Puff, puff. “How soon would you need to leave?”“First thing tomorrow. That’d give me time to figure out a way to slip the tabloid guys who are determined to be the first to report my suicide.”Her father chuckled. “People are idiots if they believe you’re still despondent over that cocksucker Jake.”“I’m hoping out of sight, out of mind will cure lingering curiosity.”“You really doing okay, Ava Rose?” he asked gruffly. “You’ve been awful damn scarce since this whole thing went down.”Switching her phone to her other ear, Ava rested her elbows on the railing. “The last thing I wanted was you guys getting swamped by my shit storm.”“Well, honey girl, that’s what family does—sticks together and flips the world the bird. I’ll remind you that your mother and I’ve been through a shit storm or two in the thirty years we’ve been married. We’re tougher than you give us credit.” Puff, puff. “Far as I know, your mom doesn’t need the plane tomorrow. So I’ll call and arrange it.”“Thanks, Dad.”
“Eyes up here, buddy.”He didn’t exactly hurry his gaze as it tracked her curvaceous body from the bottom up. Goddamn, the woman had it going on. “Do I know you?”“Do I know you?” she shot back sarcastically.“I’m serious. Were you in Playboy?”“Is that your idea of flattery?”“Yes, you’re sporting a helluva centerfold body, sugar t—” Shit. He was supposed to stop saying stuff like that.Not bothered at all by her total nakedness, she pushed up the pink satin eye mask that kept slipping down. “I don’t remember seeing you at Ginger and Kane’s wedding. Which McKay are you again?”“Chase. I wasn’t at the wedding. Mind tellin’ me your name?”“Ava.”“Ava…?”“Ava Cooper is my stage name. Ava Dumond is my real name.”Stage name. With a body like hers and zero modesty she had to be a stripper. “Well, Ava, it appears we’re roomies, at least for tonight.”Ava didn’t respond. Her gaze was glued to his belly. “What the hell happened to you?”Chase glanced at his stomach and touched the bruise ben
“No. Don’t.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I think you’re the first person who’s been totally honest with me.”He relaxed. Smiled again and she bit back another sigh. “So this is what sent you running from California?”“I got tired of the paparazzi.” Something kicked from what he’d said about his family. “I got tired of the pity. Of the trade mags making such a big deal out of it. I needed to get away and prove…”There was that amazing grin again. “Don’t clam up on me now, Hollywood.”Ava laughed at his impromptu nickname for her.“And if you’re afraid I’ll judge you? Think again.”“You were dead-on with the sex question. One of the reasons I’m here? To find a guy I can get wild with. To prove I’m hot between the sheets. To prove I can keep a man sexually satisfied.”“Is that right?” he drawled.Her brain slipped into seductress mode as she channeled the femme fatale she’d played on TV for two seasons. “Maybe…you’re the man who can help me with that.”Bad karma is coming back to bi
“That’s what you call food? Please tell me you ain’t one of them actresses who starves herself to look like a heroin addict.”“Do I look like I starve myself?”His gaze might’ve lingered on certain curves longer than polite. “No, Hollywood, you look exactly like a woman ought to. Let’s head to town. The Shell station has the best chilidogs I’ve ever tasted.”“Do they have tofu dogs?”Chase’s smile fell. “Oh hell no. You’re not a vegetarian?”“And if I was?” she intoned sweetly.“I’d take it as my sworn duty as the son of a cattleman to send you packing off McKay land immediately.”There was that little sexy smirk again. “Relax, cowboy. I’m a carnivore to the core. I seriously doubt Wyoming can boast the best chilidog, but I’m willing to give it a fair shake.” She pointed at him with her car keys. “You brag, you buy.”“Deal.”When Ava started to jerk on the handle to open the barn door, Chase gently moved her aside. He wasn’t sure if he expected to see her ripping it up in a Ferrari, b
