Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off

by Cara North

  "No. Jack is always the one to start things. He always makes the first move. So, if he married her, then he has good reason. I know he put his notice in over at Elroy's, told him he was dedicating all of his time and energy to his own ranch.” Rafe placed two large steaks in the skillet then continued. “She is here for three months. We know that much for sure, but we don't know if she knows, and we won't bring it up. So, don't you screw it up for all of us by being a dick to her! She's not Chance."

  "Don't say her name!” Heath snarled. Damn woman, he hated to hear her name. What she had done to him was unforgivable. He hoped Bethany did not do the same thing to Jack.

  "Good Lord, Heath, it's been almost a year. Divorce the woman or go track her down, but you gotta shit or get off the pot, man.” Rafe flipped the steaks. “You think she likes it rare or well-done?"

  Heath shrugged. “You know you're a fine one to talk about making things happen."

  "It's different,” Rafe warned.

  "How is it different?” Heath crossed his arms.

  "Layla has two kids, an ex-husband who's a drunk, and moved here through some woman rescue program, organization, or something.” Rafe shrugged, put the steaks on a plate, and put two more in the skillet.

  "So she says.” Heath didn't trust any woman before Chance walked out on him, so he sure didn't trust them after.

  "You don't know her like I do.” Rafe flipped the steaks.

  "I know a lot about women,” Heath said distinctly. “I know the only one I can trust is in Florida."

  * * * *

  "Why did you tell my brothers we met online?” he asked as he pointed out the closet on the opposite side of the large bedroom.

  "I don't know. I was afraid you would tell them we were business partners, and at the end of three months, I was out of here.” She knew now she couldn't lie to Jack. He was in tune to her somehow. She stared; he knew it. She lied. He picked right up on it.

  She had lied a lot in her life. She lied to her parents about Douglas Rainey when she told them he was a nice guy. It's what her father wanted to hear, and she tried to believe it. Then, the night she confronted him about Katie, he smacked her. He immediately apologized and swore it was the first time, but Bethany didn't believe him, so she told Malina, the only person she could trust. The old woman urged her to leave. She'd been planning to leave for years. Left with no choice, she jumped on the offer to go to Vegas for the bachelorette party. “How could I know what you've told them?"

  "I think it would be rude of me to point that out. They probably suspect you don't know about the money, and that's fine by me. But as far as anyone is concerned, we are in love and couldn't help it. So what if we're not. We seem to get along fine,” he said as she walked into the closet.

  It was a full walk-in closet. Bethany was surprised to find something this grand and more so, he was giving it up for her. “I can't believe you're giving up this closet."

  "I'm not. It's a woman's closet. My grandpa always said a woman had to have a place for her things. A secret place. So each house has this closet in the master bedroom.” He continued, “You could probably live in there if I hooked up a refrigerator and stove."

  "It's magnificent.” She realized how dusty it was. The room was obviously never used and really was impressive. Already set up for boxes and shoes, there were two bars for different rows of clothes on one side, one long bar on the other.

  "Glad you like it,” Jack called out.

  She opened her suitcase and pulled out some clothes. He seemed to wear a lot of jeans, and she imagined it was practical for the ranch. Pulling on underwear, she asked a silly question. “What should I wear?"

  "Something else in addition to my shirt.” He laughed.

  She grabbed one of the two pair of jeans she had packed and slid them on. She didn't take off his shirt, but she did put on a bra underneath it. Socks and tennis shoes seemed fine for the unattractive outfit.

  "What do you think?” She entered the room and found Jack lying on the bed. His feet were still on the floor, but he was obviously tired. “Are you awake?"

  "Yes.” Jack sat up then looked her over head to toe. She realized then she had not brushed her hair or anything. “You look great."

  "Liar.” Bethany snorted. “Where is the bathroom?"

  "Right there.” Jack pointed at yet another door on what he apparently thought was her side of the room.

  "Wait for me?” Bethany didn't want to go back out there without him.

  "All right,” Jack said as he lay back on the bed.

