by Jamie Begley
“You find cowboys attractive?” Jo couldn’t help prodding the devil whose wife was sitting between them.
Shade’s eyes narrowed on her innocent expression.
“I used to, but I don’t anymore.” Lily shot her husband a quick glance.
“I don’t blame you. I find cowboys attractive, too. There’s an old saying that a cowboy’s horse mirrors their soul.”
Jo had to bite her lip when Lily looked like she was about to swoon.
Jo nestled closer to Rider. He bent to nuzzle her neck, whispering, “You’re playing with fire,” before he nipped her ear.
Her hand went to his thigh. “It won’t be the first time.”
“Did you say something, Jo?” Lily asked.
Jo cleared her throat. “I was just asking Rider if he will take me out West the next time he takes me on a trip. I can just imagine him on a quarter horse with a Stetson. Can’t you, Lily?”
Her friend shook her head, laughing. “He’d fall off.”
Rider stiffened next to her. “I wouldn’t fall off.”
“You would. Besides, a cowboy needs to be able to throw a rope to catch the strays. If you tried, you’d tie yourself up.”
“I’ll have you know—”
“Rider, do you mind getting me a piece of a cake and one of my drinks?” Jo hastened to distract the man from the burgeoning brawl she had instigated.
Shade’s expression had turned deadly. Rider’s injured pride was going to land him in a world of pain if he wasn’t careful.
“Will you get me one? Just the drink.” Lily shifted to the side to let her husband up.
Shade hesitated, not wanting to leave his wife alone with her.
“How are John and Clint?”
“They’re getting bigger every day.” Lily took out her cell phone and started showing her pictures of her two sons.
When the men left, Lily gave a quick glance at Shade and Rider’s backs before turning back to her. “Hurry, tell me before they come back. How did he look on a horse?”
Jo gaped at her. “You know?”
“Killyama told me. She hates it when the men try to pull one over on us. So, did he look good?”
“Lily, he was magnificent.”
“For our next anniversary, I’m going to make Shade take riding lessons.” Lily turned to take another quick look at the men. “I want to tell you something, but I don’t want you to get mad at Rider. You promise?”
“I won’t get mad at him tonight. Plus, I’ll be too full to care. I’ve lost count of how many slices of cake I’ve eaten.”
Lily leaned over and started whispering to Jo, who had to control her reaction to what Lily was telling her. She wanted to take what was left of the cake and throw it at Rider.
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
“We girls have to stick together, don’t we?” She kept tabs on Rider as he went from the table to the bar, where Shade was still waiting for Lily’s drink.
“Yes, that’s why I told you about the camera.” Lily nodded.
“Who’s working security tonight? Do you know?”
“Train and Diablo. What are you planning to do? If Shade finds out, I’ll be in trouble.”
“I have to tell Shade, or my plan won’t work. But I’ll make it a condition that if he does what I want, I won’t tell you Rider is a cowboy.”
Lily started wringing her hands.
Not wanting to get the woman upset, she scrapped the plan. “Never mind. I’ll find another way to pay him back.”
“No. I was just thinking. I changed my mind. You can tell Shade I told you.”
“You’re sure? You won’t get in trouble?” She wanted to know why, but she didn’t have time to ask since the men were almost back.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Jo excused herself after she forced down the cake, telling Rider she wanted to spend some time with Mag. Rider didn’t object, preferring to stay and talk to Shade and Lily rather than deal with the old woman.
Jo found a seat on the couch where Cash and Rachel were sitting with Mag. She tried to concentrate on the conversation, waiting for the moment she needed. The opportunity struck when Shade went to the bar for a beer.
“I’ll go get you that drink, Mag. I’ll be right back.”
Jo went to the bar, sliding through the crowd to stand next to Shade.
“I want a favor,” she demanded.
“Usually, when you want a favor, you ask.” He stared down at her with his harsh, impassive features.
Jo reached for every ounce of courage she possessed. “If you don’t do what I want, I’m going to show Lily the pictures of Rider I took of him in Texas.”
“What do you want?”
47
“Are you sure you don’t mind that I have to work?” Rider motioned Moon to go inside as he said good night to Jo.
“Not at all. I was there when Shade told you that Diablo wasn’t feeling well. It’s probably the flu. You shouldn’t keep him waiting.”
“It’s not the flu. He’s the one who cut the cake before we got here.” He was planning on kicking Diablo’s ass as soon as he got to the security room.
“I have a whole German upside-down cake in the rental car. I’m good. I better be going; Cash is getting out of the car.”
He tightened his hands on her arms, pulling her closer. “You sure you don’t want to keep me company?”
She gave him a pained look. “I would if I could, but I’m exhausted.”
Kissing her forehead, he then placed another on her cheek. He hated to let her go. “I haven’t even been able to give you your present yet.”
“Bring it by in the morning. I’ll open it when I wake up.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Giving her a final kiss on the lips, he released her. “Good night, Bluebonnet. I love you.”
Jo rushed back into his arms, flinging hers around his neck. “I love you, too.”