Ava’s eyes widened. “I’ve never… I don’t even know…”Chase burst out laughing. “You oughta see your face, Hollywood. It’s too bad you didn’t give me the camera so I capture your look of horror.”“Making a city girl feel like an idiot at first opportunity?” She sent him an accusatory glance. “Do you treat all your friends this way?”“Yep.”“Then I don’t want to be your friend.”Same goes, honey pie. “We’re only about ten miles out of Moorcroft.”“Great because now I’m hungry too.”Chase parked up front at the C-Store and Ava jumped out. It occurred to him when he saw the familiar dark-haired woman lingering by the front door that he should’ve chosen the back lot.When Ava slid back into the seat, Chase wrapped an arm around her shoulders, hauling her close, nestling his face into the base of her throat.“What the hell?”“Don’t look, but my cousin Keely is standing by the door and she’s awful damn interested in us. Just stay like this for a sec, okay? Looks like were making out and hope
“And I thought you’d have me tied to the bed with your bull rope by now, making me scream your name as you rode me hard,” she retorted sweetly. “That’s what the rodeo mags say about you, Chase’n Tail McKay.” Ava leaned forward, gifting him with an excellent view of her cleavage. “Did you Google me while I was sleeping, cowboy?”Took a second for his eyes to meet hers. “Yeah.”“And what did you find?”“No juicy YouTube videos of you caught in indecent sex acts. But I did check out your website. I realized I had seen you in something a while back. A TV movie.”“Which one?”“The one where you played a prep school girl hooked on…some kinda drugs and you sold your body to feed the addiction. Until a young priest rescued you, setting you back on the straight and narrow.”“Ah. Naughty Girl by Night. One of my first roles. I’m surprised you even know what Lifetime TV is, say nothing of catching the ‘ripped from the headlines’ drama every week.”“I was killing time one afternoon before a PBR e
“I’m all for a secluded beach wedding with no one around except the officiant and my intended.”“What’s your longest relationship?” he asked.At least they’d slowed down on the shots. Her head was getting muzzy. “Jake, the bastard switch-hitter, and I were together for six months.”“Together as in…living together?”“No, he’d been in Vancouver for most the TV season.”Chase frowned. “So you had no idea what he was doin’ when he was away from you?”“Wasn’t like I didn’t see him. I flew to Vancouver or he came to LA. When he came back to LA, I was dealing with my show getting cancelled and didn’t think anything of him spending so much time with his new friend Decker.” She groaned. “Maybe the tabloids were right. How didn’t I see they were so into each other? I’m such an idiot.”He curled his hand around hers. “Hey. Sometimes we see what we want to. Doesn’t make you an idiot, Ava. In my mind, it makes you a victim. He lied to you. Used you. Set you up. It sucks that it was played out in p
Lie. “You’ve got a serious case of bedhead.”“You oughta talk. Your hair looks like you stuck your hand in a bug zapper,” he shot back.She reached for the ponytail holder on the nightstand and began to twist her unruly hair into a messy bun. “Better?”But Chase’s eyes weren’t on her makeshift hairdo. His gaze was firmly glued to her breasts shifting beneath the tight tank top. He swallowed hard. But he didn’t look away.Aha. So the cowboy was a breast man. She’d live in cleavage-enhancing shirts if it’d make him rethink his “just friends” mindset.“Maybe we oughta get dressed,” Chase suggested, staring at her nipples. “In long sleeves. It appears to be cold in here.”Damn smartass man.“Good idea,” Kane said. “We’ll be in the kitchen.”She’d forgotten Ginger and Kane were in the room.Chase set his feet on the floor and scooped up his clothes. He muttered, “I don’t remember getting undressed.”“Me either.”He squinted at her over his shoulder. “I take less time in the bathroom so I’l
Lie. “You’ve got a serious case of bedhead.”“You oughta talk. Your hair looks like you stuck your hand in a bug zapper,” he shot back.She reached for the ponytail holder on the nightstand and began to twist her unruly hair into a messy bun. “Better?”But Chase’s eyes weren’t on her makeshift hairdo. His gaze was firmly glued to her breasts shifting beneath the tight tank top. He swallowed hard. But he didn’t look away.Aha. So the cowboy was a breast man. She’d live in cleavage-enhancing shirts if it’d make him rethink his “just friends” mindset.“Maybe we oughta get dressed,” Chase suggested, staring at her nipples. “In long sleeves. It appears to be cold in here.”Damn smartass man.“Good idea,” Kane said. “We’ll be in the kitchen.”She’d forgotten Ginger and Kane were in the room.Chase set his feet on the floor and scooped up his clothes. He muttered, “I don’t remember getting undressed.”“Me either.”He squinted at her over his shoulder. “I take less time in the bathroom so I’l
