by BA Tortuga
“Why? I mean, I’m never going to be the kind of person you can be proud to introduce to your friends, Cotton. I’m never going to be one of those pretty, tiny girls.” God knows she’d tried.
“You’re so pretty, honey.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, right by her mouth. “I was rushed into doing something real dumb, and I’m ashamed of myself. We can go right now, if you want, and see Kynan and Garret. They’re just up in Waco.”
“I just… I’m stupid for you and… My head’s as big as your shoulders.”
Cotton pulled back to stare at her in amazement. “Emmy. That ain’t true at all. You couldn’t rest your head on my one shoulder, if that was true. You fit perfect.”
She could feel her cheeks burning. “It felt like it, didn’t it? Like we fit.”
“It does.” He changed it to the present pretty emphatically. “I told you, Emmy. I love you. I ain’t never said that to a girl before.”
“Never?” That meant something, huh?
“Nope.” He tightened his arm around her. “I’m not skanky, honey. A little stupid, maybe. But I ain’t ashamed of you.”
“You promise? Because I can’t… I mean, I can’t just be a friend with benefits with you, Cotton. I don’t want to.”
“I know. You ain’t that kind of girl.” He nodded sharply, and she wanted to believe. So bad. He seemed sure where before he’d evaded.
“I…” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I want this to be real.”
“Then come home with me.”
Shit, did he even know what he was asking her to do? “What? Cotton, we weren’t even together two hours ago. I have three jobs.”
“Do you like any of them?” His green eyes bored into hers. “I mean, really like them?” Cotton bit his lip, chewed it good and hard. “Or… Or I could come down here. I mean, I’m on the road so much that I’d hate for you to have to go somewhere you don’t like.”
“Like you’d be happy here.” She wasn’t stupid. Not at all. “You’d get bored, and I live with a neurotic vegan that protests the beef industry.”
“I would try for you.” Bless him. So earnest.
“I know.” Em smiled for him, traced his bottom lip with her thumb. This wasn’t going to work out. It couldn’t. She was a nutcase, though, so she’d ride it out, see how long it lasted. “We’ll just see what happens, huh?”
“Okay.” That perked him right up, enough to get them their pies. He was so cute with sugar on his chin.
Em chuckled, left her pie on the table so she could lick the sugar off his lips.
“Mmm.” His hands slid around her waist, up under his shirt. He was so tactile.
He eased her off the chair and into his lap, easy as pie, fingers rough and warm on her skin. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey. You got all doubt in your eyes, honey.” He sounded like he might just worry it like a dog with a bone. Stubborn man.
“Do I? I’ve been stressed.” That was the biggest understatement of the century.
“I know.” He put his arms around her tight and rubbed his sugary self all on her. “I just want this to be good.”
“This part has always been good with us, baby.”
“It has.” His chin was rough with the day’s growth, so pale she missed it until it scrubbed her skin. It made her shiver, made her push in closer. “Sweet lady.” The pie was forgotten. Her mouth, though? Yeah, he was treating her like dessert.
His jeans were soft, well worn under her butt, and Em could feel his belly shudder wherever they connected. He pushed that soft shirt up over her breasts, his hands pressing up against them. He was so warm.
“I missed you.” She leaned in, let him love on her.
“Me too. You, I mean. Damn, honey, I hated being out of touch.” He was touching a lot. It felt amazing.
“I couldn’t. I can’t talk to you and not want to be with you.”
“Well, there you go.” He blinked, grinned, and she couldn’t help but burst into giggles.
They laughed together and, for a second, it was as if they hadn’t broken up, hadn’t been apart. Just like he was her man. Her eyes filled with tears, all of the sudden, and she blinked them back, damn it.
“Emmy, honey?” He knew. Damn, he always seemed to know. Jeff never caught on to her moods. Neither had Mouse.
“I just…” She fluttered, feeling stupid and girly.
“Shh.” He hugged her again, the shirt sliding back down over her boobs. There was no pressure, just comfort.
She caught herself crying, breath hitching. “I’ll get makeup on you.”
