Rough (Wolf Ranch 1)

My palms were sweaty as I walked in the door, the blast of loud music and the scent of french fries and beer hit me hard. It was early still, so the place wasn’t packed, but Becky was right that it was the place to be.

I took a quick glance around, looking for Becky. I’d purposely come a little late, so I wouldn’t arrive first.

It had worked.

Becky stood at the bar holding a beer and talking with a tight cluster of people. She’d grown up in Cooper Valley and had many friends. I wasn’t sure if it was a blessing or curse to run into someone you knew even if you were in the feminine hygiene aisle at the market. For me, I hoped to avoid Jett Markle in the produce section from now on.

I smiled and headed toward them and then nearly stopped short, my heart suddenly jammed up in my throat.

Was that Boyd Wolf at the bar?

At that moment, the cluster shifted, and I got a clear view of the rodeo champ, casually leaning against the sleek wood surface, a knot of women all around him. He spotted me at the same moment, and we locked gazes. It was like in the movies, where suddenly all the background sound became muffled. Like I had cotton in my ears.

A blast of conflicting emotions hit me at once. My knees went weak as if my body were already holding up and waving the white flag of surrender, calling out, I’m yours, big guy! Come and get me! At the same time, sharp irritation with the groupies pushing their big breasts out and leaning into his space brought on the bitter taste of jealousy—which wasn’t like me at all. Add to that anger at Boyd for turning me into this mess of hormones, and I was one turned on and frustrated woman.

How dare he eat me out in his barn then flirt with a handful of other women! Sure, they were gorgeous, young and… gorgeous. Had he forgotten about me already? Yeah, he probably had.

The notch had been made, and he’d moved on. Fine. I could move on, too.

So I did what any self-respecting woman would do. No, not bolt for the door and go home to cry my eyes out over a carton of ice cream. I tossed my hair back and strutted over to Becky. I ignored Boyd completely.

As if that were possible because every guy I walked past wasn’t as tall, as brawny or as imposing. None were as handsome or had the same lethal smile. None of them were Boyd.

He was at my elbow in a flash. “Hey there, darlin’. It must be my lucky night. I didn’t know you would be here.”

Color me blind, but I would’ve sworn he sounded sincere. Except that didn’t make sense since I was able to see the women he’d left by the bar giving me death glares. They had their sights set on him. I didn’t blame them, but I wanted to rip their eyes out. I’d thought we’d had a connection, but then that made me sound like a high schooler. The connection had been his mouth on my pussy. Nothing more. I was just another conquest for Boyd Wolf.

“I didn’t know you would be here, either,” I said primly, trying to angle my body more toward Becky.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t picking up what I was putting down because she kept backing up and facing away, like she was giving me space to flirt with Boyd.

Dang it.

“What can I get you to drink?” he asked, his fingers circling my elbow and steering me toward the bar. The far side of the bar where the buckle bunnies weren’t clustered.

“Oh, um…” I shook my head, trying to force some sense back into it. “I’ll get my own drink. I don’t want to keep you from your… friends.”

Disappointment streaked across his expression but quickly disappeared as he leaned a little closer. “You’re not going to punish me for not letting you give me that full examination, are you, Doc? I kind of liked examining you much better.”

I turned to face the bar in the hope of hiding my blush. “Nope. I’m off-duty tonight, so you’re off the hook. I won’t bother you a bit, especially since you seem so… fit.” I glanced down at his chest, which was clearly delineated in panty melting detail beneath a crisp white t-shirt. It was tucked into a pair of jeans that molded to every inch of his long legs and well-formed ass and nice bulge and… crap. Look higher at the belt buckle! It was huge, like a frisbee but in silver. Clearly, it was a championship something or other, but I didn’t dare ask about it for sounding like an idiot.

I ordered a shot of Patrón and gave Boyd my back, stepping around to stand beside Becky and sticking out my hand to meet her friends. Friends who were ignoring me and staring wide eyed at Boyd. “Hi, I’m Audrey.”