Slow Ride (5 page)

Jack is this close to securing a career make-or-break project, until he learns his lack of marital status puts him out of contention. When the notoriously hot-tempered and hot-bodied Keely begs him for help, he proposes a crazy idea. He’ll oversee her project—if she acts the part of his loving fiancée.

Their sizzling lust makes it all too easy to go from butting heads to knocking boots—but outside the bedroom they’re as mismatched as ever. The McKays remind Jack of the humble upbringing he left behind, and cowgirl Keely feels she doesn’t measure up to Jack’s big-city lifestyle.

When the dust settles, Jack and Keely must face the fact they’re not fooling anyone but themselves—

or they’ll risk losing the real deal.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
All Jacked Up: Keely considered changing her work clothes, but Jack would think she’d gussied herself up for him, so no dice. In Dewey’s, she spotted him in the far corner booth. He stood, waiting to reseat himself until after she’d sat. Okay. That gentlemanly courtesy was impressive. And sweet. And unexpected.

Nervous, because this felt like an actual date, she flipped through the menu even when she’d memorized it ages ago. “What are you having?”

“Chicken fried steak.”

“Sounds good. Been a while since I’ve had it.”

“Careful, we’re actually agreeing on something.”

“Maybe it’s a full moon.”

His answering bad boy grin had her heart doing the two-step.

After the waitress took their order, Jack stared at her with unabashed interest. “What?” she said testily.

“I don’t even know when your birthday is.”

“It’s not like you’ll be around to shower me with expensive presents.”

“We need to know some of that stuff about each other before the engagement party.”

True. Especially in light of suspicions all wasn’t right with said engagement. “May twenty-third. I’m twenty-seven. You?”

“April fourth. I’m thirty-four.”

“You’re an old timer, eh?”

A slight scowl. “I’d say experienced.”

“So, Mr. Experienced, what other secrets do we need to share?”

“Start with the basic first date stuff. What’s your favorite food?”

“Steak. Followed closely by bacon. Followed closely by chocolate.” She picked up a straw and rolled it between her fingers. “I’ll bet I can guess yours.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Yes, I will.”

There was that wicked grin again. “I dare you to try.”

Keely considered him. “This is way too easy, Jack.”

“So stun me with your insight, cowgirl.”

“Poached salmon. Wild rice pilaf. Brussel sprouts. Plain cheesecake.”

A stricken look crossed his face.

She smirked. “I totally nailed you didn’t I?”

Jack angled across the table. “Not. Even. Close. But I am intrigued by the thought of you nailing me.”

Oh. Hello lust. “The thought of nailing you has me equally intrigued.” She offered him a coquettish look. “Are you a breast or a thigh guy?”

That caught him off guard enough his gaze actually dropped to her chest. “Ummm. What?”

“Or chicken?” she taunted softly.

His hot eyes returned to hers. “My favorite food is not chicken. It’s not a nice juicy rump…roast, although I admit to being more of a butt man than a breast man.”

Keely blinked. She was quickly losing control of this conversation.

“I’ll give you one more chance to nail me,” Jack said with a sexy rasp.

“Only one?” she cooed back.

Jack’s hungry gaze zeroed in on her mouth. “Playing fast and loose will only encourage me to play the same. Be certain you’re prepared for what that entails.”

Yikes. “Speaking of favorite foods, I’m betting yours is some kind of wild game that fits with your personality. Boar?”

His lips lifted. “Wrong. This round goes to me. My favorite food is homemade meatloaf. Followed closely by mashed potatoes and gravy. Followed closely by corn on the cob.”

“Holy crap. That’s so…Midwestern of you, GQ.”

“Surprised?”

“Very.” Down home cooking appealed to Jack more than haute cuisine? Man. He’d surprised her like four times today. “Your turn to guess. What’s my favorite movie?”

“Easy.
The Princess Bride
.” He grinned. “What’s mine?”

“
The Jerk
,” she shot back.

Jack laughed. A deep, rumbly, sexy sound and she caught herself wanting to smile and sigh at the same time.

“Try again.”

“
Jackass
?” she tossed out.

More laughter.

“Okay. I give.”

“
True Lies,
” he said.

“That seems appropriate.”

Silence.

Keely fiddled with the straw, rolling it back and forth in the condensation.

Jack snatched her hand, stopping the fidgety movement.

Talk about big hands. Not soft, girly hands either, but rough. Manly. His fingers were long and thick, sprinkled with just enough dark hair to be masculine, not apelike. God. It’d been forever since she’d had a real man’s hands stroking her bare skin. Would Jack be gentle? Teasing? Or forceful?

“Keely?”

She shifted her gaze up. The curiosity or guilt he saw in her eyes caused a spark of heat to flare in his.

Jack stretched across the table until their mouths were a kiss apart. “We’re fucking kidding ourselves that we can keep this platonic for much longer.”

The growly timbre of his voice destroyed any smartass comment she might’ve conjured. She wanted to hear that growling noise against her throat, in her ear, on her belly, on the insides of her thighs.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she breathed.

“Like what?”

“Like you want to—”

“Isn’t this sweet, you two lovebirds holding hands and whispering naughty nothings to each other.”

Keely looked up at India with murder in her eyes.

Good girls can play rough too…

Cowgirls Don’t Cry

© 2010 Lorelei James

Rough Riders, Book 10

Jessie McKay has accepted her marriage to Luke McKay wasn’t perfect. After two years of widowhood, she’s ready to kick up her bootheels—until Luke’s younger brother shows up to spoil her fun.

But if Brandt thinks she’ll ever take orders from another McKay male, he’s got manure for brains.

Brandt McKay has avoided his sweet, sexy sister-in-law ever since the night he confessed his feelings for her weren’t the brotherly type. Unexpectedly faced with proof of Luke’s infidelity, Brandt is forced to ask for Jessie’s help in taking care of Luke’s young son. Jessie agrees on one condition—she wants Brandt’s boots exclusively under her bed for the duration.

The sexual heat that’s always simmered between them ignites. Brandt is determined to make the temporary situation permanent, proving to Jessie he’s a one-woman man. And Jessie is shaken by feelings she’s sworn never to have again for any man…especially not a McKay.

• Slow Ride
  
• Lorelei James
  
• Author�s Note
  
• About the Author
  
• Look for these titles by Lorelei James
  
• Now Available:
  
• Rough Riders
  
• Long Hard Ride
  
• Rode Hard, Put Up Wet
  
• Cowgirl Up and Ride
  
• Tied Up, Tied Down
  
• Rough, Raw and Ready
  
• Branded As Trouble
  
• Shoulda Been A Cowboy
  
• All Jacked Up
  
• Raising Kane
  
• Cowgirls Don�t Cry
  
• Wild West Boys
  
• Mistress Christmas
  
• Miss Firecracker
  
• Running With the Devil
  
• Dirty Deeds Anthologies:
  
• Wild Ride
  
• Strong, Silent Type (Rough Rider novella)
  
• Three�s Company
  
• Wicked Garden
  
• Beginnings
  
• Babe in the Woods
  
• Pulling off the ultimate con�if they can keep from pulling off their clothes.
  
• All Jacked Up
  
• � 2009 Lorelei James
  
• Good girls can play rough too�
  
• Cowgirls Don�t Cry
  
• � 2010 Lorelei James