by Asha Daniels
“A country bar to be exact. We are in Wyoming for God’s sake.” Jessica shot her a condescending look.
Georgia peered out the window at the neon flashing lights, the dozens of trucks and other vehicles in the parking lot. She wasn’t big into the bar scene, but Shane had convinced Jessica this was the place to go after dark. But she’d read the brochures. This was the only local hangout that was close. And Jessica had insisted they come, especially since her new man of the hour had suggested he might be coming by later in the evening.
“This is like out of a movie,” Jessica muttered. “Look at all the cowboy hats. And cowboy boots. I bet they all have huge…”
Yeah, look at them. “Now, who’s incorrigible? This joint is out of some rowdy movie with nothing but a hangover in sight.” Georgia found a spot, wedged between a dark colored Ram with oversized tires and a beaten-up Ford that had seen better days. Her car was tiny in comparison.
“Jesus. Christ. You like them rough, remember? By the way, you should have worn your jeans. You know, so you could break them in.”
“They’re uncomfortable as hell.” And yes, they would need to be ‘broken in’ as she’d been reminded now five times. She’d grabbed up four pairs at the local Kohl’s, never washing or even trying them on until now. “I like my dress. Festive.” A quick check of her attire made her second guess her decision.
“You’re going to be way overdressed, girlie, but that’s so you.”
“Unlike your jeans and very tight t-shirt, which will fit right in with the infidels.” Georgia grinned before easing out of the car.
“Listen to you, Miss Teacher of the Year. Shane will love my attire. I guarantee it.”
She shook her head. There was no doubt in her mind that Jessica would be spending the majority of her time with the hunky cowboy. Probably just as well since she had a long list of duties beginning early in the morning. Planning a rodeo, a July 4th event and two other large celebrations, all wrapped around her daily duties? And a solid plan for additional parties? She would be dead by the end of the three months. “Come on. I could use a drink.”
“I adore you. That’s the spirit I continue to remind you about.”
The music was pumping, the crowd lively and the beer must have been flowing early. The sound in the huge bar was overwhelming, drowning out any concept of conversation.
“Let’s go to the bar.” Jessica led the way, grinning from the looks they both were receiving.
She could see a few women, but by far, this was a crowd of men. Where were all the vacationers? Maybe the amusement park attached to the ranch? She sighed. How was Lone Wolf supposed to compete with all this?
And every male seemed hungry for attention.
Perfect. She wasn’t ready to be feasted on just yet. Georgia pushed away her lascivious thoughts. The sexy man of what would be her dreams wouldn’t dare come into a place like this. Or would he? She rolled her eyes as they pushed their way to a small opening at the bar. Everything screamed of country living. Cowboys in oversized hats. Boots. Tight jeans. Way too tight jeans on some of the men and a few had consumed one too many cheeseburgers.
Georgia glanced at the stage, biting her lower lip. There was obviously going to be a band. At least this would be a fun place to drop by, especially while checking out the competition. She held back a smile as the bartender strolled over.
“Fresh meat,” some guy muttered under his breath.
“Sexy la-dies,” another elongated the words before making a sucking noise.
Georgia gave both men a nasty glare, forcing them to walk away.
“Rodeo trash. Don’t mind them. They’ll be gone tomorrow and we’ll all be happier. What will you beautiful ladies like to have?” The bartender shook his head before turning his attention toward them.
His dancing eyes were only matched by the swaying of his hips. Tempting on both counts.
“The night is getting better. Top shelf margarita for both of us,” Jessica cooed, donning a rather ridiculous Spanish accent.
“Perfect for a sizzling evening, ladies. Comin’ right up.” The bartender started to turn away then gave an evil eye to the men sitting closest. “Leave the ladies alone or you’ll face my wrath.”
“Ooooh!!!” came the collective hiss.
Jessica chuckled. “I kinda like him.”
“You like every man,” Georgia countered.
