Bad In Boots: Colt's Choice Read online

  COLT’S CHOICE

  An Ellora’s Cave Publication, October 2004

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.

  1337 Commerce Drive, #13

  Stow, OH 44224

  ISBN MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-4199-0052-2

  Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned):

  Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), Mobipocket (PRC) & HTML

  COLT’S CHOICE © 2004 PATRICE MICHELLE

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. They are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Edited by Martha Punches.

  Cover art by Syneca.

  Warning:

  The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. Colt’s Choice has been rated S-ensuous by a minimum of three independent reviewers.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-rotic), and X (X-treme).

  S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination.

  E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature.

  X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

  Bad In Boots:

  Colt’s Choice

  Patrice Michelle

  DEDICATION:

  To Martha Punches...my calm editor with a keen eye. Thank you for always letting me keep my voice while making sure I write the best story I can.

  Chapter One

  “Whoo-hoo! Ride ‘em, cowboy!”

  Colt turned in his chair at the very feminine voice. Wonder if her body matches that sexy voice? he thought as he bent the blinds to peer out the window. She stood on the bottom board of the fence and leaned over the top rail to cheer his brother on. The position caused her faded jeans to fit her rear end perfectly, displaying all her feminine curves. His gaze traveled up her body to the glossy, jet-black hair that swung against her fitted pink, spaghetti-strap tank top as she watched Mace ride their newest bronco. She had to be Mace’s bunny of the week. He always had one or two going at a time.

  “Damn,” he muttered to himself as he shoved away from the desk, grabbed his hat and headed outside. “Mason!” Colt called out. His brother landed in the dirt and quickly rolled away from the bucking horse’s hooves while Sam, his best wrangler, grabbed hold of the horse’s reins and pulled the stallion back to the stables.

  “It’s one thing to break in a horse when needed, but what have I told you about riding the broncs just for kicks?” He directed his anger at his brother while he walked up to the fence. “If Cade wants to risk his neck riding in the rodeos, so be it, but I need at least one brother to keep a head on his shoulders in order to help me run this place.”

  Colt didn’t give a shit if he came off sounding like a dad, for the truth was, that’s how he felt about his brothers. At thirty-five, he was older than Cade by five years and Mace by seven. So what if Mace was a grown man? Old habits died hard. He felt a certain responsibility toward them since he’d taken on raising his younger brothers at the age of twenty when his father passed away. He didn’t count on, nor did he ask his mother for help since she’d seen fit to desert them when he was only sixteen.

  Colt’s brother picked up his hat, dusted himself off and casually headed toward him. Mace flashed him a quick smile before he settled his hat on his head and turned his green eyes to the lady standing next to him. “Nothin’ I like better than an audience,” he said, while his appreciative gaze roamed over her form.

  Colt focused his attention on the woman, now that he had a full view of her face. She couldn’t be more than a year or two older than Mace. Lust slammed him hard in the gut as he took in her exquisite features. For once in his life he experienced outright jealousy for something Mace possessed. And it was all wrapped up in a five-foot six-inch, nicely shaped package of sultry green eyes, rosy cheeks, pouty lips and soft, sun-kissed skin. He smiled and the woman returned his smile as she put her hand over the fence toward Mace.

  “Nice to meet you,” she said as she turned to face his brother, “Mason.”

  Mace, never one to pass up an opportunity, clasped her hand in his and instead of shaking it, leaned over and kissed her fingers as he touched the brim of his hat. “Actually, I go by Mace.” He grinned. “Pleasure’s all mine, Miss…?” He paused, his eyes carrying a hopeful look.

  She gave a throaty laugh at his obvious attempt to find out if she was single. “Miss Elise Hamilton.”

  Colt stiffened at the woman’s name. His brother cut his gaze over to him before he straightened and released her hand. “Good to meet you, Elise.” He smiled and winked at her. “I’m sure you and my brother have a lot to talk about, so it’s off to work for me.” He gave Colt a quick salute and headed for the stables.

  He put out his hand. “Colt Tanner.” He knew his tone was brusque, but the woman showing up in Texas totally threw him.

  “Nice to meet you, Colt,” she said as she put her small hand in his larger one and gave him a firm handshake before she released his hand.

  He never expected for her to come to Texas. Last month he’d been furious when his Uncle James’ will was read and he discovered he hadn’t inherited the other half of the Lonestar rodeo ranch, as had been agreed upon for the last fifteen years.

  Five years ago, his uncle had married and since then had left the running of the Lonestar completely to Colt, which suited him just fine. But instead of keeping his end of the agreement, upon his death, his uncle willed his half of the Lonestar to his wife, Marie, “to do with as she saw fit”. Marie, Lord love her, decided to give her half of the Lonestar ownership to her niece, Elise Hamilton.

