Eight Seconds (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  After lunch, J.C. and Will lingered in the kitchen drinking iced tea and planning the rest of the afternoon. There was a lot to be done before the sale this weekend. Steers needed to be moved, some fence needed attention, plus there was a list of items their mother wanted completed for the picnic and festivities.

  Evelyn took great pride in the yearly sale and shindig they put on. Close friends, relatives, and customers came down and just let go. It was as much a family reunion as it was good PR.

  J.C. saw the list was long and detailed as he leaned back his chair on two legs and stared at the paper.

  From the kitchen, his mother yelled, “Stop leaning those chairs back. You’ll break the legs.”

  J.C. laughed. She could hear a mouse fart if she chose to.

  Will cleared the dishes and took them into the kitchen while J.C. pulled out his phone and texted Danielle.

  “So, I was thinking about those satin sheets and Romeo. You gave me quite a lot to think about last night.”

  Danielle was sitting in the tractor, waiting for the bale to finish wrapping in the baler when her cell beeped. She flipped open the phone and smiled. No, don’t smile. He’s a wayward hound dog. He will use you then leave you.

  Calmly she responded.

  Don’t you have anything better to do than bother me. I’m busy.

  J.C. smiled and texted back.

  Well, I suppose I have work that could be done, but my thoughts are on your breasts peaked under satin sheets, and that’s your fault.

  Danielle put the tractor in neutral and slowed the idle. She couldn’t text and drive, and she certainly couldn’t bale hay and text either. She definitely couldn’t let him know he was getting to her so she pondered her next words.

  I hadn’t even thought of you and what you were doing. I suppose I was too tired and had too much work. You wouldn’t be wasting your day away thinking about something you’ll never see if you hadn’t started the fun and games to start with.

  Danielle ended her next text with a simple Bye. She kicked the idle back up and engaged the baler. She had hay to bale, and texting J.C. Evans was a path to a road full of potholes and pitfalls.

  “Danielle?” Will asked.

  “Yeah,” J.C. said, and sipped his tea.

  “She still hates your guts, doesn’t she?” Will asked softly.

  “No, she wants to hate me, but she doesn’t,” J.C. acknowledged with a grin.

  “Well, I can’t blame her. You are so cocky and full of yourself all the time,” Will noted for the record.

  “Ouch, bro.” J.C. smiled.

  “No judgment here.” Will held up his hands innocently. “I know it normally works for you, but it doesn’t seem to work with her,” Will said thoughtfully as he finished the remaining tea in his glass.

  “Just verbal foreplay, bro.” J.C. smiled and stood while putting on his hat.

  “Whatever, dude. I still think you lost your mojo,” Will said, and shook his head. “’Bout time someone took you down a notch anyway.”

  J.C. laughed and imitated Will’s role model. “We’ll shag later. I make her very randy.”

  Will shook his head as they walked to the kitchen with their glasses.

  “Nice Austin Powers,” Will added as they walked out the door to get back to work.

  Chapter Five

  Wednesday night rolled around, and after three days of hot weather and work in the hay fields, Danielle was ready to get out for a night. J.C. hadn’t texted her the night before. Not that she wanted him to. Right, she wanted him to but tried to convince herself that, no, she didn’t.

  So she stood in front of her mirror applying her makeup and getting ready for a night at the local dive, Charlie’s, for Wednesday Hump Day. It was a big local joke, plus drinks were half price until ten. Not that she planned on tying one on, but a few never hurt anyone.

  Danielle padded down the stairs into the living room where her parents sat watching their usual evening shows. Sweet. This was a scene she could only hope to experience one day.

  “Well, I guess I’m off for the evening to see what kind of trouble Stacy can get me into,” Danielle announced.

  Gabby looked up thoughtfully. “Honey, are you all right? You haven’t been yourself lately.”

  Danielle stood quietly and thought a moment. Yeah, she was okay. “I’m fine.”

  “Well, say what you will, but you’re at odds with yourself about something. Is it the job search?” Gabby blinked and sipped her coffee.

