英语短篇小说欣赏-Brazen
BrazenElaine Hopper
"Ugh!" Stephanie Dwyer slammed her apartment door and stomped her foot.
"Creep!" A picture fell off the wall and shattered. Water logged, droplets
dripped from her nose, her hair, and her eyelashes, pooling at her feet. She
scowled. Her new high heels were utterly ruined.
Courtney hid a chuckle behind her hand. Pointing the remote control at the
television, she clicked off the sitcom she'd been watching. Her lips crooked
into a half smirk. "This one turned into a jerk, too?"
Stephanie dropped her purse onto the coffee table and flopped onto the
couch. She kicked her shoes off, scaring the cat who ran into the other room.
Staring at the ceiling, she said, "All men should crash and burn."
"That good?" Courtney sat forward, flicking her long black hair behind her
shoulders. "There's got to be a couple of good men out there. All we need is one
good man each. Is that too much to ask?"
Stephanie lifted pained eyes to her roommate and best friend. "I don't
think there's two good guys in this whole universe. I give up. I've had it. I'm
not kissing any more toads."
Courtney looked thoughtful, tapping her chin with her forefinger. "Maybe
we've been looking in the wrong universe."
Her friend was losing it big time. "What are you talking about?" Handsome
Patrick had seemed so perfect, so wonderful. Until she'd caught him with Alyssa
tonight, telling her the moon and stars shone only for her, that they were
soulmates - the same pathetic lines he'd snared her with.
Some soulmate!
Jumping to her feet, Courtney paced in front of her. "What we need is a
vacation away from the city to someplace totally different."
"With totally different kinds of men." Despite herself, her interest was
piqued. "We need men who are the opposite of the bozos we've been finding here.
No more big shot professionals."
Courtney grinned from ear to ear. "No more men who drive Mercedes."
"Or who wear Rolex's." Steph started to feel alive again.
"Or who drink champagne." Courtney downed a sip of her diet soda. Mischief
danced in her dark eyes. "Give me a down to earth man who guzzles beer."
The spirit grabbed Steph, rejuvenating her. "Give me a man who wears
boots!"
Courtney slapped her thigh. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Steph couldn't help but crack a smile. "Let's catch ourselves a couple of
cowboys."
"Yahoo!" Courtney crossed the room and turned on the computer.
Steph followed her, staring over her shoulder. Her friend went straight to
the Ultimate Travel Agency's booking page.
"I like Texas style. That okay with you?" Courtney's fingers flew over the
keyboard as she hummed Mickey Gilley's tune, Looking For Love in All the Wrong
Places.
"Sounds yummy. But no big cities. Nothing remotely like New York."
"Don't worry. I'm in the mood for a little two-stepping and wrestling in
the hay." Courtney paused, looking up at her. "Can you get off work for two
weeks now? I'll have Suzie reschedule all my appointments or give them to
Glenn." Courtney was a psychologist and could pretty much set her own
schedule.
"Tony owes me two years vacation. I'll tell him to give me two weeks now or
pay me severance plus vacation pay." Big words said with lots of bravado.
"You go girl." Courtney thrust the phone into her hands.
"You mean now?" Steph's voice cracked, hoarse. Bother her boss at home on
the weekend? He'd kill her. Suddenly she didn't feel so brave. Rent was pretty
high and she still owed student loans . . . .
"Unless you wanna pay for nonrefundable tickets and waste them?" Her
roommate batted her eyelashes coyly, her finger poised over the enter key.
Scowling, Steph punched numbers on the phone. Sucking in a huge breath, she
prayed Tony was in a good mood.
Courtney circled her hand above her head as she rode the mechanical bull.
"Yahoo!" She pushed her new red cowboy hat back on her head, and then crooked
her finger at Steph who line danced next to a hunky Billy Ray Cyrus look alike.
"Your turn."
No way! Sore thighs and a broken rump weren't her idea of vacation. She
shook her head, unused to the feel of her own cowboy hat. Courtney had made her
wear it, swearing no one could visit the Lone Star state without wearing a
cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and a Texas tie. For good measure, her friend had
given her a big silver and turquoise belt buckle to wear, also. "I'll pass."
"Oh no you don't! Everybody rides the bull." The cutie pie next to her
scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bull. His voice coated her like
honey, and his eyes warmed her soul, making her tingly all over.
Half-heartedly she laughed, protesting, "But this is so Urban Cowboy . . .
."
The man's wavy brown hair fluttered around his gorgeous face and she longed
to run her fingers through it. "Tell you what, ma'am. You ride the bull and I'll
take you for a moonlight ride out on the range on my mare."
Tongue-tied, she smiled down at the man. "I don't even know your name."
When he draped his arm across the front of the bull and smiled up at her,
she about melted into his arms. He had the sexiest, liveliest eyes she'd ever
seen. Deep brown, soulful, and fringed with the longest, sootiest lashes she'd
ever seen on a man. They put her own to shame. "I'm Cory Lord. Pleased to make
your acquaintance."
Her heart pitter-pattered so loudly she was sure he knew she was pleased to
make his acquaintance, too. Breathlessly, she said, "I'm Stephanie Dwyer." She
could kick herself for sounding so starry-eyed. Any moment she'd drool. They
sure didn't make men like this in the big city. Courtney should change careers
and open a dating service. Thus far she had a completely satisfied client. And
she'd never cared for men with hair longer than hers before. Texas must be
seeping into her blood.
