Cowboy 12 Pack
Page 57
Cole’s eyes glinted with unreleased humor. “Calm down, buddy,” he said, cupping his friend’s shoulder. “You’re just used to women falling at your feet, not doing the falling.”
Kevin grunted. “I didn’t fall at her feet,” he said, as if the woman wasn’t there.
Brandi could see Shayla’s expression was less than tolerant. She held back a grin. The cowboy had better watch his step.
“No,” Jordan said, lifting her cheek for Cole’s kiss. “But you were taken down by a woman.”
“I was not.”
Shayla raised a brow. Kevin scooted further away.
Brandi clenched her jaw. She knew she shouldn’t laugh, but it was becoming harder and harder to keep it all in. Even Kerri stood with her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Well, I have to go. Time to put this one down for a nap. Thanks for the ice cream, Kerri,” the redhead said, rising to her feet, then glanced to her. “And for the job.”
Kevin inhaled and stared at her like she’d grown a second head. “You hired her? For what? A bodyguard? Enforcer? Assassin?”
Shayla turned and stared down at the guy, her blue eyes glinting so cold they sparkled. “No, to keep playboys like you in line.”
And with that, her new assistant left with the slack-jawed cowboy staring after her. He shook his head and transferred his gaze to his crotch.
“Okay, fellas,” he said. “It’s safe. You can come down now. The shrew’s gone.”
A pink-faced Kerri sat in the vacant spot, hand over her mouth as she shook. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
“You can’t…” Kevin reeled back. “Neither can we.”
Unable to hold it in anymore, Brandi laughed and was soon joined by the rest of the table, even the disgruntled victim. The day had certainly been eventful, and with plans to head to Galveston with Kade for dinner tonight, she was hopeful the interesting events would continue—
“Stop!”
The urgency in the familiar, young voice rocked her, and she twisted toward the cries. Her heart stopped for a full beat, then rocked hard in her chest again as two big, bald, burly men ran from the sheriff and his deputy. Kade dove at one of them, hitting the guy in the back of the legs, taking him down.
“Stop,” the deputy called again, trying the same maneuver, only he was too far away.
Grasping the man’s ankle, the skinny kid was holding on for dear life as the guy dragged the deputy across the grassy picnic area she’d been at with Shayla. A second later, a blur in the form of Jordan hopped the table and raced toward the scene. Brandi jumped to her feet along with Cole.
“Jordan, wait,” he said, but his wife continued to run toward the commotion as others moved to the side.
“Stop right there! I’m a former cop…” her friend spouted and planted her feet.
“Outta my way, bitch!”
The man took a swing, but Jordan ducked, landed a fist to his gut, and as he doubled over, she clasped her hands together and brought them down hard on his back, sending him to the ground. While he was down, she wasted no time twisting the man’s arm behind his back, her knee set on his spine.
“Cuffs.” Jordan snapped her fingers at a blinking Donny.
The deputy released the thug’s ankle, sat up and fumbled for the handcuffs on his belt. Brandi couldn’t believe the poor kid had held on that long. His uniform was full of dirt, blood and grass stains. She watched him hand the cuffs to Jordan who nodded for the deputy to come closer.
“No, this one’s yours, kid. Go ahead.”
Donny smiled and cuffed the cursing man, then pulled out a paper from his pocket and began to read the guy his rights.
“Jesus, Cole,” Kevin said with a shake of his head. “Your wife just brought down that big punk.”
“I know.”
“That was hot.”
“I know,” Cole said again. “Excuse me.” He walked over to his wife, crushed her close and kissed her in front of the gathering crowd.
“Damn. Where can I get me one of those?” Kevin pouted.
But Brandi was too busy making her way through the people, searching for Kade. Last she had seen of him, he’d been cuffing the other bald man. Not knowing what the suspects had done, she was trying hard not to give in to the scenarios running through her head. He wasn’t hurt. At least she didn’t think so. Her heart pounded in her ears. The man knew what he was doing. He was fine.
And as she pushed through the crowd and saw him standing with his hand on a suspects elbow, she had all she could do not to run and put a lip-lock on him, not unlike what Cole was still doing to Jordan.
