Boots and Roses: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 5 Read online

  Cory stiffened. “Apologize, Mr. Sinke.”

  “Or what? You’ll prove me right and do it with my wife, here on the grass?”

  Chrissy gasped, her face turning bright red.

  Rage burned through Bunny, her heartbeat pounding through heated veins.

  “She’s not your wife. You gave up that privilege two years ago.” Cory raised his clenched fist. “Now apologize to her.”

  Afraid he’d throw a punch, Bunny laid a hand on his arm. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”

  “What’s the matter, Bunny? Can’t get a real man, so you’ll settle for this little boy who gets naked for money, like the whore he is?”

  That was it. The final straw in a long line of slights her ex had heaped on her over the years. Before she could stop herself, she balled her fist and slammed it into Ray’s smirking face.

  Ray staggered back, knocking into Chrissy and sending her flying into a blood-red rose bush.

  Pain shot through Bunny’s knuckles, but she refused to show it. “That’s for being rude to my friend. And he’s more of a man than you ever were or ever will be.”

  Jackson fished Chrissy out of the rose bush and set her on her feet. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Ray, look what you did.” She stared at the pricks of blood on her arms where the thorns had torn her skin. Then she glared at Ray through blue eyes awash in tears. “And I was going to look so beautiful in my wedding dress Saturday.” She covered her face and ran from the garden, sobbing.

  Guilt hit Bunny like a Mack truck. No matter how she felt about Ray, Chrissy deserved better. She was just a young, naive girl suckered into Ray’s world. Bunny touched Cory’s arm. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “You’re damn right you shouldn’t have.” Ray rose from the ground, his face blotchy red, his lip split and bleeding. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”

  Her heart sank to the lowest point in her belly. “Okay, then.” She glanced at Cory with a twisted smile. “I have to leave. Tell Jack the date’s off.” Then she hurried to find Lacey, leaving Cory standing in the middle of the crowd.

  So much for finding love in a garden. Now Ray was riled. He’d go for the throat and put her out of business. Damn. Tomorrow, she’d have to eat crow and apologize to Ray and figure her way out of this mess.

  Cory started to follow Bunny out of the garden, but Audrey caught his arm. “Let her go.”

  “This is all my fault.” He shook off her hand and would have sprinted after Bunny but Jackson stepped in front of him.

  “Sometimes you have to back up and really look at what’s driving a woman to understand how you can help and earn her love and respect.”

  “Tell him, Jackson.” Audrey winked at her man. “What does Bunny value most?”

  Cory tore his gaze off the garden gate where Bunny had disappeared and tried to focus on what Jackson and Audrey were telling him. After a moment he shook his head. “Her shop?”

  Audrey nodded. “Her shop signifies her independence. It was the only thing in her life she had any kind of control over. If she loses her shop, she loses her means to support herself. She’ll be flat on her ass and dependent on others to make a living.”

  “I can afford to support her.”

  Jackson shook his head. “And I could afford to support Audrey, but she wouldn’t let me.”

  “Right. I went into this relationship on equal footing with Jackson,” Audrey said. “I’m here because I want to be, not because I have to be. Been in that situation and never want to go back. I’m a businesswoman. I need a business to run.”

  “Bunny has been supporting herself and her jerk ex-husband for so long, if you pull the shop out from under her, she’ll be devastated.”

  “But you heard Ray. He’s going after her.”

  “And he holds half of the deck in his hands.”

  Cory frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “The judge awarded him half of all of Bunny’s assets in the divorce.”

  “So he owns half of her shop?” Cory shook his head. “That’s insane.”

  “Texas is a common law state. Everything was split in the divorce.”

  “Damn.” Cory shoved a hand through his hair. “What can I do to keep him from closing her down?”

  “You and Jack are pretty good with investments.” Audrey smiled. “Put your financial acumen to work and figure it out. But don’t make it seem like the two of you want to take care of everything for her. If you’re serious about wooing Bunny, you’ll have to give her the opportunity to go into it on equal footing.”

  Jackson kissed Audrey. “I couldn’t have put it better. Cory’s got a lot to think about, so we should leave him to it. Ready to go?”

