“Which is why this is so ridiculous to bring up now. We’ve had plenty of opportunities. Don’t ‘cha think?”
“Yes, I do. I also think you run from your problems and anything that’s uncomfortable for you. Mark and Spenser are comfortable and familiar. I stir something inside you that you can’t put your finger on and it terrifies you.”
Damn if he wasn’t right about that.
He peered around her and grinned. “And today is the day I take opportunity by the horns and ride that beautiful stubborn lady for all she’s worth.” He nodded. “But first we’ll deal with him.”
“There they are!” Drew Davidson’s voice rose above the small town chatter. The drummer had played with the McCoy band for the last five years and had earned quite the reputation with the ladies. If there were any questions about that, they were quickly laid to rest. Several women gawked as he passed them and many took double-takes.
His long hair fanned behind his back and his cocksure strut made him look like a man on a mission. He could make a woman beg and make men pay more attention to their women.
Patience released a sigh of relief. Drew’s timing was excellent. She needed a moment, a minute that would slow down a pendulum ready to strike with too much force, enough of a clamor to make a real racket.
“How ya doing, man?” Baron stood up and shook his hand.
“I’m better now.” Drew slid in the booth and immediately draped his arm around Patience. “How’s my favorite lady?” He kissed her cheek and stared down the slender slope of his nose. “You are lookin’ mighty fine today. What’d ya say we ditch your bodyguard and go out back and make-out like newlyweds?”
“If you think that’s the best offer I’ve had today, you’re wrong.” She shot Baron a heated glance only because she couldn’t help herself. “Besides, with your reputation, I’d have to ask the difficult question.”
“And what would that be?”
“Am I the favorite flavor of the hour or the sweet treat for the rest of the afternoon?”
Drew winked and squeezed her shoulders. “Gotta love a lady who says what she’s thinkin’.”
“Woman has spunk. That’s for sure. It’s why I like hanging out with her.”
“Hangin’ out?” Drew’s gaze quickly worked between them. He then settled on Baron. “About that…how’s life treatin’ ya, bud?”
“Can’t complain.”
“Hmm.” He dragged Patience closer as if to devil Baron. “I guess not.”
“Don’t start,” Patience grumbled.
“Oh why not?” Drew released her then. “We’re all friends here.”
The spunky waitress returned, which was probably why Drew dropped his arm. “Well looka here. If it’s not last week’s boy toy.”
“Hiya, Marsha. Bring me a side of fries and a glass of water.”
“Can I get a ‘please’ with that order or are you still stuck on the idea that every woman on God’s earth is here for one reason—to serve you?” Before he had a chance to respond, she stormed off in the other direction.
Baron shook his head and laughed. “Guess some things never change.”
“Maybe for me things stay the same, but not for everyone. Take Patience for example…somethin’ is different about her.” He pointed at Baron. “And you.”
“Fish much?”
“Only when I’m certain there’s something worth catchin’,” Drew replied, accepting his water from “Marsha” as soon as she returned. “Thanks, doll.”
“I told you last week and I’ll tell ya today. I’m not your doll, your darlin’, or your sub girl.” She marched away again.
“I should’ve put a ball gag in her mouth and added a padlock to the latch.”
Baron laughed. “Something tells me Marsha wasn’t the problem.”
“Tell me you didn’t try to train her the first night you met her.” Patience frowned. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times. If you’re bed-hopping with vanilla women, you can’t try to push the lifestyle on them. They’ll resent it and you’ll get a reputation you don’t want.”
He took a sip of water and after an exaggerated “ahh” he hurriedly said, “And how does that work exactly? We’re never anywhere long enough to put down roots.”
“Don’t remind me,” she grumbled, sliding around the booth and bumping Baron with her hip. “Excuse me, please. I need to go to the restroom.”
“Need some help?” Drew asked, cocking a brow.
“If I did, I’d know who to ask.” She wished she could eat her words when Baron shot her a quick wink.
“Sounded like an invitation to me, bud.” Drew’s voice carried. “Tell me you ain’t tappin’ that. Mark and Spenser already have their suspicions.”
