Stripped Down Read Free

see me as a rodeo road dog who gives it the almighty try year after year but never quite makes it to that top tier.”
    “That’s intentional, isn’t it? Not competing on the highest level?”
    “I had enough of that. Now I drift from town to town and occasionally toss out a Sylvia Plath quote or a passage from William Faulkner to keep people guessing about me.” She squeezed his knee again. “You were about to spill all of your secrets to me, Mr. Grant.”
    “That’s one thing I don’t have are secrets. I grew up a rancher’s kid and never wanted to do anything else. When it became obvious that Sutton was better than average with his rodeo skills, I knew he wouldn’t want to ranch full time, so I stepped up and learned everything I could. Figured it’d be up to me’n Cres to keep the ranch goin’. My folks did insist on shipping me off to vocational school for three years.”
    “What’s your degree in?”
    “Associate degrees in engine repair and veterinary science.” He sipped his beer and smirked at her. “Granted, it’s no Elizabethan poetry degree, but it’s helpful around the ranch knowin’ how to doctor up machines and animals.”
    “Elizabethan poetry? Nice shot, grease monkey.”
    He laughed. Damn he loved her sense of humor. “You had that comin’, Kentucky.”
    Her eyes turned serious. “Why is this so easy with you?”
    “Because we’re both easy?” he offered. “It’s easier knowin’ how things are gonna end between us tonight.”
    “You two look awful cozy over here,” a cooing female voice broke the moment.
    Wyn looked up at Violet McGinnis. Then he leaned back and draped his arm across the back of Melissa’s chair. “Hey, Violet.” After spending one night in Violet’s bed, she decided they were destined for each other. Not because the sex was off the charts explosive. Not because she was crazy about him and wanted to spend the rest of her days with him. Her sudden interest happened after she’d turned thirty and decided to settle down. He’d never been interested in that with her, or any other woman, and hadn’t hidden that fact from anyone. But she hadn’t taken the hint. Evidently it was time to broaden that hint.
    “We are very cozy,” Melissa said, pouring on a thick drawl. “In fact, we may not move from this spot all night, it’s Super”—she caught herself and amended—“that me and my best man are hanging.”
    Violet crossed her arms over her chest. “I hope that’s not true because Wyn promised me a dance.”
    “When did I promise you a dance?”
    “It’s a figure of speech, Wyn, meaning I want to dance with you.”
    “Ah. Well, I wouldn’t want you turnin’ down all the other fellas who’re eager to squire you around the dance floor on the off chance I’ll tear myself away from this lovely lady’s side tonight. Because I doubt that’s gonna happen.”
    Violet didn’t know how to respond. She spun on her boot heel and stormed off.
    “Recent conquest?” Melissa asked.
    “Eight months ago or so.”
    “She lousy in bed?”
    “Not that I recall.”
    “So why no repeat?”
    Wyn watched Violet move to the back of the room. “That’d give her the false expectation there might be a three-peat. I’m not interested in settling down with her. Or anyone else.”
    “That’s another thing we have in common. But there seems to be…a few haters, here, Super Man-Slut. So how many women in this place have you nailed and bailed?”
    He scanned the tables. “Six?”
    “You’re not sure how many women have slicked up your pole, grease monkey?”
    “Funny, Kentucky. You say that like you didn’t admit, two short hours ago that you’re equally as slutty as me.”
    “Fair point.”
    “Lots of people from the world of rodeo here. How many guys have you mounted and discounted, Amazing Slut-Girl?”
    “Mounted and discounted.” She snickered. “That’s a new one. I might have to steal that.” Melissa tried to discreetly crane her neck to