Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(108)

He smiled. But it was a sad smile. “Will you believe me if I admit I’m not in the mood?”


“I can see that. So what were you doing before I got here?”


“Spacing out.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I’m fine. You don’t gotta hang around like I’m on suicide watch.”


“Shoot. I was really looking forward to being all heroic by saving your life and shit. Way to wreck my night, cowboy.”


Dalton chuckled. “I see you’re in one of them moods.”


“So you gonna let me stick around?”


“You gonna be a pain in the ass while I’m tryin’ to watch my show?” he volleyed back.


“Probably. Are we watching porn?”


“You wish. I DVR’d the Universal Poker Tour.”


“Hate to point it out, McKay, but that is porn for you.”


“Busted.” He led her to the couch.


When she sat next to him, he grabbed her legs and draped them across his lap. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. “I am glad you’re here, jungle girl.”


For the next hour Dalton gave running commentary on every hand. Pointing out what he felt were mistakes and how he would’ve played it differently.


“You know…have you ever told me why you quit the poker circuit?”


“Most people assume I quit because I lost my ass.”


“I’m not most people, Dalton. But that’s not the case, is it? You let people think that.”


“Yep.”


“Why?”


“It’s easier than tellin’ them the truth.”


“Which is what?”


He paused. “I made a f*ck ton of money and quit while I was ahead.”


Rory shifted to straddle his lap. She held his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “A f*ck ton? Is that an official financial term?”


“It is according to my accountant.”


“I’m not asking this because I want a detailed financial spreadsheet, but there’s one thing we haven’t talked about. The fact you don’t have an official job. You said in the last couple of years you were a logger, and a hunting guide. Now you’ve applied for the elk farm. None of which will make you rich, and yet you don’t seem to be struggling to make ends meet while you’re waiting for that decision to be handed down.”


He closed his eyes. “Do we really have to do this now?”


“Yes. And I’m not asking in an official capacity.”


Dalton remained quiet for a minute or so. “The truth is, I’ve got enough cash and investments that I don’t need a job.”


“For how long?”


Then those blue, blue eyes hooked hers. “Forever. Since I played my cards right.”


Rory groaned. “I’m ignoring your puntastic-ness to ask if you’re serious?”


“Yep. I can pick and choose what I want to do because the job interests me. Granted, I can’t buy a mansion in Beverly Hills or a fleet of sports cars or a yacht, but I’m comfortable.”


“Why didn’t I know this?”


“Talkin’ about it smacks too much of bragging. I got to this point by havin’ a successful run at poker for about four years prior to leaving here. I didn’t blow the money on booze and broads—well, not all of it.” He smirked. “Even though I was winning, I had a budget and I stuck to it.” He shrugged. “Getting paid once a year when I was ranching meant I was already used to stretching out my money. Early on Jack Donohue gave me good financial advice. Then Chase recommended an investment guy and he’s diversified my initial investments. Now I’m able to live off the income.”


“Who knows this?”


“My banker. My accountant. My investment guys.” He twirled a section of her hair around his finger. “And now you.”


“But… Why don’t you—”


“Tell people that I’m not a lazy drifter, picking up odd jobs here and there and shirking my ranching responsibilities, but I’m independently…comfortable?”


“Yes!”


Dalton tugged her closer by her hair and brushed those full lips over hers. “Because I don’t care what people think of me, Rory. I spent way too many years tryin’ to live up to family reputations and expectations. Now the only expectations I live up to are my own.”


Here was her opening. “Is that what happened with your brothers tonight?”


“I don’t wanna talk about it, especially not when I have a gorgeous woman on my lap who offered to take my mind off my troubles with hot sex.”


“You turned me down, remember?”


“That was then. Now I’m thinkin’ a nekkid dose of sexy you is exactly what I need.” He cupped her ass and warned, “Hang on,” before he stood. He set her on her feet and kissed her in the sweetly seductive way guaranteed to melt her resistance.


Rory threaded her fingers through his and followed him into his bedroom.