“I’m okay. How are you?”

“Okay. I guess.” Bullet reached over and hit the emergency-stop button. “That isn’t true, I’m not okay.”

“Bullet—”

“No, Tristan, I need to say this. You may not believe me, but I swear on Pearl and Grey’s lives that what I am about to tell you is the God’s honest truth.”

When he told her what he overheard in Harris’ conversation, she believed him. She might not have if she didn’t have her own suspicions. She didn’t admit it out loud though.

“I couldn’t have done it, Tristan. I know I didn’t handle it very well, but when I told you I love you, I meant it.”

“I know.” She sighed and looked at the floor.

Here she was, at her own crossroad. Bullet’s reputation was such that no one was surprised when he was served with the paternity subpoena. That reputation was borne from the way he’d lived his life.

Even with her, sex was the way their relationship had begun. From the first time she’d seen him, in Liv and Ben’s hot tub, she wanted him. Somewhere along the way, it had turned into more.

“Can we talk? I mean really talk?” Bullet pleaded.

Tristan reached forward and hit the emergency button again, and the elevator continued its descent. When it came to a stop in the lobby, she didn’t disembark, instead she pressed the number twenty-two.

“We can talk in my room.”

“But we need to talk, Tristan. Nothing else.”

She rolled her eyes and smirked at him. “Yes, Bullet, I’ll try my hardest to keep my hands off you.”

“I don’t know about tryin’ your hardest,” he smiled.

He smiled. It had been so long since he had, and, God, it felt good. Once he started smiling, he couldn’t stop himself.

“What’s so funny, cowboy?” The smirk hadn’t left Tristan’s face.

He had to touch her. He put one hand on her waist and hesitated. When she didn’t back away from him, he put his other arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him.

Her body was taut, but she didn’t resist. She even rested her head on his shoulder.

“I missed this so damn much. Just holdin’ you against me feels so good.”

“I missed you too, Bullet.”

No buts. She didn’t say “but.” He had no idea where her head was, but he was about to find out.

Tristan’s suite was much bigger than his room. The furniture in the outer room was draped in McCullough Cowgirl and McCullough Cowboy clothing. There was a garment rack that held more. “You got a fashion show you’re doin’ or something?”

“Yes. It’s this afternoon.”

“How come you didn’t ask me to model for you?”

He was joking, but Tristan looked serious. “I wasn’t sure it was a good idea for us to be together.”

“Really? I mean you actually considered it? I thought you’d have professional models.”

“No, the clothes are going to be worn by NFR competitors. The show is a fundraiser for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.”

Bullet was familiar with the organization that provided need-based financial assistance to athletes injured through their participation in professional rodeo. He looked around the room.

“No chaps?”

Tags: Heather Slade Cowboys of Crested Butte Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net