“I got a hankie somewhere.” Cotton shrugged, shoulder moving under her chin. “I don’t much care. I’d rather hold you anyway.”
“Yeah?” She held on. “I missed you.”
He smelled so good.
“Me, too. Only you, not me.” He chuckled, making her grin through the hiccups.
“I’m going to be in a pin-up girl calendar next year.”
He stiffened, pushing back to stare her in the eye. Worriedly. “Why? I mean, that sounds nice and all, but I don’t know as I like it.”
“Because I have a look they want. Because I have to pay my bills.” She wasn’t a hundred percent sure she liked it, either.
“Well…” He nodded, like he’d made up his mind. “Come home with me, honey. I know I asked already, but I can get you work, too.”
“Cotton, I can’t just come home with you, just like that.”
“Why not? You moved in with that other feller.” His lower lip actually stuck out. It was not cute.
“I’ve known Jeff for years, and I was in trouble. It was that or my brothers. Jeff’s…nice.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” From pouty to contrite. Those red eyebrows were gonna pop off if they gyrated much more.
“I just… This is complicated, and I don’t know what to do, Cotton. I just want things back to good.”
“Me, too.” Cotton sighed. “I tell you what, honey. How about a hot shower and something to drink that ain’t all flat and shit. Hell, we ain’t got to wrangle it all now, much as I want it fixed up.”
“You’ll come shower with me?” That was possibly one of her favorite things on earth—being slick and soapy and wet with Cotton.
“Does a bear shit in the woods?” He hoisted her up as if she weighed less than a feather, setting her on her feet. “I’m all for it.”
“Then come on. Let’s get warm.”
“Sounds like a plan, honey.”
She let her fingers twine with his and they headed off to play.
Chapter Eighteen
Cotton crossed his arms and waited for the feller Emmy had moved in with to answer the door. He was on his way out of town, she was at job number two, and Cotton wanted to let Jeff know the deal.
In person.
The dude who answered the door was skinny and tall, wearing all black and in pussy shoes. One eyebrow arched when Jeff saw him. “You’re Cotton. Jeff.”
One hand was held out.
Cotton nodded, shaking the proffered hand. “Howdy. Mind if I come in a second? I won’t keep you long.”
“Sure. Em’s not here, though. She’s at work.”
“I know.” He wasn’t gonna do this in front of Em. She’d call him crude or uncouth or something.
“Come on in, then.” The house was big, scary neat, and all decorated and shit. Didn’t look like his Emmy at all. “Would you like a cappuccino?”
“Uh.” Dude. “No, no, don’t trouble yourself.” Cotton had a tiny pang of guilt that the guy was being so civil, considering what he was there for. “I just wanted to set the record straight.”
“How’s that, man?” The dude’s eyebrow went up even higher. Impressive. That was like some Spock thing.
“Well, I came back for my girl. And while she may not be convinced to go home with me yet, she’s back with me. So hands off.”
“I haven’t touched her.” The shrug was slow. “And she’s making a home with me.”
<
br /> “She’s living here because she didn’t want to go to Houston.” He knew that one hit home. The poor guy flinched. “I know you ain’t touched her. I’m just here to tell you I know you want to, and it ain’t gonna happen.”
“Auntie’s a big girl, and one of these days she’ll realize that it’s me that’s there whenever things fall apart.”
“Things aren’t gonna fall apart.” This little man just didn’t get it. Cotton stepped into his personal space. “You’re missing the point that this was a misunderstanding. That ain’t gonna happen again.”
The guy didn’t back down. “You’re missing the point that I love her, and I’m willing to wait until you fuck up again. She’s here now.”
“She won’t be for long.” Cotton’s fists clenched. He wasn’t gonna hit the sorry motherfucker. He wasn’t. He’d known it, though. Known the bastard wasn’t about being friends.
“We’ll see. She’s happy here in a way she’ll never be anywhere else.”
Cotton thought about that for a second, thought about those pictures and how Emmy looked a little hunted, how she worried now about every bite she put in her mouth.
“No one can be happy without a hamburger, you little fuck.” He reared back and whapped Jeff right on the jaw, just because it felt good.
