Page 7 of The Cowboy's Prize

There wasn’t any arguing with them, but LeAnn still tried. It was exhausting, always trying to prove herself.

“You’ve taken a few kicks in the gut, but you’re a fighter,” Dylan said, bringing her thoughts back to the here and now. “That’s why they call you Killer.”

His words were better than the tequila. And the admiration in his dark eyes went to her head like a downed shot. Suddenly she didn’t want his thumb caressing her knuckles. She wanted his hands on other parts of her body. She shifted in her seat, as another flood of warmth filled her. A traitorous thought flitted through her. If Dylan had been her boyfriend, she wouldn’t have lasted a year before deciding that waiting until she was married wasn’t what she really wanted to do.

“I just have to get my head back in the game,” LeAnn said. She had to get her whole body into the game. She needed to make some changes in her life. She needed to do things her way, find her own path. She wasn’t going to be WPRC’s sweetheart anymore. That ship had sailed. But it didn’t mean it was the only ship in town. She just had to find out where she fit into all of this. She wasn’t a Wild Grayson Sister, and she wasn’t America’s sweetheart. She wasn’t just a daughter or a sister. And she sure as hell wasn’t Mick’s girlfriend.

So who was she?

She was a bronc rider.

“I’m going to win my next event.” That was a good of a place to start. That meant no more tequila or wallowing in self-pity. She pushed her glass away from her.

“Now, you’re talking.” Dylan saluted her with his beer bottle. “Liam, put the lady’s drinks on my tab.”

“You don’t have to do that,” LeAnn said.

“I want to.”

“Thanks.” Impulsively, she braced a hand on his shoulder and leaned in to give him a kiss.

She probably should have kissed him on the cheek. But before she could think about it, she brushed her lips against his.

Sparks.

Opening her eyes wide, she stared at him. He looked just as surprised as she did. So she did it again.

More sparks.

The third time, she wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed her tongue against his. Slowly, he kissed her until she was half in his lap and breathless. It wasn’t quite fireworks, not yet, but she was having a hard time pulling away from him.

“Sweetheart,” he said hoarsely. “You don’t want to do this.”

But she did. LeAnn didn’t want to talk anymore. She wanted to have sex with Dylan. She was more sure about that than she ever had been with Mick. Sure, it might have been the tequila influencing the decision. It might have roots as being just a revenge fuck. But she knew that that wasn’t entirely what it was. LeAnn wanted to take this next step in her life.

She felt safe with Dylan, loved being this close to him. Eyes half-closed, she wondered what it would be like to be pressed up against a barn, legs wrapped around his waist while he pounded into her.

That’s how she had caught Mick and the blond buckle bunny.

She let out a shuddering breath.

“You okay, Killer?” Dylan asked, concerned.

“I think I’m better than I’ve been in a long time,” she said, slowly opening her eyes. The hateful image of Mick cheating on her had been replaced with a fantasy of her and Dylan.

“Good,” he said. “You’re better off without Mick.” He trailed his fingers down her cheek and she leaned into the caress.

“I can see that now. I wasted so much time.”

“Let go of the past. You can’t change it. Concentrate on the now and what you want for the future.”

Those were damn fine words. He was right. It was time to start over. She was going to be a new LeAnn who didn’t care what the toxic cowboys thought. There was going to be a new commitment to excellence and success. She was going to rock the rest of the season.

And she was going to lose her virginity.

Tonight.

With Dylan.

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