  “Maybe. I think I’m just having a hard time shifting gears lately. The job search and the thought of moving is…I guess stressful.” Danielle did have a lot on her plate besides J.C., but he seemed to trump them all.

  “Sweet pea,” Dean said, “be careful. I know how you and Stacy can get, so if you need a ride, just call.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Danielle smiled then said her goodnights. She had one cool father, always had. She hoped one day she was as wonderful a parent as they were. But to think about that, she had to have a mate, a husband. She couldn’t think of a husband right now. Hell, she didn’t even have her life in order. She envisioned being successful on her own without a man. One day, a husband and family could be a possibility. Nah, maybe she would stay single, have no kids. Whatever.

  * * * *

  Danielle and Stacy walked into Charlie’s, and much to Danielle’s surprise, it was packed. Of course, it was Wednesday, but this was a bigger than the normal crowd. As she looked around the tavern, she saw the faces of many people she hadn’t seen in years, some since her high school graduation. Weird.

  Stacy laughed. “You don’t get it, do you?”

  Danielle blinked then looked at Stacy. “What did you do?”

  “Uh, this is a party to celebrate your graduation and, mostly, your summer at home,” Stacy squealed then hugged her.

  Shit, this could get bad real fast. Someone was already heading her way with a drink for her.

  “Ah, Stacy, I’m going to ring your neck later, girl,” Danielle said, but smiled. It was thoughtful of her anyway.

  “Hey, girl,” someone yelled, and Danielle turned.

  “Wow, hi, Whitney, gosh, congratulations on the engagement.” Danielle hugged her friend from high school.

  “Thanks and congratulations to you, too.”

  Minutes continued in the same fashion. People congratulated her to the point that if she heard congratulations one more time, she would spit. She walked to the bar and stood behind Stacy.

  “Bartender, please make my cousin the best margarita in the world, top shelf. She hates cheap tequila,” Stacy hollered above the noise.

  Danielle and Stacy sat down with a group from school. Jody across the table took a big drink of her beer and smacked the bottle down on the table, causing it to splash everywhere.

  “Remember that time you put detergent into the fountain and bubbles went all the way down Main Street?” Jody asked while pointing at Danielle and smiling.

  “Ah, yes, the great detergent caper.” Danielle laughed.

  “Oh, shit, girls,” Jody said. “Bubbles, tons of bubbles all over Main Street, remember?”

  Everyone at the table cracked up while reminiscing. Danielle couldn’t believe she’d pulled such pranks, well, yeah she could believe it. When she was young, she wanted to try everything, experience anything. Growing up in a small town had its disadvantages. They had to make their own fun, one way or another.

  Jody continued her tale with slurred speech. “The mayor was so pissed it made the front page of our four-page paper. Anyway, the mayor offered a reward of ten dollars for the name of the responsible party, remember that?”

  The others at the table laughed again. “No one would offer up the name for ten dollars. Hell, that would barely buy a twelve pack,” Kristy hollered from the corner.

  Jody looked back toward Danielle. “Did he ever find out it was you?”

  Danielle grinned. “No, he always suspected, but he had no proof.” She blew on her fingerna
ils then rubbed them on her chest, acting suave over the situation. Ah, good times.

  Stacy leaned over and whispered in Danielle’s ear, “Be back in a minute.”

  Danielle nodded and resumed sipping her drink. It had already proved to be a fun and enjoyable evening. She had worried earlier but now was completely at harmony with the world. Must be the alcohol talking already. How much alcohol did the bartender put in this thing?

  “Oh, remember tomato baseball?” Jessica asked.

  Danielle laughed along with the group until she almost wet her pants. “Remember? Heck, I invented the game.”

  “Boy, your dad was ticked when he saw his garden. How old were we anyway?” Jessica asked.

  “Oh, gosh, we were in fifth grade or something. I got my butt whipped so hard I couldn’t sit for a whole afternoon, but it was worth it.” Danielle laughed with a snort.

