One Texas Cowboy Too Many (Burnt Boot, Texas #3)(57)

“I understand that the guys take off seven ways to Sunday, running through the carnival, around trucks and cars, and leaving nothing but a ghost of where they have been. Then they all meet up under the weeping willow tree on the banks of the river. At least those who don’t want to get caught do. The others stay out of sight until the woman of their dreams comes along. They put up a fight, but they usually get caught by the right woman.”

“So my willow tree has been their hiding place all these years. What are you going to do?” she asked.

“I’m going to run like the wind through the carnival. Then I’m going to circle around the fence line at the back side of Fiddle Creek and make my way to the hay barn. We’ll walk from here to there right now, so you’ll know the path I’ll take. It’s not hard to follow, and I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Which barn? There are two or three back behind the bunkhouse.”

“I’ll show you,” he said as he opened the truck door and got out.

Together, they followed a cattle path from the back of the store, through the rolling land, toward the bunkhouse. When they were about halfway there, the path veered off to the right, and in a few minutes, she recognized the oldest barn on Fiddle Creek.

“I’ll be waiting in the hayloft,” he said. “You go on up first, and I’ll follow you.” He pointed toward the ladder leading up through a hole in the barn roof floor. She scrambled up the ladder, very well aware of his eyes on her butt.

“I’m close enough I could kiss your ass,” he laughed as he started up right behind her.

“I might enjoy it,” she said, flirting back.

The loft had some loose hay scattered around on the floor, a few small, rectangular bales stacked along one side, and the big double doors were thrown wide-open. From that vantage point, she could see the empty Ferris wheel slowly making its rounds as they carnie folks tested it.

“Tomorrow I want to ride that thing,” she said.

Rhett wrapped his arms around her and snuggled his face down into the hollow of her neck. “All day long if you want to.”

“And you’ll ride beside me as long as I want to stay on it?” she asked.

“Of course I will. But remember it would be real easy for one of your cousins or your brother or even Mavis to shoot me dead. I’d be a sitting duck,” he joked.

“I’ll protect you.” She turned around and rolled up onto her toes for a kiss.

He removed his phone, touched a few buttons, and put it back.

“Turning it off for a reason?” she asked.

He pulled her close to his chest and started swaying to music coming from his pocket. The lyrics from “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” an old tune by Keith Whitley, played softly as he two-stepped with her in the hayloft.

The words begging her to let yesterday go and not to close her eyes and pretend it’s someone else brought tears to her eyes.

“I don’t think about Tanner when I’m with you,” she said.

He held her chin in his hand and gazed down into her eyes. “I can never hope to give you what he can offer. All I’ve got is my heart and soul, and you deserve so much more than that.”

A solitary tear escaped and traveled slowly down her cheekbone. He wiped it away with his finger and kissed her eyelid. Heat, passion, understanding, and friendship all combined into a big ball of desire deep inside of her body.

“Let’s don’t let a silly teenage crush ruin what we have. It’s gone and forgotten, and what my heart and soul deserves is a life of happiness and trust,” she said softly.

He stopped dancing and combed through her long, blond hair with his fingers. “I don’t ever want to look into your eyes and see regrets.” He sunk his face into her hair. “Your hair is like silk. I love the way it smells. It reminds me of apples.”

“Like Eve’s apple?” She leaned back and smiled up at him, glad that he’d changed the subject.

“Exactly. Dangerous and sweet and everything in between.”

“Then I’ll never change my shampoo.” She cupped his cheeks in her hands and kissed him hard. When she opened her eyes, she caught sight of a horse blanket flapping in the night breeze from a nail beside the loft doors.

She backed him up two steps and reached for it. “Hay sticks to naked bodies.”

“Oh, are we about to get naked?” he asked.

“Yes, sir, we sure are.”

Life was perfect and complete. They had a horse blanket, the stars and the moon shining down on them, and the promise of a Ferris wheel ride the next day. The road ahead was clear of all rocks and obstacles.

She spread the blanket out in the hay and pulled him down beside her. He pushed her back gently, and starting with her boots, he slowly undressed her, taking off her socks, then massaging her feet before he kissed each toe.

She was glad that she’d worn a sundress, a bra, and panties, or she couldn’t have withstood the excitement as each piece of clothing came off her body. Tight-fitting jeans, underwear, and a button-up shirt would have taken too damn long. As it was, he took his own sweet, precious time untying the straps of the brightly colored sundress and easing it down over her hips.

“God, you are gorgeous,” he said.

“My turn,” she said when she was totally naked.

She pulled his knit shirt up over his head and kissed the hollow of his neck, his ears, and his eyelids before settling her lips on his.