by Becky McGraw
She smiled at him, and said, "He's just in pain. He's been that way since I got here." Then she shrugged and turned to run up the stairs fast.
The water coursing over her skin felt like heaven. The steam billowed up around her and cleaned out the smell of horse manure from her nostrils. She picked up the floral-scented body wash and loofah she'd brought with her and scrubbed herself thoroughly, before washing her hair. By the time she exited the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, she felt like a new woman. Bending over, Cassie towel-dried her hair then wrapped it up turban-style, so she could lotion up and work away the calluses on her hands that had developed over the last two weeks.
She took extra time on her makeup and hair, since she knew she wouldn't have to think much over what she was going to wear. The one black dress and heels she brought would have to do. Out here, Cassie didn't figure she'd have much need for her closet full of dress clothes back home. At least she'd thrown a dress in at the last minute, or she'd be going out to dinner with James in jeans and a tank top. He wouldn't like that much, she didn't think.
When she walked back to her room, she opened the door, and found James laying on the bed on his back scrolling through his cell phone messages. He looked up at her after a second and his eyes traveled over her exposed skin, lingering at the top of her breasts. "Mmm...maybe we'll skip dinner?"
Her stomach rumbled indelicately and she put a hand over it. "I'm starving," she admitted and smiled sheepishly. She'd eaten more in the last two weeks than she did in a month back in Phoenix. But she'd worked more too--hard work--so she wasn't worried about gaining weight.
She walked toward the closet and opened the door. James got up off the bed and walked over to pull her back into his arms. "Now, we can say a proper hello," he said near her ear and kissed her neck. She shivered, but not because she was turned on. His touch was repulsing her, but she forced herself to stand still while he kissed his way up her neck to her ear, then took her shoulders and turned her around to face him.
"I've missed you," he told her then leaned down to put his lips on hers, pulling her to his chest. Cassie closed her eyes and tried to capture any spark of passion his kiss ignited in her. Nothing...absolutely nothing happened. He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, then confusion crossed his face and he looked at it. "Where's your ring?"
Cassie felt the flush start at her chest, move up her neck and spread across her face. "I took it off, because I didn't want to damage it, or l-l-ose it working," she said stumbling over the last words. Thank god it was the truth, she felt relieved at not having to lie to him.
Relief passed over his finely chiseled features and he smiled. "Good, thinking." He kissed her hand again and then let it go and stepped back. "You can wear it to dinner then."
Guilt flooded her and she swallowed hard and lied, "Um...it's locked in the safe in daddy's room and I don't want to disturb him."
James' smile slipped a notch, but he nodded. "No, let's leave him alone to rest...maybe it will improve his mood. I'll just go downstairs and wait for you in the family room." He leaned in for another kiss and she turned her cheek to him. He looked at her curiously, then walked to the door.
Cassie let out the breath she'd been holding when he shut the door softly behind him. Luke's taunting, but truthful words took a circuit through her brain. "How can you marry him when you want me?"
The tremors started in her hands then moved up her arms and down her body to her toes. She was shaking violently and stumbled over to the bed to sit down before she fell. The truth hit her in the face taking her breath away. She couldn't marry James. But how was she going to tell him. They were business partners, lovers and they lived together. That was a whole lot of mess to untangle.
***
Luke tossed back the last sip of his third beer, and tapped it on the bar letting Slim, the bartender know he wanted another. He hadn't been drunk in a long time, but he was working on it right now. Maybe he'd be able to sleep tonight.
The bartender looked up at him then slid the beer toward him, giving him a thumbs up. Luke nodded his thanks and took a long swallow. It spilled down his shirt when someone bumped his shoulder then sat down on the stool beside him.
"Drowning your sorrows, buddy?"
"Shit," Luke said looking down at his expensive western shirt. He grabbed the bar towel and mopped at his shirt, before he wiped his forearm over his mouth. "Give a guy some warning, would ya?"
"You had supper yet?" Cole asked with concern in his tone.
"No, daddy, I haven't had supper," Luke slurred then tossed back another swig of his beer.
"This won't help you know...you should have learned that last time," his friend told him and waved to the bartender for a beer.
"Jesus, can't a guy just get shit-faced for no reason these days?"
"If you were the same guy I pulled out of this same bar ten years ago, I'd say yeah. Now, the answer is a little more complicated...Sheriff."
Luke's head dropped and his shoulders slumped. Cole was right, but he'd be damned if he'd admit it, so he didn't. He just picked up his beer and finished it one long slug before slamming it down on the bar. "Do you ever mind your own business, Cole?"
"You're my friend, that makes you my business." Cole slapped him on the back then took a sip of the beer the bartender had just put in front of him. "How bout we finish off one more then go eat at the steakhouse? There's a cute waitress over there I'm sweet on."
