Virgin Cowboy (4 page)

Braden found Tucker just where he expected—the bull ring.
His brother loved to take care of the beasts, and he had a way with them.

“Morning.” Braden sat down on a bale of hay.

“Your morning is gonna suck if you just sit there and don’t
help.”

He chuckled. “All right. What do you need done?”

“Water in the troughs.”

Braden turned on the water spigot above the tin bin. “I
wanted to talk to you.”

“What about?” Tucker pulled his gloves from his hands and
tossed them on a bench.

“Girl stuff.”

“Well, baby brother. When a man and woman like each other,
they—”

“Smart ass.” Braden rolled his eyes. “I’m being serious.”

“All right, lay it on me. I’ll do my best to help.”

Tucker didn’t have a serious bone in his body about women
before Lauren came around. Until then, it was just ‘love them and leave them’.
Somehow he got away with it. There wasn’t a woman in town who disliked him.

“Courtney and I went on a date last night.”

“Whoa.” His eyes widened. “Guess she changed her mind.”

“Yeah, and she kissed me.”

“Hell yeah.” Tucker rubbed Braden’s shoulder.

“It was awesome.” She’d tasted sweet. “I froze up though. I
wanted to touch her, but I didn’t know when.”

“Dude, do what feels right. Don’t kiss a woman and then
finger her….she won’t like that. But caress her sides and lower back. Read her
signs and then move to her breasts and so forth.” He paused. “You’ve had
foreplay before, right?”

“Yes. I’m just slow, and I don’t want Courtney to know.”

“Nothing wrong with slow, but I can see what you mean. If
you do too much, she’ll stop you, don’t worry.”

“Should I tell her?”

“Tell her what?”

He hated to say the words. “That I’ve never had sex.”

Tucker’s carefree smile disappeared, replaced by a shocked
expression. “Oh God, I forgot about that. Oh, man.” He squeezed the bridge of
his nose.

Braden hated to discuss the fact he was still a virgin. It
was like the white elephant in the room. “I have to tell her, don’t I?”

“Dude, I don’t have advice. Ask Lauren. I have no clue if a
woman would want to know right off the bat or not.”

Braden turned the water off. “You ask her. I don’t want to
talk to your wife about that.”

He shrugged. “I’ll see what she says.” Tucker grabbed his
gloves. “I’m excited you got the girl of your dreams though. That’s pretty
cool.”

“It still feels like I’m dreaming.”

“Yeah well, that never ends. I still worry I’m gonna wake up
and find out Lauren was just a dream myself.”

“Don’t you dare wake up since my dream’s mixing with yours.”

“Deal. Now let’s finish up. Nathan and Angie are due late
morning, and I want to be cleaned up before they get here.”

* * * *

Courtney handed a frozen glass to Bailey, the newest
bartender she’d hired just this afternoon. It had been a rash decision, but if
she wanted to start spending more time outside of the bar, she was going to
have to begin hiring. So far, Bailey was fitting in nicely. She was older and
had bar experience previously.

“This place is filling up.” Candy placed her hands on her
lower back and stretched. “Which is good. I need the tip money tonight. I broke
my phone and need to get a new one.”

“It’s Friday, so it’s possible you’ll make enough tonight.”
Courtney walked toward the door that led to the back. “I’m going to get more
beer so we stay stocked. You two okay up here?”

“Peachy,” Bailey said.

Truth was, she needed a moment to breathe. All she could do
was wait for Braden to arrive. It was crazy that she was so hung up on him. It
reminded her of when she was fourteen and had her first boyfriend. He’d been
her whole world until he dumped her two weeks into the relationship, the day
after her very first kiss. After that, she never liked a man again with
everything in her. She watched them for any signs they were tired of her then
ditched them before they could do it to her. The less attached she got, the
easier.

Her daddy didn’t do broken hearts. He told her to suck it up
and move on. Hell, when did he not say that? She’d cried her heart out when she
got pregnant and her boyfriend took off. Her father told her to quit crying and
put her big girl panties on. She was gonna be a mom regardless.

