The Cowboy

He sported a backwards baseball cap, sports jersey and baggy jeans riding low on his hips that revealed more than a glimpse of the plaid boxers beneath them. The mustache seemed out of place on his youthful face and there was a devilish gleam in his eyes as he eyed her up and down. He moved with cockiness, there was a self-assured swagger in the way he walked, even though he was using crutches and limping slightly.

She watched him enter the room and turned back to her suitcase without acknowledging him, dismissing him immediately, thinking maybe there was a chance he might be smart enough to recognize a hint when he saw one. He wasn't.

"Hey there, I'm Jesse. And what might your name be, gorgeous?" he drawled with a thick Texan accent.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled as she turned around. He looked at her hungrily, practically licking his lips. She found him simultaneously unnerving and irritating. He was obviously roaming the floors prowling for girls. There weren't many to be found at the conference, she'd only seen a few since she'd arrived an hour ago. He seemed to be pleased to find a female that might help him spend some free time.

He was obviously barking up the wrong Yankee tree. She smiled politely, but tightly.

"Veronica. Nice to meet you," she stepped forward and shook his hand, then moved across the room from him, keeping the distance between them a great as possible.

He moved forward, ignoring her attempt move away. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her face and his touch made her shiver instinctively. She couldn't believe his audacity to come up and touch a complete stranger without so much as a hesitation. She exhaled a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding and closed her eyes for moment, moving back a step, regaining her composure. This was ridiculous. She didn't know this guy, knew she did not want to know this guy, but somehow her body seemed to disagree with her.

"So a girl like you must have a boyfriend back home, hunh?"

"No," she responded without thinking it over first, "No boyfriend."

Damn it! Why did she automatically respond with the truthful answer? It would have been so much easier if she'd lied and said there was a big, strapping football player waiting for her back home. Not that she even liked big, strapping football players, but that was entirely beside the point. She ran her fingers through her hair nervously, then caught herself and stopped. He had her rattled. She didn't like to be rattled. She stared him evenly in the eyes, wanting him to know that she would hold her own with him. He seemed amused. He knew the effect he was having on her, could probably read her every movement like a book. Well, she could read him just fine too.

"But I wouldn't doubt you have a girlfriend or three back home," she challenged.

She didn't like players any better than she liked jocks. In fact, maybe even liked them less, that was debatable. Either way, she wanted to make it clear that she recognized him for exactly what he was and that he was wasting his time with her. She wasn't interested in finding herself a future baby-daddy. She wouldn't be surprised if he'd already managed to accomplish this with a few girls that were unfortunately more gullible than herself.

A slow, easy smile made its way across his face. Not exactly the impact she was hoping for.

"You may be right about that," he admitted. He was talking more to her breasts than he was to her, but now he met her gaze again, and against her will, she felt her knees go a bit weak. He'd taken another step closer and she could smell the faint spiciness of his aftershave and feel the warmth of his breath against her cheek. "But I wouldn't write me off quite yet," he practically whispered in her ear.

A bell started ringing in the hallway, signifying it was time for them to be heading to opening ceremonies. She moved past him, where he had her cornered by the bed. Her heart was racing a bit too fast, and her body seemed to humming in response to having him so close.

"I really don't think I'm your type," she said, searching for a way to convince him to get lost. "And I believe you have somewhere to be, as do I."

"Yes, I'm going," he said, heading towards the door. And she realized with surprise that she had completely forgotten that he was on crutches. "But I'll be back after lights out." He winked at her suggestively. The way he looked at her, it was like he could see her naked already. Like she had absolutely no control over anything.

"What makes you think I'd open the door?" she asked him, trying to re-assert that she had some say in this decision. That in reality, her say was the only one that mattered.

"Well, that's up to you, now isn't it?" he responded, teasingly.

He leaned on his crutches in the doorway, "You should always wear red lipstick. It really brings out your eyes."

Her room mate came walking in just as Jesse left the room.

"Who was that?" Jen asked.

"Oh, just some guy who thinks he's God's gift," she rolled her eyes. Unfortunately, she was not having nearly as easy a time writing him off as she'd like. "He thinks he's coming back here tonight to give me the ride of my life or something."

Jen looked at her confused, "What has he known you, like five minutes?"

"Less," she said, wondering how he'd managed to get under her skin so quickly.

"So, you going to let him?" she asked, raising her eyebrows repeatedly, in a Groucho Marks imitation.

"You're hilarious, truly. You should do stand up."

The humor was completely lost on her at the moment. She wasn't really sure what she was hoping for - him to show up, or not. Part of her was seriously hoping she'd seen the last of him. The other part was wondering if she needed a dry pair of underwear before she left the room.