by Jory Strong
“Thought you might have taken our money and run,” Red teased when Cady got back. She laughed and handed everyone their tickets.
“Fast Dancing,” Jimmy squeaked when he looked at the paper in his hand. “That horse hates to run on a dirt track. He’s a grass horse.” He thumped on his Daily Racing Form as though it was the Bible.
Since Cady didn’t have any clue what was in the Racing Form, she shrugged and argued the first thing that came to mind. “Hey, the trainer must have a reason for making the switch.”
Red pushed his hat back. “She’s got a point there.”
Jimmy grumbled some more. But as soon as the horses paraded out on their way to the starting box he leaned forward to give Fast Dancing another look. The bay gelding wasn’t as fiery as Slick Moves had been, but he’d drawn an inside spot at the starting gate. “You might be onto something.”
It took a while to get the horses loaded. A gray colt refused to enter the narrow shoot of the starting gate and a battle ensued—five men against one horse. The men won, but only because the horse wasn’t totally committed to resisting their efforts.
A second later the horses were out and fighting for a good position on the track. Fast Dancing took an early lead and maintained it. In the end he won by a length.
“Jesus,” Red said. “Don’t tell me you picked him because of the name.”
Cady laughed and cut a quick look at Kix. He was tearing up his ticket, a look of utter disgust on his face.
Ernie the Weasel shook his head. “Beginner’s luck.”
Jimmy grunted and used the armrests of his chair for leverage as he pulled his bulk out of the seat. “Gotta go cash my ticket in.” His face was beet-red from standing up.
Cady joined him on the stairs leading to the interior part of the grandstand. “Do you come here every day?”
“Yep, me and Red and Ernie come every day the track is open, rain or shine.”
“What do you think about the protesters out front? Do you think they hurt the track?”
Jimmy laughed. “Young punks. They don’t even bother to come except on the weekends. And they don’t follow the horses when the meet shifts to Golden Gate Fields.”
“How long have they been protesting?”
“Since the beginning of the year.” He was huffing and puffing, out of breath by the time they got to the betting window. The cashier counted out his winnings. When Jimmy had it in his hand he brought the bills to his mouth and gave the bundle a big kiss.
Cady laughed and copied his action when she got her wad of cash. “You going to bet the next race?”
Jimmy shook his head. “Never bet the fourth race. It’s unlucky for me.”
Red came strolling up and heard the comment. He looked at Cady and grinned. “Fourth wife cleaned Jimmy out when she left him. He’s never been the same since. Hates the number four.” He thrust his program into Cady’s hands. “Who you betting on in the fourth? I’m going to put a couple of dollars on your horse.”
Cady scanned the names, but none of them caught her eye. “Nothing’s coming to me.”
“Quit while you’re ahead,” Jimmy said.
Cady gave Red an apologetic smile. He shrugged, then headed for the window to place his bet.
Jimmy got in line at the snack bar and Cady suppressed a smile, remembering how he’d claimed that he’d start a diet as soon as he started winning. “Have any other trainers been suspended or put on probation for drugged horses lately?” she asked.
“Yeah, a couple of weeks ago Tiny Johnson got a suspension.” Jimmy snorted, “Sure took ‘em a long time to fix something on him. That guy is as crooked as the day is long.”
“Anyone else?”
Jimmy took a minute to order two hot dogs, some fries, and a giant Coke. “Why are you interested?”
“Just curious.”
The lady behind the snack bar counter handed Jimmy his order. “Ernie’d probably know what rumors are going around. He buddies up with guys from the backstretch.”
Cady ordered a large Diet Coke and a jumbo order of fries, rationalizing that she’d share them with Kix. She was almost sorry she’d done it when she got back to her seat and his smile let her know how much he enjoyed the idea that she’d been thinking of him.
“What did Tiny Johnson get suspended for?” Cady asked Ernie.
“Antihistamines. Got fined and put on suspension for three months.”
“Antihistamines? That doesn’t sound too bad.”