Even the way the bartender winked, his long fingers tapping on the bar gave Georgia a chuckle. Everybody was rarin’ to go.
“At least I go out on dates. You know, dinner and a movie. Dinner and a little dancing. You do remember how to dance, don’t you?” Jessica’s voice somehow boosted over the speakers.
“I do and no, I’m not dancing with anyone.” The answer was predictable, even practiced. She wasn’t here for some foray into carnal activities. At least tonight. She was far too exhausted from the trip.
“Remember our pep talk.”
“Remember you’re only here for a few days,” Georgia countered.
“Party pooper.” Jessica’s eyes lit up. “Mmm… Lookie who’s headed our way.”
Perfect. Now, she would feel like a third wheel.
“You came.” Shane’s face was beaming as he crowded between them.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Jessica said, a huskiness in her tone.
Georgia did everything in her power to keep her composure, when inside, she felt like nothing but a wallflower. For all her pep talks, all the promises made, she was terrified of new experiences. She’d always felt this way. A gangly kid who ballooned during puberty, made fun of in vicious methods. She held the smile, even though she took a few steps away from them.
“The crowd is wild tonight. The end of the rodeo. Great music. Hey, why don’t we dance?” Shane grabbed Jessica’s hand.
“I don’t want to leave Georgia all by herself.” Jessica darted a look in Georgia’s direction, her lower lip pouting to the point of being laugh out loud funny.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be just fine. Go have fun.” Her standard answer. How many times had she issued the words over the years? The very reason she loathed bars.
“If you’re sure,” Jessica mused.
Georgia gave her a gentle push. “I’m fine. I’ll be kept company by the studly bartender and a festive drink.”
Jessica squeezed her arm and mouthed ‘thank you’ before trailing behind her personal hunky find.
Sagging against the bar, she bit her inner cheek, the bad habit she’d formed in sixth grade. Soon, she wouldn’t be able to consume any salt.
“Here you go. Our finest.” The bartender slid the two glasses onto the bar napkins then narrowed his eyes. “Why the forlorn expression?”
“No reason.” She wiped her little finger through a glob of salt, trying to act nonchalant.
“There’s always a reason. Hear you’re the new social director at Lone Wolf.”
“News travels fast around here.”
The bartender laughed, his attention drawn. “Nothing happens around here without everybody hearing about it. Something to keep in mind. Great place to work. Sad what’s happening to it.”
“What is happening?”
He gave her a pensive expression before answering. “Too much competition for one thing including the place next door.”
“Looks festive.”
“That’s a word for it. Huge hit with the tourists, but not a real dude ranch, if you get my drift.”
“I’ll keep that in mind when planning parties. No bounce houses,” she chuckled. “And the other?”
Giving her a once over, he leaned over the bar, keeping his voice down. “I don’t like to spread gossip. Enough of that in this place already. Enjoy your drink. Give me a whistle if you need anything.”
Interesting. What was the scuttlebutt? Richard’s pep talk to her had been one she’d seen right through. The man was desperate to find a new and effective method of getting Lone Wolf on the map. After being shown around, sh
e was able to see there was a hell of a lot more work needed on the infrastructure alone. Even some of the employees seemed ill trained. Maybe that’s why Shane was working alongside his brother. Maybe.
Good she was here. Maybe she could fix the ranch, since she had no clue about her life.
An image of her ex floated into the back of her mind. Yeah, she’d ended the arrangement almost three weeks before and the asshole hadn’t even blinked. She’d been the one to shed tears after crawling under the covers with chocolate bars, ice cream and potato chips. The single call he’d made had been while drunk and out with buddies. To hell with him. She would find better.
The thought meandering through the twisted synapses in her brain, she swirled the swizzle stick several times before taking a sip. She had to put Joe out of her mind. There was no reason to continue to care about him. They’d gone out on a single actual date, more on a dare than anything else. Then they started hanging at her place, occasional sex that lasted for maybe ten minutes. After he’d gotten his rocks off, he’d rolled over and gone to sleep. They had nothing in common. She’d known the issue. The age difference bothered him, no matter his insistence that it didn’t.
