Laughter rumbled in his chest at Letty’s wide eyes and pursed pouty lips when he said the word boyfriend. He knew she’d put up a fight, but the plan made perfect sense.

“Now, before you object—because you look like you’re about to slap me or have a come-to-Jesus meeting—think about it, it’s going to be the perfect cover. I’ll be able to be around you twenty-four-seven and no one will question it.”

Letty shook her head. “I can just introduce you as a friend, if anyone asks.”

“I’m going to have to be your guard day and night. Would a ‘friend’ be by your side, let alone in your hotel room? Especially a guy they’ve never seen before around the rodeo?”

Her pout merged into a thin-lipped stare-down, as if she was trying to decipher him. Sure, there may be some underlying ulterior motives. It might be a good time to get to know her better, and if something happened between them, so be it. But he also would be on guard. Protecting her would be the priority.

“You’re most certainly not staying in my hotel room. That’s where I draw the line.” She folded her arms and shook her head.

“That’s the best opportunity someone would have to attack, when you’re alone and asleep. It’s easy to get into someone’s hotel room these days. I’m not leaving you alone for a second.”

Her unease stiffened her body language. With ridged arms and a hardened face, she stared him down, but Malik refused to budge on the issue.

“There’s only one bed in my room,” she countered.

“I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“For a week and a half?” She quirked a brow.

“I’ve slept in much, much worse conditions. I’m going on twenty years as a SEAL, with four tours in the Middle East. Trust me, a hotel floor is nothing.”

Letty glanced away, a rush of red flooding her cheeks as she sighed. “Fine.”

“Let me pack a bag and we can head over to your hotel and drop my stuff off, and then head to the rodeo. It’s opening night, right?” Malik rose from the sofa.

“Yeah, but I don’t ride tonight. Barrel racing isn’t until tomorrow. It’s mainly the bull riding and team roping.” Letty stood and tucked her hands in the back pockets of her jeans, arching her back. Her already tight shirt tugged against the buttons as she stretched. A glimpse of her breast peeking through the white lace bra underneath shot an arrow of heat straight to his cock.

He hoped he didn’t drool as he lost himself in the sight. Maybe this would be a bad idea after all. The last time he was this affected by a woman she cheated on him while he was on a deployment. He purposely went for the women only looking to score a night with a guy in uniform, and he used them right back for a release. Easier to remain unattached and not gripped by emotions knowing you were being used. It never bothered him because nothing was expected and nothing returned.

But the mere sight of Letty did something to him no other woman had in a very long time. The exhilaration and fear mixing together in his gut would be a bad combination. Malik grabbed his pack from his room and slung it over his shoulder.

“We’ll go, hang out, see if we can stake the booth out or see if there’s any suspicious activity. Keep watch and see if anyone acts funny or differently toward you. And try and focus on the mystery man’s voice, so if you hear it again you can match it with a face.”

Letty nodded. “Okay.”

* * *

The drive to the hotel and then to the rodeo arena was unnervingly quiet. Whether Letty remained tensed by fear of the situation or nerves over having to role play his girlfriend, he didn’t know. More than likely a combination of both. While Malik didn’t think a rodeo cheating scandal would be cause for alarm, the fear in Letty’s eyes when she talked about the threat on her life told him this wasn’t a trivial matter. He wanted to assure her he would protect her. Yet with her hot and cold attitude, he had no idea how to approach her.

He never had to work hard at getting a woman in his bed. Most of the time he’d walk into a San Diego bar in his uniform and end up going home with a woman without even trying. He’d lost his touch with actually talking to a woman, holding her interest and making a connection. The spark of attraction between them on both sides was like a neon flashing light. But she shut herself down from allowing herself to do anything about it. He knew her reasoning, at least the excuses she rattled off to him the day they first met. But something told him there was more than that going on underneath the surface.

Letty walked them through the fairgrounds, pointing out all the exhibits. Malik grabbed her by the hand and she tensed up. He glanced to her surprised eyes. “I need a hat.” He nodded toward a straw-hat vendor down one of the aisles. “I need to blend.”

A smile cracked on her lips. “With that military swagger and combat boots? I don’t think so.”

He slapped a wide brimmed beige hat on his head. “What? It’s not me?”

“It’ll do.” She let a snicker escape from that gorgeous mouth of hers.

His smile dipped to a frown as he picked a black felt hat off the rack and tried it on. “Should I go felt?”

“Too dark. Buries your sweet bourbon eyes. I like the straw better.” As soon as she spoke, she froze and cleared her throat. “I’m just gonna wait over here while you make your purchase.”