  Bethany entered the bathroom and was faced with more of the same. She took in the double vanity sink, a large round tub with Jacuzzi, a walk-in shower, and the commode offset by a wall for privacy. Jack either had more money than he let on or ranching was the most expensive business to start up ever. She had no idea which, but she wanted to know more. The last thing she wanted was to fall into another money trap.

  Chapter 8

  Rafe was not kidding when he said steak and eggs.

  Bethany sat at the large table and looked at the plate in front of her. A huge steak and a pile of scrambled eggs covered the plate entirely. The three men dug in and were eating as though this was a typical breakfast.

  "You don't like it?” Rafe asked. “I should have cooked it less. Layla likes her steak well-done, so I cooked yours well-done."

  "No, no, it's fine. I just, well, it's a lot for breakfast.” She took another bite of the eggs. No way could she finish them, and the steak was out of the question.

  "I'll eat what you don't, don't worry, sweetheart.” Jack reached over and rubbed her back.

  "So, Bethany, right?” Heath asked.

  "Yes.” She looked him eye to eye. Jack was right. She couldn't back down from any of the dogs in the house. His older brother included. When he stroked her back, he made her feel loved and appreciated, yet he'd already told her he didn't love her. She couldn't keep letting him touch her. It mixed up her signals, made her feel things that weren't there.

  "What do you do exactly?” Heath asked.

  It was a genuine question, but one she didn't have an answer to. She looked at Jack but realized he didn't know either. She couldn't lie like she wanted to; Jack would know. Besides, she already had enough skeletons in her closet to fill up the one he just gave her, no need adding more. “Nothing."

  "Surely you do something.” Rafe laughed uncomfortably.

  "No, actually I don't. I have an education. I've just never had a job.” She put on her best so what attitude.

  "Never?” Heath looked to Jack. “And how did you get to Vegas?"

  "I got on a plane,” Bethany answered. Jack snorted.

  "I'm glad you think it's funny, Jack. We all know you just met her. What do you know about her?” Heath asked.

  "I know as a grown man I don't need my big brothers’ approval, and as my wife, she doesn't either,” Jack said it, and she sensed the tension in the air again. Something bigger than her marriage was between them. She just didn't know what.

  "So, what do you want to know, Heath?” she asked but continued before he could respond. “No. I've never had a job. I'm a Dodson. My daddy is rich, and I never had to work. I went to Vegas for a bachelorette party, I met Jack, he rocked my world, and here I am."

  Rafe tried to hold back his laugh. Jack looked at her with a distinct smile of approval, and even Heath tilted his lips in a grin.

  "That was a little more information than I wanted. Please understand, we don't have a lot of luck with women around here. Our mother didn't like it here but stayed for my dad and then us. My sister is nineteen and married. My own wife ran out on our wedding night.” Heath caught himself. “Just ... I don't trust women. They have a tendency to bring out the worst in me."

  "It's true,” Rafe agreed. “But they bring out the best in me, sweetheart."

  "Don't call her sweetheart.” Jack must have kicked Rafe under the table because he yelped. “Only I can call her sweetheart unless you want me call
ing Layla sweetheart..."

  "Don't you dare.” Rafe laughed and rubbed his shin under the table. “Speaking of my goddess, I need to get over there. She has to work today, and the kids are expecting me."

  "Your kids?” She watched Rafe stand and clear his own plate. The men seemed so self-sufficient. Cooking, cleaning, certainly the house was kept up. She had a new appreciation for them. Yes, all three were gorgeous. The longer she looked at them, the more resemblances she could see. Heath had the longest hair and no dimples. Rafe had shorter hair and one dimple. Then Jack, he had the shortest hair and two dimples. A woman could drown in this house of hunks.

  "Not yet, but someday they will be.” He grabbed his hat off the large island in the center of the kitchen and headed out.

  "You call Jan yet?” Heath looked at Jack. “She will be hurt if you don't tell her."

  "She didn't tell us.” He smiled as he stood then headed to the phone.

  "You keep your eye on him,” Heath warned. “He's a wild one. Don't let him talk you into something you're not ready for."

