Cowgirls Don't Cry(41)

First thing he noticed was the quiet. And the heavenly smell.

Jessie tossed a quick glance over her shoulder. “How were the roads?”


“Shitty.”


“Need a beer?”


“Like you wouldn’t believe.” He set the bags on the kitchen table. “Landon sleeping?”


“Finally.”


Brandt moved in behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders, which were hunched up by her ears. She immediately relaxed a little. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here the last couple days. Especially since Landon has been sick.” She hadn’t shrugged him off, so he kept his hands right where they were. “Tell me something, Jess. Have you thought about backing out of this deal?”


He couldn’t stop himself from sweeping her hair from her face, then gently running the back of his knuckles from her temple to her chin. This woman who’d given so much, wanted to give more. “No. This was for you. I did it because I wanted to, Jessie. I enjoyed it, but I don’t expect anything in return.”


Her eyes softened. So did her body.

As much as he wanted to stay…That was his cue to leave.

Brandt scooted backward on his hands and his knees until he was off the bed and his feet touched the floor. “I’ll get up with Landon tonight if need be.”


“Thank you.”


“Get some sleep. See you in the morning.”


He made it to the door before she said anything.

“Brandt?”


“Mmm?”


“How did you know my ticklish spots?”


“I didn’t. But I sure do know them all now.”


She laughed, a little huskily, and said, “Oh, you don’t know all of them.”


Damn. Was that…suggestive?

“Goodnight.”


As Brandt tossed and turned on the couch, he replayed every second of their interaction. Twice. At the end of the third dissection, he’d determined Jessie probably wouldn’t rebuff his sexual advances this time.

While that possibility caused a gnawing feeling of anticipation in his gut and made his dick stir with interest, it also served as a warning. He’d have to wait for Jessie to approach him about making a change in their relationship. Not because he intended to punish her for turning him down previously, nor did he want her to beg, but he had to be one hundred percent certain it was a change she initiated—not a change she was reacting to if he suggested they become lovers.

It’d be hard as hell to wait. But he would, because he knew taking that next step, a permanent one in his mind, would definitely be worth the wait.

“I think your best option is just to walk up to him, stark naked and say, Ride me, cowboy hottie.”


Jessie glanced up from tying a bag of garbage. “You cannot be serious, Simone.”


“What’s the problem? It’s direct.”


“A little too direct.”


“Girlfriend, ain’t no man gonna turn and run when faced with a sexy, naked, willing woman such as yourself. Trust me on this.”


Problem was, Jessie had seen a man turn and run when faced with her naked, willing self. Well, in Mike’s case it was more like he fell down and passed out, but still, it’d happened.

“Trust Simone on what, Jessie?” Skylar asked.

Crap. She blushed. “Oh, nothing.”


Simone harrumphed and said, “Later,” leaving her alone with Skylar.