Boots and the Bachelor

by Myla Jackson

  Angus could swear the noise emitted from all those women actually lifted the roof of the building. He fought the urge to cover his ears.

  “Our first cowboy up for bid has a thirty-two-inch waist, is six feet tall, has black hair and gray eyes. He’s offered to escort the winning bidder on two dates to the winner’s choice of locations. This handsome cowboy grew up on a ranch, but prefers his horses with wings. Please give it up for the sexy resident flyboy, Jake Maddox!”

  Charli stepped aside to the crushing applause as Jake Maddox swaggered out on the stage in jeans, cowboy hat, boots and a blue chambray shirt. Raunchy stripper music played and Jake, whom Angus considered a friend, strutted around the stage, tipped his hat to the crowd of women and winked. Then he unbuttoned his shirt, one button at a time, pulled it off his back and tossed it into the crowd.

  Like a shark feeding frenzy, the women fought over the shirt, ripping it to shreds.

  Angus couldn’t bear to watch his friend’s shame as the bidding started and the women holding numbered paddles practically foamed at the mouth in their excitement to win two dates with Jake. Poor bastard.

  While the bidding continued, Angus leaned across the counter and held up his glass to get the bartender’s attention.

  Libby Jones hurried over. “Another whiskey?”

  Angus shook his head. The way Colin was knocking back the drinks, someone would have to drive him home. “No. I’m designated driver. Water would be great. And something for a headache, if you have it.”

  Libby set him up with a glass of iced water and a couple of generic ibuprofen pills. As he chugged them down, the flash of auburn hair at the other end of the bar caught his attention, reminding him of a girl he knew from, hell, how many years ago? Six? Seven?

  His pulse leaped and he tried to see her around the other people crowding up to the bar for another drink. It couldn’t be the beautiful, carefree college girl he’d fallen for that summer between her junior and senior years of college.

  Gwen Graves.

  That had been the year his father died. He’d given up his job at the firm in Dallas and returned home to run the ranch.

  One day he’d been in Temptation collecting supplies and feed. He’d literally run into her at the diner. He’d gone in for a quick bite to eat. As he left, he’d turned to say goodbye to a friend and opened the door in Gwen’s face, knocking her over. When he’d apologized she’d told him he could make it up to her by buying her a milkshake. That had been the beginning of something he’d spent the next seven years trying to forget.

  They’d seen each other every day for an entire month. She’d taught him how to two-step at the Ugly Stick Saloon. He’d tried to teach her how to ride a horse western style, but she’d preferred riding double behind him, her arms around his waist.

  She’d gone with him out to tend cattle and mend fences, helping him by handing him a hammer and nails. Her smile rivaled the sun, the light smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose adding to her sweet girl-next-door appeal, and her body…

  He could picture her as if it were yesterday. One hot day, they’d gone to the creek to cool off in the natural pool shaded by willow trees. He’d watered the horse and turned to find her standing naked on the rock ledge overlooking the pool’s smooth surface.

  “Last one in is a rotten egg!” She winked, trotted over to the edge and dove in, swam to the middle and flipped over onto her back, her bare breasts gleaming in the dappled sunlight finding its way through the tree branches. “Feels so good.”

  To this day, his throat locked up and he fought to swallow at the image of her smooth white breasts tipped with tantalizing rosy areolas, half-submerged in the water, her smile urging him to join her. That particular memory was indelibly etched into his mind.

  The woman at the end of the counter only resembled Gwen by the color of her hair.

  When he got a better look, he realized it couldn’t be her. Her face was perfectly made up and she wore a light-gray business suit. She appeared to be more interested in her conversation with Mona Daley, Temptation’s beauty shop owner, than in the bidding war that had begun over Jake.

  Angus wondered if the woman in the business suit was single. Then again, he hadn’t had much in common with the women he’d met when he’d worked in Dallas at an architectural firm. They’d all been too uptight, wearing narrow pencil skirts and high heels. He’d much rather be with a woman comfortable in jeans and cowboy boots.

  Like Gwen.

