Fall for Me (Cowboys of Crested Butte 1)

When Liv turned to go change, Ben grabbed her around the waist. “I’m kidding, Liv. I love your red bikini.” He ran his hand from her cheek, down her throat, to just under the top of her bikini, and then pulled his hand away, and put his arm around her. “Come on. If it can’t be me, let’s get some breakfast in you.” He winked and opened the hotel room door.

The pools were crowded, but Ben led Liv to the same cabana he’d reserved the day before. Towels scattered the chaise lounges, but no one from his band was there. Maybe they were setting up for the show. As soon as he and Liv ordered breakfast, Ben would call and see if they needed him.

“You look worried.”

“I do? Yeah, I guess I am. I didn’t think to check in this morning.”

“Do it now.”

“I will, as soon as we—”

Liv picked the phone up off the table where he’d set it, and handed it to him.

“Worry is seeping off of you, Ben. Make the call and figure it out so you can either leave or relax.”

Ben threw his head back and laughed. “You’re something else, sweetheart. Just when I think I’ve got your number, you go in a direction I never expected.” He squeezed her and nuzzled her neck.

“Make the call.” She squirmed against him.

“You keep that up, and I won’t make the show later.”

Ben called Jimmy who was the bass guitarist, but also managed the crew. “Hey,” he said. “What’s goin’ on?”

Jimmy told him they were almost finished with sound check, and didn’t need him for at least another couple of hours.

“So,” he said, pulling her down on the chaise in front of him. “Looks like I’m yours for another couple of hours. What should we do?”

“Breakfast?”

“That’s right. I promised to feed you.” He wiggled his eyebrows and smiled.

Paige and Liv sat near the center of the stage, in the first row of tables. They missed the first couple of opening bands, but got there in time to see the last one on the stage before CB Rice played.

She hadn’t seen Ben since they left the pool and he walked her to her room.

He’d been sweet and flirty, never missing an opportunity to tell her how much he wanted her, but he hadn’t pushed. Thinking about how much she wanted him too, brought color to her cheeks.

“Whatcha’ thinking about?” Paige smirked. “Did you have a nice afternoon while I slaved away in meetings?”

“Stop it. You don’t slave. You talk and everyone else listens. And yes, I had a very nice afternoon.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Paige—I don’t ask you to tell me about you and Mark!”

“We’ve been married forever. No one wants to hear about us. You, on the other hand, spent the day with Ben Rice. Everyone wants to hear about that.”

“Shh, lower your voice. God, I’m so embarrassed.”

“No one can hear me over the band. Why are you embarrassed? He’s…”

“Hot. Very hot. Scorchingly hot.”

“See?”

“And that’s all you’re getting out of me.”

“Damn.”