His way of thinking had made her feel cold throughout the
years. She often wondered if she lacked empathy. When Anna cried, it usually
irritated her more than wanting to solve the problem. But then came Braden, who
was awakening things in her…even away from him. Anna had fallen on the sidewalk
earlier in the day, and Courtney had kissed her tears away instead of telling
her to get up and shake it off. This was just weird.

Courtney picked up a box of the night’s special and wandered
to the front. Once back behind the bar, she knelt down and refilled the small
fridge. When she stood, she saw him. His whole family was there, even Nathan
and his wife. Had Lauren given out the news that she was pregnant yet? It wouldn’t
be long before the news swept around town.

“Excuse me,” Courtney said to her two co-workers. She wiped
her hands on a towel and then went over to the Carvers. “My, my. Look what the
cat dragged in.” Nathan had put on some weight, and she patted his stomach.
“Which one of you is having the baby?”

Angie laughed. “It’s definitely me, he’s just growing a
belly too so I don’t feel so fat.”

Nathan shook his head. “Am I really that fat? Everyone keeps
talking about how big I got.”

“Nah, you’re not fat.” Courtney winked before gazing at
Braden.

She wasn’t sure if she should go to him or not. Hell, she
didn’t even know if they were casually dating or more.

“How long are you in town?” she asked, breaking her stare
with Braden.

“We’re here for the next week,” Angie said. “Last trip
before the baby comes.”

Lauren squealed a little. “I can’t wait.”

“You’re next. Better get busy.” Angie patted her friend’s
arm.

A part of Courtney was jealous. She’d always wanted more
than one child, but wasn’t sure if that was in the cards for her.

“I gotta get back behind the bar. You all get a free drink
tonight.” She looked at Braden. “Yours are still free for the riding lessons.”

“Riding lessons,” Nathan said, giving his brother a
quizzical look.

Braden’s cheeks reddened. She smiled at him before spinning
on her heels and heading back toward the bar, but before she got there, someone
grabbed her wrist. She glanced over her shoulder at Braden. “Hey.”

“Think you can give me a dance tonight, sweetheart?”

“If you call me sweetheart again, I just might be able to
manage it between bar rushes.”

He leaned close to her and whispered, “Sweetheart.”

A shiver tore down her spine. Fuck, she was wet with a need
for this sexy man. “Keep your dance card open.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve only got eyes for you.”

She bit her bottom lip. “Damn, Braden. You know how to give
a woman butterflies. I think you’re much more of a smooth talker than your
older brothers.”

His lips brushed against her cheek. “Only for you.”

She believed him. He released her arm, and she went back
behind the counter. That was a man after her heart, not her in the sack. It
didn’t even seem like he was after her naked, just her in general. Keeping her
heart in check was going to be hard with him, but the last thing she needed to
do was fall in love—at least yet. There was time for that later when she knew
if they were really compatible or not.

“Girl, you got it bad for him.” Candy pulled a frosted mug
from the freezer. “Bailey and I got this if you want to grind into him on the
dance floor.”

She shook her head. “There’s time for that later.”

She had to get her emotions under control first, or she’d
fall in love with him before midnight.

* * * *

“So…” Melissa plopped down in a chair next to Braden. “Give
me the deets.”

“About?”

“Braden, we’ve always been close. Don’t distance yourself
now.”

He sighed. They were close. She never gave him a hard time
the way she did the twins. Melissa understood him and had always been
protective of him, which was odd since he was older. “I’m trying to decide if I
should tell Courtney about my lack of experience in the bedroom.”

“Ah, yeah. I think you should be honest.”

“She might laugh at me.”

“And she might not.”

He shook his head and lifted his beer to his lips, taking in
a long drink. After he set it down, he said, “I kinda wish I had some notches
in my belt.”

“You’re a sweet guy. Not many men look for a special woman
for their first time.”

He huffed. “Being a virgin at twenty-five was not my plan.”

“If I was dating a guy, and he was innocent, I’d find it
hot.”

He chuckled. “Sure you would.”

She licked her lips. “Sure. I get to teach him everything I
like.”

He covered his ears. “No more. I don’t want to hear about
your sex life.”

