Cowboy Country (83 page)

She arched a brow. “Almost?”

He shook his head. “It’s obvious to me you’re not a guy. You’re too pretty.”

“Oh, yeah? Watch this.” She crossed the room, adopting the rolling walk she’d seen him and his friends do. Stopping, she hooked her thumbs her front pockets. “Now, am I manly enough?”

“To most people, yeah.” His gaze heated. “To me, no.”

Unsure where to look to avoid the appreciation in his eyes, she spotted his Stetson. She grabbed it and put it on her head. Her topknot held the black hat up better than the night before, when it had fallen into her eyes. “How’s that?”

He tipped his head and studied her. “Not quite right.”

She adjusted it to sit on the back of her head. “Like that?”

“No.” He crossed the room and lifted the hat, replacing it gently on her head. “Like this.”

She reached to take off the hat and his hand caught hers. “Leave it. It looks good.”

He stood so close she could smell his aftershave and see the green specks in his hazel eyes. “Levi, I—”

His lips captured hers, silencing her.

His hat fell to the floor, unnoticed.

He kissed like he did everything else—with finesse. His lips moved over hers, determined to make them acquiesce. Her lips parted and his tongue sought entrance. His tongue roved over hers, sucking, seeking, seducing. He tasted like minty toothpaste and desire.

Any thought of being a man—or even impersonating one—fled. She was a woman, and he made every inch of her tingle with awareness of it. Her smashed breasts ached for freedom…and his touch. She melted into him, her body seeming to need his.

A loud pounding on the door jolted them apart.

With a rueful smile, Levi replaced his hat on her head and went to the door. He looked through the peephole, then glanced over his shoulder. “It’s Pake and Tessa.”

She resisted the urge to wipe her hand over her lips. Would his friends be able to tell they’d been kissing? What had she been thinking? He opened the door before she had more time to mull it over. One thing she knew for sure—she had to get away from Levi before she did something stupid. Like fall for him.

Tessa entered first and did a double-take when she saw Ava. “Wow. Put you in the middle of a group of men and you’d never spot the difference. Not until you got up close, anyway. Nobody will pick you out today.”

“I’m not going with you. I’m going by myself.” Ava didn’t miss the confused looks Levi’s friends exchanged. She took a deep breath. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me, but it’s time I quit hiding behind you and face the music. You’ve got lives to lead, and I’m keeping you from them.”

“We don’t mind helping,” Tessa said.

“I know,” Ava said, “but it’s time to let you have your lives back.”

“You’re not quite on your own,” Levi said. “You’ve still got me.”

His words sent a little tingle down her spine. But she ignored it. “Only until I can get to the police station.”

He didn’t look happy about the prospect. “I guess.”

Tessa frowned, too. “I was supposed to take you shopping today.”

Ava hugged her new friend. “Next time you come to Vegas we’ll shop ’til we drop.”

“Count on it.” Tessa glanced at Pake. “I guess that’s it, then.”

“Thanks for everything,” Ava told them. “If there’s ever anything I can do…”

“Front row seats at your next show?” Pake asked hopefully, and Tessa punched him in the arm.

Ava crossed her heart. “Absolutely. I promise.”

Pake and Tessa trailed out, leaving her with a fuming Levi. He spoke first. “What the hell was that all about?”

“I can’t stay.” She motioned toward her borrowed shirt and jeans. “Look at me. This isn’t my life.”

“This isn’t about the damn clothes, Ava.” He moved in front of her. “It’s about that kiss a few minutes ago. It freaked you out.”

She didn’t deny it. “We can’t get involved—”

“It was a mistake that won’t happen again.” He picked up his suitcase and saddle. “If you can carry the duffle we’ll go meet my brother.”

Ava picked up his duffle bag and groaned. “What do you have in here anyway? Rocks?”

“Just my gear.”

Slinging it over her shoulder, Ava mimicked his pose. “Ready, cowboy?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

“Me too.” Ava held her breath as she followed him. No one was in sight, but her heart pounded wildly as they walked the empty corridor. She concentrated on moving like a man, with the slightly rolling gait of a cowboy, making sure to keep a couple of feet of distance between her and Levi. To an observer, it might look funny to see her leaning on him.

As they entered the lobby, Ava scanned faces for any sign of Dario or Tiffany. She didn’t see them, but her pulse still raced.