The horn from the parking lot had her pulling away. “Good night, Rider.”
He watched her until she was safely in Cash’s truck before he went inside to make himself a plate of snacks and take a few drinks from the cooler. Then, going out the back door, he made his way to the security room.
Taking inventory of Diablo, he sat down on the chair that Diablo quickly vacated at his stare.
“You don’t look sick to me.” Rider pulled the computer chair under the desk as he set his snacks down.
“I have to keep running to the restroom. Train’s not feeling any better. He’ll be back in a few. He’s already—”
“Call Train and tell him not to come back.” Rider reached for the Clorox wipes, wiping everything down as he started scanning the monitors. “I don’t need him, and I don’t need you fuckers getting me sick. Get Gavin to go to the store and get you both a bottle Pepto. And if I get sick, you sons of bitches are …” Rider took his eyes off the screens to see that Diablo had already left.
Snorting, he turned back to the monitors, pressing a key on the keyboard to light up the one in Jo’s living room. The lights were on in the room, showing she was already home.
Taking a bite of his cake, he leaned back in his chair, using his boot to pivot it so he could easily see the rows of monitors. He was taking another bite of his cake when Jo came out of the bathroom.
His teeth raked the spoon when he saw her wearing a little black teddy that was high-waisted.
“She doesn’t wear shit like that when I’m there,” he spoke out into the empty room.
Setting the plate down, he twisted the top of the bottle of his Big Red, wetting his dry throat. He stopped pivoting his chair when he looked at the screen and saw she had sat down on the couch and raised her feet to the coffee table. He barely managed to force himself to focus on the other screens, relieved when she turned her television on.
He was grasping for any distraction to keep himself from focusing on her brushing her hair. Each stroke made his dick strain in h
is jeans. He was castigating himself for not fucking her the night before.
“That’s the last time I’m a gentleman.” He forced himself not to look at her screen for a full two minutes before his eyes returned, and what he saw had him reaching for his phone.
“Hello?”
Jo’s seductive voice had him trying to find his.
“Hello?” she asked again.
“I just wanted to make sure you made it home.”
“Sure did. Cash is a safe driver.”
The way Jo said Cash’s name came out as a caress. Had the brother flirted with his old lady on the way home? With Mag and Rachel in the car? Deep down, really deep down low, Rider knew Cash hadn’t, but it was that hesitation that had him darting quick glances at the other monitors before turning back to Jo’s.
“What are you up to?” He gruffly managed to get the words out.
She was stroking one of her thighs. Reaching the top, she glided her hand to her waist as her other hand held the phone to her ear. Reaching behind her, Jo picked up a throw pillow, laying it on the arm of the couch before lying down so she could watch the television. “It’s a shame you can’t be here. I’m watching Smokey.”
Rider squinted at the computer screen. His old lady wasn’t watching Burt Reynolds.
Where in the fuck had she found that movie?
In the morning, before he woke her, he would for damn sure be finding out … if he didn’t rip the cable cord out of the wall first. His old lady didn’t need to be watching a wanna-be fuck a woman without him being there. How couldn’t she see he would be better?
“Believe me, I want to be there. You have no idea.”
Frustrated, he went to the trash, memorizing the monitors before dumping the cake in the bin. Coming back, he gaped at Jo’s screen. Her hand was slipping under the black lace at her breast.
“Give it to me,” she purred, watching the actor spank the woman on the television.
“What did you say?” he croaked out.
“I said, give me an idea. Are you feeling okay tonight?”
“I’m fine. It’s been a long day.” More like a fucking long three weeks. If any of the brothers knew he had abstained from sex for that long, they would throw him out of the club.
“Yes.”
Squinting at the screen, he watched what was taking place on the television, when a movement from the couch drew his eyes to her. She was draping a shapely leg over the back of the cushions.
“Rider, are you there? Are you okay?”
With a raspy voice, he reminded her, “You already asked that question.”
“I forgot. I should go to bed.” Jo moved her hand away from her breast to slide it under her black lace panties.
“Don’t you dare.” Standing up, he tried to concentrate on the screens and failed … badly.
“Why not? I’m tired.”
She wasn’t tired! She was fucking getting off watching another man give it to another woman the way he was supposed to do her but had been too leery of frightening her off.
“I need you to keep me awake. I’ve got to take a call. I’m going to put you on hold.” As he moved his cell phone, he saw she had disconnected the call.
His thumb went to the number he wanted.
Shade’s amused voice answered immediately.
“You have five minutes to get here, or security will be left unattended.”
“You can’t leave.”
“Watch me.” Rider shoved his phone into his pocket.
He wanted to call Jo and tell her he was going to spank her when he got there if she didn’t stop, but the longer he had to watch, the angrier he became.
“Oh … Bluebonnet, you’re going to get it when I get there.” Rider pushed the button, letting Shade and Lily inside at the same time he turned the screen that showed Jo playing with herself off.
“You can’t just run off,” Shade said, letting Lily go in the room first as he held the door open for her.
Rider waited impatiently until she was in the room, then took off at a run before Shade could get inside, saying, “I’m sick. Gotta go.”
