Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)(20)

She couldn’t help the bewildered, “Why?”


“Because, sweetness, I can.” Then he kissed her. Not with the hunger, but with delicacy. Letting their harsh breaths mingle, thoroughly teasing her lips, making her want a firmer kiss. Making her want his unrestrained passion, not his caution.


Tell held her face in his hands and ended the kiss. “Let’s get you home.”


Dazed, and a little petulant, Georgia tried to return to the passenger’s side, but he wouldn’t allow her retreat. He pulled her back to the middle of the bench seat and rested his hand on the inside of her thigh.


He left his pickup idling by the curb as he walked her up the sidewalk. “Didja have fun today, Georgia?”


“Yes.”


“Me too. Did you notice all the folks watchin’ us? Ought to make for some interesting chatter around town tomorrow.”


She’d had such a great time she’d forgotten that creating buzz about them being a couple was part of the deal.


He stopped in front of the door. “You busy tomorrow night?”


“More of this ‘see and be seen as a couple’ stuff?”


Bristling, he stepped back. “You can say no.”


“I’m not saying no tonight, Tell.” Maybe he wouldn’t notice that came out kind of whiny.


“I know that too. What’s with the snippy answers and the pouty face?”


“I’m not pouting.”


“Yes you are.” He pushed her against the door. “Gimme a smile, Georgia.”


“No.”


“You can give me a smile or I’ll take it.” He poked her ribs, trying to find her ticklish spots.


“No fair. Stop.”


“I will. All’s you gotta do is lemme see that pretty smile.” More pokes.


She giggled. God. When was the last time that’d happened?


“A laugh will work too.”


He kissed her cheek and tickled her until she shrieked, “Tell!”


He laughed. “Okay. I’m done.” He stepped back. “See you tomorrow.”


Chapter Five


The instant Tell popped out of bed he thought it’d be a damn fine day.


He couldn’t wait to get outside and do chores. Or more to the point, finish chores so he could come home, get cleaned up for his date with Georgia tonight.


Hard to believe he had another date with Georgia Hotchkiss.


He’d wanted to hang out with her longer yesterday, but he knew they’d wind up in bed and he wanted to wait.


Why? Haven’t ten years been long enough? Or are you stalling because you’re afraid you’ll disappoint her in the sack?


No. The younger version of himself might’ve been worried Georgia would find him lacking in bedroom skills. That definitely wasn’t the case now. He wouldn’t rush this; he had one chance to get it right.


Juggling his coffee, he drove to Dalton’s place.


Dalton ambled out after Tell honked three times. His brother wore sunglasses—never a good sign. He was either hungover or he’d been fighting or both.


“Rough weekend, bro?”


“Might say that.”


Tell pointed at his shades. “Take ’em off and lemme see how bad.”


Dalton slid his sunglasses down his nose, revealing a blackened right eye. “Satisfied?”


“You wanna let me in on what happened?”


“Not really.” He pushed the shades in place and adjusted his hat. “I’ll just say the other guy looked worse than me.”


“Where’d this happen?”


“What part of I don’t wanna talk about this is confusing you?”


“Touchy much?”


“Yep, so maybe we oughta hurry this up today so you don’t gotta be around my crabby ass.”


“Nice try. We’re fixin’ fence when we meet up with Brandt.”


Dalton groaned. “Fuck. Can’t it wait another damn day? I’m whupped, T.”


“Ain’t my fault you played too hard. We gotta get that section fixed because Brandt wants to run the bulls in there after we’re done turnin’ them out with the cows.”



“That’s right around the time Jessie is set to calve.”


Tell snickered. “I doubt she’d find the humor in comparing her to a heifer.”


“No shit. She ain’t finding humor in anything. Brandt told me she cried for an hour after she dropped a dish and she couldn’t bend down to pick up the broken pieces.”


“That don’t sound like Jessie.”


“That don’t sound like Brandt, neither. He never tells me shit like that.”


Tell downshifted as they crested a small rise. “He’s just worried about this pregnancy. And who can blame him?” Shortly after their dad got out of rehab, Jessie had miscarried. In a moment of anger, Brandt blamed the loss on the stress their father caused. Being a total *, Dad said the baby dying was God’s will.