So Tough To Tame

“I never left.”

Rayleen watched him with sharp eyes, but for once she didn’t say a word.

He grabbed a beer but only drank half of it before he shook his head. “Listen, I’m exhausted. I’m gonna go fall into bed.”

Charlie cocked her head and studied him for a moment. “All right. Walk me home? I’m tired, too.”

Was she trying to catch him in a lie? Did she think Nicole was waiting at his apartment? “A few minutes ago, you were leading the whole crowd in a song. You said you could go for hours.”

“I guess I was wrong. That level of awesomeness apparently wears a girl out.”

He could hardly say no to walking a woman home after dark, even if it was only across the parking lot. She had him roped with that one. “I’d be happy to walk you home, Charlie.”

“Let’s go.”

Before they took two steps, Rayleen called, “Where are you going, Ms. Thang?”

“Beauty sleep!” Charlie shouted back. “And I have to rest up for the weekend. I’ve got men to hunt.”

Rayleen howled with laughter. “Keep me in the loop. I’ll help you tag ’em.”

Walker couldn’t believe it. “That woman doesn’t like anyone, not even her own flesh and blood.”

“Aw. Everyone likes me, Walker. After all, what’s not to like?”

His eyes fell to the dip of her collar and the faint rise of her cleavage. “Not a lot.”

“Are you calling me flat-chested?”

His gaze flew up to meet hers as he pushed open the saloon door. “No! What?”

She didn’t bother answering, she just swept by him with a gorgeous laugh, the scent of something crisp and flowery trailing behind her.

“Who was that woman?” she asked as she stepped off the porch stairs and headed toward the street.

“A friend.”

“Oh, playing coy. Is she a girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Is there someone else?”

“Nope.”

“Walker Pearce with no woman? That’s rare. I should make a move quick.”

She was teasing again. Pressing him. He should call her on it to scare her off. But in his current mood, he didn’t want to scare her off.

He’d been caught up in the idea that she wasn’t the same girl she’d been in high school. It had so confused him that he hadn’t put time into figuring out who she was now.

She wasn’t that sweet, studious girl, obviously. Now she was a successful businesswoman, bold and beautiful and wild. Exactly the kind of woman he was attracted to. And exactly the kind who saw him for what he was: a big, dumb ride to adventure.

He felt a little calmer now. A little less worried or maybe only worn-out from his conversation with Nicole. But he was also kind of pissed, and there was just enough adrenaline left in his veins to make him horny. And just enough regret to make him want to forget his mistakes.

Walker didn’t know what to do with a sweet, innocent girl, but this new Charlie? Yeah, he could deal with that.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her arm nudging his as they turned and headed up the walk to the Stud Farm. “You still look tense. Did she give you trouble?”

“Not too much.”

“I guess you’re used to it.”

He tightened his jaw. “Mm.”

“Even in school, some girl was always mad at you. You sure do cause trouble, Walker.”

“Yeah.” He shot her a dark look as he opened the door of the building. “You looking for trouble, Charlie?”

Her small smile bloomed into a wicked grin. “You sound like you don’t quite believe I am.”

“I guess you’ve changed.”

“I have changed,” she said as he followed her up the stairs. “I hope you’re not disappointed. You might have liked that innocent, careful girl, but I can tell you from experience that being innocent gets a little lonely. And being careful doesn’t actually... Well. Never mind. You, on the other hand...”

He couldn’t tell if she was deliberately putting more swing into her hips or if that exaggerated sway was the result of her ass rising to eye level as she took the stairs. All he knew was that in that moment, her heels and tight jeans and sleek curves conspired to melt his brain into a pile of horny mush. Goddamn, he wanted to see that ass naked.

She stopped on the landing and turned to face him. “You were never, ever lonely, were you?”

Walker took the last step and looked down at Charlie. “I’m lonely tonight.”

Her eyes went wide in a brief moment of shock. He waited for her to laugh then. Waited for her to change her mind and say Oh, Walker, I could never do that with you. Not like this. We’re friends.

But she didn’t say that. Instead her gray eyes sparkled. Her lips parted so she could draw a shallow breath. “Are you?” she whispered.

“Don’t I look lonely?” He stepped forward. Charlie stepped back. They played it out a few more times until she was against the wall and he was standing over her.

Now all of her breaths were shallow. She looked up at him with the faintest little smile on her parted lips. Her hands rose to rest on his chest, and the touch spread hot zings of awareness through his shirt.

“You don’t have to be lonely, Walker,” she whispered, tipping her mouth up so her words chased over his jaw. “I’m right...” She rose on her toes, and her hips brushed against his. “Here.”

He dipped his head and caught her mouth and he forgot to be mad about being a big, dumb ride. He’d be that for Charlie all damn night if she wanted.

* * *

THIS WAS A moment she’d considered many, many times in her youth. Walker Pearce leaning slowly down, his hands drifting to her hips to hold her steady, his mouth brushing faintly over hers. In her imagination, her heart had pounded just like this. Her nipples had tightened the same way they did now. But other than that, everything was different.

It wasn’t the sweet, tentative kiss her teenage mind had painted, some gentle version of romance that had never existed for the boys. Walker’s mouth was hot against hers and his beard brushed soft against her skin. His lips pressed hers until they opened, and then his tongue stroked her. He tasted...right.