Authors: Emily Cale
Even Black Lightning seemed bored. She didn’t blame him either. After all the years of hard labor she’d put him through, she had always expected him to be the one to finally give up. It wasn’t fair for her to let him down like this.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the cowboy she’d spotted earlier watching her from a distance. As long as he didn’t stick his nose into her business again, he was free to look on as much as he wanted. She’d been around plenty of his type before. Cowboys could talk a big game, but when it came down to it, they always wanted more than she could give them. Her life was a big mess of a hundred different things she had to do every single day. There was training, meetings with the media, and dealing with the other little things that came up in her life. She watched as he started walking toward her, a little limp barely apparent in his gait.
This wasn’t the way she had always planned things. As a kid, she expected to be winning a hundred competitions, celebrating all her victories with her man by her side. She quickly realized that balancing any relationship while trying to keep up with her competition schedule was next to impossible. They only served as a distraction, something she couldn’t afford. There’d be time for all the other stuff when she retired. It was hard to ignore men like him. The way he looked at her made her think he wanted to help with more than training. He wouldn’t be the first, but she’d learned long ago that it was easier to ignore their advances than to deal with the aftermath.
Though her back was turned, she heard the crunching of the gravel beneath his boots as he approached. Trying not to let his presence fluster her, she kept walking the pattern, whispering words of encouragement to her horse as they went along, not sure if she was speaking to Black Lightning or herself.
“You know, I think he probably knows the route by now.”
Her disdain for his condescending tone didn’t keep her stomach from flip-flopping. “Don’t you have some cows to tend to?” He’d already proven he didn’t know the first thing about barrel racing.
“Nope. I’m done for the day.” The fence creaked as he leaned against it.
“Must be nice. Some of don’t get to stop simply because the animals are napping.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure you have to start working before you can complain about not being able to quit.”
She couldn’t resist the urge anymore. She turned her head and looked back at him. A few stray pieces of his dark brown hair fell from beneath his hat onto his forehead. “This is work.” She crossed her arms and stuck her jaw out.
“Is it a new horse?” He launched himself over the fence, landing a few feet from her.
“No.” Amber dug her heels into the ground.
“Your first time competing in the event?” He took another step toward her, the lines on his forehead from his raised eyebrows becoming apparent.
Her mouth dry, she swallowed hard before she was able to talk. “No.” Focusing her attention on the brim of his hat, she tried to ignore the pull of his intense gaze.
“Then don’t you think it’s about time you actually got in the saddle and tried riding? I ‘haven’t seen you get up there once today.” He moved in closer.
Even though he was uncomfortably close, she resisted the urge to step back. He was invading her training space. If anyone should leave, it was him. “For someone who spends his days feeding the chickens and mucking out the horse stables, you seem to know a lot about this.” Allowing her gaze to wander down his body, she discovered that her original impression had been wrong. He was still a bit of twig, but there was a decent amount of muscle covering him as well. Her eyes stuck on his chest, his strong pectorals straining against his blue plaid shirt.
“Well, I watch a lot of TV. So, you going to ride?” He motioned toward Black Lightning.
She’d almost forgotten her horse was even there. “My training schedule is none of your business.” Her mind raced. He’d been watching her? All day? She couldn’t help but imagine his eyes on her back.
“No need to get pushy. I’m simply trying to be helpful.” He leaned in closer to her again.
She squirmed as she allowed him to focus his eyes on her face. No one ever looked at her that way. She wouldn’t describe herself as ugly, but she certainly wasn’t beautiful. More of the plain type. The only thing that really set her apart was her riding. Now she didn’t even have that. “The word you’re looking for is nosey, and I don’t really appreciate it.” She took a deep breath. “What exactly would you do for me anyway?”
“I think we got off on the wrong foot. I’m Colt.” He stretched his hand out.
“Amber.”
“Now, why don’t you tell me what I can do to help you?” He grinned, his wide smile drawing her in.
“A quiet place to practice.” She wasn’t that easy. A flash of his white teeth was enough to make her shiver but not enough to convince her he wasn’t like every guy she’d met before.
“You’ve had one of those all day and haven’t managed to do a damn thing. Perhaps I can interest you in a drink instead?”
The thought was tempting. She needed an opportunity to relax, get her mind in the right place. Maybe then she’d be able to focus. Of course, drinks with the handsome stranger who’d been propositioning her all day probably wasn’t the best way to pull herself together. “No. I still have work to do.”
“You’re going to keep training? In the dark?” He looked up at the sky. Streaks of orange and red painted the sky as the sun made its way toward the horizon.
“It won’t be a problem. I’ll turn some lights on.” The more excuses he came up with, the more determined she was to push him away.
“This isn’t some fancy coliseum. The only lights we have here are solar-powered.”
She looked around, confused. Now that he mentioned it, she couldn’t see any lights around the pen.
“The sun.” He pointed up, rolling his eyes.
“No flood lights?”
“My, you’re even more spoiled than I thought.”
She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to fake being appalled. His words stung. More than once, someone had accused her of being a bit accustomed to her ways, but no, usually they didn’t say it to her face. She’d always known what she wanted and was willing to do anything in her power to get it. “You really know how to win a girl over, don’t you?”
“Why don’t you let me show you? Come back to my place for a drink?”
“So you can continue to mock me? No thanks.”
“I promise this will be an evening free of teasing. Simply an offer for a little relaxation.”
