Fall for Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 1)

The other half’s in hell.

I might be goin’ crazy,

But I just can’t tell.

She’s got me twisted

All torn up.

There’s nothin’ I won’t do

For her sweet, sweet love.

Ben’s eyes met hers. Paige elbowed her. “Jeez, this is as hot as he is. He’s singing to you again.”

Liv wanted to crawl under the table. It wasn’t that she didn’t like it. But anyone looking at her would surely know what exactly what she was thinking about.

By the third song Liv and Paige were dancing, along with everyone else. The band got people on their feet. Liv turned and surveyed the crowd, who were all mesmerized by Ben. She wasn’t alone in that. He pulled people to him, made them sing along, hang on every word. He was magnetic.

They slowed things down with the next song, and the crowd settled back in their chairs, giving Liv an opportunity to watch Ben play. The muscles in his forearms flexed, the corners of his mouth turned down, his eyes closed, and his whole body moved with every sound coming out of his guitar. He threw his head back and got into it—the way she imagined he would if they had sex.

“Whatcha’ thinking about now?” Paige elbowed her and grinned. Liv grinned back. Being alone with him again. Never letting go once she did. That’s what.

She didn’t want to think about how soon they’d both get on a plane, and go back to their normal lives. Her boring, lonely, sexless life. Nope, she didn’t want to think about that.

When she looked up at Ben, he was watching her. His brow furrowed, as though he wondered where her mind was, and why it wasn’t on him.

It was silly of Liv to think his mind would be on her. He was performing for a room full of people. He was lost in his music, lost in his fans. She doubted he even remembered she was there.

They played for another hour, then came back out for three encores. During the break between CB Rice and the last band taking the stage, one of the guys from CB Rice came to their table.

“Ben asked if you’d come backstage with me. Paige, will you be okay by yourself for a few minutes? Liv won’t be too long.”

“Of course, go! I’m fine.” Liv saw Paige had already struck up a conversation with the people at the table next to them. Liv never had to worry about Paige. She’d never known a stranger, just friends she hadn’t met yet.

“Come here, baby.” Ben reached out for her. “No, wait. I’m all sweaty.”

“I don’t care,” she said as she rested her body next to his. “I like it when you get me sweaty.”

Ben pulled her closer, bent his head, and kissed her. Liv’s mouth opened beneath his, and the kiss deepened. She put her hand on his cheek, and his hand went to her bottom, pulling her close. “God, you’re so sexy.”

“No, I’m not. But you—” Liv couldn’t finish. Everything about him excited her. His fingertips drifted down to where her dress rested against the swell of her breasts, the way they had the night before.

“You have no idea, do you? What you do to me? What you were doing to me while I was on stage? All I thought about was being alone with you. Every song, every note, I’d close my eyes and see you there—writhing beneath me.”

“You were thinking about me?”

“You weren’t thinking about me? About us? Getting horizontal with me?” His arms wrapped around her waist, and he kissed the side of her neck, under her ear, down and over her shoulder. “I want to be alone with you, so bad Liv. I don’t wanna share you with anyone else right now.”

Like him, she’d like nothing better.

“We can’t, though, sweetheart. At least not for a little while. I’m gotta go talk to the guys, hang out before they go on stage. They’re setting up a roped off section for us. I can’t come out before they start their set, but I’ll be out right after that.” He pulled her in again and ravaged her mouth with his. “Then later, it’s you and me. Got it?”

“Mmm hmm.” She nodded.

The guys in the final band were pros. Their horn section alone reverberated throughout the club. She’d seen them before at an amphitheater filled with ten thousand people, and even in that setting they were bigger than life. Seeing them here, even if she hadn’t planned to see CB Rice, was something she was glad she hadn’t mi

ssed.