Drew stood by the front desk and he waved as they exited. Ava felt a little better. Levi’s friends were all around, still watching over them.

“There’s Paco,” Levi told her. “Come on.”

“Who’s Paco?”

“The ranch foreman. He’s going to take us to Travis.” Levi shouldered his way through the glass doors. For a minute, Ava was offended he hadn’t let her go first. Then she remembered she was pretending to be his buddy and followed him with a nonchalant air.

He tossed his suitcase in the bed of a blue pickup and she did the same with his duffle bag. She groaned, but managed to throw it like he had. Again, without waiting for her, he opened the front door and leaped in the front seat.

She imitated him, but got in the backseat of the big truck. As soon as she landed, the vehicle began moving. A handsome Mexican man glanced into the rearview mirror. “Hello, miss.”

“Hi, I’m Ava. You must be Paco.”

“I am. Good to meet you.” He turned off the frontage road, onto the freeway and into fast-moving morning commuters. The sky was leaden, heavy with snow clouds. The Rockies invisible behind their lacy shroud.

In the front seat, Levi and Paco made conversation about the ranch. Ava tuned them out and watched the cars around them for any sign of Dario’s black beast. All makes and models of cars passed by, but she didn’t see his Town Car among them.

The miles flew by and Paco flipped on his signal light. He took several turns before driving into a large equestrian facility. The big sign said “Arapahoe Race Track.” Ava had been to Santa Anita with Dario. He loved betting on the horses, but she just liked looking at the beautiful animals. This facility seemed mostly deserted in the gloomy December weather. She didn’t see a single horse and only a couple of people.

They passed several barns before Paco parked between two of them. A blue pickup sat there waiting. A man sitting in the driver’s seat waved.

“There’s Travis,” Levi said. “Thanks, buddy.” He and Paco shook hands before Levi exited the pickup. This time he opened the back door for Ava and helped her out.

She looked in the open front door. “Thank you, Paco.”

He touched the brim of his hat. “My pleasure, Miss Ava.”

Levi took her elbow and guided her the few feet to the other truck. A version of Levi jumped out. Taller, heavier, older. But definitely related, with the same hazel eyes and full lips. A Stetson, brown Carhartt jacket, jeans and boots completed his look. He held out his hand and she took it. “I already know who you are, Ava. I’m Travis. Levi’s brother. The handsome one.”

His hand about crushed hers in its grip and she winced. “Nice to meet you, Travis.”

He instantly released her. “Sorry about that. I forget my own strength sometimes.”

“If you’re done breaking Ava’s hand, can we get out of here?” Levi’s grin took the sting out of his words.

“Little brother.” Travis enveloped him in a bear hug and they pounded each other on the back. Finally they released each other, and Travis turned serious. “You okay? Not running from the law, are you?”

“Not the law. The mob.”

Travis’ grin faded like a bunch of showgirls after the curtain came down. “You bettin’ on rodeo? Trying to get banned like the old man?”

“Hell no!” Levi looked deeply affronted by the suggestion.

Ava stepped forward. “It’s not your brother. I’m the one who’s running from the mob. Or, at least, one mobster.” She took a deep breath and shuddered. “I saw a man I dated a few times kill another man and he’s after me. Levi has nothing to do with any of this; he’s only a good Samaritan who saved me.”

Travis lifted his Stetson and scratched his head. “Damn.”

“Yeah,” Levi agreed. “It’s the shits.”

“And you can’t go to the cops here?” Travis asked.

“No,” Levi said.

“Never mind. Scratch that.” Travis took in her clothes, including Levi’s Carhartt jacket with a rodeo logo on the back. “Is that why you’re dressed like a clown, wearing boots two sizes too big?”

“Yes.”

Travis shucked his coat and began unbuttoning his shirt. “Go in that stall over there and take off your clothes.”

Ava gaped at him. What did he mean? Did he have some weird scenario in mind? Had she made it this far, only to have something horrible happen now? She looked around for an escape route.

Levi said, “What the hell, Trav?”

Travis’ big hands stilled on his middle button. “Send Ava to Mom. I’ll go with you to the rodeo tonight, wearing what she has on now. That way, if this jerk’s seen her and tries to muscle her, he’ll come up against me and not a little girl.”