  He sighed.

  Ah, Gwen. Timing couldn’t have been better or worse. He’d needed her joyous spirit and love of life that summer. His father’s death had been a huge blow to the family. Without giving it a second thought, Angus gave up his dreams of being in charge of building incredible skyscrapers, to return to the ranch and help out his grieving mother. With one brother gone, the other in college, it had been up to him to take over.

  When Gwen left, Angus had every intention of going after her. But circumstances and his mother’s fight with breast cancer put the kibosh on that plan. He couldn’t expect Gwen to put her life on hold, waiting for him. She was a young, vibrant woman on the verge of graduating college and starting a new career. He’d only hold her back.

  Since that summer, Angus hadn’t been interested in any other woman. None of them had Gwen’s smile or her beautiful hazel eyes—gold one minute and green the next. The thought of starting all over and putting his heart out there again held no appeal to him. It hurt too much.

  “Sold! The two dates with the handsome Jack Maddox go to bidder number 549 for one thousand dollars. Congratulations, and thank you for your donation to the women’s shelter.”

  The women clapped and cheered, patting the winner on the back.

  Audrey emerged from the crowd, grinning. “Wasn’t that great? One thousand dollars!”

  Jackson smiled and pulled her between his knees. “That’s great, sweetheart. Shouldn’t you be off your feet?”

  She cupped his cheek in her palm. “I’m fine. I think the baby likes all this noise. She’s been kicking ever since the bidding started.”

  “He will never be one of the cowboys strutting across that stage.” Jackson kissed the tip of her nose and caressed her hips.

  Audrey ran her fingers through his hair and cupped the back of his neck. “Oh, come on, you’ve done your share of stripping for the cause.”

  “I didn’t do it on purpose,” Jackson protested. “I was stripped.”

  “You say potato. I say tomato.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet, her eyes gleaming wickedly. “Could you help me out in the storeroom? I’m sure there’s a box I just can’t lift.” With a wink to Libby behind the bar, she dragged Jackson away. Although dragged wasn’t exactly how he went.

  The man looked more than willing to go.

  “That’s what we need,” Colin commented.

  “What’s that?” Angus asked.

  “A relationship like Audrey and Jackson have.”

  “Those are so few and far between.” Angus slid off the stool. “Ready to go?”

  Colin’s brows wrinkled. “Come on, Angus. Stay. I’m getting a kick out of watching this whole process.” He glanced around the room. “I can’t wait to see the next schmuck they conned into this.”

  “Might be worth it if they were auctioning off a cook. With Mom on strike, we’re going to suffer.”

  “Shh. Charli’s about to announce the next cowboy.” Colin leaned forward, a grin spreading across his face. “Gotta see who will be the next sucker.”

  “Ladies, this next hunkilicious man is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some lucky woman. He’s tall at six feet two inches.”

  “Ahhh,” the crowd sighed as one.

  “He’s got black hair and amazing gray eyes.” Charli dragged it out, spurring their anticipation.

  Angus shook his head. Somewhere behind the stage or in the crowd, a cowboy was probably shaking in his boots, dreading the moment his name was announced and he w
as paraded around the stage like a pony.

  “Descended from strong Scottish warlords, he’s a true-blue, honest-to-goodness, rough-around-the-edges rancher with big, calloused hands.” Charli paused and winked at the women. “You know what that means.”

  The women screamed and clapped, beer sloshed and laughter followed. Every numbered paddle in the room fluttered.

  Colin elbowed Angus in the ribs. “I could swear they’re describing you.”

  Angus leaned forward, his heart stuttering against his ribs. He drew in a breath and held it.

  “Ladies, our next offering will be for not one, not two, not three dates with this hunka hunka burnin’ love. The lucky winner gets four dates with a man some would call a horse whisperer, a real-life cowboy, boots and all.” Charli stared across the room, straight into his eyes. “One of Texas’s most eligible bachelors, Angus McFarlan!”

  Colin shouted, “Hot damn!” Then he laughed so hard he doubled over, a hand pressed to his side, and fell off his stool.

