Rough Rider Read online

  “Mira ese culo! Look at that ass, man.” Garcia gestured to a curvy brunette. He up-ended his bottle, emptied it in one long swallow, and then handed it to Reid. “Target sighted, hermano. Time to engage.”

  * * *

  Haley didn’t know why she’d let Yolanda drag her to the club. She didn’t have time for guys. She was far too busy with work and school even to think about them. Or had been. Until the cowboy. He’d definitely made her think, but her budding infatuation died a premature death the moment he’d declared himself a leatherneck. Maybe she wasn’t being fair, but the deck was firmly stacked against him.

  She already wanted to leave, but Yolanda had driven. Unless her friend chose someone else to take her home tonight, she’d be stuck here until closing. Haley looked around the club with increasing dismay. She hated dancing and was surrounded by marines.

  She scouted the dance floor and spotted Yolanda holding up her hair and doing a body roll, sandwiched between two guys. Maybe she’d be driving herself after all. By the look of things, Yo was gonna get a ride of some kind.

  Yolanda spotted her and waved frantically, beckoning Haley to join her and the two guys. Haley answered with a sharp head shake. If she was going to be stuck here all night, she really needed a drink. She formed a fist with her thumb raised to her lips, the universal drink sign. Yolanda nodded acknowledgment and then ground her booty into her new partner.

  Haley considered the acetone wipes Yolanda had shoved into her purse. A few minutes of scrubbing in the bathroom would erase the black marks on her hands. She weighed the consequences. If she got caught, she’d get tossed out on her ass. It was definitely worth the risk.

  Moments later, Haley exited the restroom, hands thoroughly cleansed of black marker. She then discovered an ATM at the back of the club and whipped out her debit card. After collecting her cash, she headed for the nearest bar, only to be intercepted by four different guys sporting buzz cuts. She rolled her eyes. More marines. It wasn’t too hard to brush them off yet, but the night was early and they weren’t fully tanked.

  She could really use that drink, but the bartenders would ask to see her bracelet before taking an order. With her friend on the floor, her only option was to ask one of the grunts to buy the drink for her. Opting for the devil she knew, the cowboy, Haley scouted the bar. At least she had the excuse of paying him back. She had enough cash to cover her debt and still buy a couple of cocktails. She found him a few minutes later shooting pool with a cadre of his leatherneck buddies.

  “Hey, cowboy. I have something for you.” She slapped the twenty on the table where he was setting up his first shot.

  Her unintended innuendo was met with silence as his baby blues darted up from the table to meet her gaze. The rest of the group eyeballed her up and down with open interest, making her feel like she’d entered a wolf’s den.

  She bit her lip, wishing she’d said something else. “I-I mean I found an ATM. I can pay you back now.”

  His tawny brows met. “Said I didn’t care about that.” He pushed the twenty across the table and turned his attention back to the cue.

  That was it? A brush off? Haley’s hackles rose. Was this his idea of payback for her earlier snub? I don’t think so, cowboy.

  “All right then.” She parked her hip on the edge of the table, blocking his view of the balls. “If you won’t take it from me, play me for it.”

  He stepped back from the table, his gaze sweeping over her with open cynicism. “You want me to play you?”

  His partner at the table sniggered. “If the cowboy won’t take you up on it, I will. I’ll play you like a sonata, baby.”

  Straightening to his full height, the cowboy shot his buddy a dangerous look. She guessed he was a few inches over six feet and wondered how much of that was the boots. Probably only an inch or so. Without them, he’d still tower at least a foot above her five foot two inches.

  She dropped another twenty. “Double or nothing? Eight ball, nine ball, nine ball kiss, Chicago, Chinese, Rotation 61,” she rattled off the game variations.

  A buff marine in a muscle shirt flashed a lecherous grin. “I’ll rotate you sixty-nine, sweetheart.” No doubt about it, they were already halfway to shit-faced.

  Haley ignored him. “Slop shot, call shot. Your choice, cowboy. Loser buys the drinks.”

  * * *

  Reid considered the blond who’d brushed him off like a fly from shit less than an hour ago. When he’d paid her cover he hadn’t expected anything in return except maybe a dance, but now she’d positioned herself squarely in his crosshairs.

  “So you think you’re a player, eh?” Reid eyed her with renewed speculation, wondering what game she was really playing.

