Second Song Cowboy (Second Chance) Read online

  Second Song Cowboy

  2014 Rhonda Lee Carver

  Copyright © 2014 by Rhonda Lee Carver

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States

  Published by Rhonda Lee Carver

  Cover Art by Samantha Holt

  Second Song Cowboy

  Book 5, Second Chance Series

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidences are a fabrication of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, establishments, events, or locales is coincidental.

  PROLOGUE

  “I WON THE bet, sweetheart,” Dante waded into the cold water and every part of his body shriveled. “Now I plan to collect.”

  April stood at the edge of the pond, digging her toes in the grass and holding her arms tight around her waist. The thin tank top and tight white shorts she wore sent his imagination down a forbidden territory. The swim shorts didn’t adequately cover growth and he popped above the elastic waist. He quickly adjusted himself but not before her gaze dropped. Her tongue swept out to moisten her bottom lip. When her eyes came back up, she smiled. “I don’t think you understood the bet at all.”

  “What’s not to understand? If I ran naked through Hoover’s field then you’d jump into the pond.”

  She dipped one toe into the water. “But it’s cold,” she whined.

  “Yeah, and streaking in the rain at nightfall wasn’t too warm either. I’m in here already.” Dante squinted as he scanned the area. “And there isn’t anyone around.”

  “Why don’t you admit it? You just want to see me freezing cold so you can laugh.” “I wouldn’t force you into anything you don’t want.” Guilt slipped through him. “You don’t have to follow through with the bet. It was stupid anyway. You’re afraid of this muddy water.” He took a step toward land, but movement caught his eye. He looked up as April pulled her shirt over her head. His chest tightened as he slid a gaze over her red bra. “Really, you don’t have to do this.”

  “I’m not a chicken! Now turn your head,” she demanded. With untamed curls bouncing about flushed cheeks, she looked like a wild woman ready to pounce.

  “I don’t think that was part of the bargain.” He chuckled.

  “Dante Brooke! Turn!” Her modesty charmed him. He did as she requested and, a few seconds later, he heard a splash of water. He watched as she waded by him, her body submerged in the water except for her angelic face. “Happy now?”

  She stood, with her back to him, water skimming her bare shoulders. He felt a twinge below his belt and counted to ten. It didn’t help much and he was afraid he’d make a fool of himself. His father told him that a man should think with his head, not his zipper, but Dante realized he was failing, miserably. He wondered if that included a nineteen year old. He swore April did funky things to him.

  He couldn’t think when she was around. He wondered if his attention span would come back once he went back to the University of Texas in the fall. Frustration made his gut ache. He didn’t want to go back to school, but he couldn’t let his parents down and drop out.

  “Dante?”

  He brought his gaze up and April splashed him. He wiped the water droplets from his eyes. “You’ll get yours,” he teased. Moving through the water, he reached out and she dodged him.

  What had started out as friendship between them had grown into something more over the last month, something he didn’t quite fully understand. Their heated kisses had turned into heavy petting in the front seat of his dad’s truck. The night always ended the same with him dropping her off at her grandfather’s house, where she was staying for the summer, and he’d go home to take care of his problematic salute alone.

  He didn’t mind one bit that she wasn’t ready to take things further. Truth was, he’d wait as long as needed. It was just getting harder to hide the fact that he had parts with a mind of their own.

  His thoughts traveled to the black velvet box hidden in the glove compartment of his truck, nestled there for the right time. Maybe they weren’t quite ready for marriage, but he knew in his heart that he’d promise her forever. Overcome with emotion, nervous laughter bubbled up in his chest.

  “Oh, so you think this is funny, huh?” She swam up and pinched him on the bottom.

  “Hey, you!” He caught her and tucked his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. He loved the feeling of her firm breasts against his bare chest.

  “How is it possible that this happens all the time?” She dropped her head back and met his gaze as she wiggled her hips.

  “That I talk you into crazy stunts? We’re going to freeze when we climb out of the water.” He kissed her cheek. “I didn’t bring a towel.”

  “No. This.” She glided her hand across the front of his shorts.

  He chuckled. “Raging hormones. It’s perfectly normal for a guy between the ages of sixteen and twenty-three to get a hard-on at every slight breeze.”

  Her gaze narrowed. “Really?”

  Dante shrugged. “I just know that I’m more out of control when I’m near you.”

  “I’m starting to wonder if I could—well—satisfy you. You know, in intimate ways.”

  He placed his chin on top of her head and wrapped his arms tight around her shoulders. “I don’t think there’d be a problem.”

  “But I’ve never done it before. You’re as close as I’ve gotten to second base, and that isn’t much to brag about.” She played with a lock of his hair.

  “Don’t feel pressured. When it’s right, it’ll happen.”

  “You’re patient with me.” She kissed his jaw.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You asked me what I want for my birthday and I know.” Her soft voice mingled with the breeze.

  “Anything for you, April.” He meant it.

  “I want you.”

  “You have me. That is until I have to head back to college in a few weeks.”

  She bit her lip. “I don’t have you in the way I’m wanting. I don’t want to head to Nashville a virgin.”

