Destiny Wears Spurs (16 page)
Read Destiny Wears Spurs Online
Authors: Kari Lee Harmon
Right here. Right now.
She’d distracted his men as well. Hank, Rusty and, hell, even Jake kept stealing glances at her, almost falling off their horses. They were normal healthy males, but Christ, Cody wanted to hit something.
Monica slipped off the fence and then spun around to climb back up. Watching those sweet round cheeks wiggle, clearly outlined by that excuse for a pair of jeans, made him salivate like a damn dog.
Jesus, was that a red thong peeking out? Looked more like dental floss, if you asked him. If he wasn’t careful, she would unseat him yet. He climbed down off Babe and tightened the cinch on his saddle, when all of the sudden the same ornery Black Angus bull who’d charged Monica a while back broke away and charged Cody. His reflexes took over, and he stepped out of the way. The bull thundered by in a flurry of pounding hooves, nostrils flaring as he snorted.
Dammit, that was careless. They always kept the bulls separate from the cows and supervised the breeding, but Monica had everyone so damned distracted, no one was paying that close attention.
Monica screamed his name and bolted off the fence. What did she think she could do, rescue him? She ran hell-bent in his direction as fast as those ridiculous purple boots could carry her.
Good God almighty, she
did
think she could rescue him. He barely had time to swing back onto Babe. Urging him into motion, he reached her just in time, sweeping her up before she got herself gored or trampled for sure this time. He let out a sharp whistle and jerked his head toward the angry bull, sending his men to round up the beast.
Cody took several deep breaths as he rode to safety and set Monica on the other side of the fence. Crazy woman had scared the tar right out of him once again. With his fingers still spanning her narrow waist, he glimpsed her rounded flesh through all the open buttons on her shirt. Naked flesh. Holy Christ, she hadn’t worn a goddamn bra. He yanked his hands away. “Lord almighty, woman. You trying to kill me?”
“Fine. I won’t waste my time caring whether you’re hurt or not, you ungrateful oaf.” She marched away and refused to speak to him, clearly misunderstanding what he’d meant.
“Women.” He never had been any good at knowing what to say or do around them. Every time he tried, he said or did something to make her angry. Hell, if they ever did sleep together, they’d probably argue about who got to be on top.
Babe pranced to the side.
“What the?” Cody flipped backward off his horse and landed hard on his backside. Squish. “Oh, hell. Is that?”
“Yep, it sure as shit is.” Hank chuckled.
“Too bad we don’t ranch sheep. At least their droppings are small and dry.” Jake snickered.
“Funny.” Cody rolled to his feet and stepped forward, right into another pile of crap. “What the hell am I, a homing device for manure?” He wiped the back of his Wranglers with his glove and stomped his boot. He couldn’t blame his men for gawking. Rodeo Champion Bronc Buster, Cody Rafferty, had fallen off his “tame” horse for the first time in, well,
ever
. His new title may as well be Pasture Champion of Shit Magnets.
He was never gonna hear the end of this one.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Cody halted in the doorway of the barn at the end of the workday and stared. Jealousy rocketed through him, and he fisted his hands.
He watched Monica listen to Rusty’s instructions on how to ride the mechanical bull they used at the weekly barbecue. Rusty tied a knot in the rope he’d wrapped around a bale of hay and handed her the end. “Okay, Mo. You’re up.”
“All right, here goes.” She swung her leg over the bale and eased herself down, engrossed in the task. She wrapped the rope around her right hand and held her left one high in the air, moving in a rotating motion.
Rusty placed his hands low on her hips to guide her. “Good job.” He slid his palm over her leg to her knee and tugged it down a little.
“Like this?” She dropped her other knee.
“Yep.” He nodded, giving her a quick grin of encouragement, then slid his hand down to her ankle and turned her foot out.
“I think I’ve got it.” She twisted her other ankle out.
“Looks good, Mo.” His voice sang with pride, and he added, much to her apparent delight, “You’re a natural.”