A sly grin slid over his lips at her words. She’d noticed his eyes. Maybe there was hope for him yet. As they headed for the back area of the arena, Malik took note of all entry and exit points, scoping the nooks and crannies for possible stealth attacks. While he wasn’t packing, he did have a couple of knives tucked in his boot, his preferred weapon of choice anyway.

As they maneuvered through the chaos behind the arena, heat welled on his neck from an intense, angry stare. Glancing to the right, he noticed a petite blond with a hat as tall as she was glaring at him, more so at Letty.

“Who’s the blond with the death stare?”

“That would be the cheater, Stevi Carson,” Lettty whispered, her warm breath caressing his neck as she leaned in to him. He buried a moan at the intensity of her nearness.

Malik forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand and studied the blonde’s features and body language. While her stare caught his attention, she tucked her body toward the horse she tended. Her pouty-lipped face read more jealousy or indignation, not menacing.

“Letty,” a woman’s voice squealed from further down the walkway. “Missed you at dinner last night darlin’.”

He noticed Stevi’s head turn, homing in on the woman now talking with Letty. Her stare grew more curious, as if she just found a tidbit of information she’d been looking for. He kept a side-glance on her, just to keep cautious.

“I know. I got caught up here pretty late.” Letty turned and fanned her arm toward the high-pitched woman. “Malik, this is my friend, Janet.”

“Oh, Letty, where you been hiding this one?” Janet fanned herself with one hand, while extending the other for a handshake. “I thought for sure you’d be a life-time die-hard single.”

“Oh, but we’re just—” Malik cut Letty off before she could finish her statement.

“Our families have known each other for years. We just recently started dating. I’m Malik Thompson. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He returned the woman’s handshake.

Janet cocked her head. “Thompson...you Maurice’s son?”

He nodded. “The one and only.”

“Aw, well a double pleasure to meet you. Your dad’s one of the best farriers in the country. I miss seeing his face around the rodeo here. You tell him to come by while we’re in town. I’d love to see him again.”

A proud smile donned on his lips. “Will do, ma’am.”

“You done picked a fine one, Letty. Hold on to him.” Janet winked and patted Malik’s shoulder before shuffling back down the hall.

“Well, I like her.” He thumbed over his shoulder.

Letty smirked and shook her head. “She’s the closest friend I have on the circuit. Shame she lives in Wisconsin, so I only get to see her when we do shows.”

“You’re not close with anyone else?” Curiosity struck him, and he had an ache to know more about her. Her likes and dislikes, her dreams, her home-life.

She shrugged. “I’m pretty much all business when it comes to the rodeo. I’m a planner, and pretty meticulous when it comes to my schedule and practice.”

“Maybe that explains the evil glare from the cheater,” Malik whispered.

“A lot of the others do it for prestige, bragging rights, or legacy. It’s a popularity contest for some. The big hair, the blinged out costumes oozing sex instead of functionality. A way to schmooze the bull riders like some fucked up mating ritual, trying to get the best of the breed.” She smirked as she shook her head. “This is my life, and I have to make it work to pay the bills. I don’t have a lot of time or luxury for a social life. I don’t do this to make friends. I do this because I love riding horses and love the rodeo world. My dad was a team roper. I guess it’s in the blood.”

That explained a lot about her hardened attitude and determination. What other people probably thought was a cold-shoulder due to her less-than-social personality, was really her focus and determination to make her dreams come to life. Maybe that explained the awkward stare from Stevi.

She was a lot like Malik in some ways, determined, focused, and did what needed to be done to do the job. He respected that, but from a guy’s perspective it was logical. He doubted many of the women understood it, being more social and emotional beings, which probably explained the animosity in the air. Malik glanced again at Stevi, only to find her gone. He should have kept a tighter watch on her, but he fell prey to Letty’s story and let his guard down. He could have kicked his own ass.

“Well, it makes sense to me. I get it.” Malik glanced around before leaning into Letty’s shoulder. “Stevi took off. We should go try and see if maybe she’s hitting Dell up. I think she was eavesdropping on us, as her head perked up when Janet mentioned you weren’t at dinner last night.”

Letty’s jaw tightened and worry furrowed her brow. “Dammit, Janet. Now I have no alibi for last night.”

“It’s not like the police are going to stalk you.”

“Yeah, but if Stevi confronts me, what do I do?”

“Say you were with me, on a date, at the finest steakhouse in Montana.” His lips brimmed with a wide smile.

“I’m a vegetarian.”

He cocked a brow.

Letty giggled. “I’m kidding.”

His lips pulled into a smirk. He liked hearing her laugh and this more light-hearted, spunky side of her. He hoped he could pull more of it out.