“I’m all for a secluded beach wedding with no one around except the officiant and my intended.”“What’s your longest relationship?” he asked.At least they’d slowed down on the shots. Her head was getting muzzy. “Jake, the bastard switch-hitter, and I were together for six months.”“Together as in…living together?”“No, he’d been in Vancouver for most the TV season.”Chase frowned. “So you had no idea what he was doin’ when he was away from you?”“Wasn’t like I didn’t see him. I flew to Vancouver or he came to LA. When he came back to LA, I was dealing with my show getting cancelled and didn’t think anything of him spending so much time with his new friend Decker.” She groaned. “Maybe the tabloids were right. How didn’t I see they were so into each other? I’m such an idiot.”He curled his hand around hers. “Hey. Sometimes we see what we want to. Doesn’t make you an idiot, Ava. In my mind, it makes you a victim. He lied to you. Used you. Set you up. It sucks that it was played out in p
“And I thought you’d have me tied to the bed with your bull rope by now, making me scream your name as you rode me hard,” she retorted sweetly. “That’s what the rodeo mags say about you, Chase’n Tail McKay.” Ava leaned forward, gifting him with an excellent view of her cleavage. “Did you Google me while I was sleeping, cowboy?”Took a second for his eyes to meet hers. “Yeah.”“And what did you find?”“No juicy YouTube videos of you caught in indecent sex acts. But I did check out your website. I realized I had seen you in something a while back. A TV movie.”“Which one?”“The one where you played a prep school girl hooked on…some kinda drugs and you sold your body to feed the addiction. Until a young priest rescued you, setting you back on the straight and narrow.”“Ah. Naughty Girl by Night. One of my first roles. I’m surprised you even know what Lifetime TV is, say nothing of catching the ‘ripped from the headlines’ drama every week.”“I was killing time one afternoon before a PBR e
Ava’s eyes widened. “I’ve never… I don’t even know…”Chase burst out laughing. “You oughta see your face, Hollywood. It’s too bad you didn’t give me the camera so I capture your look of horror.”“Making a city girl feel like an idiot at first opportunity?” She sent him an accusatory glance. “Do you treat all your friends this way?”“Yep.”“Then I don’t want to be your friend.”Same goes, honey pie. “We’re only about ten miles out of Moorcroft.”“Great because now I’m hungry too.”Chase parked up front at the C-Store and Ava jumped out. It occurred to him when he saw the familiar dark-haired woman lingering by the front door that he should’ve chosen the back lot.When Ava slid back into the seat, Chase wrapped an arm around her shoulders, hauling her close, nestling his face into the base of her throat.“What the hell?”“Don’t look, but my cousin Keely is standing by the door and she’s awful damn interested in us. Just stay like this for a sec, okay? Looks like were making out and hope
“That’s what you call food? Please tell me you ain’t one of them actresses who starves herself to look like a heroin addict.”“Do I look like I starve myself?”His gaze might’ve lingered on certain curves longer than polite. “No, Hollywood, you look exactly like a woman ought to. Let’s head to town. The Shell station has the best chilidogs I’ve ever tasted.”“Do they have tofu dogs?”Chase’s smile fell. “Oh hell no. You’re not a vegetarian?”“And if I was?” she intoned sweetly.“I’d take it as my sworn duty as the son of a cattleman to send you packing off McKay land immediately.”There was that little sexy smirk again. “Relax, cowboy. I’m a carnivore to the core. I seriously doubt Wyoming can boast the best chilidog, but I’m willing to give it a fair shake.” She pointed at him with her car keys. “You brag, you buy.”“Deal.”When Ava started to jerk on the handle to open the barn door, Chase gently moved her aside. He wasn’t sure if he expected to see her ripping it up in a Ferrari, b
