Page 3 of Filthy and Fierce (Stone Cold Cowboys #1)

DIXON

Do not touch her. Do not touch her.

That’s the mantra that I keep telling myself as I drive us through town. We get to the outskirts before I try to talk to her. “So what’s up with the trip to Whiskey Run? Missing small town life where everyone knows your business, need a little roughing it, or?—”

She cuts me off. “My father’s ranch is state of the art in ranching standards. There’s nothing rough about it.”

I grip the steering wheel. “Fine. Why are you here?”

She turns in her seat, and I don’t have to look at her to know she’s glaring at me. But this is better than her tempting me with her filthy mouth. “I’m sorry, do I need a reason to come and see my dad?”

I shrug. “You haven’t been here in five years. You out of money?”

As soon as I say the words, I wish I could take them back. I know Faith is not like that, but I’ve tried everything to figure out why she never comes to see Charlie. Not Christmas, Father’s Day, nothing. I’ve asked him about it, but he just smiles and says she’s living her life.

She sits up a little taller next to me. “I’ll have you know that I haven’t taken a dime from my father since I left here.

I received scholarships for college and my dorm, and I worked part-time jobs to pay for living expenses, so yeah, Mr. Know It All, I am not out of money, and I’m offended that you think so little of me. ”

I shake my head. I don’t know what it is, but it’s like I’m just trying to piss her off. Without looking at her, I apologize. “I’m sorry, Faith. I shouldn’t have said what I said.”

She has her arms crossed over her chest, and she doesn’t even acknowledge my apology. It’s like I can’t stop pissing her off.

The rest of the ride is silent. When I pull onto the Allen Ranch, Faith leans forward to look out the window.

She’s taking it all in, and there’s been a lot of changes since she’s been gone.

She must be keeping up with it all if she knows her father’s ranch is state of the art.

The need to apologize again is overwhelming, but I don’t.

Maybe it will be better if she’s a little mad at me because there’s no way I can take more of what she was giving me at the bar. I can only be so strong.

I park up at the main house, and I want her to stay in her seat so I can walk around to help her out, but she’s already out before I can get to her. “What kind of men you been dating?”

She stumbles, and I loop an arm around her waist to stop her from falling.

With her ass tucked against my thighs, I have an instant reaction to her touch.

I have to force her away from me and release my hold on her once she gets her footing.

Needing to put some distance between us, I grab the suitcase from the back of the truck and then grab her bag, putting it over my shoulder .

She huffs out a breath. “What did you mean by that?”

She’s offended by my comment, and I want to kick myself for opening my mouth.

I hate to think of her dating some asshole, but I really hate to think about her dating some guy that doesn’t even open the door for her.

“I mean, when you’re with me, you wait in the truck for me to open the door for you. ”

She laughs, and I can’t help but smile at the sweet sound. But just as quickly as she starts, she stops and shakes her head. “You sure are Mr. Macho, aren’t you?” She acts like she’s banging her chest with her fist. “Me man, you woman, I’m in control, you do as I say.”

I should just keep my mouth shut, but I can’t seem to help myself. “Now I know you’re dating the wrong men because the man is never in control, honey.”

She stops in my path, and I have to stop or else I’m going to run right into her. She crosses her arms over her chest. “Really? You don’t seem like the kind of guy that gives up control much.”

I lean down and look her in the eye as if that’s going to make her understand what I’m saying. “Princess, you have the pussy. You’re always in control.”

She gasps, and before she can say anything, I step around her and gruffly tell her, “Come on.”

She follows behind me, and I want to kick myself for being an ass to her.

She doesn’t deserve it, and this is not like me.

Yeah, I’m a grumpy son of a bitch, but I’m never just an outright asshole.

As I set her bags on the porch, I do the one thing I need to do.

I take my hat off and hold it to my chest. “I owe you an apology, Faith. I’ve been an asshole?— ”

She cuts me off, tilting her head to the side to look at me. “Why is that?”

I close my mouth. Of course, she’s going to call me out instead of just taking the apology.

She’s going to want to dissect it to pieces.

Trying to stay calm, I answer her. “Honestly? I don’t know.

I shouldn’t have accused you of showing up just for money, I shouldn’t be telling you how to talk and… and…”

She rolls her hand in front of her as if she’s telling me to go on. “And you shouldn’t be running off some cowboy that just wants to talk to me.”

My jaw tightens. “Oh, he wanted to do more than just talk to you.”

She laughs and shakes her head. “You don’t know that.”

I stuff my hat back on top of my head and then gesture to her body with my hand. “Yeah, I do know that. You show up at a bar, looking like you do, there’s only one thing on a man’s mind, and it ain’t talking.”

She puts her hands on her shapely hips. “You should have stopped at the apology, Dixon Chase.”

I blow out a breath. Hell, I need to get the fuck out of here. “Right, well, I’m sorry. The door’s unlocked. See ya.”

I turn and take the steps down the porch when she calls my name. “Where are you going? Don’t you live in the main house?”

I clench my eyes shut and open them before turning to look at her. “I’m going to stay in the bunkhouse.”

She walks down the steps and stops next to me. “Because I’m here? ”

“Don’t read too much into it. I’m going to give you some time with your dad. I’ll see you.”

She wants to argue with me, but I don’t stick around for her to tell me how ridiculous I’m being. Hell, I know it’s ridiculous. I should be able to sleep in a room down the hall from her and not think twice about it, but I don’t trust myself.

As I stomp away from the house, I try to get Faith out of my head.

I’m sure she’s going to be here a few days, then she’ll go back into the city, and things will go back to normal.

But even thinking that, I know I’m lying to myself.

Because after spending an hour with her, I’m hooked.

From this point on, I’m going to wonder where she’s at, who she’s with, and what she’s doing.

I’ll be worried if she’s happy, if she’s sad, if she’s safe, and I’ll wonder if she’s thinking of me.

Yeah, this is not good. The sooner Faith gets back to her life in the city, the better off she’ll be. If she sticks around here for any amount of time, I’m not going to be able to resist her.