Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)

Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13) by Lorelei James


Prologue

Tell McKay had a boner.

In history class.

At least it hadn’t happened in math, where he’d have to stand at the board to solve a problem and then everyone could see…his problem.

His cheeks burned imagining how much that would suck.

He shifted in his seat and blamed his situation on the distraction seated in front of him.

The oh-so-hot, oh-so-out-of-his-league, sweet, sexy and amazingly perfect class beauty, Georgia Hotchkiss.

Yeah, Georgia was always on his mind.

She was something else. A petite powerhouse. The ultimate diversion. Those damn short, damn tight cheerleading skirts that showcased her athletic body. If he angled his head to the side, he caught a glimpse of her muscular thigh instead of the back of her head. Not that the view was bad. Her hair was as black and shiny as a crow’s wing in the sun. Add in her china-white skin, full ruby lips and Georgia could be a modern-day Snow White.

You’re a real poet, McKay. More like a f*ckin’ pervert. Think about something else.

“Tell?”

Startled by the husky rasp of his name, he glanced up from his notebook, right into pale, icy-blue eyes that made him stammer like a fool. “W-what?”

“Did you do the homework assignment?”

Be cool. Do not imagine Hot Lips Hotchkiss whispering that in your ear. “Yep.”

Her mouth curved into a smile. He wondered if the gloss glistening on her lips was flavored. Would it taste like bubble gum? Peaches? Ripe black cherries?

“Thank God. Can I copy it?”

Tell managed to rip his focus from her plump lips. Before he could speak, she cranked the charm on high.

“Please? You let me do it before. And I didn’t have time because I was…”

Sucking face with your * boyfriend?

Not that he’d ever say that, but man, he hated Declan “Deck” Veldekamp; not just because the super jock—aka big man on campus—was dating the hottest girl in their class. The guy was a prick and a bully. And those were his best traits.

“You was what?” Tell whispered back.

“Bottle-feeding the replacement calves my dad got yesterday.”

He snorted.

“You don’t believe me? I’m serious. I had chores to finish last night.”

“So did I. And I was up until three a.m. helping my brothers pull a couple of calves since my dad—” was passed out in the barn, “—needed some shut-eye and I still got my homework done.”

Her tempting lips formed a pretty pout. “I don’t see the big deal in you letting me copy it real quick.”

You wouldn’t.

Like you didn’t see a problem asking me to help with prom decorations, and I ended up doing everything.

Like you didn’t see a problem asking me to help with Fellowship of Christian Athletes concessions, and I ended up doing everything.

“Please, Tell? I’m desperate.”

“Miss Hotchkiss,” Mrs. Walls said sharply. “Stop flirting with Mr. McKay and get ready to turn in your assignment.”

Swish. Her silky hair tickled Tell’s knuckles as she whipped her head. The scent of cherries traveled from his nose straight to his crotch.

Fuckin’ awesome.

“I’m afraid that’s the problem, Mrs. Walls,” Georgia intoned sweetly. “I seem to have…lost my assignment and I was just asking if he saw the paper fall out of my binder.”

“Is that true, Tell?”

Now Miss Sweet and Sexy was asking him to lie for her? Bull crap.

“No, ma’am, that is not true.”

“Well, then, what were you two whispering about that was so all-fired important that you disrupted my class?” Mrs. Walls demanded.

Tell knew the hard-nosed teacher wouldn’t let it go. “Georgia and I were talkin’ about the upcoming class project, bein’s we’re partners. She forgot the folder with our notes and discovered she’d slipped her assignment in it too.”

When Georgia gaped at him, Tell allowed a smug grin, but stopped short of giving her a conspiratorial wink.

“I’ll let it slide this time, only because I’m impressed you two have already started on the project,” Mrs. Walls said.

Score! Now with Hot Lips as his partner for a major graded assignment, she couldn’t back out. It finally gave him the chance to show her the real Tell McKay. Not the tongue-tied loser who sat behind her in history class and sniffed her hair.

“What’s the subject matter?” Mrs. Walls asked him.

Crap. “Ah. Advances and setbacks in Wyoming livestock practices over the course of Wyoming statehood.” Hey, that sounded pretty good, especially on the fly.

“Excellent. The rest of you might as well choose partners today—after you turn in your assignments. The bell rings in two minutes, so get cracking.”

Tell’s mind drifted into a soft-focus image of Georgia and him, alone, studying in the back of the library with their heads bent close. When they looked up simultaneously, Georgia would whisper his name and lick her lips, letting him know she wanted him. Then would he gently touch her face and slide his hand into that thick waterfall of shiny black hair? Or would he keep eye contact with her as he gradually moved in for a long, slow kiss?