Under Pressure

by Rhonda Lee Carver

  Em stood in the doorway, her eyes tapered.

  “Oh nothing,” Pearl said.

  “No, it’s not nothing,” Em mumbled as she took a seat next to Pearl. “Coffee. I need a gallon.”

  “Help yourself and then you and I need to have a long talk.” Jewels placed her hands on her hips.

  “Oh no, I know that look. I’m about to get another lecture,” Em drawled.

  Jewels clenched her teeth, and Pearl slid off the stool. “That’s my cue to exit and let you girls talk. I have an appointment to make in an hour. No blood bath, you both hear?”

  “Oh, that depends on if Miss Smartcakes wants to tangle or not.” Jewels rubbed her forehead. She couldn’t remember when she’d become surrogate mother to her little sister. It just happened and it wasn’t always the easiest job. Em seemed to push her limits at every turn. “We have to talk, now.”

  Em tapped her fingers on the table. “Look, I know what you’re going to say.”

  “Do you? What’s that?” Jewels made a mental reminder that she had to go about things differently with Em. She carried around a lot of resentment because she’d never had a mother in her life.

  Em blinked. “That I need to act like a responsible adult.”

  “That’s a given. Telling a man a false name, my name of all things, and then sleeping with him, isn’t being responsible.”

  With a long sigh, Em sat back in the chair and looked at Jewels with an impatient glare. “I’m twenty-five. If I want to sleep with a man I can and not be reprimanded by my sister.”

  “You have a future to think about. Sleeping around only proves you don’t care.” Once the words were out, she realized they were too harsh.

  So much for taking a different approach.

  One corner of Em’s mouth turned down. “You have no clue what I do! And you have no right to judge me when your boyfriend cheated because you didn’t show him anything but an icy shoulder.”

  The words stung. “No, Em, Kiefer cheated because he couldn’t keep his zipper closed.”

  With an exasperated sigh, Em slid off the stool and stomped across the room, stopped at the threshold and looked at Jewels with a cold glare. “I didn’t ask you to search out this Spark guy. So don’t get mad at me because you screwed up!”

  “You’re right, I did screw up. But I did it because I care.”

  “No, you did it because you’re walking around with a knife in your back with Kiefer’s name on it. Maybe you should have taken your revenge out on him.” Em’s expression lightened— some. “You need to stop worrying so much about me, and Pearl, and start focusing on your life. Problem is, you’ve gotten so used to bossing me around you no longer see me for who I am.”

  Em stormed out and Jewels buried her face into her palms. Tears stung the back of her eyes, but she refused to cry. She hated that Em seemed more distant lately.

  Things were going downhill fast.

  Em was right. Jewels needed to stop worrying so much. Unfortunately, worrying had become a habit.

  With a deep breath, she exhaled and pushed away from the counter and made her way down the hall. Stopping at the framed picture of her mother hanging on the wall, Jewels touched the glass as she had done almost every day since she could remember. “If only things could have been different for you, for all of us.”

  ~°°°~

  “Why do you look like you’ve eaten a sour apple, Spark?”

  Looking across the polished top of the bar at Two Step, Spark shrugged. “I’m not much into this scene.” The last time he was here, Jewels Stone had picked him up, and it hadn’t worked in his favor.

  “A man deserves a night out on occasion. You’ve worked your ass off this week at the ranch and you deserve a beer in reward. The boss will be happy he got himself a good worker.” Scrawny motioned for the bartender.

  A few cold ones to relax and then back to the hand quarters for a hot shower sounded pretty good to Spark.

  His muscles ached and he’d never been good at easing the pressure of stress. Not to mention his aching body required a good night’s sleep.

  Scrawny was right, Spark had worked his ass off the last week at Rhinestone, but it didn’t have anything to do with impressing the boss.

  The ranch was big enough, but because his luck sucked, it seemed every time he turned around he was seeing Jewels in the driveway, by the barn, riding or brushing a horse, and carrying groceries into the house.

