Free Corralling the Cowboy by Katie O'Connor

Joe
watched her enter the beer garden and look around. She was
different from the usual buckle bunny that crowded into the tent,
drooling over all the wanna be cowboys. She had an air that set her
apart; she seemed … almost like she didn’t really want to be there.
She moved with a purpose, definitely a woman on a mission. Joe took
a moment to study her. Her full lips turned up just a bit at the
corner. Her black cowboy hat tilted just a little to the left,
almost hiding her eye. Her boots were black and brushed against her
calves and for a moment he envied them. Those long, lean legs were
made to wrap around a man’s waist and pull him closer. His eyes
traced the sweet line of her legs from the top of her boots to the
hem of her short, tight, black denim skirt. She pivoted from left
to right as she strolled between the tables, looking for someone.
Joe watched her progress, delighting in the brief glimpses of the
curve of her ass as she danced her way through the crowd. Her long
blonde hair swishing across her shoulders as she moved and he
wanted to wrap his hands in it and pull her close. The need to get
closer compelled him to move in her direction.
    Alex
paused just inside the door of the beer garden. Country music
pounded loudly in her ears, the beat infectious, making her hips
twitch and sway. Thankfully it was late and it wasn’t as crowded as
it might have been earlier. With the late evening crowd thinning
her search for her missing friend would be that much easier. Where
the hell had Janine gotten to? She was supposed to give Alex a ride
home. Pausing for a moment, Alex turned in a circle, studying the
people filling the beer garden; across the tent she spotted some
friends. Slowly making her way towards the small group, she kept
her eyes open for Janine.
    She
greeted the group, pausing with her hand on Mick’s shoulder, she
bent over to be heard over the rowdy country band at the front of
the tent. “Hey guys, has anybody seen Janine? I’ve been looking for
her for nearly an hour.”
    “ I saw her wrapped up in some cowboy’s arms earlier,” Mandy
quipped. “Typical Janine.”
    “ Geez. Again?” Alex groaned. “Can’t she just quit with the men
already? I swear the girl has no shame at all. The rodeo comes to
town and she goes cowboy crazy. Every year she ditches me for some
cowboy. I never learn.” She twisted her lips thoughtfully. “She was
my ride home. What the hell do I do now? Is anyone heading out
soon?” She asked. When they all responded negatively, she shook her
head and sighed. “I guess I’ll take the bus. Well, later guys, I’m
gone. I’ve had enough rodeo and midway for one day.” With a wave
and a backwards glance at her friends she headed towards the door
and collided with a solid wall of flesh.
    “ Oof.” She blinked rapidly and stared at the wide expanse of
chest in front of her. A large hand gripped her shoulder, steadying
her. Alex tipped her head up and looked into the deepest chocolate
brown eyes she had ever seen; she swallowed hard and took an
unsteady step backwards.
    “ Watch yourself Little Lady; you could have knocked me down.”
He tipped his hat back, his brown eyes twinkling. “You nearly
spilled my beer.” He gestured towards her with his half empty
glass.
    Alex
couldn’t help but smile at his roguish grin. “I think not.” She
gave him a light push on the chest. He stayed rock solid. “You’re
much bigger than I am.” Her voice cracked and moistened her
suddenly dry lips. “Your beer is safe from me.” She looked him up
and down. He was a tall one. His dark brown cowboy hat matched his
boots and tan jeans. His snap front shirt was unbuttoned enticingly
at the neck. Oh my, she thought. He is handsome, so big and strong
looking, so much more of a man than the typical male at the office
where she worked. She wouldn’t mind spending time basking in his
enticing smile and bulky body. Suddenly, she wasn’t all that tired
and the rodeo had regained its