Pressure Rising (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 2) (14 page)

Without even knocking, Pearl threw open Em’s bedroom door, finding her coming out of her bathroom. Her eyes widened. “Sheez, Pearl. You scared me.”

“You haven’t even seen the beginning of scared yet, trust me.” Pearl was surprised steam wasn’t flowing from her ears.

Em laughed, but it quickly fizzled. “What’s wrong?”

“Don’t act stupid. You were the one who let Pugly into the stall with Charmin.” Her chest narrowed.

Em’s shoulders slumped. “I did, but I have a good reason.”

Pearl took a step closer to her sister. “Good reason for letting that donkey mate with my thoroughbred?”

“I thought this would bring you and DJ together. And look, it did.” Her smile was weak.

“I shot him in the ass because of this. I was forced to stay with him, change his bandage. Do you realize what you’ve done?” Pearl was shaking in anger.

“But you fell in love with him. You’ve been in love with him since you were a teen and he kissed you behind the barn.” Realizing what she’d revealed, her face paled. “Oops.”

“How did you know about the kiss when we were teens?” She forced the words through clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry, but we were young. I looked up to you. I might have read a page or two of your diary.” She played with the hem of her shirt.

Pearl snorted loudly. “A page or two?”

“Half.” Pearl growled. Em moistened her lips. “Okay…all.”

“That is so wrong, Em!”

With a quick nod, Em dropped her arms to her sides. “I know. But I love you and I want you to be happy. I couldn’t stand to see you waiting for a guy who would never come because he had no clue you liked him. And now you have what you’ve always wanted.”

Pearls stomach flipped. “Then why did you let Pugly in the stall this last time? Your matchmaking skills had worked and then because of it we got into an argument.”

“I was standing on the porch and I saw Pugly come into the yard. My intention was to grab him before he did any more damage, but by the time I got to him he was standing outside of Charmin’s stall, shifting from leg to leg, and they were gazing at one another in a way that melted my heart. It was very sad. And I figured she was with foal anyway, so what harm would it do to let them spend a few moments together. I had no clue that you and DJ were outside of the barn until I heard you coming. I stepped into the shadows.”

“Em, you have lost your mind. You know that, right?”

“Don’t act like it wasn’t a clever plan. It worked.”

“We aren’t together. It didn’t work!” Pearl squeezed the bridge of her nose. Letting her hand drop, she sighed.

“He loves you, sis. That was obvious. I think even you know it’s true, but it scared you. You have to go and apologize to him.”

Pearl eyed Em in annoyance. “Why would I apologize to him?”

“You left the electricity off on Pugly’s pen. That donkey got out and came over here. That’s not his fault.”

“You’re right. This isn’t DJ’s fault. It’s yours. And you’ve managed to turn a spark into a blazing, out of control fire from meddling. Do you not understand why Jewels and I get annoyed with you?”

Em’s lower lip quivered. “That’s not fair.”

“Oh trust me, it’s very fair. Right now I can’t speak to you because I don’t have anything good to say.” Pearl turned and slammed the door on her way out.

Chapter Eleven

DJ forked the straw and tossed it into the large pile. He’d been working out in the sun for the last four hours and his hope of easing the tension in his body wasn’t working. The pressure was embedded in his muscles and bones.

Actually, Pearl was the issue.

He couldn’t get her off his mind. He hadn’t seen her in a week and it felt more like a year. He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t even think.

He had the money to start plans for his house, but even the idea didn’t motivate or excite him enough to begin. Hell, what would a cowboy need with a house if he didn’t have the family to fill it?

Moreover, he was leaning toward moving into one of the cabins. He didn’t need much room. He could use his savings to expand the R&R, at least follow one or two of his dreams since he couldn’t have the whole kit and caboodle. After what he shared with Pearl he couldn’t expect to find those emotions with anyone else. Just like Spark had said, once a woman took up residence in a man’s heart, he was a goner.

Tightening his hold on the handle of the pitchfork, he lifted it and gave it a toss across the straw covered floor.

“Yikes!”

The voice brought his head up. He looked through the doorway of the barn and his lungs ceased. The sun was shining brightly and a silhouette of a petite, curvaceous brunette stood in the doorway. He’d know that body anywhere. “Pearl? What are you doing here?”

“I hope that pitchfork flying through the air wasn’t meant for me. She took a step into the barn, out of the backlight of the sun, and he could see all of her. His chest pained.

“I didn’t even see you standing there.” The pitchfork had landed two feet from where she had been.

****

Pearl licked her lips. DJ stood several feet from her, his hat was missing, his hair was wet and his shirtless upper body was slick with sweat. She wanted him then and there. Too bad his brothers were working close by.

“You have a minute?” she asked.

“Sixty seconds isn’t long. I guess I can spare it.” He grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, uncapped it and drank it down in one gulp.

Who would believe a man drinking water could be so sexy?

Attempting to keep her thoughts on track, she hooked her thumbs into the front pockets of her jeans and shifted her boots. “I know I’ve been an ass.”