  "Like marriage?” She bit her lips not to laugh. Under Heath's big rough surface, he seemed to be a mother bear, genuinely concerned about his little brother.

  "Little late for that, I'd think. More like ranching. The three of us are committed to it, but it's hard work, and there are a lot of things a woman could get hurt doing. Ask Jan.” Heath then stood, walked to the island, picked up his cowboy hat, and headed out.

  "Do you guys always wear those hats?” she asked, but as Jack started to answer, he stopped, held up a finger, and started talking to the phone.

  "Jan. Hey, just wanted you to know I got married this weekend.” Jack smiled. “No, I'm not yanking your chain. She's sitting right here. No. No."

  Bethany didn't like all of the “no's” coming out of his mouth. It was frustrating to only get one side of the conversation.

  "Yes. Alright. See you then.” Jack hung up the phone.

  "Do you want to see the rest of the house, or do you want to see the outside?” He picked up his hat, letting her know his preference.

  "I'd love to go out and take a look around.” She smiled, picked up both of their plates and Heath's, then headed to the sink.

  "Thanks, sweetheart.” He took the top plate with the food on it and headed to the back door. “They would die if I threw a whole steak away."

  "Oh.” She watched him put her cut up steak in two bowls. She had cut it up trying to make it look like she was eating it. She fooled no one.

  "Let's go.” He winked.

  * * * *

  Bethany was handling herself pretty good against his brothers. It was a relief since he wasn't quite sure how they were going to take it. Jan still didn't believe him but not many people would. He had lived life as quite a bachelor. Heath actually slipped and mentioned his own marriage. A subject so taboo, no one spoke of it or Chance. Apparently, Bethany didn't put two and two together. He told her about it on the way, but she had fallen asleep somewhere along the line.

  She stepped out of the garage and into the afternoon sun. Her reaction made his chest swell with pride and his heart swell with hope. She liked it. But could she love it?

  "Oh, Jack.” She grabbed his arm. “It's beautiful. It's huge."

  "Come on, let's take a walk.” Jack whistled, and the two big dogs came running. “They were on the front porch."

  "This house is gorgeous, Jack.” She grabbed his arm tighter as the dogs closed in.

  "Treats. Go get ‘em,” he called to the dogs. She was still a little nervous, but luckily they wore themselves out during the day and chose to stay in the garage at night. If she had any idea they were sniffing her like crazy when he carried her inside, she would probably freak out.

  "They are so big.” Bethany eased her grip as the dogs passed.

  "Babies. You'll get used to them. And in no time, they will be listening to you like they listen to me.” He turned to point at the house. “This is it. Our home. Up there, is where Heath's house is."

  Bethany put her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun and looked in the direction he was pointing.

  "Over there is Jan's, and up a bit in the same direction is Rafe's. You can't really see much from here, but you get the feel of it. Right there is the guest lot. All those little brown bumps, they're cabins, and over there is the stables. I can house three hundred horses in those stables. Right now, there is only twenty.” He stopped looking at the ranch and looked at Bethany.

  "So, all this land is yours?” Her mouth was a little open, and her face held shock.

  "I told you, it's a big deal. I need the inheritance, so I can hire some staff, get some more horses, set some of the cabins up with a few more amenities. Then, I have to get the license, repair some roofs and windows, just general things we have been working on over the years, but now it will all get done."

  "You have horses?” Bethany lit up like a little girl with the question. Apparently, the mention of horses sparked her interest.

  "You know you look better to me every minute I'm with you.” He tugged at his flannel shirt she was wearing and motioned toward the stables. He never wondered how a woman would look in his clothes. This woman looked damn fine.

  "How did I look when you met me if I look better now?” She looked down at her attire and laughed as they walked.

  "I don't know, you looked, like a princess or something. I thought to myself, what in the world is this little cupcake doing in a country bar? Then, you came over and put your moves on me.” Jack laughed.

  "Moves?” Bethany laughed, too. “I fell off a bar stool."

  "And I caught you. You could have fallen into the other guy,” he teased.

