Pumpkins, Cowboys & Guitars

by Patti Ann Colt

  They usually started about eight o’clock and knocked off whenever Giff had all their money, the majority were a bit too drunk to play, or they called it quits so girlfriend visitations were possible.

  He was an hour early and at loose ends. He’d told Kendra he was going to his weekly poker game, not telling her his brother’s bachelor party was attached. Because then she’d know there was a wedding in there somewhere and wonder why he hadn’t asked her to go along. Damn if he wanted to hurt her feelings. But she’d said she wanted to take it slow and to him an intense, emotional family gathering wasn’t the time or the place to introduce her.

  She’d been busy plotting out some new business strategy so hadn’t asked him a lot of questions. But damn if his head wasn’t exploding from all these omissions. He’d paused so many times to tell her this week, but didn’t seem to have enough dynamite in his emotional arsenal to break down the wall and voice the problem.

  He questioned himself frequently as to why he couldn’t tell his family and friends the mistake he’d made, ask for forgiveness and move on. One misjudgment two years ago shouldn’t keep messing with his head and refuse to be put to rest. Time was definitely not healing the wound. Bill had been seriously ill the last time he visited and the frustration over the man’s ongoing helplessness rode him like a too tight saddle.

  He pulled out a chair and sat. The cards were there. The poker chips were there. No woman would be jumping out of a cake. Jess wouldn’t appreciate that gag. He’d been hung up on Amy Rose since tenth grade and hadn’t even looked at another woman since. The group had been known to raise a bit of hell growing up, but their activities never included disrespecting women.

  Sully came out of the kitchen, pushing his black hair out of his face and came to him. “Ordered up appetizers and steaks tonight. Plus, this woman came by. She’s a pastry chef with a new business. I’m sampling some of her desserts.”

  Shane froze. Sully knew he was dating someone, had teased and prodded the hell out of him, but didn’t know her name or what she did. Did he?

  “Shane? Other ideas? Drinks are gonna flow tonight, I’m guessing, and food is a must.”

  Shane shrugged off his nerves. “Yeah, I think that’s a great idea.”

  “No surprises planned?”

  “Well, I talked to Giff about letting Jess win their usual head-to-head poker hand, but he laughed at me and hung up. So that would be a no.”

  Sully flipped a chair around and straddled it, balancing his arms across the back of the chair. “You leaving early to go hang out with your girlfriend.”

  Shane glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Jess was the only one who knew Kendra’s name and he wanted to keep it that way for a while longer. “We’re all leaving early. Lots of stuff to do tomorrow to be ready for the 7 p.m. wedding.”

  “Uh huh. You wanna tell me why you’re hanging on to this girl so tight and not bringing her around for the family to meet? Wedding with all the family there seems like the best time. What’s her name, anyway?”

  Shane snorted. “No, it wouldn’t be a good time, and you get no name, not yet.”

  Sully ignored him. “You’ve been going out two months? Three? Define exactly what’s holding you up.”

  “Anxious to see me married like Jess?”

  “Wondering why all the secrets? Don’t like skirting the truth with your mama and mine. Having trouble convincing this girl to keep your sorry ass?”

  Shane rubbed the back of his neck. Yeah, that about summed it up from his perspective, but he wasn’t going to tell Sully so.

  He was saved from answering by the arrival of his brother and Peyton Reed. “There’s the groom.”

  “Saved, but not finished.” Sully rose and turned his chair back to the table. “I’ll be back. Going to check on the food.”

  Jess worked his way through the crowded restaurant while Peyton Reid stopped at the bar for a drink.

  The six of them – Jess, Shane, Gifford, Sully, Peyton and Nick Campbell – had gone to high school together in back-to-back years. Shane, Gifford and Peyton had been in one class. Jess, Sully and Nick were a year behind them. Gifford was a cousin through their fathers and Sully through their mothers. Nick and Peyton had been friends with the four since elementary school. It was a lot of history and a lot of blackmail material.

  Jess pulled out a chair next to Shane and typed a text message.

  Shane signaled Peyton to grab him a beer and caught the worried expression on Jess’s face. “What’s wrong?”