"Don't want food. It'll ruin my buzz. I need to get laid," Luke said then spun around on his barstool and leaned his elbows back on the bar to survey the possibilities.
Cole laughed and took another drink of his beer then turned around too, hooking his boot heel on the stool and leaning closer to Luke. "Okay...then pick one out and we'll all go over to the steakhouse." He pointed to a curvy brunette in a tight red dress standing by the jukebox swinging her ass while she picked out songs. "How bout her, she's a hot number."
Luke's vision was a little blurry, so he squinted his eyes to take a closer look at the woman, then caught himself on the bar when his stool wobbled a little. He stood up and shoved his Stetson down on his head then walked a little unsteadily toward the jukebox and his date for tonight.
He sidled up beside her and put his arm around her waist, and whispered in her ear. "Hello, darlin'."
She pursed her red lips and looked him over from head to toe and back up. "Hi, sugar," she said and then dropped a few quarters in the machine and picked a slow belly-rubbing song by a bluesy country singer. "Wanna dance?" she asked running a fingernail along his cheek.
He put his hand over hers and then took it in his to lead her to the small dance floor where he pulled her into his arms, and put his hands on her ass to get closer. They swayed together and she pressed her full breasts into his chest and looped her hands behind his neck.
Luke bent down and kissed her neck then across her cheek before he claimed her luscious mouth with his. The beautiful woman in his arms should have sent his libido into overdrive, but she felt all wrong...she wasn't tall, she wasn't blonde, and evidently, she wasn't smart if she was letting a drunk lovesick cowboy kiss all over her.
Cassie Bellamy had done this to him...again. And he wasn't going to let her do that.
With determination, Luke moved one hand up to the woman's breast and gave her nipple a little brush. It hardened instantly and she moaned into his mouth. They were still kissing when the song ended and another faster one started. A tap on his shoulder made Luke come up for air and look over his shoulder to see Cole standing behind him. "Let's go eat. Your friend want to join us?"
Luke looked down at the pretty woman and smiled. "You wanna steak, honey?"
"Some beef sounds good," she said saucily and winked at him, her pretty green eyes sparkling, before she linked her arm through his.
Cole grinned and shook his head, before turning and leading the way to the front door. "I paid the tab, buddy. You owe me."
"Seems like I always owe y
ou, buddy." Luke chuckled and put his arm around the brunette pulling her closer into his side. He looked down at her. "What's your name, sugar? It has to be something beautiful. A gorgeous girl like you wouldn't get stuck with something like Edith." Luke laughed and staggered a little feeling her arm slid around his back to help steady him.
"Candy," she said her lips twisting wryly.
"Perfect," he said giving her a face-splitting grin and a squeeze.
She certainly looked good enough to lick all over, he thought. Maybe tonight would be the night he'd get over his obsession with Cassie Bellamy--for good.
CHAPTER SIX
The steakhouse was only a block or so from the bar, and it was a great night, so they decided to walk there. Close to the restaurant, he saw a fancy silver BMW easing along the sidewalk, looking for a place to park. The driver of the car shoehorned it into one of the only spots open. It looked like all of Bowie was at the steakhouse tonight.
Luke laughed when a tall skinny guy got out of the car bumping his head on the doorframe in the process. Slick city dude needs a pickup truck, Luke thought. Wouldn't be bumping his head then. He watched the guy go around the car to open the passenger door, then stopped right under the canopy of the restaurant when Cole's cell phone rang, and he stepped aside to answer it.
He pulled Candy up against him and leaned down to kiss her again, then stood back up and smiled at her. "You sure are pretty, darlin'." He moved a thumb to her face and wiped away a smudge of lipstick. "Thanks for coming out to eat with us."
"Thanks for inviting me..." she said then purred suggestively, "But I'm wanting to skip to dessert." Then she leaned up to gave him a quick kiss under his jaw. He growled and captured her mouth with his, his hands going to her ass to lift her up.
Someone's shoulder bumped his hard and he let go of Candy and grabbed onto a post to keep from toppling over on top of her. He shot a look to his left to see who the rude asshole was and groaned.
"Excuse us. Can't you find a room or something?" Cassie said snottily, her eyes shooting blue fire at him. She notched up her chin then the tall blonde guy with her slid an arm around her waist and opened the door to lead her inside.
Luke stood there frozen in place. Cassie had on a tight black dress with a ruffle skirt that flirted around the top of her thighs and five-inch 'come fuck me' heels that put her almost at eye level with him. He swallowed thickly. She'd curled her beautiful blonde hair and it floated over her shoulders and back like a cloud.
He stiffened and looked over at Cole who wore an expression that must mimic his own. Stunned...dumbfounded...totally blown away.
