Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)(16)

“I’ve got no control over who looks at me, Georgia. You either trust me or you don’t.”


She was clearly torn, wanting more assurances, but Tell offered her none. Finally a faint smile touched her lips. “Obviously I have some trust issues that aren’t your concern. So what are we doing tomorrow?”


Tell brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “We’re gonna have some fun. Because I get the feelin’ you don’t have near enough fun in your life, hot lips.”


“Tell. You don’t have to—”


“Get you to loosen up? Yes, I do. ’Cause that’s one of the things I do best.”


“What’s the other thing?”


He raised a brow at her and smirked.


“You’re such a guy.”


“And proud of it. Mark my words, I’m gonna make you have fun tomorrow even if it pisses you off.”


Georgia laughed. “What fun thing do you have in mind?”


“I’m takin’ you out for ice cream. But first we’ll meet in the park at the basketball court. Wear something casual and sporty, because sweetness, I’m gonna make you work for that very first lick.”


Casual and sporty, he’d said.


Georgia checked her reflection in the bathroom mirror for the fourteenth time before she muttered, “Screw it,” and sailed out the door. On the walk, she gave herself a pep talk.


Don’t overanalyze everything. Have fun. Be sexy. Be flirty. In other words, act nothing like yourself.


No pressure.


By the time she reached the park, she’d calmed herself down.


Then she got a gander at Tell McKay and her heart rate zoomed into the danger zone again.


Uh, yeah. No mistaking him for a teenage boy now.


Tell wore black basketball shorts that hung above his knees and a sleeveless gray top that molded to his upper body. Over the years he’d bulked up, making his chest appear broader than she’d remembered. And yeah, baby, check out those well-defined arms. His skin was startlingly white from the ball of his shoulder to his muscled biceps, and from that point down, the length of his arm was a caramel brown. Even a farmer’s tan looked good on him.


He noticed her and jogged over, holding a basketball. “I’m glad you came.” His gaze moved over her body from her orange Lycra tank top to her gray cotton capris to her black athletic shoes. “You look great.”


“You too.” Without a cowboy hat covering his dark hair, she saw the ends held a slight curl. Such a tempting man, with his banging body, piercing blue eyes and those deep dimples. She wanted to lick him up one side and down the other. And that was a totally foreign feeling to her. She defined reserved in all matters of her life, especially in relationships with the opposite sex.


“You ready to play?”


“I thought we were going out for ice cream?”


“After.” He dribbled the ball around her. Stopped and took a shot at the basket. Naturally, he sank it. He chased after the ball and bounced it as he returned.


“You’re good. Why didn’t you play in high school?”


“It conflicted with rodeo season. I like shooting hoops for fun. Not everything has to be about competition.”


Her eyes met his in direct challenge. “So we’re not havin’ us a little contest?”


Tell laughed. “You mimic me pretty well, sweetness. Yes, we’re havin’ us a little contest.”


“I can’t go one-on-one with you, Tell. You’re too big.”


He eyes smoldered. “I’ve no doubt you could take me. Take all of me just fine.”


Wasn’t he just pouring on sexual innuendo today? And didn’t she get a secret thrill out of it? When was the last time any man had cajoled her into having fun while making her think of hot skin, cool sheets, and a night without end? Never, probably.


“We’re playing for ice cream?”


He shook his head slowly, gifting her with a sexy, sly grin. “If you win, you get to pick the place on your body I kiss. If I win, I get to pick the place on your body to kiss.”


Her mind automatically compiled a list of spots, adding stars and hearts to her favorites.


“Earth to Georgia.”


Her gaze zoomed back to him to see a sinful grin on his handsome face. “That sounds like a heckuva good deal for me. What do you get out of it?”



He loomed over, all hard-bodied man. “I finally get to put my mouth on you wherever I want.”


“So confident you’re gonna win?”


“I’ve already won.” Tell pressed his lips to hers and let the kiss linger. No tongue, just the warm tease of his mouth. “I trust you know how to play horse?” he murmured between soft smooches.


“Yes. But I get to shoot first because you’re going down.”


“Or I’m goin’ down on you.” Grinning wickedly, he handed her the ball. “Show me whatcha got, hot lips.”


Georgia had always hated that nickname, but coming from Tell in that husky male rasp…made it sound sexy. Standing on the right side of the basket, she shot and the ball bounced off the glass to the other side.