Where There's Smoke (12 page)

“I’m hungry, and I want to buy you something.”

They started down the steps as his words sank into her brain. Chance wanted to buy her something? She thought back and couldn’t remember a time when someone spent money on her. Presents were a luxury, her mother had told her, and Destiny figured she was probably right.

“What?” Chance asked when he turned to look at her.

She smiled and shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Then come on,” he urged. He smiled, and she knew he could ask her for just about anything and she would probably give in.

There were vendors on the other side of the stands. Chance pulled her along until she thought her arm would be yanked out of its socket. He finally stopped in front of a covered booth that displayed every color hat imaginable.

“Here, try this one on,” he said as he picked up a deep red hat. “It matches your boots.”

Destiny hesitated. She really liked the hat, but she never wore a cowboy hat. When she saw the price tag of $122, she balked. How much could a cowboy make? The hat would be way too expensive.

“Don’t worry about the cost,” he said, as though he’d read her mind. “I can afford it. Besides, you’re worth every penny.”

“Okay,” she said with a frown as she let him place the hat on her head. It felt odd. Maybe he only wanted to make fun of her. If he laughed, she’d cut his balls off.

She frowned.

If he had balls.

“I like it,” he told her.

“You don’t think I look silly?” She glanced in the mirror that had been propped on one shelf. The hat didn’t look too out of place on her head. She glanced at Chance to make sure.

Fire shone in his eyes and she knew exactly what he was thinking. She was pretty sure it wasn’t the hat perched on her head. Breathing took on a whole new meaning as sexy images filled her head.

“I think you look pretty tempting,” he drawled as he stepped closer.

She leaned forward, ready for anything he wanted to give and imagining what she would do in return, but she was stopped short when a group of laughing children ran past.

Reality swiftly returned. Who did she think she was? This was all make-believe. “But the hat’s not for me,” Destiny said. Chance created a fantasy and, for a moment, she bought into it.

“Why not you?” Chance asked.

She shrugged. “Maybe I’m not the cowgirl type.” She reached up to remove the hat.

“Today you can be anything you want. This is a day for magic.” He skimmed his fingers down the side of her face.

His touch left a trail of heat in its wake, along with a hell of a lot of promise.

One touch and Chance made her forget what she needed to do. First, he brought her to a rodeo. Next, he wanted her to pretend to be someone she wasn’t. He seemed to be asking a lot from her lately. But his words were so tempting. How she’d longed for days when she could imagine she was someone else. Days when nothing evil would intrude into her world.

After her mother left her in the store, Destiny had dreamed about being like other little girls. Girls with parents who loved them. She’d wanted it so badly. As if that would ever happen! Her foster parents cared about the check that came in every month, nothing else.

“You can do this,” Chance told her and squeezed her arm.

Startled, she flinched, then realized where she was. There were no more foster homes, no more being envious of someone else. And maybe playing make-believe was coming a little too late, but Chance was right, she deserved this day to be perfect. She deserved it all. No one would ever take away her dreams again!

She squared her chin. “Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll wear the hat because I want to wear it.”

“Good,” he said, then smiled as he glanced at the saleslady who was beaming.

Of course she beamed. The woman knew she had a sale. Destiny didn’t care. With a determined stride, she marched to the small partitioned changing room in one corner. A dark blue sheet on a string closed it off from the rest of the shop. A hundred and twenty-two dollars for a hat!

She turned once more and let her gaze fall on the mirror. For just a moment, she felt as young and carefree as the young woman staring back at her.
The
girl
next
door.

Where had the seductress gone? The demon-in-training? The girl who stared back at her looked innocent and pure. As if she finally got to play dress up. As if she’d had loving parents. As if nothing bad had ever happened to her.

But
none
of
this
is
real
, her mind screamed. She wasn’t the girl next door. Was she ever innocent? She was a troublemaker in school because that was the only attention she ever got. She was the girl who would do anything on a dare. She didn’t care about anyone but herself. Why should she? This person staring back at her wasn’t who she was. Her hand trembled as she reached to remove the hat.

Chance grabbed her hand. “I like the way the hat looks on you. What would it hurt to just enjoy the day? One day. That’s all I’m asking.”

She looked away from the mirror, closing her eyes tight. “I don’t think I can.” She didn’t know how to be the girl in the mirror.

“I’ll help you. I’ll be with you every step of the way. I’ll never leave your side. Just one day, that’s all I’m asking, Destiny.”

She sighed, the fight leaving her when she opened her eyes. Her glance fell once more on her reflection. She’d wanted to be that girl so badly. Maybe Chance was right. No harm would come if she took one day to just have fun. She raised her chin, defying anyone to tell her differently.

“Thank you for the gift,” she finally told him.

She stilled. Nothing happened. The world didn’t come crashing down on her. No one stepped forward to say she couldn’t do exactly as she wanted. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“You’re welcome,” he said. His gaze slid over her body.

The warmth from that one look made her body start to tingle. She could almost feel him entering her. Slowly moving in and out… caressing her with his dick…

She grew damp as her fantasy played out in her mind.

Her legs would wrap around his waist and pull him in deeper and…

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“What?” She quickly cleared her mind.

“I need food,” he told her, then laughed.

She was hungry too, but not for food. His stomach rumbled. She would let him satisfy his emptiness. Later he could satisfy hers.

After lunch, they watched as most of the children in the stands scampered to the arena. Whoever captured the ribbon from one of two calves turned loose would win a ten dollar bill. They cheered the winners and applauded the ones who didn’t win but seemed just as happy anyway.