Ernie shrugged. “You never know what kind of penalty is going to come down. He had a horse that had some trouble breathing. So he gave it an antihistamine to clear it up. Course he claimed that he’d done it days before the race. No way of knowing for sure. You want my opinion, the officials were just looking for something to pin on him.”
“Jimmy says the guy is as crooked as the day is long. Is that why they wanted to get him on something?”
“Naw, just politics. The Johnson family owns a lot of stock in the track. They’re a big family, but seems they’re always at each other’s throats.”
The horses came out of the saddling enclosure and loosened up before parading to the starting gate. Cady couldn’t think of anything else to ask, so she pulled out her camera and started taking pictures.
“Want to walk around a bit?” Kix suggested after she’d shot a roll of film and loaded a fresh one.
“Sure.”
They stood, saying their goodbyes and shaking hands with Miguel’s friends. When Ernie offered his, Cady felt the cool, smooth texture of paper.
“The track’s an interesting place,” Ernie said. “Always a lot of things happening, my good lady. A person just has to know who to ask when they’re gathering information.”
Cady pulled her hand away, keeping the piece of paper locked inside until she and Kix were out of sight. When she finally looked, she found that she was holding the corner of Ernie’s race program. There was a name written on it. Roberto Gonzalez.
“Not bad, little darlin’, not bad at all.” Kix pulled her into his arms and nuzzled along her neck, sending tiny pulses of pure desire through Cady’s body. “I think maybe I’m going to have to deputize you.” His hand moved around to cup her ass and mold her against his erection. “Then I’ll have to show you the proper handling and use of all the equipment.”
Cady’s pussy spasmed, and for a minute she didn’t resist the images unfolding in her imagination. She felt like she was getting ready to ride right over a cliff but she couldn’t stop the horse she was on. “Where to next?”
“Right now my stomach is begging for something more than french fries. You up for pizza?”
The fries were already a memory as far as Cady’s stomach was concerned. She pulled away from Kix. “Pizza sounds good. I don’t know this area very well, but there’s a pizza place near my house.”
“Why don’t we pick one up and take it to your place? Adrienne’s attending some big event with Alex tonight, and I sure would hate to end up trapped in her house with Terry.”
“Somehow that doesn’t worry me too much. I thought you held your own against her.”
He grinned. “You’re not afraid of being alone with me, are you? Scout’s honor, darlin’, I’ll behave myself over pizza and we’ll talk about the case.”
Cady had the sinking feeling that she might have stepped right into a trap, but that didn’t stop her heart from doing a happy dance in her chest at prolonging their time together. “Were you even a Boy Scout?”
Kix flashed an irresistible smile. “First you question my manhood, now you’re questioning my honor. Where I come from, that’d be cause for a shootout at noon.”
Cady rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep a smile from escaping. Oh boy, she was in trouble. “All right—but only because of the case…that’s the sole reason I’m taking you home with me.”
Kix’s cock jumped in celebration—and anticipation. His little darlin’ might be telling herself that the only reason she was inviting hi
m home was the case, but her body knew different. It was practically begging to be roped and gentled—by him.
Chapter Four
As soon as they pulled up in front of Cady’s house, she knew she was going to have to throw together a salad, otherwise there’d never be enough pizza to go around. She grimaced. Sometimes there was a downside to the company housing that Bulldog provided. It was great when it came to security and companionship—but when it came to bringing members of the opposite sex home, well…
Erin and Lyric both came sailing out of the house next door, Erin’s house, before Cady could even get her front door open. Lyric took one look at Kix and said, “You must be the cowboy. No wonder Alex is worried. I’m Lyric.”
Kix’s laugh rolled right through Cady and squeezed her heart. She took a deep breath, determined not to get upset if he decided to make a play for one of her sisters.
“It’s Kix, right?” Erin asked, not that she ever forgot a name. “I’m Erin.”
“Kix Branaman, at your service, ladies.”
