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  It had been a rough week since Amanda barged in looking for his shoulder to cry on only to find Marion Myers, the mayor’s wife, riding a different part of his body. It had been the inevitable crack in the fantasy he’d been selling to Amanda for the past year.

  Always teetering on the verge of discovery, scrambling to keep all the little details hidden, just the stress of lying all of the time had gotten to him. It made him feel more desperate and panicky. In that moment, when Will had seen the look of disgust and repulsion on Amanda’s face, he’d felt all the control he’d been exerting to keep up appearances shatter.

  Convinced the only way to fix everything and feel right in his own skin again, Will had done the dumbest thing ever. He’d flushed his pills. All of his recently purchased supply went right down the toilet, and it hadn’t take twelve hours for him to regret that impulse. Out of money and out of pills, he’d spent most of the past week spiraling into a frenzied state of need.

  Last night, Will had broken down. He remembered the driving pain, the hunger and the need. The rest was just bits and pieces. That didn’t mean he didn’t know he’d done something bad last night. Nobody had given him this shit. He’d taken it.

  And sure as shit they’re going to be coming after it.

  Chapter 5

  Amanda glared at her image in the mirror. She looked like some overdone doll a three year-old wasted the whole morning getting ready for her date with Ken. Fingering the hem of the little pink sundress, Amanda’s scowl tightened.

  If somebody breathes too heavy, I’m going to flash the whole rodeo.

  Then you should leave the underwear off.

  Ah, hell, Amanda didn’t know. This was what a woman wore if she wanted to get laid. That’s what she wanted, but she wanted to wear her jeans while doing it.

  Well, not while doing it, really.

  Shut up! You’re the one who got us into this mess.

  It was her nagging, inner insecurities picking on her all morning that had led her to let Cindy, Kathy, and Rosy fuss with her make-up and do her hair three different ways. All the ho-ha just to match her outfit with what Cindy called the “total package”. Amanda needed a “total package” for what?

  More like who?

  Cody Reese surely wasn’t worth this much trouble. Why she had done this to herself for him boggled her mind. She should have just put on her faded and worn jeans and tried for a clean shirt.

  Do it, I dare you.

  I will too.

  Yeah, change clothes for the sixth time in an hour. You really are making a fool out of yourself.

  Amanda froze as a lyrical chime echoed down the hall. The moment had come, the date would begin, and if all went well, it wouldn’t end until after breakfast tomorrow morning. The very idea of which held Amanda paralyzed.

  Get real. You don’t have the balls to sleep with Cody Reese.

  I most certainly do.

  The argument ended at the front door, her last barrier. Not about to bow down to fear, Amanda jerked it open just as Cody pressed the bell for the fourth time. Flushed with indignation, she barely noticed how well he filled out his blue jeans, the thick muscles of his thighs bulging against the slightly faded denim. His t-shirt might have hugged and caressed every hard line of his abdomen and chest, but Amanda was immune.

  No amount of sexy muscles bulging out the roll of his sleeve would undermine her confidence. Not even the way his soft blue tee made his eyes sparkle with brilliance under the rim of his hat could stop her gaze from locking onto his smirk.

  “Do I pass inspection?”

  He was laughing at her. Amanda’s chin tilted up in defiance. “I might not be too embarrassed to say I’m with you.”

  Her eyes narrowed as his grin widened. “You’re going to tell people you’re with me?”

  “Only if they mistake me for your daughter.” That took away his smile.

  “Well, you certainly look nice.”

  Nice as in not great, as in not so overwhelmed with lust I want to rip the clothes from your body. Amanda sighed, so much for all the work that went into making her look this good. “I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “I certainly hope so.” Cody grinned. “Because I’m really hoping to get through this date without losing too much skin.”

  His pointed reminder of her less than gracious attitude last night made Amanda blush. She really hadn’t been very nice, but, then again, he really had been kind of pushy. It seemed they shared responsibility for that disaster, so she had every right to tease him back. “Afraid my bite is worse than my bark?”