  “Why? Are you afraid your virginity will keep you from fitting in?” He rubbed his nose with hers. “Trust me, you’ll blow their hearts away with that voice of yours.”

  Blinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Dante, I want to share this precious gift with you. I couldn’t imagine giving this to any other.”

  His body automatically tensed as he took a small step back, scraping his feet across the dirt bottom of the pond. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive. I want my first time to be with you. These last few months have been the best of my life.” She bent her head and kissed his chest, licking a few water drops from his skin. His breath swooshed from his lungs as he stared down at her, unknown places of his body ached. She was a beautiful sight and he knew he’d never deny her.

  “I’ll take very good care of you. I promise,” he whispered next to her ear.

  Popping her head up, her green eyes glistened in the sunlight. “I know you will. Now, come on.” She grabbed his hand and practically pulled him along. Her knees came up high as she awkwardly made her way through the water. “I’ve read in a magazine how orgasms work, and although I’ve never done this before, I can’t wait to try. Did you know that a man can go in twenty seconds but it takes a woman on average twenty minutes?”

  “Twenty seconds?” He hoped he could last longer, but a sliver of doubt crept up his spine. He would have laughed if he wasn’t so turned on. How did a guy like him deserve a diamond like her?

  How had he missed her beauty all these years?

  In the past, when she’d come to visit her grandpa, she’d been a scrawn
y, shy teenager who giggled every time he looked her direction. Now, the glasses and braces were gone, and she’d blossomed into a butterfly. Her confidence had boosted and, although a slice of bashfulness remained, she could light up a room the second she walked through the door.

  He hadn’t left her side much since she came to town three months ago. Life wasn’t as fun without her next to him. Like the time the snake slithered across their path in the woods. She’d screamed and threw herself into his arms, clinging to him like butter on toast. The harmless Brown Snake had disappeared into the brush, and as he’d started to pry her from his body and tell her the critter was non-poisonous, he’d taken a second thought. He’d liked having her close. When he’d finally told her the truth, about the snake being harmless, she’d playfully smacked him, which soon turned into their first kiss.

  His brother, Deckland, had joked and said April was making Dante into a man. He wasn’t sure, but he knew he wanted to protect her and take care of her.

  As she stepped out of the veil of water, he ticked his gaze over her, his heart skipping several beats. Her long, wet hair clung to her slender shoulders and flowed like pale silk to her waist. Droplets of water beaded on her breasts and flat stomach, glistening in the sunlight. A lovely smile creased the corners of her shell pink lips, driving his anticipation deeper.

  They walked into the thick grass and she turned to face him, throwing her arms around his neck, careless that she was still bare-ass naked. Enclosing an arm around her waist, he pulled her in, wet bodies sliding together as he slipped his palm over her heart-shaped bottom.

  “I’m so lucky to have found you, Dante.”

  He closed his eyes, making a silent vow that he would always take care of her. Being with her, making her the happiest girl alive was his goal. He’d graduate from UT and she’d come back from Nashville, and then they’d settle here on his family’s ranch. “You do realize that you have me wrapped around your finger.” He lifted her off her feet, tucked her goosebump-covered body close and carried her toward the truck. “The sun is lowering. Do you have a problem with me giving you your birthday present under a sky full of stars?” He nuzzled her neck.

  “Perfect. This is more than I could ever dream possible,” she purred. Kicking her legs friskily, she reached up toward the sky as if she wanted to give a fat cloud a hug. “No matter what, I’ll always be right here, with you. I could write a song—hundreds of songs—just about tonight.”

  “One day you will, sweetheart. I’m sure your future is brighter than any star in the sky.”

  Chapter One

  Fifteen years later…

  DANTE BROOKE CLIMBED out of bed and stretched his sore muscles. He’d worked out on the land until late the night before fixing a fence and he’d been dead tired when he’d finally made it in the house. He’d stripped from his dirty clothes and fell face first onto the mattress. He’d found that hard work, to the point of exhaustion, was the only thing that helped him sleep.

  He started to grab a pair of boxers from a drawer of his dresser when he saw the plain envelope sitting on top. He picked it up and pulled out the small piece of paper clipped to a ticket.

  “A client gave me this ticket to April Rayne’s concert. I can’t go, so I thought maybe you’d like to. Hugs, Peyton.”

  He shook his head as a bitter taste filled his mouth. His sister-in-law must have dropped it off sometime yesterday evening. As much as he liked Peyton, he wasn’t going anywhere near the concert. Tossing the ticket back onto the dresser, it skidded across the slick surface and it hit the wall, and then fell on the floor. He didn’t bother picking it up.

  Dragging on clothes, he went downstairs in search of strong-brewed coffee. The house was quiet and he guessed Deckland had already headed out at sunrise to do his daily chores on the ranch. Dante usually joined him later. Things were good on the homestead and he found the strict routine was helping him get his head back on straight. He was glad to be back with his brothers again at Brooke Creek. Best thing of all, he and Dillon could work side by side without killing each other.

