San Antonio
. Then as bad luck would have it, when he finally decided to approach her, what had she done?

Humph! She’d hooked up with that damned-ass kink mongrel. Benson Leary was no proper match for a lady. He certainly wasn’t a good man for Bella.

“There you are,” Travis said, entering the office. “Danny Carlton is outside. He’s here with that load of
Holsteins
you wanted brought back from the Wheeler feedlots.”

“Put ’em in pin five. I’ll see to ’em tomorrow.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Corbin slowly lifted his gaze and stared at Travis. “You have to ask?”

Travis laughed. “No, but I’d love to hear the excuses you give for being as ornery as a hornet trapped under a woman’s skirt.”

Corbin sneered. “It ain’t a woman’s skirt I’m worried about.”

“The hell it ain’t,” Travis said, going for the door.

“Wait,” Corbin said, standing. “I want to know something. How come you never told me exactly what Bella said when you saw her in
San Antonio
?”

“You never asked.”

“You should’ve volunteered and told me what she allowed all the same.”

Travis shrugged. “Some things a man is better off not knowing.”

“Maybe so, but I’m askin’ and you’re gonna give me the straight of it.”

Travis sat on the end of the worn leather sofa. “Corbin, the way I see this mess here is that you’ve got two choices. You can either leave Bella alone—and I do mean leave her be, don’t go near her, don’t think about her, nothin’—or you can start actin’ like the kind of fella that girl deserves. If you do that, you best take a warning before you pursue her.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Travis took a deep breath. Upon releasing the dramatic sigh, he rubbed his chin and said, “If you hook up with Bella, you’re done man. She’ll ruin you for other women. She’s gonna latch on and never let go.”

“I ain’t lookin’ for a permanent relationship.”

“Then like I said, you best be leavin’ her alone then. You may not be lookin’, Corbin, but what you’ll find if you get a hold of Bella is more than you’ve ever had in this lifetime. Take it from someone who’s been there.”

“She’s too young.”

“Yep.”

“She’s barely a woman.”

“Yep.”

Corbin shrugged. “For the first time in your sorry life, you’re right. I best be leavin’ her alone.”

“Yeah, buddy. That’s for sure. Besides, Benson is known to train ’em young. Let him break her in for ya. Then, if you’re still interested, go see her. She won’t have all those silly little fantasies by the time Benson takes her on a first ride.”

Corbin flinched. “Are you trying to make me feel worse?”

“I’m not tryin’ to do anything except tell ya the straight of it, buddy. Women like Bella want a man they can keep. We ain’t keepers and you know it. We’re married to the rodeo.

“Let someone else teach Bella the ropes. Then, one of these days, you can slip into her bed and have yourself a real fine time. You can wake up in the morning, kiss her good-bye and then be on your way. Benson will make your life easier. All the town gossips say he loves ’em hard and leaves ’em tired…and fully trained for a better way of life, if you understand my meaning.”

“Bella deserves better than Benson.”

“After what she saw in
San Antonio
, she deserves better than you, too.”

Chapter Five

Cowboys and Cowgirls
was hopping. The grand opening was such a huge success that there had been a waiting list just to drive through the gates. Kegs were tapped, and the party outside was alive with chatter, music, and free-flowing alcohol.

Bella was nervous. She’d never been to a bonfire, much less a nightclub, and she’d never tasted a mixed drink until Benson handed her a shot of what he called Hot-Sex-on-the-Beach.

Draping his arm around her shoulder, he whispered, “This crowd is something else, huh?”

Bella locked gazes with Corbin, spotting him the second he walked through the lower fields, strolling toward an exhibitor’s tent where provocative apparel and sex toys were sold. “It’s something all right,” she agreed, feeling that familiar lump in her throat.

Taking a sip of her fruity beverage, Bella puckered. The tangy fruit drink was sweet to the palate but stout enough to alarm all other senses.

Benson watched her with curious eyes. “I told the bartender to make it a strong one. Good?”

“Yes,” she replied, smiling up at him. “It’s delicious. Thank you.”

He winked. “That’s my girl. Drink up. We should be inside in about half an hour.”

Bella raised her plastic cup and took another sip. About that time, Benson spotted someone he knew. “Hey, wait right here. I’ll be back.”

She nodded and then stood there alone, watching Corbin as he made his way through the crowd.
Oh boy. Here comes trouble.

Unfortunately, trouble trotted over without so much as a pause in his gait.

“Bella,” Corbin muttered, tilting the brim of his hat.

“Corbin,” she said nervously, swirling her drink and refusing to meet his gaze.

“You look nice tonight,” he said, staring at the low-cut scoop of her red tank. “I’m surprised your momma let you out of the house dressed like that.”

Bella felt her skin heat. His hot gaze dripped over her like melted butterscotch. She glanced over his shoulder, searching the crowd for Benson.

“How ya been?”

“Good,” she quickly answered, clearing her throat. “Great, in fact. Never better.”

He grunted. “What ’cha got there in that cup?”

“A fruity cocktail. I don’t like beer.”

“You ain’t old enough to be drinking a’ tall.”

“I’m twenty-one now, Corbin.”

“So maybe you are,” Corbin rasped. “Age won’t matter here anyhow. Once you get inside that club, you’re gonna see right fast that you’re in the wrong place with the wrong man.”

“Why Corbin, you sound downright jealous.”

He eyed her breasts again. This time his gaping wasn’t a stare and go. He made sure she understood precisely where he’d chosen to look. “I ain’t ashamed to admit it. You and I both know if you’re gonna be here, you ought to be on my arm.”

Immediately, Bella remembered how envy had taken hold of her. It was all she could do to keep from closing her eyes and reliving the night she’d watched Corbin with that Mexican girl at the
San Antonio
roadside motel. Feeling self-conscious, she raised her cup and finished off her beverage.

“Well, it’s good to see you,” she stuttered, making her escape before she threw herself into his arms. She forced herself to walk away before she asked him why he was suddenly possessive, acting like a scorned potential lover left in the middle of a date.

“You, too, Bella,” Corbin said, a tense expression washing over his face. “You take care of yourself tonight. If you need anything, you come find me.”

“Thanks,” she said, trying to convince herself that she wouldn’t search out Corbin as long as she was Benson’s date.

Bella took a deep breath and a first step in the other direction when Corbin added, “You know, you can always change your plans. We could go somewhere. You could leave with me.”

Facing him, Bella asked, “And just why would I want to do something like that?”

His lips twitched. She thought he was mocking her and expected a come-on line, some verbal banter like they’d enjoyed in the past—when he must’ve considered her safe to tease. Humph, torture was more like it.

“I was just saying,” he remarked carefully. “This ain’t a club for you. You’ll see, Bella. This is not the place for pure women, innocent angels.”

About that time, Benson returned. “Corbin,” he said, offering his hand.

“Remember what I told ya,” Corbin stated flatly, ignoring Benson before walking away.