  "Thank God, I didn't.” Her admission stopped him in his tracks.

  "Do you mean that?” He looked down into her soft, green eyes, pushed a loose curl behind her ear, and smiled.

  "Yes. I like you. You're the most decent man I've ever met, so far.” She bit her lower lip as she teased.

  "So far?” He followed as she headed to the barn.

  "Yes. You could still turn out to be a jerk!” She laughed and took off running.

  He gave her a head start. Then, he chased her. Like a lovesick teen, chasing a girl into the barn. But when he got there, she was standing stock still with her hands at her heart, and he feared she was not used to running.

  "Jack, look at them.” Bethany breathed hard as she looked down the row of horses.

  "I look at them every day. You're from Kentucky, surely you've seen horses.” He walked past her to the first stall.

  "Just at the Derby. My father wouldn't let me actually go down and see them though. He didn't like animals."

  She moved to stand next to him. He looked down at her. She was chewing her lower lip and looking at his favorite horse like she just fell in love.

  "This is Jumper.” He had named the horse according to his affinity for jumping things.

  "What kind of horse is he?” She did exactly the same thing he did. Her hand came up slowly and stroked Jumper on the cheek.

  "A Morgan, did you know the American Morgan can be traced back to one horse?” He watched carefully as Jumper let Bethany touch him. She had no idea how impressed he was. Jumper tried to nip everyone, including him sometimes. “Lucky guy."

  "Jack.” She rolled her eyes at him. Apparently, he wasn't as funny as he thought he was.

  "Come on before he bites you.” Jack tugged her by the hand as he headed to the next stall. “This is Sheba, a Tennessee walker. If you want to ride, this is the horse I would put you on."

  "What if I wanted to ride Jumper? He looks so sweet.” She looked at Sheba and got the same expression of awe. “Look at her."

  "She won't jump and throw you off. I'd like you to live long enough to meet the rest of my family, maybe grow old, have some kids. I put you on Jumper, all that is out the window.” Jack kissed Sheba above her nose. “You're a sweet girl, aren't you, darling? Yes, you are."

  "Sh
e lets you get so close?” Bethany moved closer, and the horse mouthed her hand. No teeth just lips.

  "She's kissing you. Very good sign.” He turned his attention to Jumper who neighed loudly. “Jealous, old boy? You were going to bite her."

  "No, he was not,” she said with certainty. “You're not scaring me, Jack Johnson. These horses wouldn't hurt a soul."

  He shrugged his shoulders. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to keep learning about animals the hard way. “Let's let them back out to the pasture. Come on."

  He walked to the front of the barn and closed the door, leaving only the backside open. He then opened the stall next to Sheba's and then the next. Bethany watched him open two; then she opened the next one on her own, helping him.

  "Why don't you let Jumper and Sheba out?” she asked as she worked the next gate.

  "I'll show you.” He put a rope lead around the Arabian's long, white neck, and the line of horses came out of their stalls and followed his lead. “Stay with me. If they get antsy, you might get kicked."

  "Jack,” Bethany said his name as though she were tired of him warning her, but the last thing he wanted was for her to find out today was horses kick, they bite, and if she got in their way, they would push her, especially if they knew they could. None of his animals were mean, not even Jumper, but they lived by a hierarchy, and Bethany wasn't established in their chain of command.

  "Open the gate, will ya?” Jack pointed ahead. She jogged to the gate. Two reasons he asked her to do it. One, because the White Queen, the Arabian he had harnessed, didn't like to back up and wait for the gate to open, and two, Bethany bounced and jiggled in great places when she ran. “Thank you."

  He let the White Queen go and smacked her on the hind quarter letting her know she could take off now. The horse loved to run, itched to do it, the reason why she went out first. She would plow through everyone else otherwise. “Watch out now."

  The horses filed past. As they got to the end of the corral and made their way to the pasture, Jack turned to Bethany. She was smiling in wild wonderment, her eyes as big and bright as a kid on Christmas. “Wait here, when you see me coming, open the gate."