  “Amy Rose was pretty sick when I left. She’s with Mom and Dad.”

  “She’s been heavy duty sick lately. What did the doctor say?”

  “Called her in a prescription, but it isn’t helping much. We have an appointment next week.”

  “What? No honeymoon?”

  Jess shoved the phone in his shirt pocket. “Not much of one. Have too much unsettled. We need to get the insurance claim started on the house and dealing with her dad is a pain in the ass. Amy Rose has nothing left – clothes, phone – everything gone. So we have some shopping to do. She has to see the doctor. I feel like I can’t leave anyway until we get some rain. No getting me drunk here, man. I know this is supposed to be a celebration, but I need my feet under me.”

  “Understood. Wasn’t planning on having more than a couple myself.”

  “Well, this will be some party, then.” Peyton set down a bottle of Shane’s favorite beer, and then Jess’s. He had a glass of soda?

  “Uh, what’s up with that?” Shane nodded at the glass.

  Peyton scowled. “Quit drinking. Was getting a bit out of hand. Not one word.”

  Jess held up his hands. “Nothing to say here.

  Peyton dropped into a seat across from Shane. “Your significant other coming to the wedding tomorrow?”

  Shane cleared his throat. “No. I’ll be busy being best man. No time to protect her from the likes of Aunt Fayrene and Aunt Mavis.”

  “You bad-mouthing my mama?” Sully came up behind them and leaned over the table. He carefully placed a plate of appetizers next to the cards. A waitress was behind him with plates and silverware.

  “No bad-mouthing involved if it’s the truth.” Shane dodged Sully’s shoulder punch.

  Gifford O’Hare came up behind the two and took the chair next to Shane. “Looks like the fighting’s started already. Maybe we should go drink at the bar and let Sully and Shane have a moment.”

  “Naw, I wanna watch.” Nick Campbell offered a hand to Jess and then took the chair next to him.

  Jess pointed at the wrap on Nick’s left hand. “What’s with the bandage?”

  “Cut myself making your saddle. Four stitches. No big deal. I can still hold my cards and lift my beer.” He clinked his beer bottle to Jess’s.

  “I put in an order for steaks with your usual, gentlemen. If you want something else, get yourself to the bar right now and tell Fancy.” Sully picked up a plate and dished up several potato skins and a couple nachos.

  “Real food. Cool.” Peyton grabbed the cards and started shuffling. “Are we letting Jess win tonight?”

  “Hell, no!” Jess and Gifford spoke in unison.

  “So that’s the way it’s going to be.” Sully took a bite and groaned. “Damn good stuff.”

  “You aren’t allowed to compliment your own food.” Shane leaned over and took a potato skin. Of everything on Sully’s menu besides the steaks, these were his favorites.

  “Like you’d say different.” Sully signaled the bar for a drink.

  Shane’s mouth being currently full, he didn’t argue the merits of the appetizers.

  “We have time for a couple hands before the food comes. Peyton, deal ’em.” Gifford split up the chips. “Ante up, gentlemen.”

  “You in a hurry to get our money or something?” Nick took a swig of his beer and pulled out his wallet.

  “Nope, ready to play and relax and torment the hell out of Jess. Finally marrying the damn woman!” Gifford took
his hand from Peyton.

  “Hey!” Jess shoved double his usual amount at Gifford.

  “Woo-hoo. Big spender tonight.” Gifford slid across the chips and took a swallow of his drink.

  Jess grinned. “Usual amount for the bachelor party. Double amount for Amy and the baby.”

  Gifford choked and dropped chips that rolled across the table. “Baby?”

  “Yep. Gonna be a father.”

  Shane laughed at the stunned looks on everyone’s faces before the other men recovered and offered their congratulations.

  Jess settled back into his seat. “Yeah, Mama’s thrilled. She’s getting a two-for-one.”

  Gifford grunted. “Don’t you be giving my mother any ideas.”

  Shane leaned over in his seat and whispered loudly. “We don’t have to give her any. She already has them.”