  She laughed and kissed him back. “Yup.” She touched Cory’s shoulder. “Bunny’s a good person. Just don’t break her heart.”

  Cory stood for a long moment in the garden, his mind cranking through all that had happened. When he came up with a solution, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Jack. “You at the house?”

  “I am,” Jack responded. “How’d it go with Bunny?”

  “Put on the coffee. We have some thinkin’ to do.”

  “That bad, huh?”

  “Let’s just say the courtin’ isn’t going quite as planned.”

  Jack snorted. “Tell me about it.”

  Cory hit End.

  Chapter Six

  Jack and Cory had called several times that day, each asking her to reconsider and go through with the date.

  She’d turned them down every time, until she’d finished all the flower arrangements for Ray and Chrissy’s wedding. Her rebellious streak had kicked in around five o’clock. After stewing all day about Ray and his lawyer, she’d worried herself into a frazzle.

  The phone rang exactly at five. At that point, she’d had enough. Enough of Ray being an ass. Enough worrying about how she’d pay the flower wholesaler if Ray called in his note. And enough celibacy to last a lifetime. If she was going to lose her business, by golly, she’d go down with one last really good orgasm.

  “Bunny, it’s Jack. Would you please reconsid—”

  “I’ll go,” she blurted.

  “You will?” Jack chuckled. “What changed your mind?”

  “Let’s just say, I’m tired of being at the mercy of everyone else. I’ll be ready at six.” She hung up before she could change her mind.

  Her heart racing, she’d rushed up the stairs to her apartment, changed into a daisy-print cotton sundress and white sandals. At the last minute, she yanked her panties off and tossed them. They landed on a lampshade, and she didn’t even try to retrieve them.

  Now, as she sat in Mona’s beauty shop, warm air wafted up her dress, reminding her of the two men who’d soon be by to pick her up.

  “I think you should wear it up, with a few tendrils emphasizing your long, gorgeous neck.” Mona had insisted on Bunny coming to her salon at five fifteen for a quick shampoo and style.

  “I still can’t believe I’m going through with this date. I have enough trouble without adding fuel to the fire.”

  “You can’t let what Ray said have you runnin’ scared.” Mona wrapped another strand of hair around the iron and held it. “Did you stop in at the bank?”

  “I filled out a loan application as soon as it opened. The loan officer said he’d get back to me after he ran it by their underwriter.”

  “There you go. Problem solved.”

  Bunny wished it was that easy. She was already in hock for half the loan on the business, and making payments was giving her hell with cash flow. When Mona tried to pin the strand of hair up and away from her face, Bunny swatted her hand. “Leave it down. Up would be too formal for this dress.” Bunny squirmed in the seat, fully aware of her nakedness beneath the dress. All day long, between work and worry, she’d teetered on the verge of another orgasm. The anticipation and the frustration had made her so tense, she could barely concentrate. She’d dropped two vases and cut her finger p
icking up shards of glass. Twice she’d almost called Jack and Cory and begged them to come scratch her itch to put her out of her misery. Too stubborn and scared to follow through, she trudged through the day until she finally buckled at Jack’s last phone call.

  “I’m glad you changed your mind and decided to go on this date.” As Mona curled and smoothed Bunny’s hair, she sighed. “I’m so green with envy, I can hardly see straight.”

  Her nerves on edge, Bunny grabbed Mona’s hand. “Why don’t you come with me?”

  Mona shook her head. “Much as I’d love to, this is your date. I’ve never dated two men at once. I want to know what it’s like. All the details.” She whipped the cape from Bunny’s shoulders and handed her the mirror. “What do you think?”

  Bunny stared at her hair from all angles, a smile tugging at her lips. She’d never looked better. “Thanks for turning this sow’s ear into a silk purse.” Bunny pushed to her feet, her dress clinging high to her thighs. Before she could pull it down, Mona’s eyes widened.

  “Bunny Leigh.” Mona’s mouth curved into a smile. “Are you wearing underwear?”

  Bunny tried to dart away.

  Mona grabbed the hem of her dress before she could and flipped it up. “Oh, good Lord, the woman’s going commando!”