His gaze met hers, and he either sensed her fear or read it in her eyes because he nodded, and sent her a reassuring smile.
Okay, he was good. He was fine. He wasn’t hurt. She then proceeded to talk herself out of that lip-lock idea, and let her gaze roam his fine form, making sure she hadn’t missed anything.
“Jordan, you’re crazy, you know that,” Kerri said, coming up behind her with Kevin.
“Yeah, that was really insane and totally nuts.” Kevin frowned with disapproval as he folded his arms over his chest. “Can you do that again, but maybe this time in a bathing suit and in slow motion?”
Cole draped his arm around his wife and pulled her in close to his side. “Get your own.”
Kade walked over, suspect in tow. “Thanks, Jordan. When can you start?”
Her friend blinked. “Start what?”
“As my new deputy,” he replied. “These two are suspected in the rash of burglaries. Thanks for the assist, I—”
“Halt,” the deputy yelled, cutting him off, glancing from the escaping suspect to his boss. “Mr. Sheriff, sir. He’s getting away!”
Kade blew out a breath and stared at the kid. “Go get him.”
Everyone watched in disbelief as the scene repeated itself. Donny took a flying leap, but this time he…missed.
Cursing under his breath, Kade thrust his suspect at Jordan, then ran after the cuffed man booking it through the grassy park. They witnessed the sheriff tackle the guy, then right him before escorting his big frame to the nearby cruiser. Face grim, Kade set the man in the back and shut the door. He turned to Donny and crooked a finger.
“Sucks to be Skippy,” Kevin muttered.
The deputy rushed to the car and nodded, then stayed put, shoulders drooped as he leaned against the car and watched his boss head back to them.
Once again, Brandi’s gaze traveled up and down the man, searching for bruises. He was dirty and grass stained, but she didn’t see any blood. Her heartbeats leveled out by the time he neared. Yeah, he was just a little dirtier and sweatier, but still okay.
Gray eyes dull, mouth set in a straight line, he looked tired, and she longed to get him back to her place and dote on him. And, well…as far as tonight, she was more than willing to take top.
“So,” he said, retaking possession of his suspect. “You going to help me out, Jordan? I’m begging you. The county can’t take much more. I can’t take much more.”
Her heart squeezed.
“You serious? You’re offering me a deputy job?” Her friend glanced from Kade to Cole, then back again. “For real?”
“Yes, I’m dead serious,” the sheriff replied.
Jordan gazed thoughtfully at the cruiser before her attention turned to Cole. “I’ll have to discuss it with my husband.”
“Okay.” The sheriff nodded. “The job’s yours if you want it.”
Kevin stepped forward and slapped a hand on Kade’s shoulder. “If she doesn’t, you may want to offer it to that redhead. You should’ve been here just a bit sooner. Guarantee you these boys would’ve cuffed themselves and walked into your station on their own.”
HOW COULD A week from hell have heavenly moments?
Kade didn’t know. Only that it did, like now. He sat with his friends in a booth at the pub, arm around his girlfriend, her warm curves brushing against his side. Funny how the word ‘girlfriend’ used to scare the
shit out of him, but now, with Brandi, it was fitting. Natural. Right. She was his heaven. Plain and simple. Whenever he had a rotten day, and lately, he’d had many, she always made him feel better. Made him feel worthy.
“Whatcha thinking?” Her brown eyes gazed up at him, warm and just a little bit wicked as her hand ran up his inner leg.
He leaned close and whispered, “That if you don’t stop, we aren’t even going to make it across the street to your house.”
“Oh, but, Sheriff,” she said, tipping her head back to whisper in his ear. “Then you’ll have to arrest me for indecent exposure. And cuff me.”
His body went on instant alert and throbbed at the thought. Damn. The woman was potent.
“Okay, enough with the lovey-dovey,” Connor said, approaching at a good clip. “I want the scoop.” He twisted a chair around and sat down, arms folded across the top. “I’m gone six days. Six days…and all hell breaks loose?”
Kade nodded. Boy, did his buddy nail that analogy.
