Sharp Shootin' Cowboy (Hot Cowboy Nights, #3)(23)

“Sure we will.” Yolanda didn’t meet Haley’s gaze. “There’s a perfect spot for us.” She pointed down the beach, and they walked past a cluster of small dunes where they set up their chairs. They stripped down to bikini bottoms but left their shirts on. Although it was a gorgeous day, it was still a bit early in the season for sunbathing.

“I’m dying for a run,” Haley said, already kicking off her shoes. She couldn’t wait to bury her toes in the soft, powdery sand. “Wanna go with me?”

Yolanda shook her head with a laugh. “You know how I hate to sweat. Besides, this body was not designed for that kind of physical exertion.” She waved Haley on. “You go ahead. I’ll be right here.”

Haley headed down to the waterline where the mile and a half of packed sand offered the perfect surface. She hadn’t run on the beach in forever. It was another simple pleasure she’d missed. She started at a fast jog, but, invigorated by the ebb and flow of the Pacific waters blasting her feet and ankles, quickly sped to a sprint.

Panting from her run, Haley returned to her original spot where she waved to Yolanda. Throwing trepidation to the wind, she tore off her shirt and dove into the frigid surf, emerging a few moments later with a shriek of laughter that died on her lips the second her gaze met a pair of sky-blue eyes.

*

Reid had always preferred the mountains to the ocean, but then again, there weren’t many beaches in Wyoming. On top of that, he’d experienced about as much sand as he could stomach after three tours on the Arabian Peninsula, but Garcia had insisted the beach was the best place to meet up with Yolanda and Haley. He’d agreed with little enthusiasm—until spying a mermaid, in all of her golden-skinned glory, emerging from the water.

Dripping wet in her tiny turquoise bikini, Haley blasted the breath from his lungs. This new version of her obliterated all lingering memory of the girl in the demure yellow sundress at the Temecula Stampede.

She halted in front of him with a glare. “Reid? What are you doing here?”

“It’s a gorgeous day.” He gazed up at the sky. “Do I need another reason?”

“Are you trying to claim this is just a coincidence? You aren’t even dressed for this. Who wears jeans and boots to the beach?”

“It’s not coincidental at all,” Reid said. “I wanted to see you and asked Garcia to set something up.”

Her gaze swept past him to where Garcia and Yolanda lounged together. She’d wondered about Yolanda and Rafael, but had never asked if they were still seeing each other. She’d wring Yolanda’s neck for this.

“You didn’t have the balls to just call me yourself?”

“Would you have come?”

“Nope.” She shook her head. “Absolutely not.”

“That’s what I thought when I got your package. Why did you send it back when I told you I’d come for it?”

“I didn’t want to see you again.” Her bluntness was like a blow to the gut.

“I don’t get it. You answered all my emails. Why the sudden turnabout? Are you involved with someone?”

“Maybe.” She tore her gaze away with a guilty look to focus on a group of squealing kids on boogie boards. She continued to avoid his gaze as she tied her wet hair into a knot on top of her head.

“That’s not an answer. Either you are or you aren’t. Which is it?”

“It means I’m thinking about seeing someone.”

“But you aren’t yet. That means I still have a chance,” Reid said.

“I t-told you before, I’m not into m-marines.”

Her lips were blue-tinged and her teeth chattered. His gaze dropped a tad lower to her beaded nipples and his prick swelled. He whipped off his T-shirt and offered it to her. “So you keep saying, but you are into me.”

“You conceited j-jackass! J-just because I l-let you k-kiss me once?”

“It was more than once and more than just a kiss.” He grinned back. “And for the record, I’m very much into you, too.”

Her eyes drifted over his bare torso, lingering for several seconds. When he caught her staring, she snatched his shirt from his hands. The shirt swallowed her delectable body, covering her to the knees. He almost wished he’d let her shiver instead.

After a moment she broke the silence. “You want to know why I returned your jacket? I’ll tell you why. I found a picture in your pocket, Reid. A picture of you with another woman. It was inscribed on the back. A night I’ll always remember. Tonya. Wanna explain that?”

He exhaled in exasperation. “That’s an old picture. Taken three years ago at my brother’s last wedding. Tonya’s the ex I already told you about. It was over between us before I ever met you.”

“Then why do you still have the picture?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “To be honest, I had forgotten all about it. I can’t even remember the last time I wore that jacket.”

“Why should I believe you?”

He cupped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Because I’m telling you the truth. Look, Haley, I can understand your caution, given your history, but I’ve done nothing to deserve your mistrust.”

“What do you mean given my history?”

“C’mon. Let’s walk. We’ve got a lot to talk about.” He kicked off his boots, leaving them in the sand, and then pressed a hand lightly to her back. She balked at first but then gave in, reluctantly matching his steps. “When I met your grandparents, they explained a few things to me.”