Rodeo Queen by T. J. Kline Read Free Book Online Page A

into a fight over her.
    Scott climbed into the truck and sat rigidly in his seat. Clipping the belt, he refused to look at her.
    “Scott, are you okay?”
    “Fine.” He was determined not to let her affect him. He turned the key and the engine roared to life. Sydney took her hat off and scooted closer, laying it on the seat near the door.
    “Then why won’t you look at me?”
    He turned to face her, just to prove her wrong. He realized it had been a mistake as soon as he saw the worry in her golden eyes.
    “You’re mad at me.”
    He saw the vulnerability in her eyes and wondered momentarily how he could really think she was like his ex-fiancée. Scott cupped her cheek and ran his thumb across the velvety skin. “I’m not mad. I just didn’t expect to get into a fight tonight.” He gave her a lopsided grin.
    She returned his smile. “I’m sorry. I really am.” She touched the bruise already darkening the side of his jaw.
    “Maybe you’ll just have to kiss it.”
    She leaned back against the seat. “You seem fine,” she teased as he pulled out of the parking lot.
    S COTT PULLED INTO her driveway and turned off the truck. Sydney had slipped off to sleep during the drive, her head against his shoulder, and he wasn’t ready to wake her just yet. He stared down at her. Tonight had been an odd evening. No matter how he tried, he was having a hard time coming up with ways to even compare Sydney to Liz. He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek, amazed at how peaceful and innocent she looked. He brushed his thumb across her full bottom lip and wondered what it would be like to kiss her. She seemed so vulnerable, part of him wanted to completely forget what Liz had done and just trust that Sydney was exactly what she appeared to be. Then again, Liz had been a pro, acting vulnerable and sweet to get what she wanted, too. He felt like he was at war with himself, part of him wanting to trust Sydney and another part denying her authenticity.
    He slipped his arm around her shoulders, shifting so that she lay against his chest, and traced her cheekbone before letting his hand slide down her neck to her collar where her dress began. She sighed softly and spread her fingers on his chest. Scott looked down, expecting to see her golden eyes burning into his own, dark with passion. Instead, he found her asleep.
    He couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. Cupping her face, he gently pressed his lips to hers. He slid his tongue along her lips before slipping past the barrier of her small, even teeth to encounter the sweetest honey he had ever experienced.
    O NLY HALF-CONSCIOUS, S YDNEY marveled at the passionate dream she was having. She’d been wondering all night what it would be like to kiss Scott. At least in her dreams she didn’t have to worry about the repercussions of following her desires. She gave herself completely to the kiss. Her pulse raced as she touched her tongue to his and felt herself tremble. Instinctively her hands found his neck, her fingers finding their way into the curls at his nape. She shivered as he blazed a path of burning kisses along her throat to her collar.
    She let her head fall back to the headrest behind her. Headrest? Sydney blinked, realizing that this was not a dream. She instantly stiffened in Scott’s arms. Oh my God, what have I done? Scott lifted his gaze to meet hers, and the blazing desire she saw there took her breath away. As if she had thrown a bucket of ice on him, his gaze hardened.
    “So my theory was right, after all.”
    “What?” she asked, breathless.
    Scott sat up, leaving the truck to open her door. “Save it, Sydney.”
    “Scott,” she began, unsure of what she could even say about her behavior. How would she even begin to explain?
    “You know,” he said as he climbed back into the driver’s seat and started the truck. “You’re pretty good. I almost bought your act, but not quite.” He dropped the truck into reverse and left her to stare at the