Then again, he’d been only twenty-two. Great, now she considered herself old at twenty-eight.
What if she’d mentioned her desire to submit, to have a dominating man control her, punish her? Would he have been excited? Right. He would have laughed his ass off before heading to his phone, texting all his buddies. Besides, he wasn’t man enough yet. Good riddance. No man would understand her needs. She took a huge gulp, almost spitting the liquid across the bar as the three men from before walked into the bar. No, they didn’t just walk in, they seemed to own the place the moment they crossed the threshold.
Mr. Dark and Dangerous led the way, his eyes sweeping everything around him. The other two were close behind. She jerked her head toward the bar, panting. Her breath was caught, bile sticking in her throat. Don’t run. Relax and enjoy the view. After daring to give another glance, she wiggled given her damp panties. All she could think of was how well they cleaned up. Gone were the faded jeans and body hugging t-shirts. All three wore black jeans, as if they’d been molded into them. Perfect to peel off. She could imagine herself sinking to her knees, sucking Mr. Dark and Dangerous first, the others upon his command. Her panties were now soaked.
Her visions took a turn to the kinky side, envisioning being taken over the hunk’s knee, her naked ass spanked by his hand then his thick, leather belt. God, she was ready to jump out of her skin. Hearing a nasty comment regarding the men, she snapped her head in the asshole’s direction, giving him a dirty look. Then she realized he wasn’t alone.
There wasn’t a single customer who didn’t turn their attention, watching their every move as they headed further into the bar.
The same expression she’d seen on Shane’s face was held by at least a portion of the people in the bar. What the hell was wrong with everyone? She attempted to slink down, avoiding any eye contact. Pathetic. She was freaking pathetic. You’re better than this. You’re one bad ass girl. True enough. Right? She could hold her own. Sitting up straight, she scanned the entire bar as a number of people cursed under their breath. This was her time to take control and by damn, she was going to do just that. Didn’t hurt that she was pissed off hearing the slamming comments.
“Great, the motley crew has arrived.”
“Their asses need to be run out on rails.”
“Freaking losers.”
She overheard the offensive comments and could tell the bartender was none too thrilled the men had ventured into Rattlesnakes. From her vantage point, she could see nothing about them that would deem such vile words. However, if her observations were close to being correct, they certainly didn’t have a single friend inside this bar. She turned her attention back to her drink, taking a mouthful. Best to mind her own business, even if her naughty mind was working overtime.
When the same rough and tumble men who’d licked their chops earlier made a wide berth on both sides, she let out a slight moan. There was no way the three sex Gods were coming to the bar, this close to her. As the heat of a deep sigh cascaded across the back of her neck, she was forced to grip the bar, her fingers aching almost immediately. She didn’t dare look either right or left.
Other than the disgruntled noises made from the other customers, she didn’t hear a peep out of the newcomers for a solid minute, maybe two. Time seemed to slip slide into a vacuum. Daring a single look, she caught the scruff of a two or three day beard covering a chiseled jaw, perfectly groomed short nails attached to long fingers and a tanned, very masculine hand. She didn’t need to inhale to detect the musky scent, but she did in order to appreciate the fragrance of exotic spices and a deep forest. Her panties were now soaked even more, her right foot shaking. No. She refused to have this kind of reaction to some mysterious dude.
“What does it take to get a drink in this joint?”
Mr. Dark and Dangerous spoke, his words laced with a terseness she hadn’t heard before.
“Savage. Let the man do his job. We’re not the only customers in the damn place,” the man from behind her chastised.
Savage. Mr. Dark and Dangerous’ actual name was Savage? She wanted nothing more than to run away, find some secure location to hide, but only because of her raging hormones. The sexy bartender not only ignored them, he gave them a nasty look. She sensed a lack of patience in all three and after a couple additional minutes, she was pissed herself. “Hey, Mr. Bartender.” All she had to do was lean over the bar and the guy almost ran over to her.