  One evening, as he was ending his day on the land, he’d spotted her taking pictures. He’d stayed in the shadow of the trees watching her move her body in different angles to get the best shot of the setting sun. While she’d been absorbed in the landscaping, he’d been captivated in her beauty. He’d been amazed at the softness in her while she worked behind the camera. Her long hair had floated in the breeze and her slender fingers had moved over the lens—gently and skillfully. He’d imagined what it’d be like to have her touching him with concentration and curiosity. He’d cursed a string of four-letter words then stomped off.

  That night he’d attempted to release the built up need—useless effort.

  His eyes, or his groin, just couldn’t get a break.

  It seemed no matter what he did the torment never ceased.

  The bartender brought a longneck and placed it in front of him. “Don’t worry about paying for that one. The lady at the end of the bar said she thought you looked like you could use a cold one.”

  Sweeping his gaze to the subject at hand, he spotted a smiling brunette. She moved forward and her breasts pushed above the scooped neckline of her shirt that looked two sizes too small. She was a nice looking woman, but he wasn’t interested.

  Damn, he was getting old.

  He was just too tired. And there was something else bothering him that he couldn’t quite pinpoint or understand—maybe he just didn’t want to understand.

  Ignoring the trifling in the back of his brain, he saluted her with the bottle then took a long drink. After all, he didn’t want to be rude. She licked her lips seductively, as if to prove she wanted to do naughty things with her mouth.

  “Wow, she’s got the hots for you, buddy.” Scrawny thumped him twice on the back.

  Spark realized his zipper should be stretched and his mouth should be watering with a desire to sample the sexy brunette, but instead his gut tightened.

  Once upon a time, he’d have welcomed the pass of a beautiful woman—one ripe for the taking— and now his mind was preoccupied with something else. His life’s future had taken the front seat over every impulsive craving. He’d had enough fun times with female fans and now his appetite had made a complete turnaround.

  Tearing his gaze away, he concentrated on the lively atmosphere of the country bar. He was ready to head home, until the door opened and in walked trouble in heels and tight jeans. Jewels.

  Sucking his beer, it went down the wrong pipe. He coughed and sputtered while Scrawny eyed him with a lifted brow. “Son-of-a-bitch,” Spark mumbled. “What in the hell is she doing here?” He didn’t realize he’d said the words aloud until Scrawny swiveled the barstool to take a look.

  “The Stone sisters? They hang out here once in a while.”

  Scrawny misunderstood Spark’s meaning, but he wasn’t about to explain. His throat ached from the coughing. He rubbed the back of his neck. Receiving another curious glance from Scrawny, Spark gave a quick shrug and searched his brain for a reasonable excuse why he cared that the ladies had walked in. “The whole idea was to play some darts, drink a couple of beers and get away from the ranch, right?”

  It worked because Scrawny chuckled and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. They won’t fraternize with us boys. They have standards, bro, and I’m afraid we don’t belong in their world.”

  Spark tensed. Yeah, and there was the problem. Whether he should admit it or not, he wanted to belong in Jewels’ world, at least within a close proximity. He knew how crazy it sounded, and it’d probably never happen, but he had an itch for a honey-
haired beauty that he ached to scratch.

  Had working in the sun burned his brain cells?

  He wasn’t himself when Jewels came within a visual range. He could barely keep his tongue in his mouth when she stepped foot in his breathing space.

  And tonight, that was especially true. The cave of his chest narrowed, making his lungs feel like they were on fire.

  Why couldn’t she be ugly? Hell, he’d probably still be infatuated with her. There was just something about Jewels that heightened every sense, every feeling. Being that she was off limits, he guessed that deepened the whole attraction nonsense.

  It was human nature to want something he couldn’t have.

  Sure, he’d go with that excuse.

  Jewels and Pearl strolled by, neither giving any clue that they saw him. The pounding behind his zipper was a reminder he should turn and pretend she wasn’t in the vicinity. But damn, he had no control over his eyes. He followed her with his hungry gaze, skimming over her long neon green tank top, along the shapely curve of her tight bottom encased in skintight jeans. It should be illegal for a woman who had a hot body like hers to wear skinny jeans. It made thinking impossible.

  And the heels—whoa—he couldn’t find the word to describe how long they made her legs look. An image of her naked, wearing only those black strappy heels, made his cock throb and his head woozy.