“Do you really think--”
“Rusty,” Cody barked. “You mind finishing up in here? Miss Hammond will have to wait. I’ve got some things I need to do up at the homestead that can’t.” He’d put more irritation in his voice than he’d intended, but dammit, he didn’t like seeing Rusty’s palms sliding over her legs. And those hands had no business holding her hips so possessively and moving in that ... in that ... well, hell, it wasn’t gonna happen.
Rusty gave him a knowing look. “Sure thing, boss.” He turned to her. “Keep practicing. I’ll be back soon.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”
He touched the tip of his hat. “My pleasure, ma’am.” He disappeared inside the barn.
Cody turned toward her, and their eyes met for a tense moment. She broke the contact and resumed the position of riding a bull, obviously still angry about his earlier tirade. He stood there, not knowing quite what to say.
She dropped her arm and glanced back over her shoulder. “Is there something you want from me?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Really? I wouldn’t know. All you ever do is yell at me or stare at me. What do you want?”
“I want a lot of things, mostly to apologize for earlier.”
“No need.” She held up her hand. “I won’t make the same mistake twice, believe me.” She turned around and continued practicing.
Cody touched her on the arm and she froze in place, her breath making a sexy catch in her throat. “I’m no good with words, Miss Hammond.” She spun around and looked into his eyes, catching him off guard. “Good God almighty, woman, you make it damn near impossible not to want you.”
Her eyes went round, but she didn’t speak. She didn’t breathe much, either, just stared at him like he was a freak or something. Hell, he couldn’t blame her. He’d been hot and cold the entire time he’d known her. She had him so confused he didn’t know which end was up anymore.
All he knew was he wanted her with an urgency that scared the hell out of him. “Dammit. Stop looking at me like that.”
She blinked, but her parted lips sent him over the other side of the mountain.
Sliding his hand up her spine and plunging it beneath her hair, he pulled her to his waiting lips. His mouth brushed hers, tasting dust and feeling her breath puff against his face. She was warm with sunshine and body heat and smelled amazing for working herd all day. All the feelings he had been fighting poured out into that single kiss. She shivered, and he pulled back, staring at her for a full minute. What could he say? He took a quick breath and then turned and walked away.
“Cody?” Her voice quivered with uncertainty.
He looked back at her and she touched her lips, making him glance at her mouth. Raising his eyes, his gaze met hers. “Guess that run-in with the bull affected me more’n I thought. I’m gonna head on up to the house. See you tomorrow.”
“I hope you feel better,” she called out.
Feel better? Not likely.
There was only one cure for what ailed him.
* * *
Monica hadn’t been able to sleep and, for once, arrived early to work, just at the sun crept above the mountains in the distance. She sat outside, watching nature stir, and thought about Cody. Hopefully, today’s outfit would work. She had to do something to relieve all this tension between them, or she’d never pull off this campaign and Wendell would win.
And she would go to prison for murder.
Adjusting her faded jeans, she tightened the wide belt she’d worn more for looks than function. The low-riding pants were so tight there wasn’t a chance in Hades they’d slide off. She smoothed her hands over her skin-tight T-shirt that molded her curves and exposed her belly button.
Hank rounded the corner and came to a dead stop. “Hot tamales, mama.” His face flushed.
Hank blushing? That was a good sign, Monica thought with a grin. “Thanks. I decided to try being a bit more hip.”
He stared at her tightly-clad hips, and his slow smile revealed his dimples. “You’re most definitely hip.”
“Good. I was worried I’d make a fool of myself again. I feel like a different person. It’s kind of fun, though.”
“I’m all for having fun.” He winked.
“I can’t wait to try the mechanical bull at the barbecue.”
“Ever rope a calf?”
“Rope a calf? Heck, no. Is it difficult?”
“I was hoping you’d ask. Why don’t I show you, and you can add
that
to your list of new experiences?” His eyes danced as he snagged a rope from a fencepost.
The amount of fun she was having surprised her. She loved trying new things and couldn’t wait to tell Nat about all of it, but her father would think she’d gone loony. Maybe she had.