“You fucking brute.” The guy popped him back, the blow pretty damn decent.
“She’s my girl!” Name calling meant next to nothing to Cotton. His momma was a sticks and stones kind of woman.
“She doesn’t belong in your world, man. She’ll never fit in.”
“You think she fits in your vegan, don’t get your meat breath near me, don’t mess up my house world?” Cotton snorted, suddenly feeling like he was wasting his time.
“I hope so.”
“Well, you’re wrong.” He knew it. Deep down. Deep, deep.
“We’ll see. You’re about to be gone for…what? Two months?”
“Don’t make me hit you again.” Cotton shook his head. “You call yourself her friend. You should be happy for her.”
“You call yourself her friend, and you deserted her for a little blonde buckle bunny.”
“You even know what that means?” This fuck-monkey had never been to a rodeo. “I was stupid, and I let my sponsors fuck with me. But it sure won’t happen again. She loves me. I love her.” Cotton turned on his heel. “End of story.”
“Maybe for your story, huh.”
The door shut and locked behind him.
Damn. Cotton wanted to set the house on fire.
Instead, he pulled out his phone and called Emmy. He needed to get her on the line. That way little Jeff had to be the one to leave the voicemail.
Chapter Nineteen
She spun idly on the stool, staring at the clock. Jesus, she hated it here when it was slow.
There was just one little girl getting ink in the back and she was watching the piercing area while Little Bella was at supper.
Bored.
Bored, bored, bored.
And hungry.
The bell over the door rang, and a cute little cowboy came in, all brown skin and white teeth. He had a starched blue shirt on that bore a logo Cotton had told her was a fence company. Rodeo type, then.
“Welcome to the Tattered Flesh.” She couldn’t help smiling. God, she missed Cotton. “Can I help you?”
“I hope so.” The kid took his hat off, smiling at her, his eyes crinkling up like someone twice his age. His smile kind of stunned her for a minute. “Angie’s ‘bout done getting her daisies, I reckon, so I thought I’d better say hey. You’re Emily, yeah?”
“Yeah.” She held out her hand instinctively, shook with him. Did she know him?
“My name is Burke. Burke Slidell. I’m a friend of Cotton’s. Ang and I are on the way to Vegas.” He leaned in and winked. “I’m hoping to get her to a wedding chapel.”
“Oh? Oh, congratulations!” She laughed, flushed and pleased to the core. “I saw what she picked. It’s very pretty. Delicate.”
Em was beginning to worry that, once a girl went cowboy, she was ruined. For life.
Burke snorted. “That’s my girl. Delicate. You should hear her burp her ABCs. Anyway, Cotton said this was where we should come. You’re okay? You need anything?” The kid pulled out his wallet, lowering his voice. “Cotton sent part of his winnings, and don’t make a fuss. I’ll just gamble it away, you make me keep it.”
“I…” Oh, she was going to cry. “I’m good. I mean, I miss him, but he’s on a streak.”
And he was so getting a show on the web cam tonight, if he logged on.
“He’s building up to some time off, for sure.” The kid smiled again, handing over about three hundred dollars. “He says to go to BurgerTex and get a burger.”
She laughed, tucked the money away. She did love their buns, there. “Thank you. I’m glad you came by, Burke. It was nice to meet you.”
Nicer still that Cotton’d sent him.
“Nice to meet you too, Miss Em. You have a good one, now, and if you need anything, you call Cotton. Someone’s always somewhere close in Texas.”
The little blonde beebopped out about then, showing off her tramp stamp, so Burke clapped his hat back on his head, nodded and headed out.
“You know them, Auntie?” Mouse grinned over, bushy eyebrows raised.
“Yeah. They’re friends of Cotton’s. Came to say hi.”
“We gonna be a cowboy place now?” His eyebrows went up and down like mad, meaning he was teasing.
“Absolutely. Redneck Ink R Us.”
Still. Cotton sent friends to say hi. Friends who didn’t stare at her like she was an alien. Burke had actually, maybe, seemed to admire her a little. And Cotton had sent money, like…like he was trying to take care of her.