She chewed on the inside of her lip. The offer was tempting. Obviously, she wasn’t getting very far standing out here, and she’d wind up back in her room, sitting on her bed alone for the rest of the night if she didn’t take him up on his proposition. It was also a dangerous idea. If she followed him back to his room for a drink, there was no telling what else might happen. He certainly wasn’t bad to look at, and he’d made it clear he was interested in getting to know her better. Add a little alcohol to the equation and, well, the situation could turn interesting. She promised herself she’d be on her very best behavior. If she was going to compete in a few weeks, she needed all her time and attention focused on riding. She glanced at her horse. Lot of good those rules did her today. She hadn’t even gotten all the way into the saddle since her fall.
“Fine. But only because I don’t want to spend the evening alone.” Her friends tried to be helpful, but she couldn’t tell them what she was going through. As much as she loved them, any one of them could leak the information to the media. Exactly the sort of edge her opponents would love. Someone who didn’t know her or her situation would certainly be a welcome distraction.
Besides, a little flirting never hurt anyone. It was a rarity that someone could hold his own in a conversation with her, and she was eager to see exactly where it might lead, if only for a few short minutes. That’s all she’d allow herself. A little chitchat, a single drink, then she’d be back to her own room to rest up before tomorrow. Despite his insistence in watching her and interrupting her plans, he seemed like a relatively normal guy. The ranch owner had assured her that his employees kept their heads down and noses clean. If Colt turned out to be anything less than a gentleman, he’d have something coming. She might look like a weak woman, but she could more than take care of herself.
“Well, I’m happy to be your last choice for nightly entertainment. Let’s get this guy put away and then we can head back.” He smiled, but she saw a brief look of hurt on his face. Whatever the expression had been, it was gone before she could make any judgments. She grabbed the reins of her horse and followed him toward the stables.
Chapter Two
“Do all the workers get accommodations like this?”
Colt held the door open as she entered his bunk. After setting down her bag, she immediately headed into the living room.
“Not quite. I’m special.” He slipped off his boots and started down the hall, hoping she wouldn’t ask any more questions. He wasn’t prepared to divulge any personal information. At least not yet. “You hungry? I don’t have much, but I could probably rustle up something.”
“I could eat something.” Her boots thudded against the tile floor as she removed them. “So who’d you have to kill to get this place?”
“No killing. I happen to be the owner’s favorite.” He piled a bunch of cheese from the fridge onto a plate, grabbed a container of salsa, and tucked a bag of tortilla chips under his chin. A bit embarrassed he didn’t have more to offer, he made his way out into the living room. “I told you I didn’t have much.” After setting the food down on the coffee table, he took a seat on the couch across from her.
Immediately she dove into the food. It was nice to see a woman who wasn’t afraid to eat. “And, of course, the whiskey I promised.” He leaned off to the side and pulled out a couple of glasses and a fifth out from the side table. After popping the glass stopper from the bottle, he held it beneath his nose a moment before pouring a generous portion into each cup.
Amber reached for the glass as he pushed it across the table, her fingers brushing against his for a second. Even in that brief moment, he could feel the electricity running through them. She felt it too. He knew it. Her face stayed strong, not showing the slightest hint of surprise. It was the tiniest jump before she snatched the glass back. If he hadn’t been watching for it, the movement would’ve gone unnoticed. Now that he’d seen it, he couldn’t ignore his instincts. He’d been attracted to her since the moment she had set foot on the ranch. It didn’t mean a thing unless she wanted him back. In that instant, she’d given him all the signs he needed to know that he stood a chance. The only question remaining unanswered was how to approach her. Amber wasn’t the easiest woman to talk to, and he doubted she’d be easy to woo.
She sniffed her whiskey, then shrugged and tipped the glass back. Her face scrunched up as she coughed, clutching her chest and sticking her tongue out.
On the other hand, if she kept up this pace, she’d spend the whole night chatting, and he wouldn’t have to put much effort into the conversation at all. “Not a whiskey person?”
She wheezed as she struggled to catch her breath. “Went down the wrong tube.”
He picked up his own glass and sipped the contents. “I see. In that case, can I offer you another?” He held out the bottle, and she picked up her glass and held it out to him. Pouring her a little more, he tried to catch her eye, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.
He poured himself another round, and then he sat back in the chair and allowed himself to relax a little. She certainly wasn’t the type he usually went for. Of course, he typically didn’t pick women for their conversational ability. Quite the opposite, actually. It was refreshing to meet a woman who was able to hold her own against him. She seemed to have no problem taking his crap and shoving it right back in his face. He might not always like it, but it was exactly what he needed. Too many people let him do whatever he wanted simply because of who he was. It was nice to be with someone who only knew him as Colt.
“Cheers.” He clinked his newly filled glass against hers.
Tipping the cup back, she downed every last drop before extending her arm. “Hit me.”
He hadn’t even swallowed a sip yet. “You think that’s the best idea? Why don’t you slow down and have a couple bites of food? I promise not to let the whiskey go anywhere.” Bringing the bottle closer to him, he nodded toward the food in the middle of the table.
For a moment, she didn’t respond, simply stared at him through squinted eyes. Finally, she sighed and grabbed at the chips. Retrieving a couple from the bag, she dipped them in the salsa and stuffed them into her mouth. “So, what’s a nice guy like you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?”