Shade walked to the desk, pressing the button to let Rider out of the garage.
“He’s in a big hurry,” he commented, not expecting an answer. He stood at the desk, familiarizing himself with where everyone was, seeing nothing was moving outside, other than Rider hell-bent to get to Jo.
Shade glanced at the mess that had been left for him to deal with. “I hate when he doesn’t clean up after himself.” Shade tossed the remains of Rider’s food orgy away. Then he turned the heat up before sitting down on the chair facing the computers.
“Take your coat off,” he ordered, not looking back to make sure his wife was obeying him.
“Shade …”
“Lily …” he mocked, hearing her take off her coat.
Pivoting in his chair, he watched her ass as she hung her coat up, then returned to his side.
“Sit.” Shade kept his hands on the arm of the chair as Lily climbed onto his lap. Then he began his interrogation.
“How long have you known Rider is from Texas?”
“Two weeks.”
“Who told you?”
Lily folded her arms over her bare breasts mutinously.
“Who told you?” He lifted his hand to his wife’s breast, taking a nipple between his fingertips. He didn’t have to exert any pressure before his gentle bride caved with a whimper.
“Killyama.”
Shade texted Train how disappointed he was that Killyama had revealed a fact he didn’t want his wife to know. Satisfied that the brother knew exactly how disappointed he was, he turned back to the monitors, ignoring his wife as she sat trembling on his lap, drawing out the suspense of what he was going to do next while keeping track of time passing on the clock.
“Did Jo show you her pictures?”
“No.”
“Do you know when you’re going to see those pictures?”
“No. I was going to stop by her hou—”
“You’re never going to see Jo’s pictures, my darling little wife … never. Do you understand my meaning?”
“Yes, sir.” Lily trembled harder against him.
“Good.” His eyes flicked to the clock again.
“I’m in the mood to watch a little television. And you’re going to watch it with me.” Shade pressed a button, lighting the screen that Rider had turned off before he had left.
Grinning, he squeezed her nipple. He loved it when art mimicked life. Before he was done with his wife, she would appreciate it, too.
Jo jerked her hand out from under her panties at the sound of the motorcycle outside. Using her elbows, she half-raised herself from the couch, listening, becoming afraid at the late-night visitor she hadn’t been expecting.
At the sound of the key turning in the lock, she jackknifed into a sitting position, almost tumbling over at the quick movement.
Staring at the door as it opened had a myriad of horror movies she had previously watched playing out in her mind. Her lips parted, preparing to give a blood-curdling scream.
Jumping up, she was going to run to her bedroom, but Jo only made it to the arm of the couch before Rider came in, then closed the door behind him.
“What are you doing here? You scared me to death!” Picking up a throw pillow, she threw it at him. “You jackass! Why didn’t you call?”
Rider caught the pillow, coming farther into the room and letting it drop to the couch as he took off his jacket. “I didn’t want to wake you if you were sleeping.”
Jo cautiously watched as he sat down on the chair to remove his boots. “You’re not supposed to leave …”
“I called Shade.” Rider took off his T-shirt, throwing it to the back of the chair. “That doesn’t look like Smokey.”
Jo’s eyes traced over the tattoo on his broad back. Shivering in the black lace teddy, she began to regret her plan. She had overestimated her courage and her anger when confronted with the
sexy male standing a few feet away.
Mentally shaking herself to get her libido back under control, she managed a serene smile. “I was bored. I wanted something a little more stimulating.”
“Are you bored now?” Rider started to walk toward her.
Jo moved behind the couch, keeping it between them. “I can’t say I am.”
He was staring at her in the same way she had only seen him look at Willa’s candy.
“Have a seat. We can watch your movie together.”
“I’m not in the mood anymore.” She sidled to the side of the couch as Rider moved toward the opposite arm.
“Why not? You can’t play with yourself watching Smokey?” he taunted with a lust-filled glance.
“How do you know what I was doing?” she taunted back. Feeling emboldened by the distance separating them, she jutted her breasts out, jiggling them. “Did you see anything you liked, you Peeping Tom?”
As Rider started to move around the couch, she matched him step for step.
“I saw plenty I liked,” he goaded, stopping when they were once again on opposite sides of the couch arms.
“I want the camera out!” She pointed in the direction where Lily had told her it hidden.
“How’d you find out?”
She was debating if she had enough time to make it to her bedroom before he caught her when his question had her turning to look back at him.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s there. I want it out.”
“No.”
She frowned at his firm refusal. “Why not?”
“That fucking camera saved your life and the other women’s. And because you’re a lousy cook. Do you know how many times I’ve almost had to call the fire department when you were cooking?”
“No.”
“A lot. That’s why I bought the fire extinguisher to keep under the counter.”
“Okay.” She waved her hand airily, giving him that excuse. “But the camera didn’t save our lives that night, you did. Lily told me that you told Gavin, Shade, and Jewell how to get into my father’s room from the back of his closet that once led to the root cellar. How did you know it was there anyway?”