Maybe Jeff and Ricki didn’t know as much as they thought they did. Oddly, Mouse was in Cotton’s corner.
“You’re stupid in love, Auntie.”
Em nodded. “Yeah, a little.”
“Well, it’s a good thing, then.” Mouse winked. “I’d do him.”
“Yeah, well there’s a ringing fucking endorsement. Ass.”
“What? He’s cute. So was that one that was just in. The guy. The girl was a little skanky.”
Whoa. She’d have to tell Cotton to warn his friend. Because, damn, if Mr. I’ll Fuck It If It Moves thought she was nasty…
“Good to know.”
“Yeah.” The phone rang, and Mouse actually moved his ass to answer it. “Tattered Flesh, may I help you? Sure. Hold on.” Mouse held the phone out to her, waggling it.
She grinned, hurried over. “Hello?”
“Hey, honey. Is your cell off?”
Cotton. Woo.
“Is it?” She fumbled around in her pocket, searching for her phone. “It’s not in my pocket… It must be in my purse in the break room. How’re you, baby?”
“Not bad. Not bad at all. Burke stop in?”
“Yeah. Yeah, just now. He…” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “He gave me the money. Are you sure, baby?”
“I am. You need to hang in there. Take Ricki for a burger.” Cotton chuckled. “I miss you.”
“I miss you. You… I don’t suppose you have a room alone tonight?” A girl could hope.
She flipped off Mouse when he chuckled.
“I do, actually. Packer is staying with uh… A friend. In town.”
“Cool. Jeff’s in Hawaii for two weeks at some bike thing.”
“Yeah? Hot damn.” She had a feeling there was more happy than the prospect of webcam nookie warranted there. “Cool. How do you feel about New Orleans?”
“I love it there. I used to say I was going to move there, but I survived twenty hurricane seasons in Houston.”
“Well, that’s good. If I can make the short go in any of the events I got the next two weeks? I can go to the invitational there in three. Wanna?”
“I… Yeah. Yeah, baby. I do. Are you sure?”
“Honey, I wouldn’
t ask if I wasn’t. Packer says he knows this really neat hotel in the Quarter, and that he can get us a decent discount. Just you and me, I mean.”
“Oh, yeah? Okay. You just tell me when and I’ll look into bus fares.”
“I’ll come through and get you, honey. I’ll have my truck.”
She bounced a little. That meant a day on the road with Cotton, too. Score!
“So, you tell all your bosses, and I’ll win some go-rounds, huh?”
“Yeah. Yeah. I’ll be ready. What time tonight?”
“I’ll be settled in by ten. Is that cool?” He was getting that lower pitch to his voice, the tiny growl.
“Yeah. I’m off at nine. Mouse is dropping me off.” She shivered a little.
“Then I’ll see you at ten, honey. I can’t wait.”
“Cool, baby. Bye.”
They hung up, and she grinned over at Mouse, who was shaking his head. “What?”
“You’re just…wow, Auntie. You were never that glow-y about me.”
“Shut up.”
She’d never felt about anyone like she felt about Cotton.
“Yeah, yeah. You gonna help me clean up from Miss Daisies?” Mouse waved a hand toward the back.
“I am.” She nodded, headed to the back. “You think I should get my belly button pierced?”
“No.” Well, that was definite. “And I think you ought to go back to rings in the boobs.”
“Yeah?” She liked the rings better. “Why?”
“Because they’re prettier, for one.”
“And for two?” She could get those pretty gold ones with the dark purple faceted beads.
“He’s gonna make you quit the website.” Mouse winked.
“Is not.” She stuck her tongue out at Mouse.
“Baby girl, he’s got his cowboy friends coming in, and on their best behavior. He means to make an honest woman of you.”
“Shut up.” She leaned against Mouse, sighing. “I love him, Mouse. I mean, I really do.”
“I can tell.” Mouse snapped off his gloves, then looped an arm around her. “I think he’s got it bad for you, too. You’ll just have to work hard at it.”
“Yeah. Help me pick out rings after we clean up?” Mouse was a good guy—a shitty lover, but a good guy.