by Mari Carr
Her eyes narrowed and his vivacious Jody reemerged ready for a fight.
She leaned toward him. “Get ready to be disappointed, Compton. I’m a big girl and perfectly capable of charting my course all by myself. I’m marrying Paul tomorrow and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.”
She turned and stomped toward the front door of his cabin. He waited until her hand reached out to open the screen before speaking. “See you soon,” he said, taking care to lace his voice with just enough threat and promise.
She parted her lips to speak, then changed her mind. Scowling, she stormed out, slamming the screen door behind her as the seed of a plan sprouted in Seth’s mind.
“You have a minute?”
Seth looked up and tried to suppress a groan as Paul climbed the three steps to his front porch. His cabin had turned into Grand Central Station today. He’d just poured what he intended to be the first of many whiskeys tonight. He nodded and gestured to the empty rocking chair beside him. “Sure.” His tone didn’t sound particularly inviting, a fact that clearly wasn’t lost on Jody’s fiancé as Paul hesitated briefly before finally taking the proffered seat. “What’s on your mind?”
“I was wondering if I could ask a favor.”
Seth’s grip on his tumbler tightened. If the man asked him to stand up for him in his wedding to Jody, he’d be hard-pressed not to punch the guy’s lights out. He was still doing his damnedest to figure out how to stop the ceremony. Thomas’s and Jody’s words kept drifting through his mind. He couldn’t see himself storming into the church as the minister asked for objections, shouting his protest like some romantic jackass from the movies, but he certainly wouldn’t rule the idea out.
“What kind of favor?”
“I suppose you know Jody is out tonight with some of the hands. Her twisted version of a bachelorette party.” Paul’s light laughter proved he found Jody’s exploits entertaining, another begrudging point Seth had to give in the man’s favor. It appeared Jody’s fiancé wouldn’t try to change her, wouldn’t try to curb her impulsiveness and joy for life.
“I know about the party.” The ranch hands had thrown the celebration together on a whim when they’d heard about her rushed nuptials. He’d had to fight the urge to threaten every last one of them if they let anything happen to her tonight. He’d also been a bit annoyed about being left off the guest list, but given the fact he’d been snapping off anyone’s head who came within five feet of him, he couldn’t blame the hands for wanting a break from him.
“Well, um. I was wondering if you’d ever seen Jody drink.”
Seth frowned, wondering where the hell Paul was going with this conversation. “No. She only turned twenty-one in May. I assumed she did her partying at college because she’s never had anything here.”
“I never saw Jody have a drink until her birthday. She was always happy to be the designated driver, claiming she didn’t like the smell of liquor. For her twenty-first birthday party, a bunch of our gang got together and took her out. She had two shots of tequila, and I suddenly understood why she didn’t drink.”
Seth leaned forward, curious. “Mean drunk?” he said, the idea sort of funny to him. He could see his feisty gal getting into a fight after a few.
“No, something a bit more disturbing.”
Seth didn’t like Paul’s serious face. “What happens to her?”
“She loses all her inhibitions.”
“What?”
Paul nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Jody’s always the life of the party, don’t get me wrong. She’s a fun girl with a great sense of humor, but she’s always in control of herself. She says she doesn’t need to drink because she can have just as much fun without alcohol.”
“What did she do on her birthday?” Seth couldn’t imagine Jody not being in complete control. She was too much like him in that regard.
“Like I said, we bought a couple of rounds, next thing I know she’s up on stage, singing with the band that was performing that night.” Paul chuckled. “She’s actually a pretty good singer. Thing is it’s like it wasn’t her I was watching. She’s singing, dancing in this very provocative, sexy way. At the end of the number, she started making out with the guitar player on stage. Needless to say, I pulled her out of there. She didn’t remember doing any of it the next morning and swore off alcohol after that.”
Thank God Jody had been with friends. He didn’t like to consider what would have happened if Paul hadn’t been there. He was glad to hear she had enough sense to know to stay away from the stuff. “Surely she wouldn’t drink tonight.”