  They sat at a table, and he twirled the stool away from his tormentor. The last thing he needed was for her to think he actually cared that she’d walked in. They could be in the same room, no problem.

  He huffed and scrubbed his cheek, lifted his chin slightly and came face-to-breasts. He dragged his gaze upward and met a bright pair of inviting eyes. “Hi, I’m Candy. Enjoy the beer?” she cooed.

  Damn, why didn’t his dick react to sexy Candy the way it did for wax-wielding-Jewels? “Yes, thanks.” Out of his peripheral, he caught Scrawny giving him a thumb’s up.

  Candy threaded her fingers through her hair and leaned in so that her tits rubbed his arm. “I haven’t seen you around here, cowboy.” Her low, raspy voice tickled his eardrum. “And I’d remember.” The tip of her tongue slipped out and smoothed across red-tinted lips.

  “I’m new in the area.” He lifted the bottle, more for restlessness, and gave it a shake. Empty.

  “Need another?” she asked.

  “No. I’m good for now.” He wasn’t in the mood for small talk. He’d never been good at it.

  One corner of her mouth kicked up in a grin full of promise. “We could go back to my place. I have a six-pack in the fridge and a hot tub. Or we could cuddle up and watch a movie.”

  The uninhibited invite rubbed him the wrong way. And cuddle? Yeah, he knew she had more on her mind than a chick flick and a cuddle session. When her hand dropped to his wrist and her red claw-like nails skirted across his skin, he resisted the urge of pushing her away. He didn’t want to appear impolite, but he also didn’t want Candy to get the wrong impression and think he was interested.

  Opening his mouth to disappoint her, he was stopped before he could manage a peep. “Oh. My. God! I love this song. Wanna dance, cowboy?” She removed her body from his and gyrated her hips to the heavy beat of the popular song.

  “No.” He believed it was time to get to the point.

  Her gaze narrowed on him. “Don’t worry, I’ll lead.”

  He forced a grin. “But this song is fast enough to dance alone. You should go and have fun.”

  “Good idea.” She squealed and bounced off in the direction of the dance floor.

  “Have you turned stupid, man?” Scrawny asked.

  “Women like her are a dime a dozen, my friend.” Spark shot a look in Jewels’ direction. She was sipping a drink through a straw and her pinky was cocked. Figured she was a foo-foo cocktail kind of girl. Shaking his head, he brought his attention back to Scrawny.

  “Yeah, when you’re six-foot-tall with bulging muscles, I guess turning down chicks is easy.” Scrawny smirked. “You must be getting a conscious in your older age.”

  “Could be.” He glanced again in the direction of Jewels and she was gone. His heart constricted and then he spotted her on the dance floor. She was dancing with a cowboy. He couldn’t believe his eyes, or the fact that his blood heated to boiling. He’d never been a violent man, but he had a strong urge to stomp over and demand the redneck release her.

  Burying his forehead into his palm, he was doomed. He had no right to Jewels. No reason to get jealous. No reason to be an ass. For all he knew, she had revenge in her sights and a box of wax in her purse.

  He wished the foolish cowboy luck because with a woman like Jewels a man could never go to sleep.

  He chuckled, finally seeing the funnier side of what she’d pulled in the motel room. He’d once thought she was evil, but after seeing her with the horses and her dog, Oyster, he knew she had a softer side. If only she’d open up more—

  “What’s so funny, darlin’?”

  The sultry voice brought his head up. Candy was back, with a brighter, more dangerous smile. He should just leave. “Just reminiscing,” he murmured.

  “Reconsider the dance yet?” She wriggled her thin brows. “A slow one started and I won’t mind you stepping on my toes.”

  Ready to turn her down, he swallowed back a refusal. He had a better thought. “Sure. Why not?”

  ~°°°~

  Jewels spotted Spark the second she walked into the bar, but she’d done a good job of pretending not to see him—at least she hoped. A cowboy that looked that good couldn’t be missed, by man or woman. He stood out like a sexy target among all of the other patrons. But then again, maybe she just needed to get her head on straight.