* * *

Much of the afternoon was spent getting the lay of the fairgrounds for Malik. He even won her a stuffed bear at one of the carnie games, under the guise of ‘keeping things real’ for their cover. Despite her efforts to remain neutral and focused on the situation, he thwarted her at every turn. From forcing her to hold hands and winning her a prize to their clandestine discussions in the nooks and crannies of the buildings, their forced proximity lined with whispers and touches she almost wished would lead to more. Every time he leaned in, his warm breath on her neck sparked shivers through her. She hated that her body betrayed her and reacted to him that way.

Sure, she’d love to be able to fall into it, believe it was real, let herself go with him. But everything was on the line, including her life now, she couldn’t fall prey to that kind of emotional distraction. The last thing she needed was a relationship roller-coaster on top of everything else. Yet, for a moment in time she indulged, the touch of his hand on hers, the way he ran his thumb over her skin, the way he stared not at her but through her gave her a feeling of safety.

“You gonna introduce me to your new toy, LeTeisha?” Stevi’s voice rang out from behind her and she spun around. Worry pitted like a rock in her stomach.

“The name’s Malik.” He extended his hand to her, and she stared at it like she had no clue what to do with it. Maybe sucking a bull rider’s dick was more her way of introductions than a handshake.

“Stevi,” she said, giving him a nod before sliding her hand against his palm like a familiar lover. “Haven’t seen you ‘round here before. First rodeo?” She tossed a side-eye to Letty before eying Malik like a meal. A stab of jealousy pricked at her and caught Letty off guard. What was she jealous of? Malik wasn’t really her boyfriend. But just the way she oozed sex out of every poor made Letty throw up in her mouth a little.

“Not my first rodeo, no. But it’s a been a while. Just got back to Eagle Rock after a long stint away, and my girl, Letty, is showing me around.”

“Your girl?” Stevi shot Letty another glance. “And here I thought she was a lesbian.” She tossed her head back in a cackle that was a cross between Kim Kardashian and a hyena.

Letty jumped forward, almost throwing a punch. Malik grabbed her hand, pulled it to his lips and kissed the back of it, launching another Earth-shattering shiver down her back.

“I assure you, she’s not a lesbian. But I might just take her back to the hotel and give her four more orgasms tonight, just to be sure. She could have been faking the four she’s already had today.” He dove at her neck and sucked her flesh over his lips, pulling a hissing moan from her lungs at the mix of pleasure and pain. The guttural sound shocked even Letty as the raw emotion ripped out of her. All she could do was curl her hands around his thick biceps and hold on for fear she’d spiral and blackout from the intense pleasure coursing through her body.

“I hear you weren’t at the dinner last night. Were you hanging out here in the arena?” Stevi asked, not even caring at the public display that Malik ramped up.

The question propelled Letty back to reality and Malik eased off her neck, trailing kisses along her collarbone before turning to face Stevi. “She was with me all night last night. And let me tell ya, we had a feast.” The intensity in Malik’s eyes convinced even Letty that it was true, so much that she had to shake herself out of it and remember this was a fantasy for the world to see.

“There’s a nice little cove, right by the bull-pen for some privacy, but LeTeisha probably knows all about that…oh wait, you’re not a bull-rider. Never mind. See ya.” Stevi sauntered off.

“That bitch,” Letty said, cocking a fist.

“Hey, calm down,” Malik said, leaning into her ear. “She’s completely jealous of you, head to toe. I know the truth, you don’t need to convince me.”

Her heart pounded, ramming itself against her ribcage. “How can she say such things and get away with cheating. Gah! I just want to push her into oncoming traffic.”

Malik pulled up and stared into her eyes. “Her venom was meant to hit your nerves. Don’t let her win. Don’t stoop to her level.”

“You sound like my mother, Malik.” A groan rumbled from her lips as she pushed him away from her. “Way to ruin the moment.”

He lifted her chin with a fingertip and gazed into her eyes. “Moment? There was a moment? Ah ha, so you do like me.”

Panic hit her heart and she replayed the words in her head. Fuck. “What? No, that’s not what I meant. I meant to say pretending in the moment. Shit, Stevi just pissed me off.” She stomped away and jammed her arms across her chest, digging her nails into her skin.

“Hey, I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds. I was just trying to get Stevi off your back. I didn’t mean to make shit worse.” Malik ran a hand down her arm, and her eyes closed, electrified by his touch once more. She was glad they were in a public place so she didn’t fall under his spell.

“I’m sorry. I’m on edge. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.” She dipped her head, rubbing her temples to ease the throbbing ache.

