Rode Hard, Put Up Wet (Rough Riders #2)(9)

Macie frowned. “Was that an insult?”


“Not at all. Anyway, Amazin’ Macie. You from around here?”


“No.”


“Just passin’ through?”


“Yep.”


“With who? By yourself? Or with your family?”


“A little of both.”


One dark blond brow winged up. “Meaning?”


“I came here by myself, but I’m meeting my dad. Going where the road takes us.


Looking for work and adventure.” Her brain urged her to walk away; her legs didn’t listen. “What about you? You from around here?”


“Nope. I’m on a day trip. I live in Wyoming.”


“Where you’re an artist.”


“Yep.”


“What’s your area of study?” She held up her palm. “And if you say female nudes, I’m totally out of here.”


A cagey grin curled his mouth, making him look oh-so-naughty. “I’ll tell you exactly what magic I can create with these hands if you let me buy you beer.”


Hell yes. Then maybe you could give me a hands-on demonstration of your magical hands.


No. Bad, bad idea, Macie.


“I’ll pass.”


“Whoa.” His strong grip around her forearm kept her from bolting. “Just one beer.


It’ll give me a chance to explain why I chased…” A sound, half sigh/half groan rumbled from his chest. Then the blunt tip of his finger traced the outline of her face from her temple to her chin and down the curve of her throat. “Goddamn. You are stunning. I want to paint you like this. Fire and interest warring in your eyes.”


“Carter—”


“Say it again,” he growled. “I wanna hear my name on your sweet lips as I’m touchin’ them.” The rough pad of his thumb slowly swept her bottom lip. He stared into her eyes. “So soft. And warm. A perfect fit for mine.”


The way he was looking at her made her feel like she’d suddenly developed a case of sunstroke. No man ever acted like he wanted to crawl inside her head, mark her soul his and claim her body as his own.


You just met him. No one feels that. It’s a trick.


“Carter—”


“Say yes, Macie.”


“Say yes to what?”


“To everything I ask you.”


Her stomach cartwheeled.


“It sounds crazy, we just met, but I know you. I want…”


“Want what, Picasso?” she murmured.


“You’re playin’ with fire, askin’ me that question, darlin’.”


“Why’s that?”


“’Cause my very explicit answer would make you blush like a virgin and run screamin’ for the Black Hills.”


Everything surrounding them—sunlight, tinny music from the carnival, whoops from the grandstand, the sugary, greasy scent of fried Twinkies—faded into the background.


Boldly, she said, “Try me.”


Carter’s shaking fingers smoothed a flyaway hair from her cheek. “Oh, I’d try you.


I’d test you. I see what your eyes are offerin’ me, and I’d take it all, without apology.”


Totally out of your league with this man, Macie. Cut and run.


“And then?”


“Then I’d give that need, that passion, that obsession, that control, that lust—right back to you. Times ten.”


Pure sexual heat overloaded her circuits. “Oh.”


“Yeah, oh. Not what you expected?”


“No.”


“Why not?”


“Because that kind of fascination isn’t usually aimed my direction.”


“Straightforward. I like that. I expected you to play coy.” The back of his fingers continued to lightly caress her damp skin. “I want to paint you, sculpt you. Do you in every medium.”


“You sure that wasn’t a line?”


He shook his head. “There’s a reason we both ended up here today, Macie. Don’t know why, but I ain’t about to argue with fate. Or question my good fortune.”


A hot tongue of desire licked along her veins.


“So what’s your answer?”


“Take your damn hand off my daughter.”


Carter froze.


“Move it or lose it, son,” Cash ordered. “Now.”


Macie snapped out of her sexual stupor. “Back off, Dad.”


“Like hell. Who is this joker?”


Gemma said, “Cash, wait—”


“I told you to stay away from—”


“—you.” Macie stomped over and came nose to nose with her father. “Which I did.


You can’t blame me for not waiting around for you to ditch me.” Again.


Cash’s eyes and his voice softened. “Oh, honey-girl, I ain’t gonna ditch you.” He shot Carter a dark look. “But it appears you decided to ditch me with the first loser wannabe cowboy that comes along, eh?”