  Nick twirled his beer on the table. “Congratulations, Jess. Glad you’re marrying her or you and I would have words.”

  Nick’s dad had left his mother before he’d even met him. It was something of a sore point.

  Jess’s eyes got real serious. “Wasn’t even an option, Nick.”

  Peyton tapped the table. “Let’s start this celebration then. Five-card stud, read ‘em and weep.”

  Cards were dealt. Hands were played. Gifford won. The food arrived and they paused to enjoy the meal.

  Every man dug up a story on Jess. Shane chose to stay quiet.

  They played a couple more rounds and the desserts arrived. Shane froze again while Sully explained about the desserts. He’d watched Kendra make these same desserts last night. Had tasted off the spoon and off her mouth. No way did he want Sully to know yet that Kendra was the “girlfriend” and the pastry chef.

  “So, good enough for the restaurant?”

  He had no problem voting “yes.”

  After that the poker playing became more serious. Nick finally won, breaking Gifford’s streak. Shane had folded in the last two rounds, not able to concentrate on his cards. For the latest hand, everyone had dropped out, except Jess and Gifford – their weekly head-to-head round on the table.

  Sully groaned. “Back to our usual. Thank God we are so predictable. Taking bets on Gifford winning again.”

  Shane decided to blow the rest of his money and bet on Jess. It was after all his bachelor party, his wedding and his baby.

  The play went back and forth and back and forth with cards exchanged and betting, until Jess went all in and called.

  Gifford couldn’t have been more smug. “Four of a kind, tens high.”

  Jess kept his face blank and spread his cards. “Four of a kind, queens high.”

  The table erupted in laughter and hooting. Gifford looked like someone had stolen his prize stallion.

  Jess swept the money to his side of the table.

  “Don’t get used to it.” Gifford rose to shake his hand.

  Shane won forty bucks on his bet with Sully which he slipped into Jess’s pile.

  Jess went home a happy man.

  Shane was envious as hell.

  ∞∞∞∞

  Kendra chewed the edge of her thumbnail and started a new movie in the DVD player. Did men really play poker until one a.m.?

  Her father never had. None of her previous boyfriends ever had.

  Was that where he really was? If so, what was the draw?

  Kendra snorted at the unintended pun and rose off the sofa, hitting the pause button. “I’m so boring, sitting home alone on the damn sofa. Popcorn. Another glass of wine. Cake.”

  She shuffled to the kitchen, momentarily bothered by all the things she didn’t know about Shane. “Yet, you are having sex with the man, Kendra.” She paused with her hand on the pantry door. “Spectacular sex, too. Every single time.” Her body was doing skippy cartwheel dances. Her brain was balking at deep analysis.

  She pulled out a bag of popcorn and shoved it into the microwave. A knock on the front door thumped loudly through the quiet night. Her heart dive-bombed into her stomach, did a loop-de-loop, and shot into her throat.

  Spectacular sex guy.

  All her girly parts got tingly.

  She walked to the door, antsy and ready to jump him.

  She looked through the peephole and saw a dark blob staring out into the night. “Shane?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. Expecting somebody else?”

  She scowled, more than a bit perturbed with her physical state, his presumption and his sarcasm. She undid the lock and opened the door. “No, I wasn’t expecting anyone else, but somebody gave me a lecture about being careful.”

  He gave her a gentle smile, one that made her want to melt, but damn if she’d let him off that easy.

  “Do you know what time it is?”

  He checked his watch. “Yeah, I figured you’d wait up for me.”

  “You, sir, are too confident.”

  “Yet, I’m here and you let me in.” He raised a brow and gave her a quirky smile. He stepped thru the door, his body pressing hers to take a couple steps back. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it, pulling her against his body. “That isn’t confidence baby. It’s truth.”

  Then he kissed her and her toes curled – damn traitorous things.

  His lips sipped at hers, his arms holding her close – everything about what he did said she mattered, but they hadn’t known each other long enough for all this. In all her boyfriends, that had never happened before. She’d never let it happen before. Since she was so ready to meet him in the bedroom, she let her natural caution take over.

  She broke away and pushed against his chest. “You don’t get off that lightly.”