  Colt didn’t hold anything against Marie. He just wanted the ranch. The sooner the better. He’d hoped the knowledge that his uncle hadn’t left him the ranch had stayed within the family. If Riley learned the news, the man would definitely up the ante on Colt’s ability to buy his land back. What a freakin’ mess that would be, having his neighbor finally get his hands on part of the land he’d always felt was rightfully his.

  Throughout the years, Riley had often times tried to pit his father and uncle against each other. But blood meant a lot in Texas and even though the two brothers argued from time to time, they’d never wavered in their mutual love or protection of their land.

  Once Colt learned the contents of his uncle’s will, he’d immediately sought backers to put together a fair offer to Miss Hamilton. Seeking financial help stretched him thin, but would be worth it if he could own the ranch outright. Owning one hundred percent of the property would go a long way in locking his hold on the Lonestar ranch and surrounding land.

  Colt had his attorney draft papers for Ms. Hamilton to sign, selling her half of the ranch to him and he’d overnighted the package to her. He’d never expected her to show up here. She was from Northern Virginia—an elitist society type, from money, old money. He looked down at her boots. Yep, new as a baby colt and just as shiny. Why was she here?

 
The memory of the way her soft hand felt against his a minute ago, a hand that had apparently never known a day of hard work, both aroused and irritated the shit out of him.

  “You didn’t have to come all the way to Texas to sell your half of the ranch to me, Miss Hamilton.” He needed to keep the formality. The feel of her hand in his felt somehow…right, way too damn right.

  She gave a melodious laugh and looked him straight in the eyes. Her chin jutted up just a little higher as she said, “You’re right, it would be ridiculous for me to come all the way to Texas just to sell my half of the ranch to you. But that’s not why I’m here. I’m here because I plan to keep it.”

  * * * * *

  Elise chuckled inwardly. Her new partner couldn’t have been more floored by her statement if she had hit him upside the head with a two-by-four. She knew by the gimme-a-fuckin’-break expression on Colt’s face that he didn’t think she knew her way around a horse, let alone a ranch. She’d been on a ranch before, but one thing was true—she knew absolutely nothing about rodeos. That was why she came here. She wanted to learn. She needed to learn. Coming to Boone, Texas was about starting out fresh.

  She’d noticed the heated look in his steel blue eyes before he knew who she was. He was attracted to her and, heaven help her, the feeling was definitely mutual. Her gaze traveled up his six-foot two-inch frame as she took in the scuffed leather boots, the soft worn blue jeans, and oh my, the thick bulge at his crotch.

  As much as she wanted to linger on that spot, she shifted her gaze upward. His white western shirt, a stark contrast to his tanned skin, fit his muscular upper body only too well. Dark hair peeked out from underneath the black Stetson perched on his head. What would it feel like to run her fingers through that hair? Was it wavy or straight?

  She looked at his face once more. With a square jaw and late afternoon stubble already showing, his features were more rugged than chiseled, but in her mind those rugged edges made him even sexier. The sensual combination of a thin upper lip with a fuller bottom one caused her stomach to drop to her knees.

  Unfortunately, right now that mouth had compressed into a thin line and his left jaw muscle jumped with what seemed to be suppressed anger. She wondered if his jaw always did that when he was angry. When her gaze finally settled on his, the deep blue pools, fringed with thick dark lashes, stared back at her, narrowed in obvious irritation.

  Elise moved around him and started toward the stables. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a winning smile. “Come on, Cowboy, show me around the ranch.”

  As she entered the stables and the fresh smells of leather, hay, dirt, horseflesh and open outdoors assailed her senses, Elise knew she’d made the right decision to come to Texas. Inheriting the other half of the Lonestar ranch from her Aunt Marie had given her an opportunity she just couldn’t pass up—one she desperately needed.

  So she quit her job—to her father’s delight—and then booked a flight to Texas—to her father’s outrage—telling her parents she’d be in Texas for the rest of the summer. Her father was livid. Like that was new. He’d always expected her to come to work for Hamilton Enterprises, Inc.

  She’d shipped some of her things and driven to Texas where she’d rented an apartment in town for now, but soon she would rent a house closer to the ranch. First, she had to figure out how to convince the other owner of the Lonestar, and her partner, that she was serious. She had no intention of going back to Virginia. She just hadn’t told her parents that yet.

  * * * * *

  Colt watched Elise walk away, her slim hips swaying in her fitted jeans. His body immediately reacted to the rhythmic movement as the stirrings of desire slammed into his crotch. He clamped his jaw tighter to keep a rein on his growing attraction to the woman. Maybe she just wanted to have a look-see at her inheritance to make sure it seemed to be run properly. He shrugged. What could showing her around the Lonestar hurt? The sooner he did that, the sooner she could feel the ranch was in capable hands and then be on her way back to Virginia. He’d figure a way to talk her into selling her half of the ranch to him.

  By the time Colt followed her over to the stables, Elise was already mounted on Sam’s horse. She looked down at him after she’d cast a warm smile at Sam who stood there holding the horse’s reins.

