Page 11 of Headstrong Cowboy (Montana’s Rodeo Cowboys #2)

T he cool air that greeted them as they walked out of the diner was a welcome relief for Chrissy. Ever since they’d exchanged portions of their meals, her body had been on fire. Who knew something as simple as sampling another person’s dinner could be so sensual?

For a fleeting moment, she thought Ryder was going to grab her and kiss her, something she would’ve been totally on board with. But he hadn’t. He’d sat back and finished his meal.

She’d done the same, although she wasn’t aware of what she was eating. Now here they were outside, and there was at least two feet between them, when, on the walk over, they’d been brushing up against each other.

“Do you still want to take a walk?” she asked, not wanting the evening to be over. It didn’t matter that her legs were starting to get chilled from the breeze. They’d warm up once she started moving them.

“I’d like to very much.”

Relief swept through her like a broom through a pile of leaves.

“Great.” She adjusted her jacket and willed Ryder to crook his elbow again.

She’d liked the gallant gesture when he’d offered it for their stroll to the diner.

Just like when he’d kissed her hand earlier.

Everything about Ryder was gentlemanly, and she liked it—a lot.

As if he could read her mind, he did it, and she slipped her arm through, wishing she could rest her head on his shoulder. They weren’t there yet, but maybe soon.

A giddy little laugh of happiness threatened to erupt from her, but she kept it locked down.

“It’s such a pretty night.” The sky was clear and once they were on the river trail and away from all the bright lights, the stars shone like tiny little diamonds in the sky.

Such a clichéd description, but it described them perfectly.

“It is. Although I can think of something prettier.”

Chrissy’s stomach tumbled a little at his words. Did he mean her? She hoped he did.

Earlier, Tilly had looked at Chrissy’s closet and announced there was nothing suitable for a first date, but since they were about the same size, she had the perfect outfit at her place.

She’d thought her sister was being ridiculous when Tilly placed the dress on her bed.

After the way Ryder’s eyes had widened and his gaze had tracked her from head to toe, she was eternally grateful that Tilly had been at the farm and was able to help her.

She didn’t get a chance to talk to Tilly about the farm because her sister was excited to be able to help her get ready for a date, and Chrissy didn’t want to spoil the mood. She could always talk to her tomorrow.

“What’s that?” she asked breathlessly.

There was no one else strolling along the river path. The night sounds surrounded them and Chrissy couldn’t think of anything more perfect than where they were right now.

Ryder turned her so that she was facing him, his hands landing on her hips and hers automatically going to his shoulders.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she wished there was a little more light so she could see his face clearly.

See what his eyes were telling her. But there wasn’t, and perhaps that was better.

“You,” he said as he lowered his head toward her. Anticipation built, waiting for that moment when she would finally know what it would be like to be kissed by him. Kissed by a man that wasn’t Beau.

Chrissy firmly pushed thoughts of her deceased former husband from her mind. Now wasn’t the time to think about him.

Ryder’s lips brushed against hers once, then twice. It was sweet, but it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to lose herself in his kiss. To have his mouth fully possess hers.

“Oof,” he said and stumbled back. Chrissy would’ve face-planted into the path if Ryder hadn’t grabbed her forearms.

“What the...?” she asked as she squinted into the darkness as if she could see what the heck had caused Ryder to move away from her so abruptly. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. Something ran into my legs. I think it was a dog. I got a quick look at it before it disappeared into the trees.” His voice sounded strained, and Chrissy put it down to him being as surprised as she was that their kiss got interrupted.

“A dog?” Most of the dog owners in Marietta were very good about keeping their animals in at night, but that didn’t mean the odd one or two didn’t escape from their backyards. “Did you see where it went? Maybe we should go find it and see if it has a collar, so we can take it back to its house.”

“I think by the time I’m ready to go dog hunting, he’ll be long gone,” he finished with a groan, the sound causing her to study him a little closer.

He was rubbing his leg, a grimace on his face. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

“The dog hit me where I got hurt.”

The articles she’d read about Ryder’s accident had detailed how he’d been gouged in the thigh by a bull, deep enough to cause damage to the muscles. “Oh my goodness. Come on... there’s a bench over there. Can you make it?” She pointed to the wooden structure about fifty feet away.

“I think so.” He took a step, but his leg gave away, and Chrissy rushed to prop him up—what she should’ve done at the very beginning.

“I’ve got you. Lean on me and we’ll shuffle our way over there.”

He chuckled lightly, and she was pleased to hear the sound.

She tightened her grip around his waist, and he placed his arm around her shoulders.

The tips of his fingers dug into her arm, but she didn’t say anything about it.

The little pain she was experiencing would be nothing to what he was suffering.

It didn’t take them long to reach the bench and once Ryder was seated, she placed her hands on his thigh, massaging it lightly, which was difficult through the denim. “Am I helping or not making a lick of difference to your pain?”

“It’s helping a bit.”

A bit was better than not at all. She shifted so that she was seated beside him and was able to knead his flesh a little better. “Does this often happen to you?”

“You mean getting assaulted by a dog? Can’t say that’s ever happened to me before.”

His humor was welcome. It made her confident that he wasn’t in too much pain.