  How could this be? “I didn’t sign up for this,” Angus said, but wasn’t heard over the shouts and catcalls from the hundreds of horny women in the crowd.

  Still sputtering, Colin pointed a finger at him. “You should see your face. I can’t believe she did this.”

  “Who?” Angus would like to get his hands around the throat of whoever had played this rotten trick on him.

  “Who do you think? Mom!” Colin slapped Angus on the back. “You’re in it now. These women won’t let you back out.”

  “Come on up to the stage, Angus.” Charli crooked her finger and grinned. “The ladies want to see what they’re getting for their money.”

  Angus turned to run, but was blocked by Greta Sue, the bar’s bouncer.

  “Come on, cowboy, we’ll get you there in one piece.” Greta Sue grabbed his hand in her manlike grip and charged forward like a linebacker breaking through the defensive line of an opposing football team.

  Angus tried to free his hand, but Greta Sue held tight. Short of hurting her, he had to go along.

  Women touched, pinched and kissed his cheeks as he passed through the crowd. One of them caught hold of his shirt and wouldn’t let go. With Greta Sue pulling him one direction and his shirt going the other, the buttons gave, popping one at a time until the last one ripped free of the fabric. The shirt came off as he was pushed and shoved from behind, with Greta Sue leading the charge in the front.

  The only good thing about making it to the stage was that Greta Sue released his hand and the women couldn’t pinch his ass. Angus stood, glaring at the rabid females, rubbing his butt and wishing he were anywhere but there. The exit seemed so far away. He spun, hoping to duck out the back of the stage, but Greta Sue stood behind him, her arms crossed, feet spread.

  He could knock her down and make a run for it, but his mama had taught him better than to hit a woman, no matter how manly she might be. Getting through the crowd to the exit was not even the slimmest possibility.

  Charli stood to the side, with that damned silly grin on her face. “What will you give for four dates with this mass of purely masculine muscle?”

  Angus closed his eyes and prayed no one would bid. That he’d be allowed to walk free of this huge embarrassment. When he got home, he’d have a long talk with his mother about volunteering him for charity events he had no desire to be a part of.

  “Five hundred dollars!” a woman shouted, waving her paddle from the middle of the room.

  Angus’s hopes for a humiliating but commitment-free escape melted away as the first paddle rose high in the air.

  “Do I hear seven-fifty?” Charli prompted.

  “Yup!” Another paddle shot into the air.

  “One thousand. Do I hear one thousand dollars?” Charli barely got the words out before another paddle rose.

  “Me!” the woman cried out.

  Angus stared out into the mass of eager female faces. “Ms. Fenton?” Was that the gray-haired librarian he used to visit once a month as a kid?

  “That’s right, sweetie, I might be old, but I’m not dead.” She winked at him. “At least not yet. And I’d like a little beefcake to keep me warm for four delicious dates.”

  Angus’s eyes widened. Holy shit. What was it about a cowboy auction that got the young and old single women to come out of the woodwork and blow their hard-earned cash on a few measly dates?

  “Fifteen hundred anyone?” Charli stared around the room.

  Angus did too, wondering if anyone would outbid Ms. Fenton and rescue him from four dates with a woman old enough to be his grandmother but with a wicked grin that frankly had Angus quivering in his boots.

  The bidding stalled and Angus had to do something to get it going again, or he would be spending the next month taking Old Lady Fenton out to dinner. Not that she wasn’t nice and all, but the way she was rubbing her hands together made him as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

  Desperation drove him to do something he would never have done in a million years.

  Angus tightened his abs and shoved a hand through his thick hair, pausing like the models and weightlifters did to show off the hard-earned six-pack definition across his belly. He hadn’t gained those muscles in a weight room. Tossing hay bales and lifting heavy fence posts did that to a man over the years.

  God, he felt silly, but the crowd surged forward and eyes widened.

  “One thousand going once…” Charli started.

  “Fifteen hundred!” The woman who’d shouted was probably in her forties.