  “If you didn’t melt like butter when I touched you, I’d have come with a whip and chair.”

  He might have meant to shock her, but Amanda welcomed his comment. “If this is all about the melting, why don’t we skip the date and hit the sheets?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Did I stutter?”

  Cody’s smile straightened out right along with his spine as he stiffened up. Looming over Amanda, he drawled, “You might have.”

  “I’m just saying,” Amanda whispered. Not about to back down from his challenge, she dared to step up and lay her hands on him. Warmed by his skin, the soft cotton trembled slightly as his muscles flexed and hardened beneath her fingers.

  Looking straight up into his darkening gaze, Amanda tried for her best sultry look. “Sometimes, it’s just all about the heat.”

  Cody seemed to grow an inch before her eyes as he straightened all the way to his full six feet plus. His jaw clenched, and she could tell the answer was no before he spoke. “Listen here, little lady, we went through this, and if you don’t start showing a little more decorum, you ain’t even getting the good night kiss I promised you.”

  Amanda bristled in the face of such authority. Annoyed at his rejection, she didn’t make a fool of herself by continuing to rub into him. With a dirty look, she stepped back.

  “Then what the hell is my motivation for going on this date?”

  “I don’t know.” Cody rolled his eyes at her, like she was the fool. “Maybe having a good time with me at the rodeo?”

  “I need more.” Oh this is good. Negotiate the terms of the date first. Brilliant.

  “How much more?” Cody’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

  The small motion sent a thrill through Amanda. He obviously disagreed with her genius. The man’s arrogance and commanding nature probably made it intolerable to bargain away any power. Tough shit. Amanda didn’t plan on moving until she got a guarantee things would work out her way.

  “Well, you’re getting what you want, a date with me.” God that sounded arrogant and so satisfying to say to a man as hot as Cody. “It only seems fair I get what I want.”

  “I’m not sleeping with you on the first date, Amanda.”

  “Okay, we’ll settle on the kiss, but I get to pick the spot you kiss.”

  “The spot?”

  “You have to kiss me wherever I command.”

  “I get a smiling, pleasant date for the day, and you get a kiss.”

  “Of my choosing,” Amanda finished for him.

  “Well, then, don’t you need to get your purse?”

  “You’re paying for everything. What do I need to get my purse for?”

  “Hell if I know. Women always carry one. It’s part of the image, isn’t it? You got the dress and the shoes, you’re supposed to have the purse.”

  “Fine, I’ll go get it.”

  * * * *

  He was trapped in some third dimension of hell, and if Amanda didn’t stop smiling, Cody knew he’d lose it. The woman was certifiable. Devious, manipulative and completely insane, what other type of woman tried to barter a date for sexual favors?

  Totally twisted, and Cody loved it. In fact, the only thing keeping him from seducing her was knowing how badly she wanted it. Cody liked his sex a certain way. Actually, he liked it a lot of ways. He liked to tie his women up, play with them, share them, try them in just about every position he co
uld bend a woman into, but the most important thing—he liked his women obedient.

  It would take a strong man to train a woman as wild as Amanda. Cody had the strength. Boy, but she smells good…feels even better…damn but she gets hot quick. Okay, it would be a test for him too. A test of his control and patience.

  “So I said to her, ‘you really shouldn’t put the peanut butter in them. You never know who is allergic.’ Like Debbie ever listens to anybody. Little Miss Know-it-all always has to do it her way. She put the damn peanut butter in there. Do you know what happened?”

  Cody closed his eyes and prayed for mercy. For the past five hours, all Amanda had done was smile, giggle and babble away like some cheerily chirping bird. Usually such behavior would have spurred him into rushing her home and hoping he never saw her again. Except Cody knew she was intentionally trying to drive him right out of his mind. It was a low-down, dirty trick.

  “That’s right.” She kept on going as if he had answered. “Dean Allen damn near died. Oh, it was chaos, people screaming and sirens. They had to rush him to the hospital. I swear, it’s amazing what an allergic reaction can do. Are you allergic to anything?”

