Page 27 of Rough

Now I was face-to-beautiful-face with her.

“Are you going to ride it?” she asked, her eyes glassy as she stared up at me through her sexy-as-fuck glasses. She was slightly tipsy, which I loved, but it made my job of proving I was into more than just pounding between those sweet thighs of hers even harder.

“Me? No.” I grinned.

“Oh, right. Of course not. You’re still hurt, right?” Her palm brushed over my side, like she was seeking the wound, so I flinched away. I couldn’t have her discovering there was no injury. In fact, I should probably put a bandage on the area next time I was with her. Especially since I was hoping we’d be naked and horizontal for that reunion.

“You want another drink?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No. I’m driving. Have to sober up.”

“I’ll get you a bottle of water, then. Stay here.” I started to leave her, then turned back. “On second thought, I don’t trust Markle not to bother you.” I took her hand. “Come with me, darlin’.”

Her laugh was low and throaty. A normal human probably wouldn’t have been able to hear it over the music, but I did. It sounded like warm summer rain. A full moon run. Sunset on the back of a horse.

I elbowed my way in at the bar and charmed a female out of her stool before she realized it was for another woman. Then I picked my sweet doctor up by the waist, lifted her, and plopped her down on the stool. I shifted slightly so my thigh was between her knees.

Yeah, I might’ve been showing off my strength more than I should. But she was tipsy from the one shot of tequila, and I guessed not tremendously experienced with men. I didn’t think she’d notice or remember how easily I could manage her weight.

I ordered two bottles of water and slid my body closer to hers, the heat from her inner thighs on mine, my hand at her lower back. “How’d you end up in Cooper Valley, Doc?”

The bartender returned with the drinks, and I cracked open a lid on one and handed it to her. She drank a few sips, then rubbed her full lips together. “I always wanted to live somewhere this beautiful. I love the mountains. And the sky. It’s so big here in Montana.”

I smiled. Big Sky Country was certainly Montana’s motto, but she’d said it with reverence that I suddenly saw the area through her eyes. It was true, the expanse of open blue sky against the rugged mountains made this a magnificent place to live. Sometimes I forgot how lucky I had it having a place, a home… a fucking pack, to return to.

“Where are you from?”

“I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. But I moved from Chicago, where I did my residency.”

“What’s your area of expertise?”

“I’m an ObGyn.”

Oh yes. I should have remembered that from a comment she made when we met. “You deliver babies?”

“Among other responsibilities.”

“You picked the right field.”

“How so?”

I leaned on my elbow to consider my words. It seemed important I get this right, and I was out of my element. “I imagine you bring a lot of joy into this world.”

Her smile burst open like a blooming flower, and my chest warmed. She leaned forward, and the intense pleasure I experienced at having her full attention made it easy not to succumb to the temptation of looking down at her sweet cleavage. “That’s exactly why I love my job. Every baby is a tiny miracle. I feel so honored to help usher them into the world.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “It was probably best that the rodeo guys you helped didn’t know you treat pregnant women and deliver babies. Might hurt their big egos.”

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say because her smile dimmed, and she pulled her hand back. I tried to figure out what I’d said wrong, but it then became apparent.

“Remember, you can’t go back to the rodeo until you’ve had a full physical.” She drew a breath like she was going to continue on her lecture, but I interrupted.

“I may not go back.” I scratched the back of my neck, eyed the guy who was riding the mechanical bull, then looked back at her. “I’m, ah, hoping I find a reason to stay.”

Her eyes widened, and those full lips parted. Then her gaze dropped to her bottle of water, and she took a hasty drink, the droplets dribbling down her chin. “That’s laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?” she muttered.

Reaching out, I wiped the water away with my thumb. “Let me show you around, Audrey. Tomorrow.”

“Is that code for something?”