When Hank faced her, her mind emptied and she watched in awe. He tied a knot with such skill and ease the rope looked like an extension of his hands. Forming a large circle, he jumped back and forth through the loop with such grace he made it look like a dance. Her admiration grew as she watched the skillful flicks of his wrists control the rope. He twirled it high over his head and ....
Threw it right at her.
She yelped. In the blink of an eye, he’d roped her. Her arms were pinned to her sides, the rope tight beneath her breasts. About to tell him to let her go, she felt the first tug. “Very funny.” The man had outrageous down to a science.
He just grinned.
“Do I look like I have horns? You can let me go now.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’ll bet you’re full of the devil.” His eyes filled with his own devilish intent as he slowly but surely reeled her in. Hank was a born flirt, and Festus’s warning about the randy cowboys came back to taunt her.
“You’re full of something, and the devil doesn’t have squat to do with it,” she said as he drew her into his arms. There was only one randy cowboy’s arms she wanted around her.
It wasn’t Hank’s.
“Hank.” She raised her brow at him.
He loosened the rope and lifted it over her head, chuckling. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I don’t bite.”
Before she had time to respond, he spun her around and surrounded her with his arms. A protest formed on her lips, but he distracted her by putting the rope in her hands and showing her how to tie the knot. She became so absorbed in the task she barely noticed when he pulled her snug against him.
Cody stood in the barn doorway, clenching his jaw. Scowling, he watched Hank put his hand over Monica’s to help her twirl the rope high, and they rotated to the rhythm of the swinging rope.
They released the rope at the right moment, and it hit its mark square around the fencepost. She laughed in pure delight, hopping up and down in her excitement. Hank swung her around, praising her, but when he spotted Cody, his smile slipped and he set her down.
Cody frowned. Keeping his jealousy in check proved difficult. Monica knew exactly what she did to his men--especially Hank--when she paraded around in her body-hugging, second-layer-for-skin outfits.
“Thanks, Hank.” She laughed. “I’ve never had so much fun.”
Cody’s scowl deepened and he ground his teeth, remembering a certain massage in her cabin, a certain steamy kiss in the barn. She had more fun riding a bale of hay with Rusty and throwing a damn rope with Hank than spending time with him? Maybe she really didn’t care
who
she had the fling with, so long as he wore a Stetson and boots. Just like his ex-wife. He’d be damned if he’d go down that road again.
“No problem, Mo.” Hank dipped his head. “Gotta get to work. You keep practicin’, now.” He wandered into the barn.
“I will,” she called out.
“Interesting outfit,” Cody drawled, making his presence known.
Jumping, she whirled around. “Cody. I had no idea you were standing there.”
“Obviously.” He looked her over with distaste. “You’re supposed to be working on my campaign, Miss Hammond, not working over my men.”
She plopped her hands on her hips, her brows puckering and jaw falling open. “Why, I never--”
“Right. Next time, save the seducing of my men for your own time. Now you’re on
my
time, and I expect you to work.”
She gasped. “I wasn’t trying to seduce your men. If you’d open your eyes, you’d see I was trying to--”
“Save it. We’ve got work to do, and we’re wasting time on nonsense.” His eyes were wide open and he knew exactly what she was trying to do, but it wasn’t going to happen. He plopped his hat on his head as he strode into the barn. Let her chew on that for a while. Maybe she’d get the hint. Having an affair was a bad idea.
* **
At the end of the next day, Monica decided to take Nat’s advice again. She had to go to the dance with another man. If making Cody jealous was the only way she could get him to show up and get this affair rolling, then she’d do whatever she had to. No matter what he said, they both knew neither one of them could do their jobs if they didn’t do something about the tension between them. Having an affair was the
only
solution. Once they got each other out of their systems, everything could get back to normal. Hank was the perfect person to take as a date because getting serious was the last thing he wanted, and Cody wouldn’t be able to stand back and watch Hank in action.