  After a while, Danielle decided enough was enough. She needed to go to the ladies room and buy a bottle of water. Ouch, the tequila in her drink was a little strong, and she was having too much fun considering how early it was.

  Danielle needed a break and headed to the restroom. Inside, she double checked her appearance and pushed a stray hair out of her eyes and headed back out into tavern to find Stacy. As she walked out in her haste, she bumped into a man.

  “Oh, sorry.” Danielle smiled. When she looked up, she gasped.

  J.C. stood looming above her. He was nearly six feet tall and a bulk of strength and muscle in one gorgeous package. His scent enveloped her like invisible fingers pulling at her. She would know his scent anywhere. His crystal-blue eyes sparkled from underneath his straw cowboy hat. He winked then smiled but said nothing. He just allowed the heat radiating off him to do the talking.

  It had only been seconds since she smacked face-first into his chest, but it felt like an eternity with his gaze holding hers. “When did you get here?” she asked at a loss for what else to say.

  J.C. smiled and slowly stepped toward her even as she awkwardly backed away until she hit the wall with a thud. He came so close that their toes touched. His body heat was able to warm her.

  Danielle stuttered, “Um, you’re invading my personal space.”

  J.C. looked down into her eyes and grinned. “Huh. I do apologize, miss, but I can’t seem to help myself.” He placed both hands on either side of her head on the wall behind her.

  Danielle’s heart thundered rapidly as her stomach felt the flurry of a thousand butterflies move through it. He shouldn’t have this kind of effect on her, damn him.

  Just as she went to make her escape, J.C. put his lips close to her ear. His warm breath sent chills running down her spine and goose bumps rising across her arms. Her body was electrified and humming. She would like nothing better than to give into her carnal desire for him. His lips were too close. It would be too easy to taste them.

  “Hmm, I think we’re at a standoff.” His warm breath heated her neck. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to take you into my arms, throw you into my bed, and make love to you until you begged for mercy.” He skimmed his hand down her bare arm as he continued to speak softly against her ear.

  “It seems to me you are hell-bent on hating me,” he said then paused and waited for her to exhale. “I can tell you that time spent hating me is fruitless, that your reasoning is unfounded.” He stopped then stepped back, considering Danielle had not drawn a breath.

  Danielle quickly gasped for air. What he could do to her with words was…amazing, and it pissed her off considerably. She paused a moment to gather her scattered thoughts. The more out of control he made her the angrier she became. Damn him, she was in self-preservation mode here.

  “Unfounded? Really? Fruitless? Hardly.” Danielle spoke calmly, articulating her words clearly.

  J.C. smiled in that wicked and beckoning way that nearly brought Danielle to panting. Yeah, he was irresistible in ways words could not begin to describe.

  “Mmm, yes, unfounded,” J.C. purred in a sensual tone that vibrated in her ear and caused her panties to soak. She could feel the slick, hot moisture spread, feel her nipples get hard and peak. Not, good, oh, god, not good.

  Danielle did what any woman with a hair trigger and an intense desire to hate someone would do. She stomped his foot through his boot with the heel of her own.

  “Ouch, woman, what was that for?” J.C. complained as she elbowed past him. He watched as her ass swung in a haughty rhythm as she stomped to her table. He loved the fire in her but hated the pain throbbing in his foot. That pain would be nothing compared to how he would feel if she never gave him the time of day again.

  What had he gotten himself into by falling for her? And when did it happen? He supposed it had happened years ago, but he’d been too stupid living his wild life to realize it. He argued that everything had happened as it should have. Danielle had gone to college and graduated with honors. She would have opportunity by the tail now. Had he given in to his own want for her years ago he worried how the situation would affect her schooling and his riding. Long distance relationships never seemed to work out and with his lifestyle, they wouldn’t have had a chance. She would eventually hate him for the poor excuse of a man he’d become. Time and distance allowed his want to wane, but never forget. Why he hadn’t tried to find her before now was a million dollar question.

