Pressure Rising (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 2)

by Carver, Rhonda Lee

  Jax pushed his Stetson back on his forehead to get a better look at the two ladies who sat at the slot machines.

  “So you noticed them too?” his brother, Dayton, said over his bottle. “The blonde has nice big tits.” Jax gave Dayton a stern look. “What? It’s the truth.” Dayton shook his head.

  “We’re not here to pick up anyone, ya hear? We need to keep our focus on winning, considering we both suck at poker this trip.” Jax reprimanded his brother, but he’d also noticed the blonde Dayton pointed out. She was nice enough, pretty hair and fine breasts, but he was drawn to the honey who sat on the other side drinking cocktails like they were water. Good thing the bartender went light on alcohol, otherwise she’d be falling off the stool.

  She gave her long, dark hair a toss over one shoulder and his fingers ached to touch. He swallowed and shifted in the chair as things hardened below his waist.

  He noticed her the moment she’d walked into the room—long before Dayton had pointed them out—and he hadn’t been able to break his gaze away yet. She had a set of soft curves packed into her petite frame that had captured his interest, especially south of his gut. The sexy black dress she wore didn’t showcase big tits. He liked breasts—what man didn’t—but she had something else he liked even better. His gaze naturally fell to her long, slender legs. The hem of the dress landed on a place on her rounded thighs where he’d like to grip. An image of those legs wrapped around his hips as he sank deep inside of her sweet body awakened every nerve ending.

  A man realizes how horny he is when he isn’t allowed to sample.

  A six-month dry spell made him dangerous. He’d never gone this long—never had to. He’d always been surrounded by buckle bunnies willing to help him knock one out.

  Life was different now, and he had to stay on track.

  If he and his brother didn’t raise five-thousand dollars in two weeks, the Whistle Ranch and everything on it would be gone. Anger boiled his blood and he clenched his hands in his lap. How could they have missed the financial burden of the ranch? Why didn’t their father say something? And why in the hell had he allowed things to get so far out of control?

  Whistle Ranch had always been profitable. With a shitload of cattle, horses, and hands, Jax needed to figure out where things had gone wrong. But first he had to save the ranch, which was no easy task. They needed the cash. He had already emptied his savings to go toward finances with Whistle, and this trip to make money by winning that could be a waste.

  Jax didn’t like excuses, but the rodeo circuit had kept him away from home for too long. He hadn’t worried about how things were going or the business side at Whistle. After their father died four months ago, the IRS had come calling and it was a wakeup call. Apparently, he had simply forgotten to file taxes for the last three years.

  “Wow, look at those legs.” Dayton whistled softly.

  Jax followed his brother’s attention. The brunette had swiveled on the stool, her skirt had lifted higher on her lovely thighs. Fuck! He swallowed against the constriction in his throat and rubbed his twitching jaw. If he could swerve away from responsibility, just for tonight, he’d like to find out if the beauty liked to party as much as the three inch heels with the metal and leather straps declared.

  Drawing his eyes upward, he held his breath. She was staring right at him. Her dazzling chocolate eyes made him want to forget accountability. The frown on her luscious mouth contradicted her erect nipples outlined under the fabric.

  Damn! She isn’t wearing a bra.

  His cock pulsated against the zipper. He shifted again but it did little good.

  Although he saw a spark of interest in the brunette’s stunning eyes, she wasn’t giving him a go ahead to make a move. In fact, he had a feeling she wanted to be left alone. However, her blonde friend sure put off a different vibe. She bent over ever so slightly to reveal deep cleavage.

  It didn’t do a thing for him.

  The brunette turned back to the slot machine.

  “I think the blonde likes you.” Dayton elbowed Jax’s arm.

  “I know you like big chested women, bro, but I like a woman who leaves a little to the imagination…and is a challenge.” He slid his gaze down the brunette’s bare back exposed by the strapless top to the swollen curves of her heart-shaped ass. His palms throbbed in wanting to squeeze the rounded mounds. He’d bet his front teeth her bottom was perfect for a set of large hands.

  “How about we have a conversation with them? Nothin’ wrong with chatting.” Dayton leaned back in his chair, ready to get up, but Jax caught him.

