Lookin' for Trouble (Honky Tonk Angels Book 6)

by Ciana Stone

  “Yeah, until Cade. Which brings me to the second part of my news bulletin.”

  “Oh god, there’s more?” Dini looked around. “Do we need booze for this?”

  Roxie suddenly grinned. “Actually, I think we do.” She jumped up and hurried to the refrigerator. “Bless you, Beckett,” she said as she pulled a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator.

  “Champagne?” Hannah’s eyebrows rose. “In the middle of the day?”

  Roxie found glasses, put them on the table, and popped the cork. Once they were filled, she took a seat and lifted a glass. “Say hello to Mrs. Cade Beckett.”

  There was total silence. Dini’s mouth rounded in an O and Hannah’s eyes grew wide.

  “Holy shit,” Cody exclaimed. “Married?”

  Roxie looked at her friends and grinned. “We were married in Atlantic City two days ago.”

  The silence was shattered by a high-pitched squeal from Dini. “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!”

  Roxie burst out laughing. “My sentiments exactly when he popped the question.”

  “You’re married?” Hannah blurted. “Really married?”

  “That I am.”

  “Well, damn!”

  Another moment of silence fell only to be broken by all of them suddenly squealing. Seconds later, they were all on their feet, dancing and bouncing in a group hug.

  “I can’t believe it!” Dini exclaimed. “Roxie Ellis, you surprise me.”

  “I surprise myself.”

  “Oh, honey!” Dini hugged her again. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Roxie smiled at her friends. “I’m happy, too. Really happy.”

  “He really is the one, isn’t he?” Hannah asked.

  “Yes.” Even Roxie heard the change in her voice at the answer. “Honest to god, I never thought I could love someone like this.”

  “So, now I guess I’m not the only ones who thinks staying in Cotton Creek is such a horrible idea, huh?” Dini asked.

  Roxie took a seat and sipped her champagne. “That’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Should we sit for this?” Dini asked.

  “Might as well. We’ve got this bottle of bubbly that needs drinking. And I have this idea.”

  “Why did I get a sudden chill up my spine?” Dini teased.

  Roxie laughed. “Beckett and I were talking. I love working at the bar, but—oh my god, I didn’t tell you. Beckett’s loaded.” All her friends burst out laughing. “What? I’m serious. He…hey, wait, you already knew?”

  “Men can’t keep secrets near as good as they claim,” Dini replied. “Jasper told me. Cade’s loaded.”

  “He’s family so…” Cody shrugged.

  “I nearly fainted when he told me,” Roxie admitted.

  “Was that before or after you said I do?” Dini asked.

  “Oh meow,” Roxie retorted good naturedly. “After. Hell, I’d have married him if he had nothing.”

  “I believe you,” Dini assured her. “But you were talking about working at the bar?”

  “Oh, yeah. He asked what I wanted to do and I told him I’d always wanted to have my own shop—sort of a funky boutique. I know this seems like a strange place for something like that—or not. I mean, since we’ve been here, I’ve seen Dini being asked for fashion advice a dozen times. So, I thought, how about a boutique that caters to a variety of styles. A little of the glitzy and a little of the homespun?”

  Dini pursed her lips. “Not a bad idea. Maybe even add a little day spa for people who want a little pampering?”

  “Oh, I like that!” Roxie grinned.

  “Nails and hair and oh, oh, a masseuse!” Dini added.

  “Yes! That would be wonderful!” Hannah added. “You know the salon that opened a couple of months ago is already closing down.”

  “No. Why?” Cody asked.

  “They’re not keen on the clientele I guess.” Hannah answered. “Or not enough people wanting their buttholes bleached.”

  “Oh ugh, don’t get Roxie started on that,” Dini said.

  “Or Cody,” Hannah added.

  Suddenly they were all chattering a thousand miles an hour, tossing out one idea after another. Before they knew it, the champagne was gone.

  “So, I guess this means you like the idea?” Roxie asked.

  “Yes!” Dini squealed, followed by a, “Definitely.”

  “Then what would you think about being my partner?”

  “Oh my god, no more waiting tables?” Dini heaved a dramatic sigh.

  Roxie grinned. “Beckett said it would be his wedding present to me, but I said he would invest and we’d pay him back. That okay with you?”

  “Absolutely,” Dini agreed. “We’ll make this thing a smash!”

  “Indeed we will,” Roxie replied. “And I was thinking of a name. What do you think about Sequins and Spurs?”

  Dini grinned at Roxie. “I think you better see if there’s another bottle of champagne in the fridge, ’cause it’s time for a toast.”

  Roxie dashed for the refrigerator. Minutes later, she stood with her best friends, glasses of champagne rose. “A toast,” she said.

  “To new beginnings,” Dini said.

  “To friendship,” Cody added.

  “To love,” Roxie offered.

  “Amen, sister.” Hannah clinked her glass to Roxie’s then Dini’s and finally Cody’s.

