Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)(25)

“The Sundance Arts Council plays movies in the park every Monday night in the summer. They have a big projection screen by the band shell. You interested in checking it out?”


Tell wore such an earnest look she couldn’t say no. “Sure, as long as it doesn’t run past my bedtime.”


“When’s that?”


“Whenever you decide it’s time to take me to bed,” she purred. Then she stood, adding an extra wiggle as she dumped her empty cup in the trash.


Tell was a lot friendlier on the drive back to Sundance.


At the park, he spread out a blanket on the grass, away from the families with small children. She looked around, feeling so far out of her element she might as well be on Mars.


Then Tell’s hand gently touched her face. “Georgia? Something wrong?”


I don’t fit in here. I never have. “Just lethargic after eating.”


He scooted back, stretching his legs into a V. “You can use me as a pillow.”


Georgia crawled toward him. That bad-boy grin with smirking dimples was impossible to resist. She nestled her backside into his crotch, wiggling to get comfortable. Rolling her spine against his chest, she releasing a tiny sigh. Tell was so warm and firm. She turned her head to kiss the bottom of his jaw, getting a noseful of his pine-scented aftershave. “You are kinda hard for a pillow.”


“And getting harder in some places.” He set his chin on top of her head. “You feel good on me.”


“You’d feel good in me.”


He chuckled. “You never give up, do you?”


“Nope. So be prepared to be worn down by my feminine wiles, cowboy. Because not only do I talk dirty, I can act out all the dirty suggestions. Wanna see?”


“Maybe later.”


The movie started and she blocked out all sounds, concentrating on the steady beat of Tell’s heart and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. Onscreen, John Wayne was shooting at an outlaw. She tried to focus on the action, but her eyelids kept slipping shut. It wouldn’t hurt to rest her eyes. Just for a couple of minutes.


A rough hand skated up her arm and she jumped.


“Relax. You conked out for the first half.”


“It’s not over?”


“Intermission gives the local kids’ groups a chance to sell popcorn, candy, soda. The rodeo club is scheduled to work the concession next month.”


“How do you know that?”


“I’m an advisor to the club. Some of these kids need direction. Plus, it’s fun.”


That surprised her. “What else do you do for fun in your free time?”


“I hang out at the trap club. My cousins Colt and Kane roped me into refereeing at Little Buddies/Big Buddies flag football and basketball games. I shoot pool with Thurman, Warner and Ned.” He shrugged. “I’d rather do just about anything than stay home by myself. That ain’t fun.”


“That’s completely the opposite of the way I am. I’d hole up in my condo in Dallas all the time, if I could.”


“You love your place that much?”


No. I just don’t have anywhere else to go.


Tell kissed her forehead. “Well, I aim to change your antisocial ways now that you’re back here in the Wild West.”


“And force me to have fun.”


He grinned. “Yep. By any means necessary.”


They wandered to the concession stand hand in hand. Tell struck up a conversation with the couple ahead of them in line.


The woman kept sneaking looks at her, until Georgia finally asked, “I’m sorry. Do we know each other?”


“I doubt you’d remember me. I graduated the year after you. We had gym together and Mr. Larkin partnered us for—”


“Tennis,” Georgia finished. “We got second place. I remember that. You’re Allison.”


“Yes. And I was friends with RJ.” She smiled sadly. “Then again, everyone was friends with RJ.”


“My brother did have a knack for knowing everyone when he walked into a room.” Kind of like Tell.


“RJ was a great guy.”


That pang of sadness surfaced. “Yeah. He was.”


Tell squeezed her hand.


But the encounter was a pointed and poignant reminder to her that this small-town stuff didn’t appeal to her. Where everyone knew her sad family history. Where everyone paid attention to her purchases in the local grocery store, gossiping that she’d bought magnum condoms and a raunchy romance novel. She’d rather be anonymous in a big city than infamous in a small town.


She looked around the park. Everything seemed too perfect. Almost as if it’d been staged. Happy moms and dads resting on heirloom quilts while their kiddos ran wild. Friends laughing together. Reliving the types of memories she’d rather forget.


You don’t belong here.


Georgia had such a sense of disquiet she abruptly let go of Tell’s hand.


Tell frowned. “You okay?”


“Ah, yeah, I’m just going to use the facilities.”