“I’ll second that.” He crushed the bottle and tossed it back into the chest.

“You didn’t let Pugly in the stall.” He looked at her like she’d grown horns, not making this any easier.

“That’s not a news flash to me. He unlatched the gate because the electrical fence was turned off. Unfortunately, you didn’t trust me.” He walked past her into the sun. Reached for his hat hanging on a hook and slid it onto his head.

“Okay, I was being narrow-minded and allowing my anger to get the better of me. I can be a jerk at times.”

“A big jerk,” he mumbled.

“Wow, I’m glad you see things my way so easily.” She sighed and followed him outside.

He turned on her, his gaze harsh and the set of his jaw tight. “What do you want? You can’t be here to blame Pugly for being in the stall with Charmin again. He’s no longer living here.”

“I know.”

“How would you know?”

“Nash called and told me what you planned, to get rid of Pugly. So I devised my own plan to buy him off you. He’s now living at the Rhinestone. After all, who was I to keep two lovebirds apart? I know how much you love that donkey and I’m willing to give him back, but I was sort of hoping…”

“Hoping what?” His gaze didn’t soften.

“That you and I could keep him together. And possibly build some other dreams together along the way.”  Her stomach flip-flopped.

“That could be a problem.”

She swallowed hard. “Really?”

“Pearl, you don’t trust me. Can’t you see that I fell for you? And you were willing to give it all away over a donkey and a horse. Obviously, your emotions are mixed up.” He turned and started walking away.

She had to run, but she quickly caught up to him. “You’re wrong. I’m not mixed up. I love you. I have for a long time.”

He came to a sudden halt and she almost ran right into him. “What did you say?”

“I love you and I want you. Love is unexpected. It’s inconvenient and a crime to the heart. But what is love without sharing it with the one who makes you laugh, makes you whole? Without love, without you, I’ll never be complete, and DJ, I want to spend my life with you.”

Seconds ticked by into a minute. He stared.

“I guess I’m wrong in what I thought you felt.” Pearl started to walk and he grabbed her elbow, twirling her around.

“Listen, you are a feisty, annoying, controlling, amazing, beautiful, kind woman who I love very, very much. Wanna get married?”

“Yes.”

THE END

From the author:

Thank you for reading. Please leave a revie
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Hugs,

Rhonda Lee Carver  “Writing Men Who Love to Get Their Hands Dirty…”

At an early age, Rhonda fell in love with romance novels, knowing one day she’d write her own love story. Life took a short detour, but when the story ideas were no longer contained, she decided to dive in and write. Her first plot was on a dirty napkin she found buried in her car. Eventually, she ran out of napkins. With baby on one hip and laptop on the other, she made a dream into reality—one word at a time.

Her specialty is men who love to get their hands dirty and women who are smart, strong and flawed. She loves writing about the everyday hero.

When Rhonda isn't crafting sizzling manuscripts, you will find her busy editing novels, blogging, juggling kids and animals (too many to name), dreaming of a beach house and keeping romance alive. Oh, and drinking lots of coffee to keep up with her hero and heroine.

I hope you’ve enjoyed
Pressure Rising (Book 2, Rhinestone Cowgirls)

For other titles by Rhonda Lee Carver, please visit:

www.rhondaleecarver.com

 Find me on Facebook, too!

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Other books by Rhonda Lee Carver

Diamond in a Rose

Double Dare

Delaney’s Sunrise

Second Chance Cowboy (Book 1, Second Chance Series)

Second Ride Cowboy (Book 2, Second Chance Series)

Second Round Cowboy (Book 3, Second Chance Series)

Second Dance Cowboy (Book 4, Second Chance Series)

Second Song Cowboy (Book 5, Second Chance Series)

Second Burn Cowboy (Book 6, Second Chance Series)

Second Hope Cowboy (Book 7, Second Chance Series)

Castle’s Fortress

Dreaming Ivy

Friends With Benefits

Sin With Cuffs

With Honor

Wicked Pleasures (Book 1, Wicked Wolves Series)

Wicked Lust (Book 2, Wicked Wolves Series)

Fighting Flames

UNDER PRESSURE (Book 1, Rhinestone Cowgirls)

Under the Mistletoe

Watch for Em’s Story, Book 3, coming in 2015!

Have you read
Under The Mistletoe
(Available at Amazon)? If not, here’s Chapter One. I hope you’ll enjoy.

Chapter One

“Want another Fluffy Critter?”

Alex Cooper shook her empty glass and winked. “We’re in Vegas, aren’t we?”

“Good thing we have a room.” Tara waved to a nearby waiter. “You haven’t had alcohol since…?”

“A year.”

Tara’s eyes widened. “That’s a long time.”

“I think I deserve this.”

“Of course you do.”

Alex nodded and stretched a kink out of her back. They’d been sitting at the slot machines for a while. “I’m so glad you invited me along on this adventure. I can’t believe I almost said no. Too bad I have to leave tomorrow because I’m already dreading it. Is it too late to come down with an illness? The flu maybe? Jen from work has been out sick for a week. I could blame it all on her.”