Fall for Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 1)

“Pretty much, but like no other bike you’ve ridden before, baby,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

Oh no, did she say that out loud?

Ben leaned up against the wall outside Liv’s hotel room. His body pulsed with lust, heart thundering, and his eyes closed. They opened and fixated on her. He could spend all day studying every inch of her.

Her skin was kissed by their day in the sun, and her hair hung in waves around her face. The thin cover-up that left her arms bare was so feminine, the way it wrapped around her slender body. And her eyes, the bluest he’d ever seen, were gazing at him apprehensively.

“I’m leaving now, Liv, and it’s not because I want to. We have reservations at Charlie Palmer at eight. Would you like me to come back up later, and we can walk down together, or would you prefer to meet me in the lobby?”

“You’re sure about this?”

“Of course I am. The band has a private dining room reserved for a special dinner tonight.”

“Should you check with the band first?”

“No, Liv, it’s my band. Which reminds me, do you have tickets for the show tomorrow night?”

“Um, no, we hadn’t gotten around to getting them yet.”

“Good. You’ll be my guests.”

His arms ached to hold her, to put his lips on hers, but he stopped himself. This was new for him, having to exercise such restraint. He wanted to reassure her, explain how he didn’t care about anything else at that moment, besides being with her.

He was accustomed to reaching out and taking what he wanted, and that wouldn’t work with this woman.

He ran his finger down her cheek. It felt velvety soft beneath his fingers, calloused from years of guitar playing. He pulled her back into his arms, bent his head and found her mouth again with his. He’d show her how much he wanted to be with her when words weren’t enough.

Dinner with the band was fun—and loud. Liv envied the way they all embraced life with gusto. Several members of the other bands were there, too. Before she realized it, it was after one in the morning.

Paige was more of a night owl than she. It didn’t surprise Liv one bit that Paige was discussing record deals and song rights with the other guys in the band, or that she’d gone outside to smoke a cigar with them. It would never have occurred to Paige to be unfaithful to Mark, she just fit in wherever she happened to be. And if the conversation involved business, Paige was in her element.

Ben stroked his fingers up and down her arm, lulling her into a state of relaxation. “Tired?”

“A little,” Liv answered as she stifled a yawn. “What about you? You have a big day tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I do.” He took the glass of wine she still held and set it on the table. He rose and took her hand, pulling her with him. He ran one finger from beneath her chin, down to the place where her dress met the top of her breasts. She breathed in, pushing herself closer to him.

“Come with me,” he murmured, walking toward the door.

“I can’t.”

“You can. Let’s take a walk in the moonlight.”

“A walk, and then we have to say goodnight.”

Ben started humming, then singing again.

The charm of your tease

When you make me say please

Your eyes and your hair

The look of your stare

The way that you laugh…

“Wooing me with your music, that’s not playing fair.”