  Amanda paused to suck in enough air to fuel another meandering monologue. “You know my hairdresser is. Bees. Once they made a hive up in the attic of the salon. Well, let me tell you, I was…”

  Cody barely heard a word. Not that the corral below had his attention either. What man could pay attention to anything with Amanda dangling her sandal from her toes? She had graceful feet. High arches turned into dainty ankles and flowed into smooth, tanned lines of beautifully curved calves. The hem of her sundress had ridden up to reveal several inches of the softest looking thighs.

  His gaze stalled there. Oh, but Cody wanted to touch. Her skin glistened with the late afternoon heat, making her look juicy. He couldn’t help but wonder what other parts of her body would glisten under the sun if exposed to its brilliant rays. Cody’s eyes traveled upward, his imagination removing the clothing in his way.

  “Are you listening to me?”

  Cody jerked his eyes from the tempting swells of her breasts, over the smug curve of her lips to meet the knowing look in her chocolate eyes.

  “What?” Not a smooth response, his question pushed her smirk into a grin.

  “Am I boring you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “You seem a little distracted.”

  Cody scowled, annoyed more with himself than her. He’d given into his weakness, and she’d caught him. Just as Cody suspected, Amanda was a gloater. “I was just thinking I should get something to drink.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Cody could tell she didn’t believe him, but he didn’t waste time trying to convince her. Instead, he stood up and bit back a groan when the motion constricted his jeans about an inch too tight over his erection. He’d split the denim if he didn’t stop thinking about things he shouldn’t be thinking about any damn way.

  “Thirsty, right?”

  Cody growled. Amanda’s eyes were fixated on the indecent bulge in his jeans. It would be hard for her to miss when he’d gotten big enough to almost tap her on the nose with his cock. Like a preening peacock, it straightened up and filled out, trying to reach not her nose but those luscious lips she was licking.

  “You know, maybe if you’re a good boy and actually pretend to be an attentive date, I’ll give you a kiss wherever you want later tonight.”

  “I’ll bring you a soda,” Cody snarled.

  He didn’t wait for any more of her snide little comments before turning and strutting off. At least he tired to strut. Not an easy accomplishment with a wooden log wedged between his legs. The fact it was his own body giving him such grief didn’t stop Cody from blaming Amanda, especially when he heard her laugh. A true sound of amusement and not one of her forced giggles.

  Damn arrogant woman. She would give him a kiss, yeah right. Soon enough she’d learn he didn’t ask for or ever barter for kisses. He commanded women. They obeyed or suffered the consequences of his displeasure.

  Very soon, Amanda would learn. Then she’d know better than to tease him openly. She’d know her actions would be returned to her three-fold once his brothers got their hands on her.

  The very idea made him smile and relax a little. He couldn’t wait for the time she’d be naked, her eyes glazed with lust, her pussy dripping with cream as she knelt before them and begged for the pleasure only they could give her. After they made her come twenty or thirty times, she wouldn’t have the energy for all the arrogance. She’d be putty in their hands.

  Cody kept an eye on her as he worked his way down to the concession stand. No other stud better think about taking his seat and trying to charm his Amanda out of her sexy little sundress. That was his pussy, and until he said otherwise, any man who tried to make a move would get hurt.

  Forget how possessive and completely out of control he felt right then. Cody didn’t care if the volatile emotion fueling his thoughts was dangerously close to jealousy, an emotion he’d sworn off. Amanda might be more than willing to be seduced out of her clothes by some other cowboy, but she belonged to Cody. He wouldn’t tolerate any argument.

  “Cody? Is that you?”

  The soft feminine voice had him turning around to meet the gentle green gaze of Lydia Arnold. Her stylish, short blond curls looked disheveled from the heat and grit of a day spent at the rodeo. It still couldn’t dent the sophisticated air of dignity that had always been a signature of the Arnold women.