“My sister-in-law takes down a criminal and becomes a deputy,” the cowboy stated, pointing to Jordan. “And what about, you, Kevin? You got taken down by a girl, too? Come on. Someone? Anyone?” His buddy’s brown gaze bounced to everyone at the table. “Please, tell me, and don’t leave out any details.”
Jordan shrugged. “Not much to tell. I saw a suspect running away from the sheriff and his deputy so I intervened. End of story.”
Connor straightened. “That’s it? Come on. I know there were fists involved.”
“There were,” Kade said. “Jordan landed one to the guy’s gut then slammed him on the back and sent him to the ground.”
“Damn,” Connor said. “That must’ve been hot.”
“It was,” Kevin echoed Cole.
“And so now you’re the new deputy?” Connor studied his sister-in-law.
She nodded. “Soon. Just waiting for the paperwork to go through.”
His buddy transferred his gaze to Kevin and grinned. “So, how’d you managed to get taken down by a girl?”
Brandi’s chuckle vibrated through him. He squeezed her closer, enjoying her softness and unyielding warmth. She fit perfectly against him. He kissed her head, catching the sight of several pairs of eyes watching from across the room. The McCalls and Masters. They lifted glasses at him. He smiled. They were good people, and he knew they worried about him sometimes.
“I wasn’t taken down by a girl,” Kevin insisted, blue gaze narrowed. “It was a shrew. There’s a difference. Shrews are mean. And she was mean.”
“And pretty,” Jordan added.
His cousin shrugged, but Kade could tell the woman’s beauty did not go unnoticed by the guy.
“And lethal. She nearly maimed me for life.”
“Oh, you’re such a girl. She barely elbowed you.” Cole frowned and sat back in chair.
“Yeah, but did you see the size of her elbow?” Kevin blinked at them. “It was pointy and…and…lethal.”
Cole shook his head. “Forget it, man. You, the mighty Kevin Dalton, was brought to his knees by a pretty redhead and her cute daughter.”
Kade’s chest tightened. They wouldn’t even be having this discussion if he’d done his job. If Shayla’s fiancé hadn’t died overseas. If the little girl’s daddy was still alive.
Why did everything always come back down to those thoughts? Would they ever leave his head? Would they ever leave him the fuck alone?
A small smile tugged his cousin’s lips. “The daughter was a cutie. Now she…she could bring me to my knees.”
“If there was one thing I learned this past year, Kevin,” Connor said, a big grin dimpling his cheeks. “It’s that there’s nothing wrong with the right woman bringing you to your knees.”
“Amen, brother.” Cole slapped his brother’s hand then kissed Jordan’s smiling face.
He didn’t know anything about that, but he did know if there was a right woman for him, then Brandi was that woman. She got him. Sometimes too well. Like now. He could feel her gaze on him. She made him feel too much, and there were times he held back, closed himself off. He was not ready to relinquish that much of himself to anyone. The last two times he did only brought him pain and disappointment. He wasn’t ready to try again. Granted, they were both with father figures, but the pain was intense and deep.
“So, Kade,” Connor said, pouring himself a glass of beer. “What are you doing about Skippy? You have two deputies now?”
He shook his head. “Hell no. Donny is enrolling in the art program at the local college. Seems somebody noticed his sketches and encouraged him to give college a try.” His gaze shifted to Brandi and she smiled.
“He does have talent,” she said.
“Good, because as a deputy, he sucked,” Kevin remarked, lifting his glass, then stilled. “Speaking of talent, I hear you’re one with a fiddle. When do we all get to hear you play, Brandi?”
Expecting her to stiffen against him, Kade waited but it never happened.
“As a matter of fact,” Jordan said, brown eyes twinkling as she glanced at his girl. “Right now. She’s part of the next set.”
“What?” He turned his gaze on her. “When?”
Over the past few weeks, Jordan and Kerri had tried to get Brandi to join them a few times on stage, but she’d turned them down. And even though he hated to push, and refused to be like her last asshole boyfriend telling her where to perform, he’d encouraged her to play in public. But she would just shrug and say she wasn’t ready.
Her warm fingers squeezed his leg as she gazed up at him. “I decided you were right. It’s time to enjoy myself. Enjoy playing when I want and where I want. And I want to play tonight, for all of you.”
