Long Hard Ride (Rough Riders #1)(39)

“B-b-but why? You won. You scored a ninety-point ride.”


“I know. But I could’ve just as easily lost.”


“So this was just hedging your bet?”


“You might say that.”


She didn’t look convinced. “When did you buy it? Maybe I should ask, when did you have time to buy it? Weren’t you behind the chutes all day getting ready to dethrone Jace Bailey as the number one All-Around Cowboy?”


“Yeah. And I didn’t actually buy it. I gave Cash some cash and sent him to Wal-Mart after my ride with instructions for him to buy the nicest one they had for you.” He frowned. “Is it okay? You don’t hate it or nothin’, do you?”


“Omigod, it’s perfect!” Channing hugged it once more and then set it on the table before she threw herself into his arms, peppering his face with kisses. “Colby McKay, you are the sweetest man on the planet. I-I—I can’t believe it. You bought me a coffee pot! You didn’t have to.”


“I know, darlin’. But I wanted to.”


“Oh. Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Her eyes swam with tears.


“That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me in my whole life.” She kissed him with so much heart and sweetness, Colby felt himself getting choked up. If he weren’t careful, he’d find himself falling head over heels for this precious woman.


Trying to keep it casual, he nipped the end of her pert nose and retreated. “Play with your new coffee maker, darlin’. I’ll be right back to take you out for supper.”


They ended up eating dinner by themselves, a nice candlelight romantic dinner for two. Then they headed to the Wild Bronc. Colby didn’t protest when Channing danced with Cash and Trevor—as long as she danced every slow tune with him.


Edgard had opted to catch up on his sleep in the horse trailer rather than partake in the celebration, which wasn’t anything new.


Colby was having a good time drinking beer and shooting the shit with his friends. Although he was happy Channing had made new pals among the wives of the rodeo crowd regulars, he was restless.


As the night wore on he found himself getting more and more anxious. It seemed as if it’d been days since he and Channing had been alone, naked and sweaty, wrapped up together in an intimate lovers’


embrace, when in reality it’d been half a day since he’d woken up beside her.


Damn. He glanced at the horseshoe-shaped clock above the bar for the fourth time in so many minutes. Channing and Mary laughed hysterically at something and knocked back another round of kamikazes.


Cash chuckled. “She’s havin’ a good time. But you got someplace you’d rather be, kola?”


“I could be a total * and point out that where I’d rather be tonight is an option that an old timer like you don’t have with a hot young thang like her. But I’m feelin’ sociable, so I’ll let it slide.”


“Generous of you, McKay.”


Colby tipped his bottle at Cash in a mock toast. “I thought so.”


A few more minutes passed and Cash sighed.


“What?”


“This ain’t like you. Usually you see something you want and you take it—be it bulls, broncs, calves or women. Whatcha waitin’ for?”


“A sign that my travelin’ partner is gonna be occupied elsewhere so he won’t see us sneakin’ away and follow us, hopin’ we’ll entertain him until the wee hours.” Colby had promised Channing he wouldn’t share her with Trevor tonight, but the logistics of getting alone time with her were making him crazy.


“Shoot, that’s easy enough. Leave him here. He’s half-drunk anyway.


He can bunk with me tonight. I got an extra bed in my room. If he acts like a jerk to me, he can sleep it off with the horses.”


“Really?”


“Yep. And like you pointed out, it ain’t like I’ll be doin’ no mattress dancin’ myself tonight.” He gestured with his head. “Go on, take her and get out of here before I change my mind.”


He grinned and gave Cash a friendly whack on the back. “I owe you one, buddy.”


“Don’t think I won’t collect one of these days.”


Colby drained his beer and stared at Channing until she glanced up at him. Their gazes locked. Heated.


He mouthed the word “now” and her face flushed prettily.


She sucked down the rest of her drink as he ambled toward her, a man on a mission, not bothering to hide his intentions from her or anyone else in the bar.


By the time he’d reached the table, his dick was hard as concrete.


Channing scrambled to her feet and stammered as she said good night. Colby didn’t hear the lewd suggestions from his friends. He didn’t see the knowing looks, the winks and nudges. Everything swam out of focus but her. Channing.


He sensed her nervousness, yet surprisingly, she didn’t jabber mindlessly as they walked back to the motel side by side. Not touching.


Her womanly fragrance enveloped him like a drug so invigorating he didn’t trust himself to even hold her hand.