Cady’s eyes flew to his face. Just because she hadn’t heard a sexual innuendo in the word service didn’t mean there wasn’t one. Their eyes met. His opened a little wider and then he grinned, as though he’d figured out exactly what she’d been thinking.
“Have you guys eaten?” Cady asked.
Lyric looked at the pizza box Kix was carrying. “Not yet.”
“I’ll help with the salad,” Erin said.
As they ate dinner, Cady and Kix filled her sisters in about their day at the track. Kix’s behavior surprised Cady. She’d expected him to flirt outrageously with Lyric and Erin—or at least do his cowboy routine, complete with sexy drawl and lanky sprawl. But as they talked about the case, she could easily imagine Kix as a sheriff. He was serious, professional and thoughtful—none of which did anything to put a hold on her erotic fantasies.
“Not a lot of leads—except for this guy, Roberto Gonzalez,” Erin said as she helped clear the table. “Why’d Ernie slip you a note and not just tell you flat-out?”
Cady shrugged. “I don’t know. Jimmy said that Ernie likes to hang around with some of the guys on the backside of the track. Maybe Ernie guessed what we were investigating and didn’t want to say anything openly since we hadn’t.”
Lyric frowned. “Could be. So you’ll be hunting down Gonzalez tomorrow?”
Cady nodded. “I’m trying to decide whether or not to go over to the racing office and ask some questions.”
Lyric stood and moved over to the counter, opening a drawer and pulling out a deck of cards and some poker chips. “Why not stay below the radar screen? Hang out as a professional photographer and snoop around.”
Erin nodded. “The protestors jumped on that one—and besides, you are a professional photographer. You’ve done some work on the track before, right?”
“A couple of times. But there’s still the connection to Bulldog.”
Lyric shrugged. “So? People might wonder whether or not you’re also investigating, but if you don’t say you are, then they won’t know for sure. Let Kix hit the office.”
Cady looked at Kix. “What do you think?”
He flashed the sexy Texas smile. “Teamwork, darlin’—you go with the photographer cover story while I mosey over to the office and introduce myself…maybe even pull out the badge and polish it.”
Cady could see him doing it. Then again, if the office was staffed with women—they might be more interested in seeing him polish something else. Her eyes did an involuntary drop but the table cut off her view.
Kix chuckled and blood rushed to Cady’s face. She turned her head, not wanting to see the knowing look in his eyes.
Lyric brought the cards and chips back to the table. “Do you play, Kix?”
“As a matter of fact, I play a mean game of poker. I was telling Cady about it earlier today. Deal me in.”
They played until Lyric had to leave, followed a few minutes later by Erin.
“Anything I can do to help?” Erin asked at the front door.
Cady remembered the rolls of film she’d shot at the track. “Are you going to be doing any darkroom work?”
“On my way over there as soon as I hit the Starbucks. You want me to process the stuff you shot today?”
“That’d be great.” Cady retrieved the rolls and handed them to Erin as Kix joined them at the door.
“I’ll leave the proof sheets on your desk.” Erin grimaced. “You won’t see me again until late tomorrow evening. I’ve got a full day, plus I’ve got to go to San Francisco tomorrow.”
“The interview for the dog show?” Cady asked.
Erin sighed. “Yeah, wish me luck.”
Cady gave her sister a hug. “Good luck, but they’re crazy if they don’t hire you on the spot.”
As soon as the door closed behind Erin, Kix pulled Cady against his body. “Alone at last, darlin’.”
She shivered at the feel of his erection against her pelvis, at the heat pouring off his skin, and the hungry look in his eyes. “I could take you back to Adrienne’s,” she said, though her body protested the thought of him leaving.
Kix chuckled before nuzzling along the side of her neck. “I reckon it’d take a posse of deputies to drag me away now that I’ve got you where I want you.”
Cady’s own laugh was shaky. “What about the Boy Scout promise?”
