Rodeo King (Dustin Lovers Book 1) by Cheryl Yeko, Char Chaffin Page A

back to her senses, and she
frowned.
    Studying her, Caleb arched one curious
brow. “Everything okay?”
    “Fine,” she lied, turning and heading
into the kitchen. They took their seats around the table, their pizza already
cut and waiting, along with breadsticks and a pitcher of ice tea. Carson sat
between them, his face beaming with happiness as he munched his slice of pizza.
    “I’d like to stop over tomorrow and pick
up Carson for the day, if that’s all right,” Caleb said, dipping a breadstick
into the container of marinara sauce.
    “I—I don’t know,” she said, concerned at
the way her son lit up at Caleb’s request. He was growing way too attached.
    “Please, Mommy,” Carson pleaded. His face
had flushed with excitement.
    As if to shut down her refusal, Caleb
reached across the table and placed his hand over hers, giving it a light
caress. Electricity zinged between them, and Rosemary felt it deep. Her resolve
weakened.
    “I thought maybe I’d take him to the
park over near Hawthorn. I’d love it if you’d come along.” His low voice coaxed
and seduced. Against her better judgment she found herself agreeing. Damn
it. She’d never been able to resist Caleb when he laid on the charm.
    Turning to her son, Rosemary brushed his
bangs off his forehead, leaning in to kiss the spot she’d bared. “Okay,
sweetheart. But it’s straight to bed tonight, with no squabbles. Agreed?”
    He vigorously bobbed his head, wearing
an ear-to-ear grin that was just like his father’s. And she seemed helpless
against both.
    After the rest of their meal and yet
another viewing of Finding Nemo , Carson jumped off Caleb’s lap, where
he’d sat the entire movie, and gave him a big hug. “‘Night, Daddy.”
    “‘Night, champ.” Caleb’s voice sounded
suspiciously husky, his expression tender as he cupped his son’s face.
    For the first time, instead of only
thinking of how his return to town affected her and Carson, she thought about
Caleb.
    She’d had a crush on him since she was
twelve and he’d sauntered through her front door with her brother after a victorious
football game. But Caleb had never seen her as anything more than Mason’s
little sister. Until six years ago when he’d rolled back into town, finally
taking notice of her as a woman. She’d all but offered herself up to him on a
silver platter.
    Even though her heart was broken when
he’d left without a word, she knew he was a good man. They’d both been
young, and their one-week affair had been intense, but still . . . it’d only
been a week.
    So could she really blame him for
following his dreams? Maybe it was time to release her anger so he could have a
real relationship with his son.
    ***
    While Rosemary settled Carson in bed,
Caleb thought about what a great kid they’d created together. Their son was a
joy to be around, sweet and well behaved but rambunctious enough to keep things
interesting. Returning to the rodeo circuit suddenly didn’t appeal to him as it
had a few weeks ago. This time, unlike six years earlier, the idea of a more
settled life didn’t send him running for the hills.
    And Rosie! Damn. She’d been a teasing
temptation at nineteen, with flirty ways and a sassy attitude, but she’d grown
into a mature, sexy-as-hell woman who took no shit and knew what she wanted. Given
the way her eyes darkened whenever she looked his way . . . she wanted him.
    He remembered her as a teenager, how
sweet she’d been. Her sense of humor and the silly things she’d say, just to
get a laugh from him. He also recalled a few times when he could talk to her,
really open up about his dreams of making it big in the rodeo, and she’d
listen. Caleb knew her folks fought like a couple of cats tied up in a bag, and
Rosie had always been a sensitive kid. Too sensitive to have to deal with that
shit, day after day. But she’d gotten past it. He was so proud of her.
    And he sure as hell wanted her. Not just
for a week, but for something like