All Jacked Up (Rough Riders #8)(82)

He whispered kisses along the elegant line of her neck. “Please. Come back with me, cowgirl.”


“I can’t.”


“Or won’t?”


“I won’t be paraded through the hotel like a naughty child who’s run away and is back to face the music. And it goes beyond me not wanting to run into Martine.”


“Does it go beyond you not wanting to be with me?”


“I don’t know.”


Another direct hit. “Well, buttercup, you can’t sleep in this barn, though I’m sure you’ll point out as a Wyoming tough girl you’ve done it more than once.”


“That would be true. And horses are better company than people. They don’t judge. They don’t talk back.”


“Yeah, but they smell like shit and try to throw you on your ass at every opportunity.” He saw her lips twitch. “Besides, I won’t let you drive back to Wyoming this time of night by yourself. Whatever you do, stay here, or go back to the hotel, I’ll be with you.”


Keely absentmindedly brushed tufts of hair from her cheek. “I’ll stay at your condo until I can leave tomorrow.”


“Keely—”


“Either I stay at your place or I hit the road. Choose.”


“My place it is.”


They’d crawled under the covers; a chasm yawned between them as wide as the bed. Close but not touching. Not sleeping. Keely faced away from him. He stared at the ceiling, a million thoughts raced in his head. None coherent.


Jack finally asked her the question that’d bugged him all night. Been bugging him for years, actually.


“Keely, do you think I’m shallow?”


She rolled over. “Sometimes. With some things. But I don’t think you’re as shallow as you pretend to be.”


Jack frowned. “Meaning what?”


“If you wear expensive suits, live in a swanky condo and drive a pricey car, people will think you’re successful.”


“That makes me shallow?”


“No. That makes them shallow because that’s all they see. Are you successful because you care about other people’s perceptions? Or are you successful because you want to be?”


“What do you think?”


“I think you’re successful because you love what you do, Jack. The money is just a bonus.”


He smiled in the darkness.


“But it’s easy to get trapped in that name brand mindset. To start to believe that what’s on the outside—what you wear, where you live, what you drive, where you’ve been—is more important than who you are inside those trappings.”



“I-I wondered if you’d like a glass of wine?”


“Actually, I’m more of a beer girl.”


Male chuckles.


“Did the hotel provide a full service cash bar tonight?”


“Umm…no. Sorry. Just wine.”


“Snooty bastards. Nothin’ wrong with beer and we are in Coors country after all.”


More chuckles.


Keely placed her hand on Fabio-aka-Ichabod’s arm. “Thanks for asking. I’d love a glass of ice water.”


He beamed. “Be right back.”


“I disappear for a few minutes and you’ve got someone else playing fetch and carry for you?”


Jack’s sexy husky voice caused a ripple of desire. She turned; Jack’s handsome, perfect face was right there. Green eyes rapt, full mouth curved into a smile. Without preamble, he pressed his soft, warm lips to hers, kissing her soundly.


Keely melted into him.


“You’re stunning as always, cowgirl. Except I’m disappointed you’re not wearing your lasso.”


“I left it upstairs on the bed.” She winked and hip-checked him. “For later.”


More laughter. Man. She was on a roll.


“I see you’ve met some of my colleagues.”


“Baxter was thoughtful enough to provide introductions to the gentlemen I missed last night.”


“Now, Baxter, don’t you be trying to steal another woman from me,” Jack chided.


The guys in the group didn’t know whether to laugh.


Baxter finally grinned. “If I would’ve known Keely was in your future, Jack, I might’ve waited to steal her instead.”


“Nice to know I’m that expendable,” Martine said drolly behind them.


“Martine. Sweetheart. You know we were joking,” Baxter said, drawing her into the circle.


The others in the group scattered, leaving the four of them alone together.


Martine ignored Baxter, granting Keely a head to toe inspection. “How sad you thought this was a costume party, Kelly.”


“It’s Keely, not Kelly, but I’m sure at your age it’s hard to keep names straight.” Keely flashed her teeth. “And thank you for noticing my outfit, although these are my everyday clothes. No point in wearing my best duds when there’s no one here I need to impress.”