  “Sam said I could ride Jack, for now, and he would find a suitable horse for me later.”

  Colt turned accusing eyes to his wrangler. Sam was too busy staring up into Elise’s face. His smile was so broad his black mustache was bent at a strange angle. Colt gave a loud sigh and moved to saddle his horse. Great, just what he needed, a ranch full of star-struck cowboys who wouldn’t get a lick of work done because they were too busy ogling the new half-owner of the Lonestar. Make that the soon-to-be ex-half-owner of the Lonestar, he corrected as he swung his leg up on his horse. And the sooner he got rid of her, the better.

  As he pulled his horse up next to hers, Colt reached over, lifted a spare hat off of a hook on the wall and plunked it down on her head none-too-gently. “Here, it’ll help keep the heat off,” he said in gruff tone, before he kicked his heels into Scout’s sides and took off ahead of her. He didn’t want to think about the fact that it also helped hide her beautiful face and ebony hair from the curious cowboys they would meet during their tour.

  Colt intentionally took off at a gallop. He needed to blow off steam. Heading in the direction of the open pastures, he figured he’d have to stop and wait for Elise to catch up. He didn’t even think to ask her if she knew how to ride a horse. It would serve the “princess” right if she fell off once or twice to show her that ranch life was not easy.

  As he started to slow Scout down, Elise came flying past him in a full gallop, the cowboy hat flying off her head. Her long black hair streamed behind her along with her laughter as she left him behind in a cloud of dust kicked up by her horse’s hooves.

  After stopping to pick up her hat, Colt remounted Scout and dug his heels in, taking off after her. He lowered his head and spoke to his horse, urging him on. Up ahead, Elise turned her horse to jump a fallen tree. His heart slammed in his chest at her reckless move, but relief and finally grudging respect dawned as he watched them clear the obstacle with ease.

  Elise slowed her horse and waited for him to catch up. When she turned laughing eyes his way, Colt didn’t want to like her sultry gaze. He didn’t want to wonder if her silky hair felt as soft as it looked. He drew his horse up next to hers, his knee brushing against her thigh as he jammed the hat on her head. “That has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen someone do,” he ground out.

  Her smile faded and she stared back at him in surprise.

  Colt rambled on, letting his anger override his libido—or hell, maybe it was because of his libido. “Don’t you know better than to try to jump a horse you’ve never ridden before? How did you know Jack wouldn’t have stopped short of that tree and sent you flying?”

  Elise’s cheeks flamed and her eyes narrowed at his words. “First of all, I’m very familiar with horses. Second of all, I did think to ask Sam particulars about his horse before I got on him. Third of all, you have no right to talk to me like that. None whatsoever.”

  He felt his neck go red at the truth of her last comment, but already he and Elise weren’t starting off in the most normal of circumstances. He leaned closer to her.

  “When you’re on my ranch, your safety is my responsibility. So yes, Princess, I do have a right to make sure you don’t break your lovely little neck.”

  She gave him a knowing smile and leaned close to him, her nose almost touching his. “I guess it’s a good thing the Lonestar is half my property then, isn’t it?”

  A challenge had been laid and he’d be damned if he’d pass it up. Colt ignored her cry of surprise as he cupped his hand behind her neck and pulled her mouth to his. Their horses neighed while he explored her lush mouth with his tongue. His kiss was dominant and hard, just as he meant it to be.

  When her resistance melt
ed and she started to respond, his kiss instinctively gentled. He wanted to pull her against him, feel her breasts against his chest, her arms around his neck. He pulled back, angry with himself for wanting to continue, for wanting to know what she’d feel like underneath him as he drove into her sweet flesh, his hips cradled against hers.

  “What the hell was that for?” Her eyes flashed, a mixture of anger and desire reflected in their green depths.

  Colt sat up straight in his saddle, putting much needed distance between them.

  “Just getting that out of the way, darlin’,” he said in a rough voice.

  He didn’t say another word, just turned his horse and trotted off toward the east side of the property. As far as he was concerned she could follow him or trot her way straight back to Virginia.

  * * * * *

  By the time Elise caught up with him, Colt seemed to have calmed down enough to give her a guided tour of the ranch. He acted as if he’d never clamped his mouth over hers or had his tongue down her throat. That kiss blew her away. He’d smelled unbelievably good, like leather and soap mixed with a dose of all male. Even though she knew his act was meant to put her in her place, to show her he could control her, she found the bull-headed, sexy cowboy a T-total turn-on, especially when his kiss had changed as if he couldn’t help but respond. But she couldn’t let him know that he affected her, at least not yet, she thought with a smile.

  Elise pushed her musings about Colt to the back of her mind and focused on the breathtaking view. Texas hill country had never been more beautiful. Cedars and oaks covered the rolling hills bordering the Lonestar’s vast acreage. Colt pointed to the green pastures, showing her the different areas where the cattle grazed and the horses roamed. Along the way he introduced her to Rick, his foreman, and many of the ranch hands.