She giggled. “Don’t worry, it’s really not that exciting.”

Braden removed his hands from his ears and stole a gaze
toward the bar. He hadn’t expected Courtney to be looking at him with a flirty
smile. It was still insane to him that they had been on a date and that she was
giving him the time of day. This was something he was going to enjoy, however
long it lasted.

After a moment of shared gaze, she left the bar and came his
way. “How about that dance?”

He stood and Mel shot him a wink. He went to Courtney, she
offered her hand, and he led her out to the dance floor. The song had a fast beat,
so keeping her hand in his, he spun her around. She tossed her head back, her
long, red hair flowing toward the wooden floor, before lifting it back up. His
instinct wanted to yank her toward him, plaster her against him, and kiss her
with everything in him. But this was her place of business, so he needed to be
respectful of her.

“You’re fun to dance with,” she said as she shook her hips.

“It’s all about having the right partner.”

The music slowed, and she placed her hands on his shoulders
and moved closer to him. Her breasts pressed against his chest. She smelled of
peaches and beer. It was an odd combo, but one he could get used to.

With his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, he moved
with the slow tempo. She stared up at him, making him feel like he was the only
guy in the room.

Taking a deep breath, he said, “You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you. When you look at me, I feel like it.”

That was the best compliment he could receive, because he
wanted her to know that he only had eyes for her, even if this didn’t work out.
He just wanted her.

“Enjoying your night?” she asked.

“I am. It’s better now.”

“You, Braden, have to stop with the kindness. I’m used to
assholes.”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m sure before long you’ll call
me one.”

“Never.” She ran a hand through his hair. “You’re too sweet.
You have a real innocence about you.” She leaned close to his ear. “And it
fucking turns me on.”

That was it, his cock hardened hearing those words. He was
doing his absolute best to be a gentleman, but couldn’t any longer. He claimed
her lips, sliding his tongue into her warm mouth. To his surprise, she didn’t
pull away, instead dug her fingers into the back of his head and deepened the
connection.

He couldn’t believe he was kissing her in the middle of the
Long Necks dance floor. He was so hard for her, if they were alone, he’d have
no problem seeing how far she’d let him go, because something in him wanted her
naked and underneath him, panting for more.

She pulled back and smiled. “Guess everyone is gonna know
now.”

“Know what?” He was still dazed from the kiss.

“That we’re an item, right?”

He grinned, unable to contain it. “I want nothing more than
for you to be my girlfriend.”

“Then ask me.”

His heart raced. Was she serious? “Will you be my
girlfriend, sweetheart?”

“Yes.”

He squeezed her tighter and spun around with her in his arms
before setting her down. “Can I kiss you again?”

“Hell yeah.”

The kiss wasn’t as intense or long as the previous one, but
it would do for now. When it ended, she stepped back and placed a light kiss on
his cheek.

“I’ve got to get back to work. Be sure to come say bye
before you leave.”

“I might stay until closing.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I’m up for that.”

Courtney headed back to the bar to help with customers, and
he turned to see where his family had gone. Nathan wore the biggest smirk,
which meant Tucker hadn’t blabbed about him and Courtney.

“Dude, what the hell was that?” Nathan said, patting him on
the shoulder.

Braden shrugged. “I’m hoping it looked like a kiss with my
girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend!” Lauren’s eyebrows raised.

“I asked, she said yes.”

“No way.” Melissa wore a shocked expression. “I’m happy for
you.”

He was happy for himself. Life was finally going his way,
and he hoped like hell it stayed that way.

* * * *

Closing time. Courtney shooed the last customer out the door
then locked up. She took a deep breath, relieved the night was over. She ran
her palms along her cheeks, exhaustion setting in. Two AM hadn’t come fast
enough. This small town knew how to party on a Friday night.

As she walked away from the door, a light knock sounded.

“Sorry, we’re closed,” she hollered loudly.

“It’s me…Braden,” muffled through the door.

A jolt of energy coursed through her. He’d actually come
back and wasn’t sound asleep in his bed like eighty percent of the human
population around here. She unlocked the door and opened it.