“Ready for another drink?”
“No, but my friends would like to order, and whatever they’re having is on my tab, but they need prompt service, if you get my drift.” Georgia donned the smile she used on her students when she really wanted to get her point across, the one they feared the most.
The bartender slowly lost his smile. He still hesitated before making an offer. “Sure thing. What will you guys have?”
“We’ll pay for it,” Savage stated with clear authority.
For once in her life, she was taking a stand. Holding out her arm, she rose to her feet, tilting her head so the man called Savage could see her eyes. “I said I’d pay for your drinks, so allow a lady to do so. Least I can do for saving me.” She heard the slight ‘ggrring’ noise coming from the bartender, but the gleam in Savage’s eyes made her swoon.
Savage’s face remained pensive for a solid minute before giving her a respectful nod. “Who am I to refuse a beautiful woman? Three Buds and three shots of tequila.”
“Comin’ up,” the bartender muttered under his breath as he walked away.
She refused to back down, even though the stunning hunk crowded her space. Given her panties were dripping now, a bead or two had trickled down her legs, and she could swear she was able to garner a whiff of her pussy juice. Dear God, she hoped like hell she was wrong.
“At least ask the lady her name.”
Georgia knew the dark-haired man was giving the direction while the captivating blond remained in the background, amused by the entire exchange. “Yes, why don’t you ask me my name?”
Savage sucked in his breath, the veins in his neck bulging.
He was angry with her. No, he was challenged.
“Does the pretty savior lady have a name?” His words were dripping in sarcasm.
“Georgia. Does the Neanderthal have a name?” she shot back.
“Whew. She has your number, buddy,” the blond retorted.
Savage held out his hand. “Parker Harland. The others are Toby Keller and Josh Mitchem.” He nodded in both men’s direction.
His handshake was firm yet sensual. “But your buddies call you Savage. Why? Because you have a surly attitude?” She had no idea where the sauciness had come from, but she liked the attitude. Brazen.
“I like this woman,” Toby stated, a chuckle in his tone. When he shook her hand, he breathed out. “Wow
.” Blinking, he gave his head a slight shake.
The chemistry was in high gear, a sizzling reaction that jetted down to her toes.
“She definitely has your number,” Josh commented, a grin on his face. He leaned in, taking her hand and kissing her palm.
Georgia resisted panting. Why was she attracted to all three men? They were so opposite of each other, but she could tell close. Her mouth was dry, her nipples hard, her pussy clenching. This was getting out of hand. The vibrator was getting yanked out of the suitcase tonight.
“Savage is for everything bad I’ve ever done and for all the nasty deeds I’m going to do in the future.”
Why did she have the feeling he wasn’t telling her a lie? She pulled her hand away, resisting dabbing her hand on her upper lip, swiping away the beads of perspiration. “Savage suits you.”
“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”
Georgia blinked twice before recognizing the man standing just off to the side. The deputy from before. She could read the anger in Savage’s eyes. What bad blood existed in this little town?
“Deputy Marshall. How good to see you.” Toby flanked Savage’s side, his sneer matched by the one on Josh’s face.
“I wish I could say the same. Thought you boys would leave these parts given no one wants you here,” Deputy Marshall chided.
“And you know we have jobs,” Josh added.
“And you know exactly where,” Toby said through clenched teeth.
Marshall. She put the names together before turning her attention to the deputy. Even his expression was one of gloating. What in God’s name had the men done in their lives to get such hatred from almost everyone?
The deputy snorted. “Yeah, my brother is more of a caseworker than a businessman. I tried to explain that you would cause trouble, but he’ll learn the hard way.”
“They aren’t causing any trouble, deputy. They are having a drink with me. They are my guests.” She found herself walking into the middle of the group. Noticing Jessica and Shane’s approach gave her additional fire in her belly.