They drank beer from paper cups until her head was spinning. They watched the barrel racing, rooting for Nevaeh when she raced out of the gate, then stood and clapped when she was awarded a silver belt buckle for second place.

“I’ll be right back,” Chance told her as he stood and made his way down the metal stairs.

Destiny leaned against the step behind her and smiled. The day was perfect: exactly what it would have been like if she could have led a normal life.

If she’d had the opportunity.

But she hadn’t had that choice, and she hadn’t been one of the good girls.

Chance made her feel as if everything would have been different if she’d met him first. There was something special about him. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was, but it was there, and she’d loved spending the day with him. She wasn’t ready for it to end.

But did it have to? Every day could be this wonderful. She sighed when she thought how it could be for the rest of eternity. She only had to convince Chance they could have this much fun all the time if he agreed to give up his soul.

She would talk to him soon. He liked her. She was certain of that, and she didn’t think it was just about the sex. Convincing him to leave with her wouldn’t be that difficult.

Then why did she feel so sad? Why did she delay talking to him about Hell?

As her thoughts tumbled around inside her head, she barely paid attention to the announcer when he told the crowd the main event of the day was next—the bull riding competition. But when he called Chance’s name as the first rider, the blood in Destiny’s veins chilled.

“No, don’t do it,” she whispered as she sat forward. Her gaze searched until she spotted Chance. He was just climbing on the back of a bull. Three other cowboys leaned over the chute, helping him get settled on the stomping, snorting beast.

He was going to get himself killed! The bull would throw him to the ground and pummel his broken body!

The announcer began to speak again. “Chance Bellew is one of our top bull riders. He’s taken home more first place awards than any cowboy here.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” Destiny said, but the cheering crowd drowned out her words. Were they all crazy? Now she remembered why she never went to rodeos when she was alive!

“This has got to be fate,” LeAnn said as she plopped down beside Destiny. “I went by the apartment to ask if you wanted to go to the rodeo, but you weren’t at home.” Her smile was as big as Texas. “And here you are.”

Fate? She didn’t think so. “I thought you had to work.”

“Water leak. The owner of the Cow Patty closed for the day. I went by your apartment, but I’d missed you.”

“Chance has made a special request,” the announcer continued. “He’s dedicating his ride to Destiny Carter. Just goes to show everyone this must be one special little lady.”

“Oh great, he’s making me the reason he’s about to die.”

LeAnn’s eyes grew round. “That’s you!”

“He’s going to get himself killed,” she moaned.

“Wow, you’re really worried.”

Destiny took her eyes off Chance long enough to meet LeAnn’s gaze. “Wouldn’t you be worried?” And why was she encouraging LeAnn? Oh hell, maybe she did need her right now. Destiny had never been to a freaking rodeo before today. The only thing she knew about bulls was the fact they were big and ugly.

“You’re absolutely correct, I probably would be worried too, but if that announcer is right and he’s a champion bull rider, I’m sure he’ll be okay. I mean, he didn’t get a rep for being a top rider not knowing what he’s doing.”

“She’s right, you know.” Charles Dickens sat on the other side of Destiny. He planted the heel of his boot on the next seat down. “I love rodeos. Never had them in New York.” His normally pale cheeks turned ruddy. “That’s where I’m from, but I got to Texas as fast as I could. I figure livin’ here since I was ten is almost as good as being born here.”

Oh hell, she was surrounded by mortals. They weren’t helping her, either. Their words didn’t ease her worries at all. “He’s about to ride a bull that doesn’t look happy about the whole thing. I can’t believe he’ll be fine.” Why was she even having this conversation?

“I’ll stay right here with you,” LeAnn vowed.

“Me too,” Charles told her, then reached over and patted her hand.

The gate slammed open and the bull came charging out. Destiny didn’t have time to think about the consequences of mingling with mortals when she wasn’t planning to steal their souls. No, her attention was fixed on the arena, the furious bull, and Chance as he gripped a rope in one hand. His other arm was high in the air. Destiny wanted to yell at him to hold on with both hands, but she doubted he would hear.

“Ohmigod, where did you meet this guy? He’s some kind of hot!”

“LeAnn!” She was supposed to be giving moral support, not drooling over Chance.

“Oh, sorry.” She cleared her throat. “He only has to stay on eight seconds. Everything will be fine.”

“Yee-haw!” Charles flung off his hat and waved it in the air. “That’s a real cowboy for sure! Ride ’em, young fella!”

“Give me strength,” Destiny muttered.

It would only last eight seconds. Not long. Then everything would be fine.

The raging bull twisted and turned, kicking up dirt and creating clouds of dust. Chance was sweating, his lips pressed together as he anticipated each move the bull made. The crowd cheered. Any second now she was going to puke. Everything didn’t look fine. Not one bit!

And eight seconds was a hell of a long time!

The buzzer sounded.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

The bull continued to twist and spin.

“The buzzer sounded,” Destiny said. “Why isn’t it over?”

Charles looked at her and shrugged. “The darn bulls never pay attention.” He guffawed at his own humor.

“That’s not funny.”

“Sorry.” He had the grace to look duly chastised.

Chance suddenly jumped off the bull and landed on the ground. It was over. Finally! Except the bull turned, with evil in his eyes. The enraged beast dug his hoof into the loose dirt, stirring up more dust. Then, like thunder crashing across the sky, the bull’s hooves pounded the dirt as he charged Chance.