Roughneck Cowboy Excerpt
"Her laughter was flirtatious as she playfully parted her legs, revealing the keys tucked seductively between her thighs under the short hemline of her skirt..."
Chapter Two
Still holding Violet in place over his shoulder, Finn opened the passenger door of his truck. He picked up his coveted chocolate chip cookies, and gingerly deposited them into the glove compartment then sat her inside.
“You gonna,” she hiccupped and wobbled in the seat. “Let a hardened criminal like me ride in the front, sheriff?”
Her sultry gaze raked over him, inviting him to make a move.
It’s the booze, he reminded himself while his professionalism and sworn duty to uphold the law, pecking at his brain.
Frustrated, he slammed the door. He knew he should have treated her like any other drunk and disorderly. But handcuffs and a ride in the back seemed a bit excessive for dancing on the bar.
Her coffee shop, Pixies, was the heart of Main Street and she was known for her kindness and strong work ethic. When she wasn't running her business, she could be found helping Logan and Tyler tend to their ranch. She was a pragmatic businesswoman, fully aware of the consequences of negative publicity. With relentless ambition and tireless effort, she had transformed her small venture into a prosperous business.
As far as he knew, this was Violet’s first brush with the law, and he couldn’t help but feel there was more behind it than just a night of carousing. It didn’t make sense that she’d risk her reputation or customers for a night on the town.
Finn walked around the truck. He hesitated before opening the door,
Deep down, he knew there was something else that made him go easy on her.
He couldn't shake the thought that she might actually be interested in him, wanting more than just a few wild nights to defy her brothers' overprotective ways. But that was something his career nor his heart couldn’t afford to find out.
He scrubbed a hand over his stubble-covered jaw, knowing nothing could jar that slap to her ass from his mind.
"Strap in," he grumbled, digging into his pocket for the truck keys.
She gave him a vacant look.
"The seatbelt, Violet," he clarified, but nothing registered.
Finally, he reached over her and grabbed the seat belt buckle by her shoulder. But before he could secure it, she grabbed hold of his shirt and planted her lips on his.
They were like velvet on his, intoxicating and all-consuming. The faint scent of alcohol and coconut lingered on her breath, tempting him further. Finn couldn't resist any longer. He dropped the keys and tangled his fingers in her hair, giving in completely to the unexpected moment.
If this wasn’t fuel, he didn’t know what was. The more her soft, full lips glided over his, the more he wanted to lay her back in the seat and take her right here, right now, in the truck. Consequences be damned. The need to lose himself in the deliciousness that was Violet was overwhelming. He wanted to feel her naked breast press against his chest, explore every inch of her body and make sweet love to her.
But Finn couldn't ignore the nagging voice in his head - Violet was drunk. And having sex with an inebriated woman wasn’t something he did, no matter how aroused, so he pulled back.
Her eyelids fluttered open. Her eyes, dark with desire and intoxication, searched his.
He wanted to tell her all the reasons this wouldn’t work, that they could never go beyond a drunken kiss. The scars of their families' history, grudges that ran deep, and the looming elections and how all that messy small-town drama could get wound up in his campaign reelection. But all that seemed less like a reason and more like an excuse. Because deep down, Finn really didn’t give a damn about any of those things.
For the right woman, he’d give up his badge, happily walk away from the sheriff’s office and settle into a life of home, family and ranch work. But the right woman could never be her. Because even if he and Violet were willing to put all the family drama aside, Tyler and Logan would rather die than see their baby sister in a romantic relationship with a Durant.
Finn sat back in his seat and scrubbed a hand over his face as he let out a long sigh. “You’ll know that was a mistake in the morning.”
“Nope,” she said, grinning like a cat with a canary in its mouth. “I liked it and so did you.”
Hell, yes, he liked it. Every second of it, but he pushed the thoughts aside and focused on starting the truck.
Keys.
Where were his keys?
He felt his jeans pockets. Nothing. He looked around and then realized that they’d slipped from his hand when she caught him off guard with that smoldering kiss.
The kiss.
His attention snapped to Violet, who now wore a smug expression.
He gripped the steering wheel tightly. “Where are they?”
She tilted her head innocently. As if she didn’t know exactly what she was doing.
“Goddamn it, Vi,” he growled, noticing her empty hands. “I’m too damn exhausted for your games.”
“You sure?” she drawled, a mischievous glint in her eyes as the alcohol gave her courage.
“Give them back.”
She leaned closer to him. “A kiss for the keys,” she purred, her lips dangerously close to his.
“If you don’t give me those keys, I’m going to handcuff you and make you ride in the back all the way to the county lockup.”
His threat didn’t faze her. “With these things?” she asked, holding up his set of handcuffs.
“How the—?” he questioned, confounded she was such a resourceful pickpocket.
Her laughter was flirtatious as she playfully parted her legs, revealing the keys tucked seductively between her thighs under the short hemline of her skirt.
“Fuck me,” he exhaled, already imagining where his hands needed to go to get those keys back.
She raised an eyebrow. “Is that a counteroffer, sheriff?”
This woman was pure enticement, hand-crafted by the devil himself and sent to test his willpower. "No."
Her frown turned into a wicked smile as she closed her legs and twirled the handcuffs around her finger.
He couldn’t believe this was happening. Violet was blackmailing him with her thighs! "Dammit," he growled, knowing there was only one way to end this game. "Fine."
“Hot damn!” she shouted.
“But first, the keys.”
With a sly grin and a flicker of defiance in her eyes, she slowly parted her thighs for him. Finn felt like a man walking towards the gallows, surrendering himself to his inevitable downfall.