  “We promised to keep each other out of shit tonight. The last thing you need is a one-nighter. Hell, you’d probably end up at one of those drive-thru chapels exchanging a quick, country-boy’s version of wedding vows. And admit it, you’d be interested in a pelican in a pretty dress if it meant it’d hide the heartbreak from Mary, your soul mate up until six months ago.”

  Dayton shrugged. “I guess you’re right, but what’s wrong with having a little fun?”

  Jax had watched his brother crawl back from the heartache after Mary had split with him…a month before their wedding. Then came the unexpected death of their father. At thirty, Dayton could take care of himself, but Jax felt that as the older brother he should keep Dayton from falling into another mistake. A sad man was far more dangerous than a horny man.

  “The ladies are leaving anyway. At least it looks that way.” Jax watched the petite one slide off her stool. She gave him a come-hither glance, and he almost swallowed his tongue.

  “What a waste,” Dayton scoffed.

  Jax shook his head. “Bad move. They’ve been at the slot machine for a few hours now. They’re bound for a win. They should stay longer, chance it.” After his serious loss at poker earlier he took a seat in the lounge area, relaxing and watching long enough to get an idea of the pattern of winning on the slots. So far he’d only witnessed one person who’d struck big.

  “Well, someone’s gonna be a lucky son of a gun.”

  “Then it might as well be us, bro.” Jax pushed back his chair. “As far as I see it, we have nothing to lose.”

  “But slot machines aren’t our thing. Let’s go back to the poker table,” Dayton grumbled.

  “Go ahead if you wish. But I didn’t see you doing too well earlier.” Jax didn’t hear his brother’s response because he was already heading toward the Mistletoe Kissing slot machine still hot from lovely brunette. Anything was worth a try. At this rate, he and Dayton would be heading home with nothing to show for their hard work but ten dollars and a busted ego. Jax had never played so poorly in his life.

  Grabbing a couple of quarters from his front pocket, he lined them up on the top of the machine. He had enough to play two pulls and then he’d have to call it a night.

  Dropping the quarters into the slot, the lights flashed. He blew on his palms and rubbed them together, then pulled the handle. The large panel whirled while the blue light continued to flash. “Come on, three mistletoe.”

  The panel came to a stop. “Shit!” He didn’t want the candy canes and star.

  “I told you. There’s no luck here. That’s why the ladies ditched the machine.” Dayton leaned his arm over Jax’s shoulder.

  “Shut up, bro. I have enough for one more pull.”

  Money inserted, lights flashing, he pulled the handle. The shapes rolled on and on, and it was looking bleak. Jax turned and shook his head. “I guess you were right, Dayton.”

  Dayton’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped. Jax looked. Three mistletoe had lined up on the panel. The red light on the side of the machine started blinking and loud festive music played. The word WIN lit up on the display. “Well, mother fu—”

  Someone poked him on the shoulder. “That was my machine!”

  “Who the hell are you?” He swiveled and came face to face with an angel. It was the brunette, the one he’d practically slobbered over. And by her narrowed expression and tight lips, she wasn’t pleased. His c
hest tightened.

  “You won.” She crossed her arms over her waist and her cheeks turned pale.

  “You left the machine, lady.” He didn’t like that his voice shook.

  “I went to the bathroom.” Her skin turned a faint greenish color.

  He almost felt sorry for her—almost. “But you left. I won fair and square.”

  Dayton stepped forward and looked over Jax’s shoulder. “What did you win, bro?”

  Jax scanned the machine and smiled. “I think I won three-thousand.” He stabbed the screen with his forefinger.

  “Congratulations. Looks like we have a winner.” All heads turned to the attendant who approached them. He was dressed in a red vest, a long sleeved starched shirt and black slacks.

  Dayton pulled out his phone from his pocket and snapped a picture. Between the camera flash and the neon lights on the machine, Jax’s eyes stung. Miss Brunette continued to stare at him like she could chew him up and spit him out.

  “Would you come with me, sir? The manager wishes to speak to you about your winnings while we verify that you did indeed win.”

  “But—but—” The brunette started again but she bit her bottom lip.

  Jax heaved a raspy sigh. No, he couldn’t feel guilty. He didn’t do anything wrong, except play on a machine that was open.

  “Come on, Dayton.” Jax stood up and motioned for his brother to follow.