  “Only pool,” she answered as if reading his mind. “A better question would be what kind of player are you?” She slid off the table, letting the double entendre hang.

  “Guess you’ll just have to find out for yourself. Mind if the lady steps in?” he asked the cluster of marines. The request was purely rhetorical. They all knew he was staking his claim, but he’d still sweeten the deal. “Tell you what, give us some space, and I’ll buy you all a round.”

  “Go on,” she urged the grunts as if shooing chickens, adding with a grin, “I’m sure Corporal Everett doesn’t want any witnesses when he gets his ass handed to him.”

  The marines dispersed toward the bar with muffled guffaws.

  His interest ramped another notch, Reid propped his cue against the table and cocked his head to study all five-foot-nothin’ of her. She was probably no more than a buck ten soaking wet, yet had the balls to go toe-to-toe with him. “You sure talk big for such a puny little thing.”

  “I laid my money down, didn’t I? What are we playing?” she asked.

  “Let’s just keep it a simple game of eight ball.” He offered her a cue. “Ladies first?”

  “No. Lag for break. I play by the rules.” She set up two balls for the shot.

  He came up beside her and leaned over the table, his cue poised. “Always?” He was close enough to smell her, fresh and sweet like ripe strawberries. “Sometimes it’s more fun to break ’em.”

  She snorted and chalked her cue. “Says the guy whose entire life is dictated by the USMC for what, the next four years?”

  “Six more. I signed on for eight.”

  “Eight?” She pulled back with a surprised look. “What kind of idiocy is that?”

  He stiffened. She had no qualms about speaking her mind, for damn sure. Lucky she was an attractive female. Good-looking women could just about get away with murder. Hell, many had. It was an injustice, or maybe God’s idea of a joke, but facts were facts. Men had a long history of making life and death decisions guided by their dicks. His was already exerting a great deal of influence.

  “Back home we have another word for it. It’s called patriotism.”

  “Don’t get your feathers all ruffled,” she came back. “I just don’t understand anyone’s desire for that kind of life.”

  “The military creates order out of chaos. That often applies as much to the individual as to the mission.”

  “That may be, but there are plenty of other ways than the military to ‘find yourself.’”

  “I s’pose so,” he replied. “But look how many people waste years of their lives in college only to end up flipping burgers.”

  She tossed her head. “And killing skills are so much more practical in life?” Her voice and eyes challenged. Taunted. But he wasn’t about to take her bait.

  “The Marines teach more than killing. Look…er… Hell, I still don’t even know your name.”

  “Haley,” she answered softly. “Haley Cooper.”

  “Look, Miz Cooper, we obviously don’t see eye to eye on this issue, so let’s just drop it and play.”

  They completed the lag shot, both balls bouncing off the tab
le to return to the head rail. Reid’s ball was closest, a millimeter from touching the rail. He considered the table. “Looks like it’s gonna be ladies first after all.”

  “You sure you want me to break?” She flashed him a smug smile. “You might live to regret that decision, cowboy.”

  Reid stood a couple of steps behind and slightly to the right, perfectly positioned to scope her out as she set up her shot. Every movement was too damned distracting. Her dress clung to her ass, riding up as she bent over the table, but not as far as he’d like. He guessed she was a distance runner by the look of her lean and shapely legs. He found his gaze caught in a loop, tracking up and down between her legs and ass.

  She broke, and then straightened, tugging her skirt back down over her legs. “You haven’t said what your job is, Corporal Everett.”

  “Scout sniper.” He flushed, knowing what was coming next. She’d try to put him on the defensive.

  “You’re a sniper?” Her eyes widened. “Isn’t that the same as an assassin?”

  He felt his color deepen another shade, but was careful to keep his expression and voice neutral. “A scout sniper’s primary function is to conduct close reconnaissance and surveillance in order to gain intelligence on the enemy and terrain. By necessity, he must be skilled in long-range marksmanship from concealed locations in order to support combat operations.”

  “Wow. That was a mouthful. Did you quote all that from some soldier manual?”

  “A U.S. Marine isn’t a soldier.”

  “What’s the difference? You both make war, don’t you?” She studied him as if she knew she’d ventured onto treacherous ground but was still determined to see how far he’d let her tread.