Paul shrugged. “I would hope not, but Jody hasn’t really been acting like herself lately. I’m not sure what she’d do. I was sort of hoping you’d go crash the party, keep an eye on her. I’d go, but as the groom, I’m pretty sure I’d get booted out quick.”
Seth ground his teeth at Paul’s reference to himself as groom. It took every ounce of willpower not to inform the man in no uncertain terms he’d never have Jody as his wife. Instead, he said, “I think they were headed to Philly’s. I’ll hop in my truck and go check things out.”
Paul rose, his grin wide, as he reached out to shake his hand. “I’d appreciate it, Seth.”
As Paul walked back to the main house, Seth entered his cabin, pulling off his ripped T-shirt and reaching for a clean cotton shirt. He considered Paul’s words. The ceremony was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so his time had definitely run out. Opening his closet, he bent down to pick up his cowboy boots and his gaze landed on his hunting rifle tucked against the back wall.
A grin crossed his face as the plan he’d considered earlier came back to him. He’d dismissed it as too much, too over the top, but now…
Reaching into the back pocket of his jeans, he pulled out his cell phone and called Thomas.
“Yallo,” his boss drawled and Seth could picture the man kicked back in his recliner, beer in hand, watching a repeat of some golden oldie sitcom on TV.
“MASH or The Andy Griffith Show tonight?” Seth asked.
“Neither one. Found a Matlock marathon. Why are you calling me? Thought you’d be finding a way to stop this asinine wedding Jody’s got her mind set on.”
“Got a plan, but I need to use the hunting cabin down in Walker’s Ridge.”
“You’re not gonna woo my girl with a hunting excursion.”
Seth grinned. “No, but the cabin is secluded. Thought it might be a nice place to do a little private seduction, especially if the lady in question kicks up a bit of a fuss at the beginning.”
Thomas chuckled. “I like your style. The place is yours. You still got your key?”
“Yeah, I got it. I’m also gonna need the next couple days off.”
“Think a couple will be enough? Jody’s pretty headstrong, you know. Got that particular character trait from her mother.”
Seth snorted, knowing good and well where Jody got her stubbornness. “Why don’t we say a couple to start with and I’ll call you if it looks like my campaign might take a little longer?”
“Deal,” Thomas said. “I’ll hold down the fort here with Paul. Come up with some reason for her disappearance.”
“Good. Think I could raid your kitchen before I leave? Pack up a few days’ worth of food. I don’t have much here in my cabin, and I don’t have time to hit a store.”
“Not a problem. I’ll get the cook to start putting the stuff together for you. She’ll have some extra time now that she doesn’t have to prepare food for the party after the ceremony. Gonna be tough to have to postpone the wedding,” his boss added with a chuckle that told Seth he was looking forward to making those calls.
“Thanks.”
“Oh, and Seth?”
“Yeah?”
Seth could hear Thomas’s soft laughter through the phone. “Way to be creative, son.”
Chapter Six
Seth walked into Philly’s and immediately tried to process what he was seeing. Jody was wearing t
ight jeans, cowboy boots and a low-cut T-shirt that barely contained her breasts. She was also dancing on a pool table to “Redneck Woman”. She was gyrating, lip-synching to the song and moving like the most seductive cowgirl he’d ever seen. He would have bet his family’s ranch every guy in the place was sporting a hard-on watching her. His cock filled instantly at the image, then his anger kicked in as he watched his ranch hands surrounding the table, cheering her on.
Obviously, Paul hadn’t exaggerated about her alcohol issue. His temper rose to think none of the men she’d grown up with could recognize the fact she was out of control. He pushed his way toward the table, patrons giving him dirty looks until they saw his face, and then stepping out of his way. A couple of cowboys tried to shove back and he clenched his fists, ready to pound them into dust.
“You don’t wanna go there,” he warned one asshole who looked like he was itching for a brawl. The man told him to fuck off, but moved aside.
Chase grinned when he saw him as Seth finally managed to get to the table.
“Hey boss. You got here just in time for the fun.”
