Shine Not Burn(21)

She shook his hand while raising an eyebrow. “Mack? Are you for real, that’s your name?”

“Mack’s a nickname. Short for MacKenzie, my last name.” He grinned, and I saw the effect it had on Candice. Even her hard ass wasn’t immune to his charms. I melted into him a little and he put his arm around me.

“Where’s home?” asked Candice, sliding on her shoes. I noticed with a trace of bitterness that they were lower than the ones I’d been subjected to.

“Baker City, Oregon.”

“You’re a long way from home, cowboy,” she said, standing up straight and pushing her boobs up in her bra.

“That I am, ma’am.”

Candice’s face fell and she ceased her wiggling around, her shoulders drooping down. “He just called me ma’am. I’m going to go drown my sorrows.” She grabbed her little purse off the table and walked to the door, all hunched over.

“Where are you going?” I asked, mystified.

“I’m going out to find me a man. A younger one with a big dick. Keep an eye on Kelly if you feel like it. Otherwise, just lock her in. She’ll be fine. She’s sleeping it off in the bedroom on the left.” She stepped out the door.

“But … wait, Candice! You don’t have to leave!”

She stuck her head in the door, her smile back. “Sorry, babe, but three’s a crowd.” She winked. “I’ll catch you later, kids.” The door shut behind her with a click.

“I think your friend just green-lighted me,” he said.

I grinned big. “I think she did too.”

He swept me off on my feet again, only this time the spinning wasn’t nearly as bad since I was staring into his eyes the entire time. “Which way to the empty room?” he asked.

I pointed over my shoulder. “That way.”





Chapter Twelve





I SAT ON THE EDGE of the bed so I could watch the show.

The first thing he did was take off his shirt, button by button. I thought for sure that the cowboy hat was going to go flying first, or maybe that he’d set it down on the table before starting the strip tease. But no … it was the shirt that he started with, and damn, was I glad for that. Never in my life have I seen a cowboy with his shirt off and his hat on, but I decided right then and there that I wanted to experience that on a regular basis for the rest of my life. It made me wish I had a video camera going so I could re-live the scenario over and over again. This event being just a one-night stand really started to suck in that moment.

The boots were next. After taking them off along with his socks, he was standing in the middle of the room in just a pair of well-worn jeans and a straw-colored cowboy hat. A large, brass-colored belt buckle rested at his waist.

“Good Lord have mercy,” I said in barely a whisper, unable to look away. Somehow a southern accent had trickled into my speech. It just seemed appropriate, seeing him standing there in all his country-boy glory. I hiccuped again.

“That good, huh?” he asked, his grin going wide. He took several steps towards me, and I moved back just a little.

“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice low. I was reminded of a predator and its prey.

“I … I don’t know,” I said, stuttering through my sudden attack of shyness. He was too gorgeous for words. I was afraid to be naked in his presence.

“You don’t need to be afraid of me,” he said, still advancing. He held out a hand, palm down, in a calming gesture. “Shhh, come here, babe. Let me just hold you. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

His words warmed me to my toes. I had a feeling I now knew exactly how a skittish horse would feel in his presence. This man meant me no harm. Walking away would be the stupidest thing I could possibly do. No way was I going to live with that regret.

I put my hand out and let our fingers lace together. “I’m just a little nervous. One-night stands have never really been my thing.” Okay, that was kind of a lie. In college they had been, but not since. Six years of dedicated relationships, all with total jerkoffs. I’m nothing if not consistent.

“It’s the hat, isn’t it?” He took it off and put it down gently on the floor near us, never taking his eyes off me.

“It wasn’t the hat,” I said, my voice feeling strained. It most definitely was not the hat. My pulse was picking up the pace and my fight or flight instinct was kicking in. Or maybe it was my f*ck or flight instinct; that was probably more appropriate considering the look he was giving me.

“Is it the buckle?” he asked, gripping it in his fingers and angling it towards me.

“It’s not the buckle,” I whispered, staring at the letters engraved in the front of it … something in Latin over a coat of arms, maybe. I was too distracted to give it much thought. He was getting too close for me to think straight. I was way too dizzy from all the alcohol, so I stood, hoping that would help.

He stopped just inches away, not quite as tall without the boots on, but still so tall I had to angle my head up to look in his eyes.

“You are the prettiest lady in this entire town, you know that?”

I laughed a little, not falling for the schmooze but letting it warm me nonetheless. “I know that you drank about six beers in the space of an hour or two, so I have to think that may be interfering in your judgment.”