Fall for Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 1)

The heavy sounds of a guitar filled the room, something about saving a horse and riding a cowboy. She’d kill Mark, if Paige didn’t do it first.

Dottie, Jolene, and Mary Beth were woo-hooing it up. “Save a horse, Livvie!” They pulled her in to dance with them.

She’d had a damn good day, one of the best of her life. What the hell, she deserved to have some fun.

They danced, and danced, and danced. Liv needed a drink, something tall and cool and wet. Ben. She’d rather have him than a drink.

“One more song, Livvie,” Billy Junior hollered out. “This one’s a slow one.”

The fiddle started to play as Zac Brown’s “Free” drifted through the speakers in the bar.

“I love this song,” Liv said to no one in particular, right before Billy swung his arm around her waist and proceeded to move her around the dance floor.

Ben lasted all of twenty seconds before he was on his feet. He recognized the cowboy about to put his arms around Liv. “Pardon me, but you’re dancin’ with my girl.”

“She was my girl before you came along…”

“Billy, you don’t want to start this.” Liv kissed his cheek. “You’ll ruin my night.”

Billy stepped aside, and Ben pulled Liv in close. As much as he didn’t want to do this here and now, he couldn’t help himself.

“Who is he, Liv? Someone special?”

“Haven’t you met Billy? He’s Dottie and Bill’s son.”

Ben’s arms tightened around her. “What’s he to you, Liv?”

“I don’t know. Like a brother, I guess.”

Ben stopped moving, and pulled far enough back that he could look in her eyes. “You’re sure there’s nothing more between you?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Liv pulled him closer. “You don’t seem like the jealous type, Ben.”

“As long as he keeps his hands off you, I won’t be.”

Liv put her hand on the back of his neck, and pulled his mouth closer to hers. “This is the first time you’ve held me in my arms and danced with me. Do you realize that?”

“It’s good, isn’t it?”

“Dancing?”

“You, in my arms.”

He pulled back so he could see her face, and hated that he couldn’t get the image of her and Junior out of his head.

“You think anyone would mind if you carried me out of here now? Remember that caveman thing?” She was talking so damn seductively, it was almost as though she was purring at him. He didn’t care if anyone noticed, it was time for them to leave.

He danced her over near Dottie and Bill.

“We’re gonna call it a night. Thanks for everything,” he said to them.

“You better ask Jolene what time Livvie’s supposed to be at the barn in the mornin’ there, Ben. Won’t be good for her to be showin’ up late.” Bill shook his finger at them as he said it.

“Jolene?”

Jolene was dancing with Mark, God love him. Ben wasn’t sure she heard him.

Jolene glared at Ben. “Not a minute later than nine, little girl. We gotta make sure you’re focused.”