Patience didn’t dare slow her pace. She didn’t want to hear what Baron said. He was an honest guy so he wouldn’t fabricate the truth. Then again, the truth was horrifying enough. They’d been dancing around their feelings for a long time but the last twenty-four hours had turned fate’s hand. Now, they had things to talk about, matters to handle.
She entered the bathroom and locked the door. Pressing her head against the wall, she blew out a hard breath and closed her eyes, trying to slow down her runaway emotions. To make matters worse, she couldn’t quit thinking about her time alone with Baron.
Even sweeter than the illicit memories was the fact that Baron had risked everything to protect her. He’d put his life on the line and ultimately saved her.
Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she tossed her purse to the counter and gripped the porcelain sink. “What the hell are you doing?”
Her phone buzzed a couple of times, indicating back-to-back text messages. She stared at her reflection, wondering if Drew saw straight through her.
Probably.
She took a step back, questioning her motives. She’d dressed in a pair of fashionable light denim jeans with a jacket to match. Apparently, she’d been feeling frisky after the morning she’d enjoyed. Her barely-there red tank revealed too much cleavage. Baron hadn’t taken his eyes off her since they’d left the hotel.
Digging for her phone, she cursed under her breath when she couldn’t stop her trembling hands. She needed to calm down. Since they’d boarded the plane, Baron hadn’t acted out of character. If anything, she’d invited the trouble and then slammed on the brakes.
She’d acted like a doggone tease.
The night before had stood as proof. After they’d driven out to the farm looking for her parents, she’d more or less crooked that proverbial finger and summoned all sorts of naughty acts. She’d left her bedroom door open while changing clothes, knowing damn good and well Kane would send Baron to fetch her.
She couldn’t dismiss what had happened that morning. Baron had been asleep when she’d left the bed and hit the shower. She’d passed by her luggage, but had deliberately chosen to leave all clothing in her suitcase. Her idea of parading around in a towel had been premeditated.
No, she couldn’t blame Baron. What man wouldn’t RSVP with some level of enthusiasm? She’d dressed for attention and she’d earned it. Even Drew had seemingly noticed her. As her mother used to say, “Don’t dress like a slut and then holler virgin when you’re desperate to get laid” and perhaps that was the real problem.
She missed Mark and Spenser. It had been over eight months since she’d been intimate with anyone.
Another text came through and she dug her phone out of her purse. A wave of disappointment washed over her as she read, “Hey baby. We’re held up. What’d you say you meet us at the fairgrounds? Our buses are right inside the gate. We’re still at the recording studio and may be a while. See you soon. Love you, beautiful.”
“Really?” She glared at the phone. Held up? She’d traveled across country to spend time with her men and they were held up?
After a few grunts, groans, and grumbles, she dialed Ansley. Ready to vent, she postponed returning Spenser’s message.
“So? How w
as he?”
“Who?” Patience was caught off guard.
“Oh please, Patience,” Ansley drawled. “You flew from North Carolina to California with the man who would otherwise be the bane of your existence if you weren’t interested in him. I’ve never known you to spend more than an hour or two with any male behind closed doors—only the Joseph brothers, which I won’t mention, the McCoy brothers, and Baron.”
“Thanks for not mentioning the Joseph brothers,” Patience grumbled. Even though it had been a few years, they were still a sensitive subject. They’d publicly embarrassed her and made her feel foolish. She would go to her grave resenting them simply because they were married with children when she’d dated them and she hadn’t known. She’d never meant to hurt anyone, particularly the women who were stuck at home raising their children while they were out fooling around with her.
“Tell me you still don’t think about them.”
“Ansley, I didn’t call to talk about the past.”
“Snap damn! I’m excited now,” she said in a chipper voice. “Let’s talk about sex.”
“Says the woman who sleeps with four men. Don’t you ever get tired of the subject?” She grunted. “Don’t answer that. Oh and for the record, don’t get any ideas about Baron. If he’s off limits to me, he’s off limits to you.”
“I don’t know,” Ansley sang. “Maybe I should ask my fellas if they can scoot over and make room for one more.”
