Falling For A Cowboy Read Online Free

good time. Rodeo cowboys. ” And that said it all.
    “ So have a little fun . Take your mind off of things. I ’ ll take the one you don ’ t want for a whirl. ”
    “ They ’ re with Shirley May and Melissa now. ”
    “ No they ’ re not . They just headed for the bar. ”
    “ And I ’ m headed home. ” Dusty had to get out of there before they s aw her.
    Before she could blink, P eter , one of the bartender s, strolled over and plunked down two long-neck beers. “ Guys at the end sent these with their compliments. ”
    Hell . She ’ d been spotted . “ Tell them no thanks—from me at least. ” Tara Lynn already had the bottle to her lips and was signaling her appreciation .
    “ Come on Dusty, ” said P eter , a grin on his weathered face . “ If I take it back , I ’ ll have to refund their money . John wou l dn ’ t appreciate that, now would he. ”
    She felt like some saloon girl in an old western movie, shilling for the boss. “ Fine. ” She took the beer and down ed a gulp. She wasn ’ t a beer kind of girl—and in a Texas town that was saying something . Since in most places that was the only thing served, she drank it but she didn ’ t particularly enjoy it.
    She w ould not turn around and say thank you , though . She hadn ’ t asked for it, didn ’ t want it , and certainly didn ’ t want to encourage them.
    “ Ohhh . Here they come , ” Tara Lynn said in a voice that sounded almost like a squeal.
    Dusty felt like running . But she ’ d never been a coward . So what ? These cowboys would leav e tomorrow and she ’ d never see them again . If they wanted to waste their money on a beer , so be it. She took another slug.
    “ Hey Dusty, ” Jesse said , pulling in close . “ Tara Lynn . ”
    Clay nodded and pushed beside Tara Lynn . S taring down at her from under the brim of his hat , t he shadows crossing his face took away the boyishness and left the chiseled planes of a fine-looking man. A man with a self-satisfied smirk riding his face .
    “ You up for a dance , Dusty? ” Jesse said and held out his hand. Dusty glanced at Clay . Did she imagine it or was there a dare in his eye ?
    “ Sure, ” she said and plopped her bottle on the bar. “ Why not ? ”
    Jesse knew his country dancing . He twirled her around the floor like they ’ d been dancing together for years, a big ol d grin on his face the whole time. With Jesse k eeping her in constant motion, she could only catch glimpses of Clay talking to Tara Lynn . Clay may not have asked Dusty to dance , but surely Tara Lynn would have asked him. So why weren ’ t they?
    The music shifted to a slow dance and before Dusty could form the words to suggest they part , Jesse had her in his arms . He pressed her to him , his thin body hard and strong. She looked into darkened brown eyes. Nothing . She felt nothing and that was good . He was a nice guy, no doubt. But fortunately, there were no sparks . She didn ’ t want sparks with a rough stock rider . Not ever. S lowly, s he relaxed.
    “ So tell me, Dusty, what do you do when you ’ re not at the rodeo? ” Jesse breathed in her ear. “ Besides having the most beautiful hair I ’ ve ever touched. ”
    She ’ d let her hair down as soon as she was done at the rodeo. Naturally wavy , blond , and long, it was her best feature — though her mother was constantly at her to cut it off , claiming it was too much for such a little girl. Bradley had liked it—only not enough.
    “ I just graduated Texas Tech and I ’ m hoping to get a teaching position come fall. I ’ ve been interviewing. ”
    “ Teacher ? ” He pulled back to look at her . “ I knew it. ”
    “ What do you mean you knew it? ” She stared at him again and still didn ’ t feel a thing. Not a thing.
    “ Well, I didn ’ t know it . B ut being a teacher, well , it seems right for you. ”
    Seem s right ? Was he saying she was predictable? A certain type? A staid teacher type? S he decided to change the subject