Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)(24)

Come to think of it, that had happened more than once over their high school years.


If Tell was the vengeful type, agreeing to take her to the reunion and then standing her up would be a perfect way to get back at her.


The beautiful evening was impossible to resist, and Georgia sat on the front steps, basking in the sun’s last rays as she waited for Tell to pick her up. She’d probably overdressed in capris, a sleeveless yellow shirt patterned with tiny daisies, and wedge sandals, given the fact they’d played basketball on their first date.


Her heart skipped a beat as she watched Tell saunter up the sidewalk. He wore that sexy grin and his usual cowboy finery that made him look smokin’ hot, so she was glad she’d taken extra time with her appearance.


“You make such a damn pretty picture, sittin’ out here with the sun shining on your hair, making it look like black gold.”


“Listen to you, Tell McKay, talking so sweet.”


As soon as she was upright, he tugged her into his arms. Then his mouth was on hers, reminding her that he knew how to kiss. Georgia’s head was pleasantly muzzy by the time he pulled away.


“I like hearing that happy little hum when I kiss you. Gets me all kinds of curious about what other noises you make when you’re turned on.”


Georgia laughed softly. “Don’t get my hopes up that you’ll find out tonight.”


Tell frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”


“Nothing. Where we going?”


“To Bill’s Burger Shack in Hulett. Best burgers around. Been there yet?”


“No. But first ice cream? And now burgers? You’d better have a plan to help me work off these extra calories, Tell McKay.”


“I do.”


“Which is…?” Should she mention sex burned a lot of calories?


“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”


“I don’t like surprises.”


“So I gathered. Come on. Let’s go.”


The drive was beautiful. The years away from this area had allowed her to forget just how spectacular the scenery was. Had she ever really appreciated it?


They scored the last table in the burger joint. Between bites of an oversized burger, Tell asked about scheduling for upcoming rodeos. She responded as best as she could, but each event had different parameters and she hadn’t memorized the details.


That didn’t make him happy. She knew he was anxious to get scheduled to judge, but he’d brought it up on the drive back to her house after the trip to DQ too. Was that all he cared about?


Did he think she only cared about the reunion?


Maybe. To prove she had interest in his life, Georgia asked about his day. He mumbled about Dalton being hungover, his sister-in-law Jessie having a short fuse and broken fences that don’t fix themselves.


Then he clammed up and this slid into awkward date territory.


Tell didn’t talk to her but he sure didn’t have a problem talking to anyone else—or everyone else that stopped by their table. When Tell introduced her, a few people remembered her; mostly they remembered her brother RJ.


While Tell chatted with yet another person she didn’t know, she was reminded of her biggest mistake after moving to Sundance the beginning of her sophomore year: letting her high school boyfriend become her everything.


Deck’s interests, activities and friends took priority over hers. Cheerleading was the one activity she could claim as her own. Being back here was a harsh reminder that she’d spent her high school years as arm candy. Virginal arm candy. Silent, virginal arm candy. A girl so sweet and demure sugar wouldn’t melt in her mouth. A girl whose opinions were considered as fluffy as a bag of cotton candy. She snorted. There was a past persona to be proud of.



So as proud as she was that she’d grown a spine and left Deck, she knew few people would see the new and improved Georgia Hotchkiss—because no one had really known the old Georgia.


Tell leaned forward to capture her attention. “Sorry about that. Tim, from my dart team, tends to go on and on.”


Georgia bit back her smart response, I hadn’t noticed.


“He’s one of those guys who believes we oughta have a strategy for winning the league. When most of us are just there to bullshit and drink beer.”


“That’d be the only draw for me.”


“Speaking of… Would you come to Ziggy’s tomorrow night and watch the match?”


Nothing she disliked more than being a spectator at a guys’ sporting event—she’d done that more times than she could count. But if she wanted to spend time with Tell, hopefully naked time, she’d have to take one for the team first. “What time?”


“League starts at seven. It’s usually done by nine.”


“I could show up for a little while.”


He grinned. “Good. As far as tonight… Are you a fan of John Wayne movies?”


“I’ve only seen a couple, so I don’t know if that qualifies me as a fan. Why?” Please say we’re going back to your place to watch movies. In your bed.