Newmar, Lola - Rhett's Branding [Scarlett Rose and the Seven Longhorns 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) (9 page)

She giggled with glee as she hopped her fine ass into the seat then closed the door. He took one look back at the club then got into the truck. He didn’t want to scare the poor thing any further by admitting that he, too, had a sick feeling in his stomach from that encounter with the three strangers.

Chapter 6

Rhett kept darting his eyes over to his little mate as he drove down the road in the fading daylight. They’d been on their way toward the little hotel they’d booked that morning, but Rhett wasn’t quite ready for the night to be over, so he took a detour. A few minutes back, he’d noticed a small posted sign announcing a barn party family reunion. He turned off the path where he’d remembered the sign directed.

Scarlett looked around through the windows, likely wondering where in hell they were going. “I thought you said we were going to the hotel?”

“We are,” he replied as he turned on the next side road. “I just thought we could use a little night cap first. It’ll be fun. I promise.” He paused, and just as he expected, he heard her intake of breath when the barn party came into view.

A huge barn sat at the end of a small ranch, taking up most of the land it sat on. Loud music and lights came from the large get-together going on inside. To the side of the property, many people could be seen walking from the car parking area that had been designated by dozens of pickup trucks much like the one Rhett owned.

“Rhett, whose party is this?” Scarlett asked in confusion.

Rhett shrugged. “No idea. I just saw a sign posted and decided I wanted to see what it’s about, since we’re on vacation and all.”

“Rhett, this is so rude. We can’t just crash a party.”

He couldn’t contain the smirk that formed on his lips. “It’s the country, darlin’. Parties are fair share. Now just follow my lead.”

He felt his hand being tugged in her delicate embrace. He looked into her desperate eyes. “Rhett, please.”

Sighing, he parked the truck, turned off the engine, then turned toward her. “Scarlett, darlin’,” he started as he wrapped her tiny hands in his, “you need to learn to have fun, babe. That’s what I’m here for.” He indicated the happy festivities with a nod of his head. “Now, come on. What ‘ya waiting on?”

* * * *

She smiled when his words registered. “Have a little fun, babe. That’s what I’m here for.”

Rhett’s face lit up when she slowly nodded in agreement. “I need to put something decent on.” She still wore the same little shorts and button-down she’d left Knotty in.

He reached into the back of the cab and grabbed the duffle bag for her. “That one,” he suggested when she unzipped it. He pointed to a simple lilac halter dress with small white polka dots. She quickly dressed, finishing her look with the white cowgirl boots Sonny had bought her in Houston.

“Well, sweetheart, let’s party.” He grabbed his cowboy hat from the dashboard, slid out of the pickup, and put it on. She loved the way his unruly blond waves would shag from beneath the hat. “Stay right there, darlin’,” he said before closing the door.

Scarlett watched with satisfaction as he came around the truck to open her door for her. It seemed not even the most vulgar of the Lenox brothers could resist treating her like a lady at simple times like this. Grabbing the hand he offered her, she got out of the truck as gracefully as one could from a pickup. Right before her feet hit the ground, she squealed in surprise when he goosed her underneath the hem of her dress.

“Jesus, Rhett! I was just about to thank you for being a gentleman, but I should have known better than to jump to conclusions so quickly.” She looked around as she smoothed down her dress, thankful that no one had seemed to notice.

He wrapped his large arm around her shoulders as they walked side by side. “You know you love it.”

She felt so pretty in the new dress. It was nice to wear something so girly after spending the week in oversized men’s shirts.

“You look like one of those black-and-white movie stars,” Rhett whispered down to her as they walked across the wide field. When she realized he was too enamored with her beauty to give his usual blatant comment referring to her tits or ass, she knew she had the right dress.

His blue eyes smiled down on her as he took her arm in his and led the way.

“I feel so naughty doing this,” she teased as they approached the entrance.

“Just the way I like you,” he said with a wink then kissed her forehead lovingly.

They weren’t in the barn for more than two seconds when suddenly—

“
Weeee doggy!
Those sure are some pretty boots, little lady.” They both turned to the shrieking country voice to their left and were met by a big, round farmer in overalls. The bald man held a large mug of beer in his hand as he stomped over and held his hand out for Rhett to shake. “Welcome to my party, folks. My name is Bubba.”

“No shit,” Rhett whispered down to her from the side of his mouth. Shocked with his rudeness, Scarlett elbowed him a warning in his side. She was thankful he’d been quiet enough for the farmer not to hear.

“Umph!” He glared down at her before turning his attention to Bubba. “Nice to meet you, sir. We’re glad we could make it.”

“So,” Bubba began, a slight embarrassed look coming over his face, “forgive me for asking this, but who are y’all related to here?”

Scarlett felt a shock of panic fill her belly as she tried to think fast for a logical answer.

But without a hitch, Rhett explained, “I’m Lily’s boy. You know, the ball player.”

To her relief, Bubba’s face instantly lit up at Rhett’s answer. “Aunt Lily! Of course! You’re…er…”

“Rhett,” he finished for him with a friendly smile.

Bubba snapped loudly. “Rhett! Yeah!” Bubba laughed then slapped his knee. “Boy, I tell you. Sure is nice to have all my kin folk in one place.” He then turned his attention to Scarlett and whistled appreciatively as he gave her an once-over. “Damn, boy, you done got you a movie star while you were gone?”