  J.C. knew that night he kissed her and looked into her starry eyes that she had fallen for him. It had been the best feeling when he realized it but also the worst. The sweet taste of her mouth still played on his lips. She’d kissed him with extreme passion and vigor. She kissed like a woman in love and not a mere girl of eighteen years.

  When her arms looped around his neck and her breasts jutted up against his chest, he had nearly lost it. As it was, he put every ounce of energy into kissing her. His hands instinctively ran through her soft blonde hair and pulled her lips tighter to his own. It had felt so good and so right. The warm summer air caressed their skin as they stood kissing in the moonlight.

  The light moan that had vibrated on her lips pulled him back into reality. His first instinct at that point had been to put her in his truck and find an isolated dirt road and show her just how she affected him. That intense want for her alarmed him and, to be truthful, scared the daylights out of him.

  At that time, he had big plans for his career, and he knew she did as well. That was when he broke their kiss and shoved her back with authority. For seconds, he’d looked into her deep brown eyes. They’d been wild, challenging him to take her. It had been in that split second the words tumbled out of his mouth without regard.

  Damn, it had been hard saying those hurtful words to her and sending her out of the rodeo grounds that night with tears streaming down her face. A hole had opened in his gut as his chest constricted. His words hurt him as much as they did her.

  That scene had haunted him for years. J.C. sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. He was determined to win her heart, again.

  * * * *

  Danielle sat at the table with her legs and hands trembling. J.C. didn’t play fair, and neither did she. Really she shouldn’t have stomped his foot, but he had that coming and more. She wished their meeting in the past had never occurred and she was meeting him for the first time with no knowledge of his history. His past was wild, filled with women, booze, and money, in that order. However, he seemed different now, not the attitude and ego, but overall, he seemed to have grown, but was it enough?

  Stacy danced up to the table with a beer, smiling from ear to ear. “Come on, girl, our line dance will be on next. I requested it.”

  Danielle smiled. She was going to ignore J.C. and the fact that he was here. She was going to have fun, period. Maybe dancing would help her forget the intense tickling sensations coming from her brainless female region. Her shortness of breath and her erotic feelings had her on edge. She wished she actually owned a vibrator—that might help.

  The song “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” started as the group of women
sauntered on to the dance floor with catcalls erupting across the tavern. Hey, the song was old, but it signified a carefree time in her life, and yeah, it had been old then, too.

  The DJ yelled above the crowd as the women lined up. “Let’s give these ladies some noise. And a special hell yeah to Danielle Mallory for graduating and proving hot and smart go together.”

  Danielle laughed, and a rambunctious crowd shouted, “Hell yeah.”

  The music was loud and fast as the women moved in unison with their fast feet and seductive hip movements. The men continued to howl and whistle as the women in the group danced their asses off.

  Danielle was half out of breath but was sure they still looked good…well, she hoped they did. Either way, it was fun, and most were two sheets to the wind and really wouldn’t remember if she sucked or not.

  The bar was loud, smoke-filled, and smelled of beer mixed with a dizzying array of colognes and perfumes. Multicolored lights flashed, keeping rhythm with the song. The bass thrummed through her body. Thousands of wavelengths caressed her skin, arousing her body further.

  J.C. leaned against the bar with his beer and watched intently. Danielle had everything—good looks, hot body, and a killer smile, not to mention she was smart. Better than smart, intelligent and wow. He watched through the dimly lit space as her hips swayed and breasts bounced. Ouch. No woman should contain that much…well, awesomeness. Was that even a word? Damn, he had it bad for her.

  Will smacked him on the back and chuckled. “Dude, you’re pathetic.”

  “Fuck off ,Will,” J.C. said then gulped his beer.

  “Touchy, aren’t we?” Will smiled.

  “Man, I got to win her back,” J.C. said thoughtfully, not looking at Will.

  “Win her back? You never had her, man.”

  “Yeah, I did, and I threw her away for years of riding and womanizing. I’m a bastard.” J.C. just shook his head.

  Will’s eyes grew wide. “I can’t believe it. The chick magnet, bull rider extraordinaire is in love. Damn. You’re in deep.”