A wave of some kind of positive emotion hit him hard. He cupped her face and kissed her square on the mouth. She kissed him back, and tasted sweet, and happy and full of life, and for nearly a minute he’d forgotten where they were, and that they had an audience.
Until his cousin’s voice broke through his haze. “So, I guess once Kade relinquishes his hold, we’ll all get to enjoy Brandi’s talent. You guys having open mike tomorrow night? ’Cause it might take that long.”
He drew back slightly and caught her happy gaze. “Are you sure? I don’t want you doing this if you’re not ready. I won’t be mad.”
Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them away. “Thank you. But yeah, I’m sure. I’m ready and really want to do this.”
“Okay,” Jordan said. “You heard the woman. And she’s not going up alone, isn’t that right, Cole?”
Her husband smiled and nodded. “I have the honor.”
Kade nodded. “You’ve no idea.” He turned to Brandi. “Has he heard you?” She shook her head and his smile widened. “Then this is going to be real good. What are you playing?”
“Dueling Banjoes.”
He laughed. “Oh, man, you’re toast, Cole.”
Kevin snickered. “Come on. We’re talking about Cole, here.”
Jordan nodded. “Yes, and Kade’s right. My husband is toast.” She turned to Cole and patted his open-mouthed face. “Sorry, hun. But I love you anyway.”
“Well, I think we need to get this duel started.” Cole stood and held his hand out to Brandi. “Shall we?”
“Hang on,” Kerri said, rushing in from the kitchen to hug the smiling designer. “Good luck. You’re going to bring everyone to their feet.”
Kade nodded. The place was not going to be the same again.
As he watched Cole and Brandi take the stage, he settled in his seat, pride and some unknown emotion tightening his chest. The woman never ceased to amaze him. She knew her limitations, pushed through her fears and tackled challenges head on.
“Hello, everyone,” Cole said, and the crowd clapped then cheered when they noticed he was holding a banjo and Brandi a fiddle. “For those of you who don’t know, this here is Brandi, and the two of us are going to do a little dueling.”
The cheering audience picked up a deci
bel, then settled down when Cole plucked the first string. Excitement and anticipation skittered down Kade’s spine, and he watched both performers for different reasons. Brandi, because this was a big step for her, and his heart filled to the point of bursting to see such enjoyment light her face as she played with the audience cheering her on.
And Cole because he was getting his ass handed to him by a girl.
The faster he played—and the guy had skills—the faster and more complicated the sound Brandi created, all while holding the tune.
“Holy shit,” Kevin said, mouth opened as he stared at the stage. “Dude.” He elbowed Connor. “You’re brother’s getting beat by a girl.”
His buddy nodded. “I know, ain’t it great? Damn, she’s good.”
When the last string was strung, the crowd whistled and cheered. Cole pulled Brandi in for a hug, then held her hand up, declaring her the easy winner. Kade was on his feet clapping for his girl, noting both Kerri and Jordan had wet faces as they, too, stood and clapped.
“Damn,” Kevin said as they all retook their seats. “Why didn’t you tell us she could play like that?”
“Oh, trust me,” Jordan said. “That isn’t anything. She’s amazing.”
Kade nodded. “That she is.” The woman blew him away.
Soon Cole was trading his banjo for a guitar, a few others got on stage with their instruments, and the crowd was treated to some lively Celtic with Brandi leading the way. She was sweet. Everyone adored her. He adored her.
And as that thought settled in his mind, his chest tightened further. What did he do with that? He was at a loss. Watching the woman play her heart out, putting it all on the line, he never felt more like a coward. He could never open up like that…take a chance like that.
When she finished and put away the violin, the crowd complained. He understood. She made you feel, and if she played something upbeat, you felt good. And who didn’t want to feel good?
“That was fantastic,” Jordan said, pulling Brandi in for a hug as soon as she reached the table.
He waited until everyone congratulated and hugged his girl. Then he drew her in close and held her. Just held her. “I’m proud of you,” he said against her temple, and felt her indrawn breath all the way down to his toes. “You okay?”