  For a moment, Cody saw Sharon staring back at him out of her mother’s eyes. Such beautiful eyes, such a soft voice, so charming and innocent despite everything. How many rodeos had he ridden in, her standing there by the railing, cheering him on?

  Win or lose, she’d throw herself into his arms, her curves fitting perfectly into the hardness of his body. Then she’d lean back, her hand against his chest and look up at him with love shining in her gaze. Cody could almost feel her hand stroking over his chest in the sweetest of caresses. The warm memory turned to pain as it dipped beneath his flesh and squeezed his heart in a painful vise.

  “Cody?” Lydia’s voice whipped the past away in an angry whirlwind, leaving him cold and alone in the heat of the summer afternoon. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah.” No.

  “Are you sure?” Lydia’s hand settling on his arm in a comforting touch made him flinch. Her hand lifted. “I’m sorry.”

  “No.” Cody straightened. “I should apologize. I was just having a moment.”

  “I know,” Lydia stated softly. “I have them too. It’s hard to go back to living when there are memories everywhere of what you lost.”

  “Yeah.”

  They stood there silently for what felt like an eternity, sharing a grief never far removed. Finally Cody squared his shoulders and forced a smile.

  “So, I didn’t know you were coming to the rodeo today.”

  “Oh, yes. Marion invited me. George is good friends with the mayor of Dodge City and we’re all sitting together.” Lydia shot him a mischievous grin. “I’m hobnobbing with the upper-crust now.”

  Cody laughed. Lydia was a good woman. She’d worked hard her whole life and didn’t have much to show for it. After Sharon passed, Cody pushed for his brothers to offer Lydia a job and a place to live at the ranch. It hadn’t been hard to sell them on the idea.

  Cody hoped it would ease some of the pain in his heart for what he did to Sharon, but it really hadn’t. Instead, Lydia served as a constant, almost daily, reminder of his sin.

  “I thought all you boys were going to be working on the fence in the east pasture today.”

  “I escaped. Couldn’t stay away from the rodeo, you know?”

  This time Lydia laughed, a haunted sound echoing with the ghost of her lost daughter. “I know all about you, Cody. If it wasn’t the rodeo, it would be something else. You always find a way to enjoy the weekend.”

  “No matter how hard Knox works t
o ruin it.”

  “I won’t tell him you said that. So,” Lydia looked around, “you here with friends?”

  “Just one.” Cody didn’t expand his answer. He knew it was hard for Lydia to watch them date other women. She never said anything, but he still felt like a scumbag.

  “You need something to drink?” Cody gestured to the line of people waiting to get refreshments and junk food.

  Lydia seemed to understand what he left unsaid and allowed him to turn the conversation in a more comfortable direction. She didn’t let him pay for her soda or hot dog. She made a quick exit, saving him from having to chose between leaving Amanda unattended or introducing her to his latest soon-to-be lover.

  As he watched Lydia walk away, he realized all the enjoyment, tension and excitement of being with Amanda drained away right along with his deflated dick. A part of him didn’t want to return to his seat.

  What the hell am I doing anyway? He didn’t really like Amanda. She certainly didn’t fit any of Jace’s or Knox’s outlined criteria. She was a good time waiting to happen. Cody considered himself to be better than that. He should do the right thing, return her home tonight and then go back to the ranch and scratch her name off the list.

  Determined to take control of this situation and his own rioting hormones, Cody turned his gaze up the bleacher seats and froze. His hand squeezed the cup until the lid popped off and cold, sticky liquid oozed down over his fist.

  There was a man in his seat.

  Chapter 6

  “So you’re not here with Cindy.”

  “Disappointed?” Amanda couldn’t control the grin tugging on her cheeks. Sitting beside her, Tony shrugged as if it was nothing to him, but she knew better. Anthony Black might be known as the straight-laced, serious-minded sheriff of Humble, but she still saw him as the boy who wore his cowboy boots with his Spiderman PJs to bed.