  Angus nodded. Better. He couldn’t expect the younger ladies to have that kind of money. Dating a cougar wouldn’t be bad. Hopefully, she wouldn’t expect more than the four dates and he’d be done. Free to spend time with his horses.

  “Turn around!” another woman shouted.

  “Come on, Angus,” Charli said. “Turn around and let the women see the whole package.”

  He frowned at her.

  “It’s for a good cause,” Charli cajoled.

  “Come on, Angus,” Colin’s deep voice called out over the others. “Show ’em whatcha got.”

  Angus made a slow turn and paused with his back to the crowd, feeling incredibly stupid.

  “Fifteen hundred going once…” Charlie gave a long pause, “…going twice…”

  “Five thousand dollars!”

  Angus spun toward the sound of utter insanity, searching the faces for the one woman who’d shouted.

  Every face in the crowd turned as well, and they all seemed to be looking at the lady standing beside Mona at the bar. The auburn-haired woman who’d, for a brief moment, reminded Angus of someone who’d stolen his heart so many years ago. His chest tightened, and he squinted against the stage lights, but couldn’t quite make out her face.

  “Sold!”

  Chapter Three

  Gwen swayed, her hand held high, her lips tingling with the effects of the alcohol she’d consumed and the reverberation of the words she’d shouted at the top of her lungs.

  Holy shit! What had she just done?

  She’d spent five thousand dollars on a man. A man, for Pete’s sake!

  “Wow, Gwen.” Mona laughed beside her. “When you decide to go all out, you go all out. I can’t believe you just bought four dates with your old summer fling.”

  “I can’t either,” Gwen muttered, her heart racing at the thought of four dates with the man who’d never left her mind in the past seven years.

  “I didn’t even know he was on the lineup. He must have been a late add. Good for you.” She clapped Gwen on the back, nearly knocking her over. “Congratulations!”

  Staggering forward a step, Gwen struggled to stay upright, with the room spinning and her stomach roiling.

  “Are you okay, sweetie?” Mona leaned into her face. “You’re looking a little green around the gills.”

  “I’m a little light-headed.”

  Fuck, fuck, fuck!

  Gwen clapped a hand to her head. What h
ad she done? Buying Angus was pure insanity.

  “It’s probably all that tequila making you dizzy,” Mona concluded. “When was the last time you drank tequila shots?”

  “Seven years ago.” She hadn’t had a shot of tequila since she’d been with Angus seven summers ago. Holy hell. Holy hell.

  Gwen touched a hand to her cheek, marveling at how numb it was, kinda like when she went to the dentist for a filling and he shot her full of Novocain. Then she saw the look on Angus’s face as he stared across the crowd of women, squinting. From his blank and confused expression, he hadn’t recognized her.

  “Holy hell,” Gwen moaned. “What have I done?”

  “You’ve just given five thousand dollars to the women’s shelter.” Mona’s brows furrowed. “You do have five thousand to give, don’t you?”

  Gwen nodded. With each dip of her head, her vision swam and the murder of crows in her gut churned. “I’ve got the money, but why did I spend it on him?”

  A grin spread across Mona’s face. “Something tells me you’re not quite over Mr. Angus McFarlan.”

  “I am. I really am. It’s been seven years.” Gwen threw her arm in the air and nearly fell over.

  “There are some guys a girl never gets over.” Mona slipped an arm around her waist and guided her toward the back door. “You need air.”

  “Air.” Gwen’s chest squeezed so hard she couldn’t seem to breathe. “Yes, I need air.”

  “You’re about to hyperventilate.” Mona pushed through the crowd. “Out of the way. Give her some room.”

  As she was led through the crowd, women congratulated and thanked her for the sizeable donation.

  “You lucky dog.”

  “Four dates. Wow! He’s so hot he’d burn me.”

  “Wish I were in your shoes, or panties!” Mrs. Fenton said, her lips turning downward in a disappointed frown.

  Gwen clutched her purse and staggered alongside Mona. When they made it to the door leading to the back of the building, Greta Sue appeared in front of them.