Seth scowled, and Chase’s grin faltered. “How much has she had to drink?”
Chase shrugged. “Not that much actually. She’s a pretty cheap drunk.”
Chase’s words were the straw that broke the camel’s back. Seth curled up his hand and threw the fist before he could think about it. Chase staggered back, his hand flying to his jaw. “What the fuck was that for?”
“You think this is funny?” Seth yelled, pointing to Jody, who was oblivious to anything going on in the bar. A guy Seth didn’t know hopped up on the table and started dirty dancing with Jody, his hands roaming over her body in a way that made Seth see red. She started dancing with the stranger, stealing the cowboy’s hat and putting it on her head.
Chase looked chagrined when it was apparent things had spiraled out of control. “Sorry, boss,” he murmured, but Seth didn’t acknowledge his words.
He reached up and attempted to grasp Jody’s waist to pull her off the table. Her new dance partner took offense and put himself between Seth and Jody. The move was a mistake.
Seth hopped up on the table. The patrons of the bar started to cheer, making crude comments about a cowgirl sandwich, encouraging Seth and the other cowboy to do a little double-teaming.
Seth’s temper exploded as the other man grabbed Jody and tried to kiss her. Seth reached over and shoved Jody behind him.
“What the fuck, man?” the cowboy bellowed.
Seth was furious, but more than ready to take on every prick in the joint if they tried to touch his woman. “If you’re smart, you’ll go back to your table. If not, stand there another three seconds and see if I don’t beat the fucking shit out of you.”
The man wanted to argue, Seth could see it.
“Is she your wife or something?” the cowboy asked, apparently trying to decide how far he wanted to push things.
“Or something.”
Jody was still dancing behind him, much to the amusement of the drunks in the room. She pressed her chest against Seth’s back as she moved. If he hadn’t been so pissed off, her motions would have sent his libido into orbit.
“Not now, Jody.” Seth pushed her hands away from his waist without turning his back on the man in front of him.
The cowboy took a last look at his face and threw his hands up. “It’s cool. No fight here. Just having fun.” He hopped off the pool table and headed in the other direction.
Seth twisted in time to see Jody had gotten down and was doing another shot of tequila.
“Jesus.” He jumped to the floor and knocked the glass away from her lips.
Some of the liquor spilled on her shirt. “Hey, what the hell?” She looked up and blinked rapidly. “Seth? You made me spill my drink. What are you doing here?”
He pulled the other cowboy’s hat off her head and handed it to Chase. “Party’s over, Jody.”
She glanced around, confused. “Already? We just got here.”
“I think you’ve had enough fun for one night.”
She leaned closer, running her hand along his chest. “I haven’t had any fun yet. Maybe you could help me with that.” She began to rub her body sinuously against his once again.
He seized her hips and pushed her away, praying his rising erection wasn’t visible through his jeans. “God dammit. We’re getting out of here. Now!”
The ranch hands were hovering too closely, listening to every word. The gossips were going to have a field day with this. Seth Compton pulling a drunk Jody Kirkland out of her own bachelorette party.
Paul hadn’t exaggerated about the alcohol. If he weren’t so worried, he would be slightly amused. There was no way she would voluntarily come on to him like this. She was disoriented, confused…sexy as shit.
She reached around his hip and grabbed his left cheek. “I love your ass,” she said, squeezing it as some of the hands laughed.
He stifled their humor with a dark look that promised they’d pay for anything they did now in the hot Texas sun tomorrow.
She started to unbutton his shirt, and he gripped her wrists as the ladies around them started to whistle.
One woman yelled for Jody to keep going. Jody grinned, pushing her hips against his as he restrained a groan. She was just asking for it.
Another man moved closer as Seth managed to thrust her back again.
“If you don’t wanna piece of that, I’ll have some,” the stranger said.
Jody laughed and started to move toward the other man.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Seth said, holding her in place.
Unlike the other men, this cowboy didn’t like being deprived and he moved closer. “Come on over here, darlin’. I’ll show you how a real man does it.”