  For the last week, she’d done her best not to scan the ranch looking for him. Impossible when every time she stepped out of the house, glanced out of the window, he stood in her path of sight.

  Once, he had his shirt off and sweat glistened on his tanned, coiled skin. He’d stopped to grab a water bottle from the cooler, and she’d watched while he drank thirstily. Just when she thought things couldn’t get any hotter, he’d poured the remaining water over his head, soaking his broad shoulders and rippled back. Even now, her inner thighs quivered and her panties moistened.

  It was probably a big mistake dancing with a cowboy while conjuring images of another.

  Squeezing the man’s shoulders as they moved across the floor, she found herself comparing the width with Spark’s. This cowboy, although toned, didn’t compare to Spark. She realized she didn’t even know his name. “What is your name?”

  “Sam.” He smiled and his dimples widened.

  Not a bad looking cowboy, but he didn’t look like—

  Spark.

  He was walking her way, and he wasn’t alone. The voluptuous brunette saddled up close to his side and sported a grin that matched the deep crease between her big breasts. Jewels snapped her attention to Spark. He was looking at her. For a single breath, their gazes held until she dragged hers away. She snorted loudly.

  “You okay, sweetheart?”

  Jewels looked up at Sam who held her close—a little too close—as they danced to the slow song. She’d agreed to a dance, not being felt up. “I’m okay.” She increased the distance between their bodies. “Just enjoying the music.”

  “Good. What’s your name, doll?” The husky drawl didn’t do a thing for her.

  “Jewels.” Shrill laughter brought her attention to Spark and the brunette across the short space. He must have said something funny because the chick had her head back, hair cascading down to her rump as laughter fell from her crimson lips.

  “Some grip you have there,” Sam said.

  “Oh, sorry.” She loosened her fingers on his shoulder. Her gaze remained glued on the couple opposite her. Spark seemed to be enjoying himself, which sent a ripping jealousy blistering through her. She didn’t even like the man, so why did she have any care whatsoever that he was holding another woman? No doubt he’d held a lot mo
re than Miss Double-D over the years.

  The song faded and Jewels anxiously stepped away from the cowboy. “Thank you for the dance.”

  He gave his hat a tilt, a wide smile curved his mouth and he winked. If he thought this would go any farther, he was sadly mistaken. His charming grin was wasted on her.

  Back at the table, Pearl was eyeing her curiously. “Isn’t that the cowboy you had naked in our kitchen?”

  Jewels followed her finger point to Spark, who had returned to the bar. The brunette had taken the seat next to him. “Yes, that’s him.”

  “Spark, right?”

  “Yes, his name is Spark.”

  “Why don’t you ask him to dance?” Pearl encouraged.

  “And why would I do that?” Jewels took a long drink of the flaming-red Backdraft, hoping it eased the tension in her stomach. Why had she agreed to come here tonight? She’d never enjoyed sitting around the bar. She liked it even less with Spark here upsetting her peace.

  “Well, I just figure anything would be better than you eyeing him with invisible daggers.” Pearl laughed.

  She guessed her sister had a point. “First, I don’t want to dance with him. And second, and the most important, he works at the ranch. It’s not ethical to mix business with pleasure.”

  Pearl’s snort made a woman sitting at the next table give her an irritated glance. “That’s hogwash, Jewels. He works for Dad, not you. And, if it was unethical, I’d break every rule in the book for a cowboy that looks that good. My God, sis, a man that size…I can only imagine what he’s packing under his belt.”

  Jewels’ mouth fell open. “Pearl, is that all you think about? How big a man’s tool is?”

  “And like you don’t!” With a roll of her eyes and a shake of her head that sent long waves around her shoulders, Pearl added, “You should stop acting like Miss Prim and start living a little.”

  “I do live—a lot. It’s not my fault I have to watch over our little sister because she’s always getting herself into a pickle.”

  “No one has named you Em’s guardian, sweetie. If you haven’t noticed, she’s all grown up with a mind of her own. The more we try to protect her the more she rebels. It’s her nature. Let her fend for herself for a while and she’ll learn her lesson, and she might find who she is.”