“No. Don’t.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I think you’re the first person who’s been totally honest with me.”He relaxed. Smiled again and she bit back another sigh. “So this is what sent you running from California?”“I got tired of the paparazzi.” Something kicked from what he’d said about his family. “I got tired of the pity. Of the trade mags making such a big deal out of it. I needed to get away and prove…”There was that amazing grin again. “Don’t clam up on me now, Hollywood.”Ava laughed at his impromptu nickname for her.“And if you’re afraid I’ll judge you? Think again.”“You were dead-on with the sex question. One of the reasons I’m here? To find a guy I can get wild with. To prove I’m hot between the sheets. To prove I can keep a man sexually satisfied.”“Is that right?” he drawled.Her brain slipped into seductress mode as she channeled the femme fatale she’d played on TV for two seasons. “Maybe…you’re the man who can help me with that.”Bad karma is coming back to bi
“Eyes up here, buddy.”He didn’t exactly hurry his gaze as it tracked her curvaceous body from the bottom up. Goddamn, the woman had it going on. “Do I know you?”“Do I know you?” she shot back sarcastically.“I’m serious. Were you in Playboy?”“Is that your idea of flattery?”“Yes, you’re sporting a helluva centerfold body, sugar t—” Shit. He was supposed to stop saying stuff like that.Not bothered at all by her total nakedness, she pushed up the pink satin eye mask that kept slipping down. “I don’t remember seeing you at Ginger and Kane’s wedding. Which McKay are you again?”“Chase. I wasn’t at the wedding. Mind tellin’ me your name?”“Ava.”“Ava…?”“Ava Cooper is my stage name. Ava Dumond is my real name.”Stage name. With a body like hers and zero modesty she had to be a stripper. “Well, Ava, it appears we’re roomies, at least for tonight.”Ava didn’t respond. Her gaze was glued to his belly. “What the hell happened to you?”Chase glanced at his stomach and touched the bruise ben
Puff, puff. “How soon would you need to leave?”“First thing tomorrow. That’d give me time to figure out a way to slip the tabloid guys who are determined to be the first to report my suicide.”Her father chuckled. “People are idiots if they believe you’re still despondent over that cocksucker Jake.”“I’m hoping out of sight, out of mind will cure lingering curiosity.”“You really doing okay, Ava Rose?” he asked gruffly. “You’ve been awful damn scarce since this whole thing went down.”Switching her phone to her other ear, Ava rested her elbows on the railing. “The last thing I wanted was you guys getting swamped by my shit storm.”“Well, honey girl, that’s what family does—sticks together and flips the world the bird. I’ll remind you that your mother and I’ve been through a shit storm or two in the thirty years we’ve been married. We’re tougher than you give us credit.” Puff, puff. “Far as I know, your mom doesn’t need the plane tomorrow. So I’ll call and arrange it.”“Thanks, Dad.”
At the time, she’d been blown away by Jake’s willingness to cede control to another man. To do anything and everything Decker suggested. Or demanded. Watching Jake’s beautiful face lost in pleasure as Decker fucked him. Seeing how expertly Jake sucked Decker off. Finding their stamina as arousing as their unexpected tenderness in the aftermath of such aggressiveness. In retrospect, she should’ve known Jake and Decker were too well attuned to each other.The fact the paparazzi had caught Jake and Decker together in a full-body clinch at a gay club late one night in LA should’ve warranted a warning phone call from Jake. But no.Before either of their publicity teams were informed, Jake held a press conference, admitting he could no longer lie about his true sexual orientation. Then he’d claimed both the movie studio and Ava had known their relationship was a sham to build buzz for the movie—which was a total lie.She’d been completely blindsided. The movie studio scrapped the entire pub