Seth turned toward the stranger, sizing up the threat as he forced Jody behind him. The cowboy was about an inch or two shorter, but his aggressive stance and the scar on his right cheek seemed to bespeak he had plenty of experience with bar room brawls.
“She’s spoken for,” Seth said, his voice filled with menace.
“Doesn’t look like that to me,” the cowboy said, as a few of the man’s friends rose and walked over. The four of them made an intimidating front, but Seth would die before these assholes laid a hand on Jody.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Chase and the other ranch hands stand, placing themselves firmly behind Seth.
Great. Jody had set events in motion and Seth wasn’t sure how he was going to escape the evening without nursing some wounds from a full-scale battle. He didn’t know who threw the first punch, but one minute they were in the face-off from hell, and the next, furniture was breaking as fists and beer bottles flew. Seth took a hard left to the jaw, which he returned with interest. He managed to land three or four more good swings, all while trying to keep an eye on Jody.
Damn woman had joined the fight. He turned just in time to see her kick the cowboy who’d started the whole thing in the nuts. The man crumpled to the floor, and Seth used his distraction to drag Jody away. Tucking her close to his side, he shoved and punched at least a half dozen other men as he made his way to the door.
“Come on.” He pushed her through the front exit of the bar, the sound of glass breaking and people yelling, dimming as the door shut behind them. If he’d expected her to kick up a fuss, he would have been disappointed. She followed him like a docile puppy on a leash, a sure sign the alcohol was fucking with her head.
When they got to the truck, he opened the passenger door and helped her inside. When he reached over her to snap the buckle of the seatbelt, her arms latched around his neck.
“Hey, good lookin’,” she drawled, leaning closer and rubbing her cheek against his.
Despite the fact he knew she was drunk, his cock stiffened up like a fireplace poker. “Behave, Jody.”
Her tongue darted out, teasing his earlobe. “I don’t wanna behave. I wanna be bad. So bad.”
He gritted his tee
th and pulled away. “Dammit, woman. Now is not the time.”
She reached down and cupped her breasts, pushing them up. “I want you to suck on my nipples again, like you did in the tack room.” Her eyes drifted closed as her fingers played with herself. Seth stood spellbound, watching her for a full thirty seconds before his brain reengaged.
“Jesus.” Crossing in front of the truck, he drank in huge gulps of air, trying to cool his overheated body. She was drunk. He couldn’t touch her tonight because she didn’t understand what she was asking for and she was really asking for it.
He climbed into the driver’s seat, surprised to find Jody had unhooked her seatbelt and was waiting for him in the middle of the cab.
Seth narrowed his eyes. “Get back in your seat, darlin’.”
She shook her head and leaned closer, dragging her hand along his chest. “I wanna suck your cock.”
“Fuck.” He gripped her hand firmly, removing it from his chest. “Jody. You’re getting married tomorrow, remember?” He didn’t mention the fact he was currently setting a plan into motion that would prevent her walk down the aisle. Unfortunately, it was the only thing he could think of that might possibly stop her. He was desperate.
“That’s okay. Paul said I could fuck you if I wanted to.”
He frowned, certain he’d heard her wrong. “What?”
She started to unbutton his pants, but he halted her. Holding her hand firmly in his.
“Paul pointed out that I’d saved myself for you and since our marriage is one of convenience, he doesn’t mind if I have a little taste before we say our vows.”
He tried to focus on her words, but the second she said taste, his mind started conjuring images of everything he wanted to give her a taste of. “I’m begging you. Get back in your seat and stop talking.”
She laughed lightly, the sound entirely too sexy. “I’ve never even seen you naked.” She reached down and rubbed his cock through his jeans.
He groaned, covering her hand with his to still it. He leaned closer to her, relishing the fact that she didn’t draw away. He’d grown accustomed to the leeriness in her eyes whenever he got too close. While he knew it was the tequila taking away her inhibitions, he savored the tiny bit of closeness the situation afforded him. “You’re gonna get up close and personal with my cock real soon, Jody. Trust me. You just don’t start something you can’t finish.”