He inched closer, the air between them electrifying with the memory of that heated kiss they’d just shared. Violet's eyes were smoldering pools of mischief, the corners of her lips curled in a knowing smile that suggested she was well aware of the effect she had on him. The keys glistened just out of reach; a silver offer nestled innocently between those firm, silky thighs.
Leaning in, his fingers hovered just above her smooth, bare skin. Their eyes locked, and the tension between them grew heavy. In that moment, all outside distractions faded away, leaving only the sound of their breaths. With his fingers hovering over the cold metal of the keychain, he felt her body shift slightly. He knew that if those keys were to disappear from view, he’d have to do more than kiss her to get them back, so he made a desperate grab for them before they could slip away.
He released a heavy exhale of relief and marked his triumph by twirling the keys around his finger before securing them in his palm. As he prepared to flash a smug grin her way, he suddenly felt the cold metal of handcuffs clamp tightly around his wrist with a resounding click. His heart sank as he realized he had fallen into her trap.
With a saucy grin, she declared, "My turn." Then, with surprising agility for someone who had clearly indulged in too many drinks, she deftly turned in her seat and claimed her rightful share of their deal.
The taste of her luscious lips sent a strong current of voltage surging through his veins, momentarily paralyzing him. The jingle of his keys echoed mockingly as they fell to the passenger floor with a sharp thud.
As her lips moved over his, Finn's mind fought to hold on to those excuses he’d summoned before, but the desire pumping through him could not be ignored. The longing simmering in his gut now burned with an unquenchable fire, stiffening his dick to a throbbing ache.
Need consumed him, taking the reins of his common sense until the bright headlights of a passing car jolted him out of the trans. “Violet,” he said, as her soft lips reluctantly parted from his. “You’ve got to stop kissing me.”
She feigned innocence, her pouty lips grazing his jawline. “But I don’t want to stop,” she murmured, sinking her teeth into his earlobe.
He sucked in a sharp breath as a jolt of pleasure splintered through him. Grabbing her arms with a firm grip, he locked eyes with her. "You're drunk," he growled, his voice low and husky.
“And if I wasn’t?” she questioned.
“This still wouldn’t work.” His voice was gruff with the finality of that truth. “You and I…Our families are like oil and water. You know that.” A wave of longing and heartache washed over her delicate features, stirring something deep within Finn's soul. “Now,” he said in a gentle tone. “Get back in your seat.”
She cast her eyes downward, as if she might comply. But Finn knew better - that glint of mischief in her gaze could only mean more trouble. With a resigned sigh, he braced himself for whatever she had planned next.
“No way, cowboy,” she said, and sure enough, before he could react, she had looped the other end of the handcuff around the steering wheel.
“Ah, come on!” he barked, tugging at the cuffs. “Cut this shit out.”
She tittered, swaying drunkenly before she slumped onto his lap face-first.
He winced and let out a guttural sound, the pain of her hitting his pulsing erection shooting through him like lightning. After he recovered, looked down and wandered what the hell he’d done to deserve this sort of torture. He gently brushed her hair away from her face. “Vi?”
She didn't respond, snoring softly instead. She was out cold.
“Son of a bitch.”
What started as a routine disturbance call had turned into a major problem. Violet Gates had somehow managed to cuff him with his own handcuffs and the keys were now lying on the floorboard, out of his reach. There was no way he was calling Carla for backup.
That left Griffin.
He fiddled with the pocket of his jeans, finally managing to extract his cell phone. He punched in his brother's number, waiting impatiently as it rang. Griff's voice on the other end was gruff and tired. "What the hell do you want at this ungodly hour?" he growled.
“I need help.”
“What?” Griff was instantly alert. “What’s wrong? Where are you?”
“Tubs Roadhouse,” Finn said. “I don’t have time to explain just get over here A.S.A.P.”
Once he ended the call, he leaned his head against the seat and let out a heavy sigh. Exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave, and within seconds, he was fast asleep.
But his peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by a loud knock on the truck window. Startled, he jolted awake and rubbed his bleary eyes. Griff stood on the other side of the glass, wearing a smug grin.
Finn unlocked the door and looked down to see Violet still passed out, face-down on his lap.
Griff’s eyes shot from Violet to Finn’s hand which was still cuffed to the steering wheel. He laughed. “Wow.”
“Don’t,” he said, ignoring the fact that his brother found his circumstances funny. “The keys are on the floorboard at her feet.”
Griff hurried around to open Violet’s door, grabbed the keys and let out another robust round of laughter as he came around to unlock the cuffs. Finn rubbed his wrist then eased Violet up, gently leaning her back against the seat.
She moaned and opened her eyes. “I don’t feel good.”
“Holy shit,” Griff said, his eyes wide. “Is that who I think it is?”
Finn pulled the seatbelt over her and secured it with a snap. “It is.”
“Finn?” she questioned; her eyes still unfocused from the alcohol.
“Yeah?”
“I think I’m going to be sick.”
Griff laughed again. “This is priceless.”
Finn held out his hand for the keys.
Griff shook his head as he tossed them to him. “Don’t think you’re getting away without an explanation.”
Finn gruffly shoved the key into the ignition, the truck's engine roaring to life. "We'll have a few beers later and you can give me hell then," he grumbled. “Right now, I’ve got to get her home before she pukes all over my tru—”
The sound of her retching filled the cab, causing Griff to groan and turn away.
“Goddamn it,” Finn cursed under his breath, watching helplessly as Violet's dinner and drinks decorated his dashboard.
It was going to be a long, messy ride home.