Ava bit her bottom lip. “I shouldn’t involve any more of your family.”

“We’re involved,” Travis said. “Levi’s in, we’re in.”

“I think it might be the best plan, Ava.” Levi took her arm and moved a few feet away from his brother. “If Abruzzo comes to the rodeo, and you’re not there, he might give up the chase and go home. That will give you a little breathing room.”

“Okay.” Ava agreed, although the idea of being separated from Levi suddenly scared her.

He tipped up her chin. “It’s just one night, and I’ll be home by suppertime tomorrow. Promise.”

He’d done so much for her. Put his life on the line. Asked his friends and family for help, and they’d gladly given it. He was an athlete who had to compete and win to make his living. Her being at the rodeo would be a distraction. Not fair to him.

She nodded. “Okay.”

He hugged her. “I’ll get your clothes out of my suitcase and you can change over there in that stall.”

In the privacy of the clean, sawdust-scented stall, she removed Levi’s shirt and the Ace bandage. She took several deep breaths, glad to be free of the restraints, before slipping on her lacy bra and Levi’s pink t-shirt. He’d gotten it for her instead of her own tank top. She held it to her nose and inhaled. Somehow, she thought his scent radiated from it. She kept on her borrowed jeans—she might burn her leggings—and kicked off the too-large boots. It felt good to lace up her sneakers. It would feel even better to have her closet back again. Soon this would all be nothing but a bad memory.

Why did the thought of leaving Levi behind sadden her?

They would never work out. He was country, and she was city.

CHAPTER SEVEN

By the look in his eye, she could tell Levi would kiss her if given half a chance. Instead, he slammed the door shut and thumped it a couple of times. She touched lips with her fingertips. A kiss from Levi would have been nice.

Paco pulled into traffic and they rode in silence for a while until Ava said, “Have you been with the Callahans for a long time?”

He smiled. “My whole life. My father was their foreman. When he retired, I took over.”

She turned to look at his profile. “Tell me about the Callahans’ ranch.”

“It’s outside Laramie, at the base of the Medicine Bow Mountains. Beautiful land. We run Limousins.”

She drew her brows together. “Like cars?”

He chuckled. “No. A cattle breed. They’re red. Pretty.”

Pretty cows? She’d never heard them described that way before, but then, she’d never been around cowboys. She turned wistful. “Are there horses?”

“Sure. A whole herd.” He motioned toward the cloudy sky, which had begun to let snowflakes float down over them. “We’re not doing much riding right now, but come in the summer and we’ll see you get horseback all you want.”

A response seemed pointless. By next summer she’d be back at work and Levi would be busy on the rodeo circuit. It was very unlikely she’d ever see him again. An unexpected pang filled her.

“You can ride the sled when we feed with the team if you want to,” Paco said, drawing her attention back to him. “In a week or so, we’ll haul Christmas trees with it. We all go, sing Christmas carols, drink hot chocolate. It’s a lot of fun.”

“Sounds like it.” The sky opened up and big, fat snowflakes fell in a swirling mass, cocooning them in the cab. Christmas was only a week and a half away. The holiday crowds at the Blue Valentine would be huge. Penny would be going out of her mind about now with Ava’s absence. One of the understudies was no doubt dancing with joy to get this chance. Ava would be lucky to ever get her place back. Maybe she could ride horses in Wyoming after all.

Or somewhere.

Maybe she’d go home and see her mother.

That idea held little appeal.

Her mom hadn’t even planned to come see her for Christmas; she was taking a Caribbean cruise with some friends. She claimed she could see Ava parade around half naked for free; there wasn’t any sense in paying for the privilege.

They passed Cheyenne and headed toward Laramie. The famous Wyoming wind whipped snow sideways across the road in front of them, and Ava was glad of Paco’s good driving because she couldn’t even see the highway ahead of them.

Something slammed into the back of the big truck, sending it hurtling forward.

“What the hell?” Paco fought to keep the pickup straight, but it careened toward the middle of the highway. He wrenched the wheel and the pickup spun into a full-blown slide. Something hit it again, and the truck tilted at a dangerous angle.

Ava screamed and grabbed the seatbelt cutting into her shoulder. Dear God, she’d survived this far, now she was going to die on an icy highway because of a careless driver?