Summer Love_ A Steamy Small Town Romance Anthology - Piper Rayne Page 0,164

could drive up.”

She giggled. “Yeah, Emma and Gabe got caught by our deputy. The whole town found out. I really don’t need that.”

“Me, neither. So I have one question. Your place or mine?”

They drove to his cabin on the grounds of the Redemption Ranch since Sierra wasn’t too keen on everyone in town seeing Colt’s rental truck parked outside her apartment all night. She loved Granite Junction, but the last thing she needed was nosy neighbors or worse, her best friends poking their noses into her business. Not that there was much more privacy on the ranch, since three of her friends lived there, but she might be able to be a little more discreet.

He opened the cabin door and let her precede him inside. She was immediately charmed by the rustic interior: the exposed wood beams, the loft area that looked like it could double as a bedroom space or sitting area. The plain wood furniture was clearly made by their local artisan, Gene Woodruff. The cozy living area looked quite lived in, with paper strewn over all available surfaces and a guitar resting on the couch. Colt cursed quietly under his breath and rushed past her.

“I’m sorry. Piper swore my clutter would come back to haunt me. Don’t hold this against me, please.”

Even his rush to clean up charmed her and she reached down to pick up some papers from the seat of a leather swivel chair. “Is this a song you’re working on?”

He glanced up, a lock of hair falling boyishly over his eyes. “Yeah. I’m supposed to be writing music and getting ready to go into the studio this summer in between tours. Piper got inspired up here. I’m still waiting.”

“If I recall, she found her inspiration. Maybe you need to spend some time with Ty,” she teased.

He snorted. “How do you think I hurt my back?” Her eyebrows raised and he burst out laughing at her expression. “Not that way. He is not the kind of inspiration I need. Are you applying for the job?”

She shook her head, bemused by the idea. “I’m nobody’s inspiration. I’m boring Sierra. I’m sure there are plenty of other people who could give you better ideas than I could.”

He narrowed his eyes and drew her down onto the couch, then picked up his guitar. He strummed a few times, humming, then started singing. Slowly the words sank in, about a beautiful girl dancing with abandon, eyes closed, swaying to the music. The way he sang was so moving, so heartfelt, that tears pricked her eyes. He finished and glanced at her, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes.

“Is this what you saw last week? Because I’m pretty sure I was a drunken mess.”

He cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing her lower lip. “I saw a beautiful woman feeling the music, loving life, embracing life. Not caring what anyone thought, and confident in who she was. I had to meet that woman.”

Heat flooded her cheeks, but she was mesmerized by his intense stare and couldn’t break the hold he had on her. “Oh, God. That’s not who I am, Colt. I’m basically a workaholic, no time for play.”

His thumb continued its maddening caress. “Are you sure about that? Because you’re sitting here with me and I definitely want to play. And I think you do, too.”

She sucked in a shaky breath and nodded, finally admitting the truth to herself. She wanted him and didn’t want to resist it anymore. And why should she? She’d damn well regret it if she didn’t take this one chance, this one night with him. She wanted to remember him when she was driving down the road and his song came on the radio, maybe even the one he was writing about her. She could hold onto those memories when she was in his rearview mirror. Because he was leaving and she was staying. That was unavoidable. But she could have this one night. Have what she wanted last week, only stone-cold sober.

“Hell, yeah.”

Chapter Seven

Colt willed his cock to settle down as soon as Sierra said yes because all he wanted to do was toss her over his shoulder and race to the bedroom before she changed her mind. Not that she couldn’t still, but he wanted to kiss her and taste every inch of her, even more than he wanted a platinum album. Somehow, having Sierra in his arms would be worth far more than any record sales or awards.

Instead, he sat on the