Cowboy Fever Read Online Free Page B

disbelieving sideways glance.
    â€œOh, well, just barely,” Jodi grumbled. “It wasn’t anything, really.”
    That was a lie. What had happened between her and Teague on her last night in Purvis had been something.
    It had been really something—to her, anyway. To Teague? Not so much.
    But that night, she’d walked into this trailer with her eyes wide open, knowing exactly what would happen if she ended up alone with him. In those days, Teague was a walking testosterone factory, with sex simmering in his eyes whenever he looked at her—or any other girl. An answering flame flickered inside her for years, tormenting her with dreams and fantasies through her whole high school career. Hard as she’d tried to stay away from him, he’d been like a demon possessing her. She’d convinced herself she needed an exorcism—some sort of official parting ceremony that would finally free her of the hold he had on her.
    â€œYou said you were going to say good-bye to him.” Cissy grinned. “You um, did it, right?”
    Jodi nodded, then shrugged one shoulder and pasted on a smile. Nobody needed to know just how badly that night had gone.
    â€œYou said good-bye to more than just him, didn’t you?” Cissy giggled. “You said you didn’t want to pack your virginity off to college.” She held up her hands like she was defending herself. “Don’t worry, I never told anyone. Like I said, I don’t tell stories on friends. And besides, it was just a fling, right?”
    â€œRight.” Jodi wished that had really been the case. Instead, she’d gone all girlie, ascribing way too much meaning to what had happened between them.
    God, she’d been an idiot. After she’d come down from the dizzying heights he’d lifted her to, she’d been desperate to make it last. Warmed and dazzled by their newfound intimacy, she’d told him she wanted to stay. She’d offered to ditch school, give up everything to stay in Purvis with him. She’d assumed the magic of their lovemaking was as much of a revelation to him as it was to her, but all he’d done was stare at her with flat, expressionless eyes. Then he’d turned toward the wall and told her to go away. Told her to go live her perfect life and get out of his.
    The humiliation of that moment still stung six years later. Jodi Brand, rodeo queen and town sweetheart, had been used and thrown away like a pathetic teenaged slut. She’d never felt more naked, more helpless, than when she’d put on her clothes with trembling hands and walked out of the trailer on legs that would barely hold her.
    Shaking off the memory, she picked up a place mat Cissy had fashioned from jute cord and beads and pretended fascination with the handiwork while she blinked back tears. There was no reason to cry about it now, she told herself. She’d gotten over it. Some people might even say she’d done his bidding: gone on and lived a perfect life. A year of modeling, four years of college—she’d done just fine.
    But how could you have a perfect life without perfect sex? The memory of that night had haunted her all through school. Every man she met was mentally compared to Teague Treadwell, and every man she met came up short.
    She wanted a re-ride worse than a bronc rider who’d drawn a dud, but this time she wouldn’t stick around after the dismount. She’d learned her lesson.
    â€œWe have to do lunch,” Cissy said. “I’m working for the sheriff now. Dispatcher and receptionist. Like I said, it’s mostly nights, so I’m free in the afternoons. Give me a call, ’kay?”
    â€œI will,” Jodi said, stepping in for a hug. “Thanks, Ciss.”
    â€œIt’s great to have you back.”
    â€œIt’s great to be back.” Jodi wasn’t sure she meant it. Already the past was dimming the shiny, bright face of her