  Thinking of his youngest brother, Dante looked at the wedding picture of Dillon and Peyton stuck to the refrigerator with a frog magnet. Six months ago, Dillon had married the woman of his dreams and Dante was happy for him. He’d never seen his brother this content. And Dante thought the world of Dillon’s bride. Peyton was a damn good wife and an awesome mother to her son Oliver. Dante guessed his brother and Peyton would have a baby of their own before too long. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

  Dante smiled as he took a cup down from the cabinet. He knew Dillon would make a great dad. Deckland would also if he ever found the right woman. On the other hand, Dante didn’t see himself as a father or a husband. He liked being single and, although he’d changed a lot over the last year, he still had some realigning to do. He’d hit rock bottom a few years ago and the only way he could go now was up.

  Dante scratched the layer of prickly beard on his chin and sighed. He’d made some awful mistakes, which had harmed his relationship with his brother. Getting involved with Cassie, Dillon’s ex, had been the door to a downward spiral. Dante would like to come up with logical justification why he’d hooked up with her, but an excuse would be a coward’s way out.

  Cassie had broken off her engagement to Dillon, and when he’d taken off to Shelby to work on the McAllister Ranch, she started showing up at Brooke Creek asking for Dante’s help with one thing or another. He’d felt sorry for her, and when she’d cry, he’d do what he thought was right and let her use his shoulder. Because she’d been his brother’s girl, Dante had listened as she went on and on about her broken heart. He’d ignored the tiny shirts that showed off big tits, flat stomach and the short skirts that revealed long legs that’d make any red-blooded cowboy wonder what they’d feel like wrapped around his hips.

  Hell, it’d been years since he gave a shit about anything or anyone—fifteen years to be exact. And along came Cassie who could sweep a saddle right out from under a man before he realized he was riding bare back.

  One night, almost six months after Dillon had split town, Dante woke up with Cassie’s warm body crawling into his bed. She’d come after the bar closed to show off her new diamond piercing. Expecting earrings, maybe a tongue ring, he was blown away when she pulled down her jeans and thong to reveal the tiny stud nestled between nether lips. The next thing he knew, she was clutching his hard cock and he was history.

  He woke the morning after and explained to Cassie that things went too far. She blinked her pretty eyes and slid her hot body over his, and he’d given in. Foolish sucker.

  Now, he wished he’d removed the extra house key Dillon had hidden under a rock so she couldn’t have let herself in that night.

  Hell, this was his responsibility and his alone. He’d allowed his body to rule his mind. He should have demanded that she leave, but when she’d spread her legs wide and flicked the diamond stud, he’d lost all reasonable thought.

  In the months that followed, he’d grown to care for Cassie and he’d wanted things to work between them, even when warning after freaking warning blared in the back of his mind that she wasn’t the settling kind any more than he ever would be.

  Looking back, he could see that Cassie cared for no one but herself.

  At least Dillon had forgiven him. Never again would Dante allow anything or anyone to come between him and his brothers.

  Throwing an eyeful of coffee granules into the coffee maker then pouring in water, he flipped the switch and the black gold started to brew.

  Once he had a large mug with extra cream and sugar, he flipped on the radio, turned up the volume and walked out onto the porch. He inhaled, getting a whiff of fresh hay. The boys must have delivered the bales. He’d help stack them after he drank his coffee.

  A familiar country song flowed from the radio speakers. He suspended his cup mid-air as he listened to the tune about lost loves and broken hearts. It wasn’t only the song th
at got him, but also the familiar voice of the woman he used to know. The ticket to her show lay discarded on his floor.

  He tried to block out the catchy melody as he sipped the hot brew, not caring that the liquid burned all the way into his stomach. Over the years, he’d listened to her songs and each one was like a time machine to a summer long ago. Her long curly hair, her big green eyes and twinkling smile erupted in his brain at the most inopportune stretches. For years, he’d hoped that his mind would eventually forget her, but he’d realized the more he attempted to push her memory aside, the more he remembered.

  He guessed everyone had that one person they couldn’t forget, and for him, that was April. She’d left Texas, and him, to follow her dreams. Hell, he couldn’t fault her for wanting to make something of herself. She’d not only glided up the ladder of success over the years, but her sultry voice had made her millions. He’d guarantee her sweet and innocent looks hadn’t hurt in music sales.

  As she sang the chorus, her calling his name in her signature raspy voice while gazing up at him with penetrating eyes haunted him.

  Even at eighteen, he’d known she had a powerhouse of talent, and not just in singing. She’d caught him in her web and he hadn’t minded. He shook his head as acid rose in his chest. Damn, he’d been a stupid kid.

  What had either one of them known or understood about love and romance? Not a single damned thing.

  The song ended and the announcer’s croaky voice slashed through Dante’s thoughts like a lead weight. “Listen up all of you April Rayne fans. She’ll be making a lot of Texans happy this evening while making a guest appearance at the Houston Show Rodeo. If you were one of the lucky ones who seized a ticket, count your blessings. They sold like hotcakes. Now, how about an oldie but goody. Conway Twitty, I Don’t Know a Thing About Love.”

  Dante downed the last drop of coffee and stared into the distance, ignoring the curiosity bubbling inside of him. Why would he care that an old flame was visiting her old stomping ground?