  Bunny’s cheeks flamed. “Don’t tell anyone, for heaven’s sakes.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.” Mona fanned herself. “I’m getting hot over the thought.” Her eyes grew even wider. “And you sat in my chair the whole time, naked-assed. I’m gonna come.” Her fingers slid down over her breasts. “Sweet Jesus, it’s gonna be a long night with my vibrator.” She glanced over Bunny’s shoulder. “And here they come. Two of the hottest men in the state.”

  Bunny spun toward the big salon windows, her pulse hammering.

  Cory drove up to the curb in a vintage model convertible with a wide bench seat. He shifted into park, and he and Jack climbed out. Both men wore crisp white shirts, starched blue jeans and dark cowboy hats.

  “You don’t think I’m a cradle robber, do you?” Bunny’s knees shook and her courage waned as the two men stepped up on the sidewalk.

  “Hell, no. Those two have their heads on straight and have earned the respect of the people of this town. And you look absolutely stunning.” She shoved Bunny toward the door. “Get out there and get some for us single ladies. Man, I’d love to be in your panties.” Mona grinned. “No, wait. You’re not wearing any.”

  Mona’s laughter followed Bunny as she stepped out of the salon, catching Cory as he tried the door to the flower shop next door. “Over here.”

  Jack reached her first, swept her into his arms and bent her over for a long, romantic kiss, his hand sliding down to cup her ass.

  “Commando,” Mona murmured from her door, sighing. “Go get ’em, tiger.”

  Cory took his turn, pressing her hips to his. His hard cock nudged her belly, making her pussy cream in anticipation of that big hard shaft driving into her again and again. “Feel that?”

  Boy, did she. Heat rushed over every part of Bunny’s body. “I thought you were taking me to dinner?”

  Jack sandwiched her from behind. “I’d rather start with dessert.”

  “Much as I agree…” Cory stepped away. “We promised to take Bunny on a real date.”

  Bunny sucked in a deep breath, pushing aside the disappointment that they wouldn’t be starting with dessert. “Where are we going?”

  Jack grinned and Cory answered, “The county fair.”

  “The fair?” Bunny couldn’t think of a less sexy place. And all she had on her mind was getting naked with these two and finishing what they’d started in the shop the day before. “Really?”

  Cory laughed. “Don’t look so disappointed. It’s outside of Temptation, but only a few miles. The fair is pretty much neutral ground where we can build the anticipation for later.”

  “The dessert part.” Jack pressed his hand to the small of her back. “Let’s get going. The sooner we have fun at the fair, the sooner we get to have dessert.”

  With a glare at his partner, Cory climbed behind the wheel. “We’re supposed to show her how to have fun.”

  “I’ll show her fun,” Jack promised.

  Bunny laughed and slid between the two of them, shivering at the decadence of having two men accompany her. She cast a glance back at the salon where Mona waved from the window.

  That would have been her before she’d taken the step to the wild side and bid on these two incorrigible men. She decided to enjoy it—her last hurrah—and, if for no other reason, to have tales to tell Mona later.

  Ha!

  She was looking forward to being with Cory and Jack for herself, not for Mona. A sad thought pushed its way into her subconscious. When the date was over, Cory and Jack would have no obligation to go out with her again. She’d be on her own to find her next date. Like Mona said, going out at all, even a bought-and-paid-for date, was just what she’d needed to get her out of her slump. Especially with Ray and Chrissy’s wedding flowers to deliver tomorrow and her business to save next week.

  Bunny had to admit, she’d dreaded Ray’s wedding. After slugging him the night before, she was afraid he’d give her hell while she set up the floral arrangements. She’d almost backed out and told them to find another flower shop. Then pride kicked in, and she knew she had to go through with it. And maybe if Chrissy was pleased with the results, she’d have some sway over Ray and get him to back off closing her down.

  Tomorrow was tomorrow. Bunny sat back, basking in the late afternoon sunshine, determined to live it up today. She was on her way to the fair with the best-looking dates a girl could ask for. And later? Well, who knew what they had planned? She had plans of her own.

  Cory pulled onto Main Street and slid his hand onto her knee.