“Let’s grab some dinner and call it a night. I don’t know if there’s much to see here tonight anyway. What do you say?”

Letty nodded and he slung an arm around her shoulder, walking them to the truck.

After dinner at the Thompson’s ranch, they made their way back to the hotel and Letty’s stomach flip-flopped in somersaults. While there was no chance of anything happening between them, him being on the floor and her in the bed, the anticipation of him maybe trying had the hair on her arms standing at attention.

They crossed the threshold in the room and Letty’s heart raced. How would showering work? Or going to the bathroom? Anxiety worked her stomach into a pretzel. It had been quite a while since Letty shared a room with a man. Her ex-fiancé to be exact, and that was two years ago. It didn’t end pretty, and Letty still blamed Benedict for the fall that almost ended her rodeo career.

“Tomorrow I think we ought to start questioning some people, see if maybe we can’t stir up someone else who may have seen Stevi, Dell, and this mystery man consorting.”

“That’ll start rumors and it’ll all trickle back to me. Nuh uh, we can’t do that.” Letty shook her head, gripping the ends of it cascading down her shoulders as if it were a stress ball.

“I’m not going to point blank accuse them. I know how to interrogate, trust me, Letty. Let me do my job. I’m here to get to the bottom of this and protect you. But if we sit idly by, we’re just letting them get away with shit. Not to mention, if they really do plan on causing you bodily harm, we need to stop it before they get a chance.”

Letty collapsed on the bed and nodded, trying to hold in the floodgate of frustration pooling behind her eyes. Don’t cry, Letty. Don’t you dare cry.

Her phone buzzed in her jeans and she pulled it out. “Hey, Momma.”

“Hey, baby girl, just checkin’ in on you.” Her mother’s voice sounded slow and wobbly.

“Momma, what’s wrong?” Panic knifed at her gut.

“Now, don’t fret yourself none, just had me a little spill is all. Gabriel found me and took me to the hospital. They want to keep me overnight for observation, but I told them I was fine. Just my leg givin’ out on me every now and then. I should have asked him for help, but you know me...”

“Momma,” Letty’s voice cracked and a tear slid down her cheek. She praised the Lord her mother agreed to the in-home nurse she’d hired for her, Gabriel. But he only came to the ranch three times a week to help Letty out with care for her diabetic mother. “I’m gonna head out in the morning, and I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“No,” her mother’s firm tone said there’d be no arguing with her. “You need this time away. And you need this win. I saw the bank letter, Letty. You shouldn’t have hidden it from me. But I understand why you did. You bear the weight of the world on your shoulders these days. I’m so sorry to be such a burden.”

“Momma, stop talkin’ like that. You’re not a burden. I love you and will do anything for you.”

“I should be there in person, cheering you on from the stands like I did in the old days. I just let myself go, let this disease take me over. I don’t know when things got so out of control.” Her mother’s voice, thick with emotion, pierced Letty’s heart and the tears free-flowed down her cheeks.

“I promise, Momma, when I win this one, I’ll quit. We’ll settle down and get the ranch back up and runnin’ and we’ll get you fixed up. I swear my life on it, I will.”

“I know, baby girl. I know. You take care of yourself, and don’t worry about me. I’ll be here when you get back and we’ll celebrate. I’ll make you one of my red velvet cakes. Okay?”

Letty nodded, even though she knew her mother couldn’t see it. “Okay, Momma. I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Letty clicked off the phone and it slid from her fingers, hitting the floor. She fell onto the pillows and let the emotions take her over. She couldn’t fight it any longer. The stress of her tanking finances, her mother’s deteriorating health, and now the threat on her life all overwhelmed her, choking her with the might of a thousand hands around her neck. She couldn’t breathe as the sobs ripped through her body. She didn’t even care that Malik witnessed her breakdown.

The bed dipped as he bent and picked up her phone before sliding onto the pillow behind her. Cradling her in his arms, he rolled her to face him and curled his body around her. Her tears soaked his shirt, and she clung to the fabric as she let it all out.

“Shhh, it’s okay. I’m here. I got you.” He rocked her, rubbing his warm palms down her back, soothing her. “When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here. For now, you release it. Get rid of the stress in your body. It’s not good to hold it in.”

In her head, she felt like a failure, falling victim to the emotions taking her over. But in that moment, encased in his arms, he took from her the only thing she could give...her weakness. And no one, not even her ex-fiancé had been able to do that. When she didn’t think she couldn’t cry any harder, another onslaught of tears convulsed through her body, and he pulled her tighter to him, letting her bury herself and her troubles in his embrace.