  “You don’t like my kisses?”

  His cocky teasing made her a sensual shiver move over her. “I think you owe me more explanation than that.”

  “I told you. Poker night. Big competition.”

  “Who won?” Shane had never given her any reason to doubt him, but jealousy raged. She couldn’t decide whether to flat out ask if there were any women playing with them or give him a break. Her puckered nipples were voting for letting it go.

  “Not me, that’s for sure.” He slipped his hands behind her and eased her back against him.

  “Serves you right for keeping me waiting.” She was pouting. She knew she was. But she wanted him to need her as bad as she was dying for him. She’d been a mess all evening.

  “I brought an ‘I’m sorry’ present.” He ran a finger over her lips. “Want it?”

  She stepped back. “Not if it has to do with you kissing me to try to get forgiveness.”

  “I don’t kiss you for forgiveness. I kiss you for fun.” Shane grinned, then stepped away from the door and opened it again. Out on the porch, he lifted a sack and came back in the house, skirted around her and went to the kitchen.

  “Popcorn?” He checked his watch. “At one a.m.?

  “Goes with old movies.” She trailed behind him, eyes on his butt in those spectacular jeans.

  He opened the silverware drawer and took out a spoon. Then he pulled a pint of ice cream from the bag. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Yum.

  Her food craving monster wanted to dive for the treat and she mentally shook a finger. She glared at Shane. “You are an evil man. I’ll have to run two extra miles to work that off.”

  He pried the lid off and winked at her. “I’ll run with you. What are we watching this evening to go with our popcorn and ice cream?”

  She was in shorts and a t-shirt, barefoot, no makeup, and her hair was a tangled mess from sleeping through half of the evening shows. Nothing sexy. Nothing in the slightest enticing. Yet, he had sex in his smile and “trust me” in his eyes. She was sure her eyes were transmitting a female-to-male message as old as time. “Gregory Peck.”

  “To Kill a Mockingbird?”

  “Nope.”

  “The Gunfighter?”

  “Nope.”

  “The Guns of Navarone?”

  “Nope.”

  Shane leaned back. “
It’s not drama. It’s not a western. It’s not a war movie. What’s left?” He rolled his eyes. “A chick flick.”

  “Roman Holiday is not a chick flick. It was Audrey Hepburn’s first movie.”

  He rolled his eyes. “A chick flick.” He pulled the popcorn bag from the microwave. “You carry this and I’ll bring the ice cream.”

  She poured the bag into her usual popcorn bowl and salted the contents. “Want some wine?”

  “No. Had four beers with poker. I’m over my limit.”

  She gave him a quick look. He didn’t seem like he was having any problem.

  “I’m okay, honey. I like to keep it under control.” He again gave her the once over, like he didn’t care what she looked like but would devour her anyway. Every thought flew out of her head.

  “Okay, then.”

  He followed her to the living room and, tit-for-tat, he watched her ass. She trusted her spidey senses since she didn’t actually turn around to confirm.

  “You have magnificent legs. They had me at hello.”

  She stumbled her way onto the sofa and turned to glare at him. “Are you serious with that line?”

  “Yep. Not lying.” He sat down next to her, crowding her, and leaned in for a kiss. He dropped the ice cream on the coffee table and turned her so her legs were stretched across his lap. He kept one hand on her leg, one warm and stroking hand. Then he spooned a bite of ice cream and offered it to her.

  She wasn’t a fool. She sucked the confection off the spoon and groaned. “My favorite ice cream.”

  Shane cleared his throat. “I couldn’t tell.” He fed her another bite and another, then helped himself until the pint was gone.

  Movie forgotten, she couldn’t take her eyes off Shane. She picked up three kernels of popcorn and fed them to him. His took a bite, but lifted a hand to stop her fingers, latching on and sucking the salt off them. She closed her eyes against the molten glide of satisfaction burning from head to toe.

  He coaxed her to his lap. “Lose the shirt, honey.”

  “I want to touch you first. You lose your shirt.” She didn’t know where she found the nerve to be so demanding, but she couldn’t stop herself.