  Jack handled the other leg, each man’s fingers sliding upward and under her dress until they both threaded through the curly hairs at the apex of her thighs.

  “Hot damn!” Jack whistled. “No panties. My sweet tooth is getting damned horny.” Jack adjusted his jeans.

  “Keep it in your pants, dude.” Cory smiled. “Although, I can feel your pain.” Cory pressed a finger between her folds and flicked her clit.

  “Oh, sweet Jesus.” Bunny almost came.

  “Hey.” Jack pointed to the road ahead. “Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. I’d like to live to dessert.”

  Cory flicked Bunny again, then returned his hand to the steering wheel to make the turn onto the road leading to the fair grounds.

  Jack slipped into place where Cory had left off, his fingers parting her folds to stroke her.

  By the time they reached the fairgrounds, Bunny was in a freakin’ lather and in no shape to stand and walk around with her pussy throbbing and her thighs shaking.

  Thank goodness both men insisted on taking an arm and leading her through the parking lot to the entrance.

  In an attempt to regain her equilibrium, Bunny asked, “How did you two become such close friends?”

  “Who said we were friends?” Jack quipped.

  Cory’s lips twisted. “We met backstage at the Ugly Stick Saloon two years ago.”

  “Before I got on with the sheriff’s department,” Jack added. “I taught the young whelp everything I know about stripping.”

  “Get real. You taught me about fighting.” Cory snorted. “Kendall taught me all she knew about dancing. You could stand to take a lesson or two from her.”

  “My strippin’ days are over. The sheriff doesn’t look kindly on strip- lightin’.” Jack grinned down at her. “That’s what I call moonlightin’ as a stripper.”

  Bunny smiled up at him. The biggest difference between these men and Ray was that her dates understood what made a woman hot and horny, and they cared what she wanted. Oh yes, she was going to love dessert tonight. “How long are we staying at the fair?” she asked.

  Cory laughed. “Ready to leave?”

 
Not wanting to appear too anxious to get to the sex part of this date, Bunny forced a shrug. “Just wondering.”

  “We’ll leave when we’ve visited all the booths and ridden all the rides.”

  Bunny swallowed hard on the moan rising up her throat.

  “All the rides?” Jack groaned. “Really?” He leaned in front of Bunny and whispered loud enough for Cory to hear, and anyone else within five feet for that matter, “She’s not wearing panties, man. Do you know what that’s doing to me?”

  A smile tugged at the corners of Bunny’s lips. “Not nearly what it’s doing to me,” she muttered.

  “I heard that.” Cory grabbed her hand and headed for the merry-go-round. “Let’s ride.”

  Bunny wanted to ride all right, but not a toy horse. She wanted to ride Cory and Jack.

  After Cory bought tickets, they stood in line with a couple little kids and finally it was their turn to climb on board the merry-go-round.

  Cory mounted a black horse close to the center, pulling Bunny up in his lap. He settled her sidesaddle, his hand slipping under her dress. “Told you we’d have fun.”

  Jack mounted the horse beside them, his gaze on Bunny’s dress where Cory’s hand disappeared beneath. “I see where this is going. I got the next ride.”

  As the music started and the ride spun slowly, the horse moved up and down on the pole. Bunny had a little problem forcing a smile for the mothers waiting on the outside of the fence.

  Cory had her gasping within seconds, clinging to the pole as tingles built to shudders. With each rotation of the ride, Bunny found it harder and harder to smile and wave. By the time the ride came to a halt, she was clinging to the pole as though her life depended on it.

  Jack dismounted first, grabbed her around the waist and helped her to her feet. “If you liked that, wait for the bumper cars.”

  “But first we need to shoot something.” Cory got down a little slower, walking funny, as if his jeans were too tight in all the wrong places.

  Bunny suppressed a smile of triumph. At least she hadn’t been the only one affected by the ride.

  With her pussy throbbing, she was forced to play spectator at a BB gun booth, while Jack and Cory demonstrated their prowess at shooting. When they failed to win her the huge pink teddy bear, she touched both of their shoulders, frustrated and ready to move on. “Let me try.”