“Not something you plan on telling your rodeo buddies, huh? Can ride a bull for eight seconds, but a small dog manages to take you down?” The second she finished speaking, she gasped, the realization of what she’d said slamming into her.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry, Ryder. That was so insensitive of me. I can’t believe I said that.”

His hand landed on hers, where they were resting against his thigh. “Can’t say that the comparison, and reminder of what I used to do and lost, doesn’t pinch a little, but you’re right—it’s not something I’ll tell my friends about.”

Ryder was letting her off the hook, something she didn’t deserve. But she wasn’t going to belabor the point, because it wouldn’t make him feel any better. “Thank you,” she whispered and continued massaging his leg.

“Hey...” Ryder nudged her chin up with a finger. Reluctantly, she met his gaze, worried at what she might see there. All she saw was compassion and understanding. “I mean it. It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean anything malicious by it. That you were teasing me. It’s all good, my little flower.”

His lips landed on hers before she could answer him.

This time the kiss was what she’d been wanting before they’d gotten interrupted.

He possessed her mouth and she welcomed it.

Sparks of desire burst to life in her belly, and she scooted closer to him so that she could wrap her arms around his shoulders.

His tongue nudged against her lips and she opened up, allowing him to deepen the kiss.

Everything within her glowed to life. For so long she hadn’t allowed herself to feel anything for anyone of the opposite sex, seeing as it as a betrayal to Beau—even after their divorce.

Which was ridiculous, considering it had been a mutual decision, and she’d known that Beau had gone on a couple of dates before his death.

If she’d put herself out there long ago, would she react the same way as she was reacting to Ryder?

Or was it because of him that she was feeling that way she was, as though everything was slipping into place inside her?

As if she’d been like a picture hanging slightly askew and now she was straight on the wall.

Eventually, the need to breathe had them pulling apart, both of them dragging in air. Was that Ryder panting? Had he been that into the kiss that he was struggling to catch his breath? While her world had been shaken a little, she was still able to breathe properly after a few seconds.

Was there something wrong with Ryder?

“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding like he was totally in control of himself and his bodily functions.

“I am. Are you?”

It was then she became aware that the panting was coming from her left.

Still in Ryder’s embrace, she looked over her shoulder and found a male dog sitting on his haunches, watching them.

“Is that the dog, Ryder? The one that ran into you?” She kept her voice pitched low so as not to frighten the animal.

“I think it is.” Ryder carefully lowered his arms from where they had been wrapped around her, and she controlled her shiver of disappointment and the loss of his embrace. “I know. Me too.”

Pleasured spiked through her that Ryder hadn’t wanted to let her go. “What do we do?”

All through their short conversation, the dog sat patiently, as if waiting for them to finish talking about him and do something. “I’m going to get up slowly and see if I can grab him. See if he is wearing a collar.”

“Okay.”

“Hey, boy. What are you doing out here all by yourself?” Ryder’s voice was smooth and calm, and she had visions of him soothing a horse with that same tone. “I’m about to get up, okay?”

She loved that he was telling the dog what he was about to do, as if the creature could understand him. The dog cocked his head to the side, like he did understand what Ryder was saying.

Chrissy held her breath and waited as Ryder slowly rose and took one step toward the stray pup. Then another until he was able to kneel down in front of him. “You’re a good dog,” Ryder crooned.

“You’re really good with him,” she commented, after the dog sniffed and licked Ryder’s outstretched hand. Soon they’d be able to get him, and hopefully, find his rightful owners.

The dog let out a small bark before turning and zipping off down the path, leaving both her and Ryder shocked at his quick action. There was no way either one of them could catch up with him, and if they did chase him, Chrissy suspected that the dog would think they were playing with him.

“What just happened?” she asked a few seconds later.

“I’ve got no idea.” Ryder shook his head and chuckled as he got to his feet, wincing a little at the action. “That little rascal played us. I’m guessing he knows exactly what he’s doing.”

Chrissy got up and stood beside him, this time leaning her head on his shoulder when Ryder’s arm came around her waist. “Is your leg okay? Do you think we should go try and look for him?”

“My leg’s fine. And nah, I don’t think so. I think he’ll be okay. He needed a bath, but he wasn’t skin and bones. He’s getting food from somewhere.”

“I hope so,” she murmured, saying a quick prayer that wherever the dog had disappeared to that he was safe.

The weather wasn’t too bad at the moment, but in a couple of weeks, it was going to get colder, and the thought of the poor thing out in the open as winter approached wasn’t a comfortable one for her.

“I’ll call the city in the morning and let them know there’s a stray dog on the loose.”

“That’s a good idea.” The breeze picked up and swirled around her legs. She shivered at the coolness.

“Come on, let’s get you out of the cold,” Ryder said and nudged her to start walking back toward the hotel.

Chrissy wanted to say that she was warm right where she was, but it would be a little white lie.

While her top half was warm being tucked against Ryder’s body, her legs were suffering with her choice of clothing.

She also didn’t want the night to end. For a few brief hours, she’d been able to forget about the farm’s issues and her responsibilities.

She was able to be Chrissy, the woman, and she found she liked it much more than being Chrissy, the problem solver.

Being with Ryder was tempting her to reconsider what was important and saving the farm wasn’t at the top of her list anymore.