  “The Marine Corps’ primary mission isn’t to make war but to protect this country and those who can’t protect themselves, Miz Cooper.” He continued unapologetically, “Unfortunately, sometimes that does mean war and killing.” She was intentionally pushing his hot buttons, but he was accustomed to maintaining rigid self-control.

  “So you actually think some people deserve to die?” Her face was flushed, and her green eyes blazed.

  “Some do,” he answered levelly. There was no way to win once an argument got emotional. “I’m a peaceful man who believes in minding my own pastures, but I also believe in good and evil. There are a lot of very bad people in this world. Certainly the ones who fly airplanes through skyscrapers. When that kind of thing happens, I believe in doing whatever it takes to protect our own.”

  He could see her getting more worked up by the minute, and damned if he wasn’t also—just not in the same way. She’d been baiting him from the start, spewing arguments that usually just pissed him off, but in this case, it was turning him on.

  His gaze locked on her mouth. Her tongue darted out as if she read his thoughts. She drew a breath as if to formulate another rebuttal, but he’d had enough. Before her lips could spout off anymore of the Pacifist Tree Hugger’s Manifesto, he pulled her into his arms and silenced her with his.

  * * *

  The kiss came without warning, and Haley was too stunned at first to react. He began gently enough, his lips sliding over hers, hands cupping her face, thumbs stroking her jaw, and then he grew more insistent, his tongue probing the seal of her lips. His callused hands were simultaneously firm and gentle, and his lips paradoxically soft and commanding.

  Mere seconds had her head spinning and stomach fluttering. She was slipping fast and not about to let him pull her in any deeper. Part of her wanted to give into it, to see where it might lead, but the other half resented his audacity. Her pride won out. She resisted the urge to soften, to open to him, then stiffened, pressing her hands against his chest.

  He released her instantly.

  She stepped back, knees weak and pulse racing. “I didn’t come here looking to hook up.”

  “Neither did I. But sometimes unexpected things happen.” His gaze locked with hers, a look of speculation gleaming in his eyes. “When they do, it’s best to just go with your gut instinct.”

  “That so? Well all my instincts scream ‘no marines,’ so don’t let it happen again.”

  Suddenly remembering the cue in her hand, Haley turned back to the table. It took all of her will to focus back on the game. She could hardly believe how he’d nearly unraveled her with a single kiss. Then again, no one had ever kissed her like that. She made her break, pocketing the one, and then moved methodically around the table, calling each shot as she sank every solid. Only the eight ball remained, but it was trapped behind two stripes.

  Reid’s lips curved with smug certainty. “Looks like I’ll get my turn after all.”

  “Don’t count your chickens, cowboy.” She laid down her cue and searched the wall behind her for a shorter one. “Jump cue,” she answered his silent question.

  “You’re kidding right?”

  “Nope.” Approaching the table, she angled for her shot. She could almost feel his eyes on her ass. She glanced over her shoulder. Sure enough. He was leaning against the wall with both arms crossed over his broad chest, his gaze zeroed in on her behind.

  “Enjoying the view?”

  “Sure am,” he confessed, unabashed.

  He was sadly mistaken if he thought he’d unnerve her. Keeping him in her peripheral vision, she widened her stance and stretched out over the table. All sign of smugness evaporated from his face. He tugged on his jeans.

  Haley grinned, reveling in her small victory, and then prepared for a bigger one. “Eight ball, side pocket,” she declared with confidence. On a three count she took the shot, jumping the stripes to pocket the eight. “Yeah baby!” She threw down the cue and fisted the air, gloating in her triumph.

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  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank all of the wonderful people who helped to bring this story to life. I am ever grateful to my loving husband of thirty-plus years for supporting my writing career during many ups and downs. I also wish to thank my editor Deb Werksman for her continued faith in me, and the dedicated associates at Sourcebooks for all they do behind the scenes. Last but certainly not least, I wish to acknowledge the fantastic talent of Dawn Adams for my incredible book covers.

  About the Author

  Victoria Vane is an award-winning author of smart and sexy romance. Her works range from historical to contemporary settings and include everything from wild comedic romps to emotionally compelling erotic romance. Her books have received numerous reviewer awards and nominations, including the 2014 RONE Award for Treacherous Temptations and Library Journal Best E-Book Romance of 2012 for the Devil DeVere series. Look for more smoking-hot contemporary Western romances in 2015.