Cowboy Take Me Away by Lorelei James Read Free Book Online Page B

of heat through her. “If you want to hit him, aim for the jaw. Maybe that’ll shut him up.”
    He smiled and reached for her hand. “That bad?”
    “The worst. My brother Thomas invited me to hang out tonight and then ditched me with him.”
    “Getting ditched seems to be a habit of yours.”
    “But I’m the one doing the ditching now. He’s inside. I’m not.”
    His fingers drifted across her knuckles. “Didn’t seem like you wanted to ditch him during the two songs you danced together.”
    “You saw that?”
    “Haven’t been able to keep my eyes off you from the moment you walked in.”
    “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
    “Had nothin’ better to do. I was tryin’ to take my mind off this beautiful blonde I met night before last.”
    “Were you looking for another woman to distract you?”
    “Maybe.” Carson brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Would me bein’ with another woman bother you?”
    “Yes, it would bother me.”
    He tugged her and she fell against his body. “Then maybe you oughta be my woman and I’ll only be with you.”
    Carolyn tilted her head back to say yes, and found Carson’s mouth descending on hers. He tasted so good, so male. The trace of tobacco and whiskey just made the kiss more intoxicating.
    Then his hands were sliding around her hips and down to her behind. She felt the imprint of every one of his fingers pressing into her flesh as he palmed her cheeks.
    Carson changed the angle of the kiss, taking it even deeper. She followed his lead, letting her fingers curl into his hard pectoral and wrapping her other hand around the back of his strong neck.
    His scent, his taste, his touch, if she lived to be a hundred she’d never forget this moment.
    She made a small protest when he finally slowed the kiss. But he didn’t let go of her. “Carson, I don’t—”
    “Ssh, just let yourself settle.”
    How did he know? Was he feeling just as untethered as she was?
    Those strong hands slid back up to her hips. “You are the very definition of temptation.”
    “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be.” He rubbed his lips across her hairline at the top of her forehead. “So you really didn’t tell your family about me?”
    “It’s none of their business.”
    “I like your feisty side.”
    “Did you say anything to your family?”
    “Just to my brother Cal. He thinks I’m crazy.”
    She frowned.
    He smooched her mouth. “Let’s talk about something else.”
    “Like?”
    Carson pushed her hair over her shoulder. “Like when are you comin’ home with me.”
    Somehow she kept her jaw from hitting the ground. She’d told him about her life so he had to know she had zero experience…
    Wait a second. Maybe that’s why he was interested in her. He “collected cherries” as her friend Cathy called it. She stepped back. Way back. “I…I have to go.” Then she turned and fled.
    Carolyn didn’t get far. A strong hand circled her arm and jerked her around.
    Carson bent down until they were nose to nose. “Why the hell did you run again?”
    “Because I’m not going home with you!”
    “Sweet Christ, woman, don’t you think I fuckin’ know that?”
    “Don’t swear at me,” she snapped.
    He struggled for composure. “Caro. Sugar. I fu—screwed this up. I want you to come home with me, but you’re not ready for that yet.”
    The yet part caused her to tremble.
    “I was thinkin’ out loud, getting ahead of myself as usual, okay? That’s it. I promise.”
    She should’ve doubted his sincerity, but she believed him.
    “I want to get to know you, but like you said, it ain’t anyone’s business what goes on between us.”
    “So you want to sneak around with me.”
    His eyes hardened. “No. But I thought you’d prefer that to me stakin’ my claim on you in the middle of the damn bar on a Saturday night since your family don’t know about us.”
    Us. Did he really consider them a couple? “You’d do that? For real?”
    “In a fuckin’ heartbeat. So