Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders) Read Free Page B

No. Couldn’t be him. He’d just up and disappeared from her life three years ago without a word and as far as she knew, no one knew where he’d gone.
    “Sweet Jesus. You’re even prettier than I remembered.” He ran his knuckles down her jawline.
    “Stop it.” Rory jerked her head away. “I don’t know who you think you are—”
    “You really don’t know who I am, do you?”
    She had a split second of recognition right before he said, “It’s me. Dalton.”
    And then he kissed her.
     
    When Dalton tried to deepen the kiss, Rory shifted. He automatically twisted his pelvis to protect his crotch—the crazy woman had kneed him in the ’nads before—so the swift punch to the gut caught him unprepared. He stumbled back a step and managed to duck when he saw Rory’s fist headed for his head.
    Out of reflex he grabbed both her wrists in one hand, trapping her hands between them as he pinned her against the wall. “The gut punch and haymaker might lead me to believe you’re not as happy to see me as I am to see you.”
    Rory’s breathing was choppy. Her pulse jumped erratically beneath his fingers. And her eyes, those stunning green eyes stared back at him with suspicion and just a little hatred.
    Great.
    What did you expect? That she’d fall into your arms?
    “You’re stronger and quicker than you used to be,” Rory said.
    “Got tired of getting my ass kicked.”
    “You deserved it most of the time.”
    He grinned. “No doubt.”
    “Let me go.”
    “You gonna take another swing at me?”
    “Not unless you try to kiss me again.”
    “Might be worth a black eye.”
    “Don’t.”
    Now her eyes held panic. Awesome. “Rory—”
    “Dalton,” she said sharply, cutting him off. “What do you want?”
    “To talk to you.”
    “Then let me go and come up to the bar and I’ll make you a drink.”
    “I won’t turn you into a pariah for associating with me, jungle girl.”
    Her lips formed a sneer. “You reminding me of the times when we were kids and I didn’t hate you isn’t helping your case, McKay.”
    “But it ain’t hurting it, either.” He released her.
    “Did you go to law school since I last saw you? Because that was a lawyer’s tactic.”
    “That’s why I cornered you. I wanted to plead my case without interruptions. Or without anyone recognizing me.”
    Rory gave him the wide smile that made his heart skip a beat. “I doubt your mother would recognize you.”
    “Guess we’ll see if that holds true later this week.” Dalton slumped against the wall next to her.
    “FYI, no one is gunning for you anymore about jilting Addie.”
    “I heard that she married Truman. I’m happy for them.”
    A few beats later, she said, “Enough with the bullshit small talk and you trying to maul me, Grizzly Adams. Why are you here?”
    He snorted. Grizzly Adams. “In Sundance? Or at the Twin Pines?”
    “Both.”
    “I’m in Sundance because Casper had a stroke.”
    The hard glint to her eyes softened. “I’m sorry. Is he okay?”
    “He can’t talk. And without coming across like a dick, that ain’t all bad. Weather was shitty in Montana and I just got here mid-afternoon. Saw Casper, took a rash of shit from my brothers and I figured what the hell. Why not add your scorn to the crap I’ve dealt with today? Facing my demons and all that.”
    Rory cocked her head. “I’m a demon for you?”
    Dalton couldn’t stop himself from touching her beautiful face. “You’re my biggest demon. I wish things had happened differently. But at the time…I didn’t have a choice.”
    “And now?”
    “You tell me. I had no idea you were livin’ in Sundance.”
    “How’d you find out?”
    “Sierra.”
    Rory muttered, “I’m gonna kick her ass. You’re back in Sundance for…how long?”
    “No idea. So can we get together and talk?”
    “About?”
    “You know what about,” he said softly.
    “Don’t do that,” she snapped. “Act like everything was just a misunderstanding and give me