Cole lifted an eyebrow then asked, "You want to go somewhere else?"
"Who was she?" Candy asked and nudged Luke.
"Nobody you need to worry about darlin'...let's go eat," he said and leaned around her to open the door. Luke was not going to let Cassie Bellamy and her fancy pants fiancé run him off. And besides that, he was curious about the man she was engaged to....the infamous James. The man she supposedly loved.
This could be fun, he thought, his buzz giving him just the right amount of courage he needed to walk inside the restaurant behind Candy.
Cole was hot on their heels and grabbed Luke's arm when he walked up to the hostess stand and asked for a table for three, preferably near the couple that had just been seated. "Luke," he said a warning tone in his voice. "This isn't a good idea man. Let's just go to the Bluebird."
"Nope, I feel like a big ole steak. Don't you darlin'?" Luke smiled down at the woman on his arm and she nodded, her big dark curls dancing around her shoulders, brushing the arm he had across her back. Glancing back at the hostess coming back to seat them, Cole saw her speak to the woman at the stand, then she grabbed menus and led them across the red-carpeted restaurant to their table.
Several people spoke to him as he walked across the restaurant, and he did his best to act sober and avoid conversation. He was off duty, but he didn't need to stir up gossip that he drank a lot. He didn't. This was probably a once a year thing for him...unless Cassie Bellamy came to town.
Candy glanced up at him adoringly when he pulled out her chair and waited for her to sit down. "Thanks, sugar," she said with a wink.
"You're welcome, darlin'," he said then scooted his chair closer to hers and sat down. Cole sat down across from them with a thundercloud in his eyes. It looked like Luke's luck was running tonight, because the hostess had seated them at a table directly behind Cassie and her fiancé. The man's back was to them, but Luke had a clear view of Cassie, and she had a clear view of him...and Candy.
Luke gave Candy a thousand-watt smile then ordered a tequila sunrise for her and another beer for himself. Leaning down he swept her hair aside and whispered in her ear exactly what he'd like to do to her at sunrise. She blushed and then giggled when he licked her ear.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cassie drag her eyes from preppy boy's so she could look over at him and pin him with a lethal stare. He lifted an eyebrow at her then turned back to look down into Candy's eyes before he leaned in to give her a heated kiss, which she participated in enthusiastically. He heard Cole growl across the table from them, and smiled against her lips.
When he came up for air, he looked at Cole and said, "Hey, Cole I think Candy might be into a threesome tonight. You up for it?" He asked louder than necessary, but not loud enough for anyone other than the table next to them to hear.
Cole's mouth flopped open and closed a couple of times then he saw Cassie's eyes widen then narrow, before she picked up her water glass and took a big gulp, her hand shaking.
It looked like Candy might protest, so he covered her mouth with his again, and moved his hand under the table to stroke her thigh. He swallowed her protest with another kiss, then leaned near her ear and said not quietly, "I can't seem to keep my hands off of you, sugar. You don't mind do you?"
She shook her head looking slightly uncomfortable, and he felt bad for using her, but he was having fun torturing Cassie. "That's good, sugar, because I'm going to spend all night long showing you how hot you make me."
Cole slapped his hand against his forehead then rested it in his palm on the table mumbling under his breath. Luke grinned. It looked like he was getting a twofer. He was torturing Cole too. He chuckled under his breath and kissed the top of Candy's head.
The waitress came back with their drinks and put them down to take their dinner order. "I'd like the biggest steak you have, medium rare, with all the fixings. I think I'm going to need my strength for later." He said suggestively and winked at Candy. "What'll you have, sugar?"
"Petite Sirloin and a salad," she said then pushed back from the table. "I'll be right back, sugar. I need to go to the powder room." Candy leaned down and gave him a brief kiss then walked toward the bathroom, her heart-shaped ass drawing the attention of every man in the room...and Cassie. He watched Candy until she disappeared in the ladies room, then he looked back at Cassie to find her studying him with glacial eyes.
"Puttin it on a little thick aren't you, Luke?" Cole asked through gritted teeth in a voice a little above a whisper.
"Nah, needs a few more coats for sure," he said and lifted his beer to take a long draw. He licked a drop from his top lip, and he saw that Cassie's eyes followed the motion, then she took a deep shuddering breath.
"You could at least wipe the lipstick off, dude." Cole laughed dryly, then took a drink of his beer, gesturing with the bottle. "It's not your shade at all. Clashes with the green-eyed monster sitting on your shoulder."
Luke saw the preppy boy get up from the table then walk over and drop a kiss on Cassie's cheek before he walked toward the bathroom. Luke pushed back his chair and stood starting around the table, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to have a bathroom conversation with the asshole with his fists, or if he wanted to go pull Cassie up and kiss her senseless, so he just stood there and wobbled around a little.