Kissin' Tell (Rough Riders #13)(30)

They’d shared some hot kisses over the last three days, but nothing like this. This kiss was a primal preview of every raunchy, dirty, kinky thing he planned to do to her. At least three times.


Maybe he felt a little smug that Georgia whined a protest when he broke the kiss. Maybe he felt a little cocky, seeing the dazed look of need that had heated her pale irises to a deeper blue.


“Drive safe.”


Chapter Eight


Trying to do twelve things at once, she let the phone ring six times before she brusquely answered, “This is Georgia Hotchkiss.”


“Georgia. I had to hear from Smitty that you got a job in Wyoming?”


She’d wondered how long before the news reached her father. “It’s been what? Four months since we’ve talked?”


“I’m calling you now. How long are you in Sundance?”


Why wouldn’t he assume her job was permanent? “The event promotion company I work for has taken over the summer rodeo events for our latest acquisition. I’m here to ensure it all runs smoothly.” She’d keep the conversation short. “Was there something you needed?”


“I can’t even call my own daughter? You’re too good to talk to your dad now?”


Georgia paced. “I’m not going to fight with you. I doubt you would’ve called me if Smitty hadn’t mentioned he’d seen me at Ziggy’s on Tuesday night, right?”


A pause. “Fine, I’ll admit Smitty called me.”


“I didn’t realize you and Smitty were so close.”


“We ain’t. He’s still good friends with Deck. He wondered if Deck would be upset when he heard you were back.”


“Why would Deck be upset about anything that had to do with me? We’ve been divorced for seven years.”


“You left him, Georgie. A man don’t take that well, no matter how long it’s been. No reason to rub it in.”


She hated that he’d called her Georgie. Like a boy. Like the boy he wished she were. “The reason I left him was because I caught him in bed with Tara-Lee.”


Her father harrumphed. “All men make mistakes.”


“That was the proverbial straw for me, and his mistake cost him, didn’t it?”


“Ain’t nothin’ as cut and dried as it looks. Anyway, I’m asking if you’re going to your high school class reunion next weekend.”


“Why didn’t Deck call me himself and ask?”


“Because Tara-Lee would get upset. Not good for a woman in her condition.”


“Terminally stupid is a condition now?” Wow. Had that bitchy comment just come out of her?


“Such a mean mouth. Just like your mama.”


Georgia rolled her eyes. Her mom had a mouth so sweet honeybees swarmed around it. “Yes, I’m going to the reunion. With Tell McKay.”


“Why him, Georgie? That’s gonna cause a big ruckus.”


“Deck and me being in the same room will cause a lot of speculation anyway. I don’t owe my ex-husband anything, least of all any type of consideration for everything that man has…” Taken from me.


“You remember your actions reflect on you, not on him.”


“I’m thrilled to hear that Deck is still golden in your eyes and he’s become the son you lost.”


“Now wait just a damn minute, Georgia Lou, that’s not—”


“Sorry, Dad, you’ll have to excuse me, I have a business call coming in on the other line.” She hung up on him.


Beyond angry, she paced, hands clenched at her sides.


Even when her father finally deigned to call her, it hadn’t been to see how things were going in her life. No, it was to poke at her.


Why are you surprised?


Needing to get out of her head, she cranked up her iPod and stormed outside.


She’d rented this small, two-story house because it had a great backyard. It wasn’t until she’d signed the lease that the landlord informed her she’d have to keep up with all the yard work. It’d surprised her, how much she enjoyed mowing the lawn, especially on days like today, when exercise was the secondary goal. Something about the mundane physical task alleviated frustration.



Yard mowed and trimmed, Georgia weeded and fertilized her little garden. She watered the pots of flowers she’d planted and scattered about. She swept the patio and scrubbed down the porch swing. She eyed the scraggly lilac bushes. Best not to trim them in her present mood—she’d likely hack them to stubs.


In her frame of mind, she considered canceling her date.


But maybe being a little pissy with Tell would force him to see that she wasn’t the purity-ring-wearing innocent he remembered.


Tell wanted her. He turned her inside out. She’d about come unglued—hell, she’d just about come period from those sexy love bites he’d given her in Ziggy’s parking lot. Obviously the man the bedroom sexpertise if he could almost get her off with just his teeth on her skin.


So why was he so hesitant to take that next step with her?