Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(39)

It was a guys’ room—no windows, no frilly curtains or throw pillows. Just a big-ass TV, and reclining furniture.


Truman arrived and reached into the bar fridge, handing Dalton a can of Coors Light. “Have a seat.”


It’d never been awkward between them. They’d been friends since sixth grade. Since Truman’s brother Thurman and Tell were best pals, they’d pulled pranks on their older brothers. They’d double dated. They’d gone to strip clubs and concerts and rodeos together. They’d gone fishing and hunting and talked about cars, girls, sex, guns and sex nonstop.


And right now, Dalton couldn’t think of a damn thing to say. A younger version of him wouldn’t have been comfortable with the silence. He would’ve blurted out something inappropriate to break the ice. He sipped his beer and waited.


“I heard about your dad. How’s he doin’?”


“Casper is Casper.”


“Thurman said that Tell wasn’t sure if you’d come back.”


“About didn’t.”


“How long you here for?”


Dalton shrugged. “I’m at the wait-and-see point for a lot of things.” He took another drink. “Addie looks good. Congrats on…everything.”


Truman sighed. “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have beaten the crap outta you that day. But Jesus, Dalton. I had no idea what the f*ck was wrong with you and why you’d do that to Addie. Just walk away from her. Seein’ her cry…I wanted to put the hurt on anyone who made her cry.”


“You certainly put the hurt on me that day.”


“Yeah, well. You deserved it. At the time. Now I can’t thank you enough for walking away. ’Cause Addie is it for me.”


“Did you feel that way about her when me’n Addie were engaged?”


“I was jealous as hell. I knew you didn’t appreciate what you had in her.”


“You’re right. I didn’t deserve her. I think I knew that all along.”


Truman smiled. “I ain’t gonna argue with you.”


“So we good?”


“Just as long as you ain’t here to try and get back whatcha lost.”


I am, but Addie isn’t what I lost. “You have my word.”


“Good. So tell me what you’ve been up to the last few years.”


Dalton hit the high points and the low points, but he steered the conversation back to Truman. And he seemed eager to prove he could more than take care of Addie and they were blissfully happy.


They’d just cracked open their second beer when the den door opened. Addie stood in the doorway, but Dalton barely spared her a glance. His focus was entirely on the blonde bombshell behind her.


“Rory is here so if you guys wanna come into the kitchen, we can eat.”


Truman hopped up. “I’ll help you set the table.”


The instant Addie and Truman were out of view Dalton yanked Rory into the room, pressed her against the wall and kissed the holy hell out of her. His hand wrapped in the golden silk of her hair. His mouth on hers, owning hers. When he ended the kiss, Rory’s eyes were glazed with lust. Her mouth so full and ripe he had to kiss her again.


This time she twisted her head away. “I’m happy to see you too, but will you please quit mauling me?”


“Huh-uh. I knew you’d be pissy if I didn’t give you at least one of them bully-kisses when I first saw you. And for the rest of the night, I gotta act like this is casual between us.”


Those green eyes blinked at him slowly. “It is casual.”


“The f*ck it is. And the f*ck I’m your rebound guy from Dildo either.”


“Rebound guy? That’s what Addie said you were?”


“Yes.” He paused. “Am I?”


Rory didn’t deny it. She suddenly became very interested in the carpet.


His stomach roiled. “Rory?”


Addie yelled, “Come and get it!” before Rory had a chance to respond.


During dinner Dalton had fun reminiscing with Truman and hearing some of the things Addie and Rory had done over the years.


They left after dessert—the separate cars thing sucked, but Rory didn’t balk when Dalton suggested he stop by her place for a little while.


Her dog Jingle met him at the gate. “Hey there. Remember me?”


Jingle sniffed and licked. Then her tail started to wag. “You’re a good guard dog.”


“She thinks she’s a guard dog but she’s scared of squirrels.”


“Well, we’ve all got fears.”


“Even you?”


Especially me, especially when it comes to you.


Seemed more of a rhetorical question as Rory held the door open for him.


Dalton stole a kiss as he brushed past her. He took a look around her place as he shed his outerwear. Such a contrast between Rory’s home and Addie’s. Nothing matched in Rory’s space. The furniture, the pictures hanging on the wall, even the objects decorating the room were colorful, funky and decidedly bohemian. He loved this place that was so perfectly Rory.