Kix pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her neck, ending with a sucking little bite that sent a sharp spike of need streaking to Cady’s already swollen clit. “I think if you check the record, darlin’, I promised to behave myself over pizza and while we were talking about the case.” He sucked her earlobe into his mouth before moving to trace the delicate shell of her ear. “Pizza’s gone and we’re done talking about the case.”
He lifted his head and Cady almost whimpered at the intensity of his gaze. No one had ever looked at her like that. No one had ever been so open about wanting her or used such an irresistible mix of humor and raw sexuality.
Kix gave her plenty of time to escape, but Cady was beyond pretending. She was achy, needy—had been all day. Her clit was as swollen and sensitive as her nipples were, but more that that, she wanted—at least this once—to just “go for the gusto” as Lyric liked to say.
Cady met him halfway, moaning softly as their lips touched. Kix moved into her, holding her against the door as he sucked on her bottom lip. She arched into him, pressing her breasts into his chest. Kix groaned and slid his hands between them, unbuttoning her shirt.
Wet heat pooled between Cady’s thighs and she couldn’t stop herself from spreading her legs wider so that she could cradle and rub his cock. Kix panted, then stroked his tongue into her mouth in the same rhythm as his cock moved against her clothing-protected mound.
The need for air finally drove them apart. “Darlin’, you’re like a shot of whisky,” Kix said, his eyes moving to where her shirt hung open.
Cady watched his face as he undid the front clasp of her bra and freed her breasts. “Beautiful,” he whispered, his eyes darkening as his thumbs rubbed over her nipples.
Her womb fluttered, sending a rush of liquid to her panties. She whimpered, begging for more when his callused hands cupped her breasts, lifting them and pressing them together.
He took the nipples between his fingers, alternating between soft flicks and nearly painful squeezes. Her lower body pressed more tightly against his.
Kix laughed softly, tightening his fingers on her nipples. “You like that, don’t you, darlin’?” He released his hold on one nipple, then bent over and lapped the areola before sucking it into his mouth.
Cady’s hands flew to his head. Her fingers buried themselves in his hair and held him to her breast as she arched, offering him more, wanting him to bite and suck and swallow her whole.
He switched to the other breast, one hand holding it firmly as he suckled while the other hand made quick work of opening her jeans and burrowing into her panties. His cock jerked at the wet
feel of her against his fingers.
It was all he could do not to drag Cady down to her hands and knees and rut on her like a half-crazed bull. The only thing keeping him from doing it was the fact that he wanted to bury his head between her legs and taste the honey that was coating his fingers.
Cady whimpered and flooded his hand with more of her desire—her need. He groaned and pulled back, his face tight, his eyes heated. “Cady darlin’, I’m not sure how long I’m going to last once I start riding you. I’ve been needing you since the minute you walked into Adrienne’s office.” He dragged his finger along her wet slit and over her clit before pulling his hand from her jeans.
Instinctively Cady’s body tried to follow his finger. She arched into him. “Oh god, don’t stop.”
Kix leaned in so that his lips hovered over hers. “Tell me what you want, darlin’. Do you want me to lap up your cream and suck your clit until you scream? Or do you want me to shove my tongue into your sweet little channel and fuck you with it ‘til you come?”
Cady grip tightened in his hair. “All of it, I want you to do it all.”
His hands moved to her waistband and he pushed her jeans and panties down. Then he paused for a moment, just savoring the first sight of her—the neatly shaped brown triangle of pubic hair, the plump swollen lips of her sex, the clit standing erect—begging for his mouth.
With a groan he knelt down in front of her, cupping the soft skin of her buttocks and pulling her tight as he buried his face in her pussy. Heaven. The smell of her, the taste of her. He attacked her like a starving man—licking and sucking and biting and thrusting with his tongue—relishing the sound of her whimpers, the cries and pleas, and finally the sound of her screaming his name as she came.
Kix pulled away, his face flushed, his breath moving in and out of his chest like a racehorse in the home stretch. “I don’t think I can make it past the living room, darlin’.”