  “It’s been a hell of a time around here lately, hasn’t it?” Hannah asked.

  “No shit.” Roxie agree. “Cody getting trapped with Riggs at the drill site and Hannah taking up with Cooper?” She looked at Cody. “Which reminds me, now that Riggs is out of the hospital, do I feel a let’s get it on moment about to happen?”

  Cody shrugged. “We’ll see. But this isn’t about me. It’s about you and Cade.” She lifted her glass. “So here’s to Roxie and Cade. Friends and family. We love you.”

  They all drank, then Roxie giggled.

  “What?” Dini asked.

  “It’s just strange. I mean when we left Vegas, who would’ve thought it would end like this?”

  “End?” Roxie jumped when she heard Cade’s voice behind her. “Honey, we’re just getting started. We’re playing for keeps.”

  She smiled at her friends, then at her husband.

  Indeed, they were.

  Ciana Stone

  Lookin’ for Trouble

  Book Six in the Honkytonk Angels series

  Copyright 2016, Ciana Stone

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, businesses, places, events, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 Ciana Stone

  Cover by Syneca Featherstone

  All rights reserved.

  Lookin’ for Trouble

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Lookin’ for Trouble Copyright © 2016 Ciana Stone

  Cover art by Syneca

  Edited by Holly D. Atkinson

  Electronic book publication November 2016

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Syneca Featherstone

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales i
s purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  Dedication

  As always, this is dedicated to the man of my dreams,

  my partner, lover and friend. I do, now and always.

  Chapter One

  Riggs had made up his mind. He wasn’t getting involved with Cody Sweet. Sure, she was one hot little package of temptation. And yes, they’d as much as said they were going to get naked once he was out of the hospital, but that was before he’d had a succession of visitors, each one encouraging him not to get involved with her.

  Normally, he’d take being warned off as a catalyst to do just the opposite. In this case, he’d taken the advice to heart. Well, if he were to be completely honest, it was only partially due to what her sister Hannah, her mother Stella, Cooper Quinlan, Roxy and Cade had said.

  Mostly it was just him. He wouldn’t say it aloud, but he was troubled. He had feelings for Cody. He’d had feelings for women before, but they always died out or faded away. Riggs was scared that when the time came, when this job was done, his wanderlust would be stronger than his feelings for her and he’d want to leave. He didn’t want to hurt her.

  That wasn’t all, however. He was a lot older than Cody. What if he fell for her and she wanted to get married and start a family? He was too old for that—the family part, anyway.

  And what if he really fell for her? As in hook, line and sinker? He didn’t fall easy, but something told him that she could reel him in without trying and he didn’t want to be the one hurt when she decided she needed someone younger.

  No matter which way he looked at it, this was one time when he needed to step back from something he wanted. It was for the best. He told himself that he’d made up his mind and didn’t need to think about it anymore.

  Until he walked out of the hospital bathroom and saw her leaning against the doorframe of his room. A tight T-shirt clung to her curves, as did tight denim jeans. Combine that with her cat who licked the cream smile, and his testosterone levels red-lined. Damn the woman got to him.

  “You ready to ride?”

  Oh damn. Did she have to phrase it that way? Hell yeah he was ready. But he couldn’t. He’d made up his mind.

  “Just let me put on my boots.”

  He sat down, pulled on his boots and then stood and crossed the room to her. She didn’t move and he stopped in front of her. Riggs had forgotten how small she was. Her five foot, two status ended about the level of his chest, so she had to tilt her head back to look up at him.

  Don’t touch me. Just don’t touch me and I’ll be okay. But hell no, that was not what happened. She raised one hand and placed it on his chest. As their gazes locked, her hand moved up to the back of his head and her lips parted.

  Ah hell. He should have been strong enough to resist the invitation, but damn if he wanted to. He’d been craving this since the night he walked into the Honky Tonk Angels Bar and Grille and no matter what happened after this, he wasn’t going to deny himself this moment.

  Riggs wrapped an arm around her and pulled her snug against him. Between him leaning down and her hooking a leg around him to hitch herself up his body, they were molded together from lips to groin when he claimed her mouth.

  Lord, have mercy.

  Her taste, feel and smell was like throwing a match on a puddle of gasoline—one fast whoosh and boom. Instant inferno. He could honestly say he’d never experienced that kind of heat and it pretty much wiped everything else from his mind.

  Before he knew it, they were waltzing backwards toward the hospital bed, still locked in the kiss. Were it not for the nurse who entered the room and said, “Oh, excuse me,” the kiss would have moved right into them getting naked.

  Cody’s face was flushed and he didn’t think it was from embarrassment since she turned to the nurse and said, “Well, talk about bad timing. I mean damn, Debbie.”

  Nurse Debbie laughed. “Sorry girl. Just came to bring Mr. Riggs discharge papers.”

  “Thanks.” Riggs took the papers she offered. “I appreciate it.”