Scarlett felt her cheeks blush as she nervously fidgeted with her neckline, pulling it up as she averted her eyes from the large man’s hungry gawking. As if sensing her unease, Rhett wrapped a strong arm around her waist and protectively pulled her closer to his tall, muscular body. “That’s exactly what I’d told her. She’s my new fiancée.”

She smiled up at her prince, happy to see his chin slightly lifted in alpha confidence.

“Well, where’s her ring?”

Scarlett’s smile disappeared at Bubba’s observation. It had made sense for her and her men to assume they were automatically engaged when they’d realized they were mated. Surprisingly, she’d been so caught up with them that she hadn’t thought about a diamond.

“I figured spending ten grand on the fawn-colored warmblood she has waiting for her back at my ranch would be sufficient enough,” he replied casually.

Scarlett quickly turned to Rhett in shock. “You bought me a horse? Rhett, I barely know how to ride.”

He smiled down at her then kissed her on the lips. “I know, and I can’t wait to teach you more.”

Bubba let out a loud cackle and patted Rhett on the back. “Our clan has always known the way to a woman’s heart is through livestock.”

“Don’t I know it,” Rhett murmured as he stroked the back of his hand down Scarlett’s cheek. He took her hand, kissed it, then led her through the crowd Bubba escorted them through.

Now not only was she feeling uneasy, crashing a perfect stranger’s party, but to top it all off, she felt guilty Rhett had bought her such an expensive gift.

“Stop it, Scarlett.” Rhett’s insistent tone snapped her from her daze.

“Huh?” she asked in confusion.

“Stop feeling guilty about everything and have a little fun, will you?” He turned to Bubba, who was returning from the far table with two large mugs of beer for her and Rhett. “Thanks, buddy!”

Scarlett’s nervousness quickly calmed as she observed Rhett with the other partygoers. He looked so easygoing as he chatted with the men and tipped his hat to the women, his blue eyes sparkling as he would laugh at their jokes and rolled with the punches. His confidence lit up the room, and Scarlett smiled inwardly in pride that he was
her
mate. The entire time he socialized, he held her close by.

* * * *

“And then he turns and yells, ‘Bubba, you never said she was a goat!’”

Rhett threw his head back in laughter. The large group that had formed around them bellied over at Bubba’s punch line. He was really having fun.

But although he may have looked carefree on the outside, he was careful to never let Scarlett out of his sight. He pretended not to notice all the men staring at his mate like she was the ripest watermelon in town, but his own predatory instincts could instantly decipher the competitive way they looked him over. Well, they weren’t getting anywhere with his Scarlett. She wasn’t just his average arm candy. She was his mate, and only his brothers were lucky enough to share that right.

“I love this song,” she said softly to him as she placed a tiny hand on his chest. He listened for what song was playing and groaned aloud when he realized what it was. Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind”—a
slow
song.

“Gee, Scarlett, I’m not really in the mood for—” He stopped midsentence when he noticed several cowboys and farmers slowly honing in on Scarlett, their target clear as day. “On second thought”—he grabbed her hand and began to lead her to the dance floor—“I’d be happy to have this dance.”

The warm, focused smile on her face indicated she was completely oblivious to the other men exchanging disappointed glances with each other once they saw she’d been claimed. If only they knew how claimed she really was. She was quick to wrap her arm around his waist as she held his hand in the other. He could sense the intense happiness within her. It made her scent sweeter. She obviously didn’t catch on that he’d agreed to the dance purely on raw possessiveness. He smiled back to keep the act going.

He slightly flinched when she placed her soft head against his hard chest. He was amazed at how comfortable she felt there, as if her tiny form were made for that very moment. “Rhett?”

He swallowed hard, keeping down the sudden emotion threatening to break through. He chalked it up to too much dark beer. “Yes, darlin’?” He cursed the way his voice had cracked nervously. What the hell was getting into him?

“I’m having so much fun.” She looked up at him, grabbed his face, and brought his mouth to hers, her kiss instantly making his cock rock hard with that wicked tongue. “I love you,” she whispered when she broke away.

In a quick attempt to hide the dumb look that was probably on his face, he bent down to hold his mate cheek-to-cheek as they glided across the floor. Everyone and everything around them seemed to disappear into the shadows. All he was aware of was the heartache in the music, Scarlett’s soft breathing, and the odd emotion clutching his chest.

He reached to lightly place a hand behind her head. He didn’t know why, but for some reason, he was unsure of the show of affection, but then Scarlett snuggled her head on his shoulder. As if sealing an envelope with a kiss, that one little move seemed to seal his love for her. His eyes shut, and he released a long sigh of relief, as if the exhaustion of holding his emotions in had finally been freed.

If he wanted to keep Scarlett, he had to let go of the shield he held in front of him. He had to admit to himself that it was for the best. He had to accept the risk of not only heartbreak but death should she leave him. Of course, he loved Scarlett, but he wasn’t one to express any sort of feelings, and he had no intention of ever becoming that kind of man. Yet as he inhaled her sweet scent, felt the warm press of her soft breasts against his aching chest, he knew Scarlett’s heart was worth the risk.

How could he ever dream of living a day without seeing her smile up at him in the morning or without falling asleep as they told each other stories well into the night? He bit his bottom lip as his heart broke at the thought.