Courtney's lilting laughter broke into her thoughts. "Who needs Patrick
what's his name?"
Unable to tear her gaze away from Cory, she smiled dreamily. "Patrick
who?"
"Wahoo! I knew this place was magical. See if he has a friend for me?"
Like Courtney lacked male attention! Five knock-out cowboys vied for her
friend's attention.
The bull went wild beneath her, almost hurling her off before she knew her
ride had begun.
"Scallop your rear and squeeze with your knees." Cory steadied her when she
would've fallen off. His large calloused hands burned through the thin material
of the shirt covering her waist.
Incredible yearnings to feel his hands slide lower blindsided her. She
couldn't string two coherent thoughts together or exhale air from her lungs.
She'd never felt so exhilarated. So alive.
Perspiration had beaded her brow and upper lip by the time the bull slowed
to a stop. Tendrils of damp hair clung to her heated cheeks.
"Your turn." She laughed as Cory lifted her down from the mechanical
critter. He didn't move back so she slid down his length, into the curve of his
arms, feeling every sinew, every muscle of him.
As if on cue, the band slowed their pace and crooned a song of love turned
wrong. Pathos washed over them and Cory sang in her ear, his warm breath driving
her mad. His hands kneaded her waist, mesmerizing her, setting her on fire.
She'd never been engulfed in such flame, never been so mindless over any
man. She didn't even know where he lived or what he did for a living! All she
knew was his name and that he had the most incredible effect on her and that he
had the most kissable looking lips she'd ever laid eyes on.
She stared up at those lips: soft, yet firm and chiseled, darting out her
tongue to lick her own suddenly dry lips. Undeniable hunger surged through her.
She had to taste his lips, had to nibble them and tease them or she'd die. It
was a photo-finish whether he leaned down to savor her lips first or if she
tiptoed up to press her lips to his first. It wasn't a contest but if it was,
they were both winners.
No one had ever kissed her like this before. Not Patrick. Not Gary. Not any
of their predecessors. Cory's lips ignited fires deep in her belly, shooting
fireworks through every nerve ending, and turning her knees to gelatin. If not
for his strong arms encircling her waist or her arms latched around his neck,
she'd have melted to the floor.
Instead, she strained against him, needing him fiercely, longing to be one
with him. The feelings were so strong they scared her, yet she couldn't break
free. She'd rather stop breathing.
She wanted to protest when he drew away. Chill air chapped her bruised,
swollen lips.
His gaze smoldered into hers. "Let's check out the moonlight . . . . I'm
getting claustrophobic." His teeth nipped her earlobe, and then his tongue
lathed her ear.
Arching her neck she shivered against him. He was right. They were too
closed in it was too smoky in here. Fresh air and privacy lured her. When he
captured her hand in his larger one, she let him lead her outside.
Courtney flashed her a dazzling smile and gave her the thumbs up sign.
She'd wrangled herself a cowboy, too - a young Robert Redford in a black cowboy
hat that gazed at her with adoration and longing.
The music faded as Cory led her out to his truck. Crickets serenaded them
and stars twinkled overhead in the Texas sky.
Warm fuzzies filled her and she looked at him seductively, giving into her
urge to kiss him long and slow and rub her body against his. When he groaned
into her mouth, she pressed closer. She knew she tempted him beyond all mercy.
She shocked herself at her brazenness. But she couldn't help herself. She
couldn't get enough of him. No man had ever gotten under her skin like this one.
Not so like lightening nor so deep.
Tomorrow didn't matter, only here and now. She wanted him like she'd wanted
no one else.
Then Courtney's laughter sliced through the spell, and Cory pulled back.
Not much, but their lips no longer plundered each other. Their bodies still
curved against one another, sharing heat, trembling.
Mortified at her own response, she laughed self-consciously. Huskily, she
murmured, "I've never behaved this way before. I've never . . . ."
He put his fingers over her mouth, shushing her. "You've never fallen head
over heels in love at first glance before?" He stroked her hair. "Me neither. I
think you've bewitched me."
A slow, sexy smile dawned over his face that made her blood simmer. "Our
hearts know each other." He dragged her hand to his chest and she splayed her
fingers over his rapidly beating heart.
She smiled back, deciding to follow her heart. He trembled as she traced
his strong jaw line with her fingernail and she delighted in her effect on him.
"Guess I caught myself a cowboy."
Cory blushed, craned his neck, and gazed up at the stars. In a gruff,
hesitant voice he said, "I'm not a real cowboy."
"No?" She let her gaze slide over his body, from the tip of his pointy,
dusty cowboy boots, to his Texas tie. Languidly, she asked, "What are you
then?"
"A venture capitalist from Chicago." He cocked a half grin at her. "I
thought I'd come here to find a good old fashioned country girl."
The irony caught her off guard and she chuckled. "I'm from New York City. I
wanted a good old fashioned country boy."
His gaze turned serious as he hauled her back against him. "Too late. . . .
I'm staking my claim and I'll fight any of those cowboys that come near
you."
"Ditto, Sir. I didn't really fancy living on the range with a lot of smelly
cows anyway." She rubbed her aching behind and admitted, "And I don't ever want
to ride that darn mechanical bull again as long as I live!"
Cory laughed. "Done. How about we hold any more talk till morning?" He
nibbled her neck as his hands caressed her heated flesh.
All thought fled.
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