  “You’re more than welcome. I have a wheelchair in the hall and will push you down when you’re ready.”

  “Then let’s do it.” He gave Nurse Debbie a smile and then winked at Cody.

  Cody saw the way Nurse Debbie blushed every time Riggs looked her way and totally understood. At the moment all she could think about was getting him home and out of his clothes.

  It seemed like they were stopped every two feet by another nurse. By the time they finally made it outside, Cody was certain Riggs had been kissed or hugged by every nurse in the hospital, single or not. Damn, the man was like a woman magnet.

  They got into her truck and he rolled down his window. “Fresh air. Damn that’s nice.”

  “And hot.” Cody said. “This summer has been a scorcher.”

  “Yeah, but it won’t last much longer. One of the nurses said there’s some kind of big celebration at a nearby lake for Labor Day.”

  “Yep, we have it every year.”

  “You going?”

  She shot him a quick smile. “The bar has a tent every year. We have a pig roast and cold beer.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “It is.”

  “I might have to check it out.”

  “You should.”

  Neither of them spoke again until they reached the turn off to the drill site where Riggs’ trailer was located. Cody looked over at him after she made the turn. “Okay, I’ve been wanting to ask you but haven’t known how to bring it up so I’m just going to come out with it. When the rig came down, do you remember seeing anything…or anyone?”

  She saw the way his gaze slid away from hers. He actually turned his head and looked out the window. “Did you?”

  “Yes. I saw Joe.”

  He whipped his head back around, clearly surprised.

  “He was there at the site,” she said. “I talked with him before I went under the rig. I hadn’t seen him since the night he saved Annie Morgan’s son—the night the tornado destroyed the bar. But he was there and he said he’d be under there with us.”

  “And he was,” Riggs said quietly.

  “So you saw him trying to hold it up and then diving on top of us with his—with his wings spread?”

  “I did.”

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  Cody bit her lip and parked the truck in front of his trailer, considering her next words. “Do you think he’s an angel?”

  “I do.”

  “You do?” She was shocked by his response.

  “Yeah. Don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I—I was afraid you’d think I was crazy if I said it.”

  Riggs put his hand on her thigh and squeezed. “I think you’re certifiable, but not because you know Joe’s an angel.”

  “Then why?”

  “Because you’re here with me.”

  “Bringing you home?”

  “It’s more than that and you know it.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “You sure about this, sugar?”

  Sure? Hell no she wasn’t sure. She was on unfamiliar ground and wasn’t sure of anything except she wanted Riggs with something close to obsession. Cody didn’t know how else to deal with it but head on.

  “Yeah. I’m either gonna get you out of my system or turn you into a man who stays.”

  “I’ve got a pretty good record for not staying.”

  “I know. Like I said, it’s either or.”

  “So, does that mean you’re coming inside?”

  “It does.”

  He smiled and got out of the truck. Cody followed and when he unlocked the trailer door and held it open for her, she entered. He walked in, tossed his keys onto a small table by the door and looked at her.

  “Now what?”

  It took more courage than anything she’d ever done in her life, even going under that rig. She could have been killed doing that. If he sho
t her down now, she’d have to live with the shame the rest of her life, which seemed far more frightening.

  She didn’t say a word, she just locked eyes with him, toed off her boots and stripped. To her shock, his gaze never wavered from hers until she was naked and then his eyes traveled over her.

  One look and he was moving to her. Three steps and his hands were on her. His lips claimed a stake on hers and she honest-to-god felt a little dizzy at the rush of hunger that claimed her.

  Not a passive person by nature, she worked at the button and zipper of his jeans, broke free from the kiss and slid them down his legs. Riggs assisted and stepped out of his pants then helped as she tugged his T-shirt up.

  Cody stepped back and looked at him. Fuck me sideways. Yeah, this was one of those times a mental F-bomb was warranted. Riggs was magnificent. His build reminded her of a swimmer, long lean lines with muscle but not the bulky look of a man who earned his muscles in a gym.

  Fine dark hair on his chest tapered to a narrow line down the center of his torso, framing an erection that was pretty impressive. She smiled at him. “Damn, Riggs.”

  “Are you always going to call me Riggs? I do have another name, you know.”

  “Jaxon?” She tried it and shook her head. “Doesn’t feel right on my tongue.”

  His grin sent a rush of heat that pooled in her groin. “Well, how about we find something that does feel right on your tongue—and other parts?”

  She ran her hands up his arms, over his chest and down to take that impressive erection in both hands. “What did you have in mind?”

  Cody would never forget his answer. It wasn’t in words.

  For the next two days, he showed her.

  Chapter Two

  Bryson accepted the bottle of water Jayce offered and they both took a seat on the tailgate of Bryson’s truck.

  “How’s the convenience store job going?” he asked. Jayce had spent all morning checking on the various jobs Weathers Construction had going.

  “Believe it or not, right on schedule.”