“Don’t even think about it,” she bit out, realizing that option wasn’t exactly off-limits. Ansley had always thought Baron was hell-hot.
“My sister Trixie did it. Maybe I should try it. Ya know…tell the guys that variety is the only way to spice up the sex life. Variety and additional life partners.” She cackled and that silly laugh of hers resonated through the phone. “Oh Patience, you’re in trouble now. The more this is discussed, the more I like it!”
“As you talk to yourself,” Patience grumbled. “Okay, woman. This shit is real here. I need your advice.”
“Go ahead. Shoot.” Ansley’s tone drastically changed. “What do you have for me?”
“Mark and Spenser are held up at the recording studio and I’m in a poduck diner making small talk with Baron and Drew. Before Drew met us, it was…uncomfortable to say the least.”
“How?”
“Baron had the ‘serious’ talk, the one where—”
“The one where he wanted to talk about your feelings?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Are you surprised?” Ansley’s elevated voice squeaked. “Patience, you spend more time with him than you spend with the men you claim to love.”
“Claim? I do love them, Ansley.”
“That’s all fine and dandy but no offense here—Mark and Spenser have never looked at you like Baron looks at you.”
“The sad thing is, I know you’re telling the truth there.” She should’ve told her about their intimate moment at the hotel. After being the recipient of his burning gaze when her tongue had been on his cock, Patience had realized that no one had ever looked at her with such lustful intent. “But Mark and Spenser are musicians. They’re artsy. Their music comes first, but they do look at me like they love me.”
“I never said they don’t love you, but ask yourself if they give you the looks that matter.”
“And what are those exactly?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Those ‘fuck me up against the wall’ looks or the ‘bend me over and make me scream and holler’ kind of looks. Do either one of them give you that much?” She paused and then blurted, “I don’t think so because if they did, I’d hear about it.”
Patience considered Ansley’s question for a moment, which wasn’t a good sign. “Yes. They have before. Not recently, but in the past, yes.”
“Hmm…okay. Now ask yourself this—do you return the same? I’ve watched you with Baron. When that man gets a hold of you? Honey, I’m here to tell you, there won’t be anything left of ya. He’ll rip into you like fucking you is a true, basic need.” She released a drawn-out whistle. “Do yourself a favor and don’t try to sneak one in when no one is around. When the dirty deed goes down, that man will remind you why it’s so great to be a woman. He’ll show you why women like to fuck as much or more than men.”
“Oh, Ansley, stop it.”
“Don’t fault me for speaking the truth, girlfriend. By the way, where is the elusive Baron? Tell me you aren’t hiding in the bathroom while he’s somewhere alone with Drew. Those two together are dangerous. In fact, Tristan and I have a little side bet going on. Want to hear about it?”
“No.”
“Oh why not? Be a sport.”
“Because I know what you’re going to say.”
“You wouldn’t know if you hadn’t already considered it, too.” Ansley laughed. “As one of those entertainment reporters once said, ‘Drew Davidson is the capital F in every woman’s fantasy.’”
“Which was corny, by the way,” Patience said, remembering the interview Ansley was referencing.
“Then I’ll be blunt. Peggy Dawson, remember her? We went to high school with her. Well, anyway, she and Drew had a fling a couple of summers ago while the band was here. According to her, Drew can fuck all night.”
“Ansley, sometimes I worry about you. After a few years with four men, one would think you would have something on the brain other than sex.”
“It’s because of the terrific sex that I don’t have time for much else. Go get the man, girlfriend. Your other fellows have all but given him their stamps of approval. Who do they call to sit with you when you’re sick? Baron. Who do they call when someone tries to kill you? Baron. I mean, come on now, Patience. They know what they’re doing and have for a while.”
“I guess we’ll soon find out.”
“Why’s that?”
“They’re planning to have ‘the’ talk.”
“Are. You. Serious?” Ansley screeched. “Oh my God! Tristan! Come here. Hurry! He’s doing it.”
“Ansley. Shh! Where are you?” Patience could almost picture her standing in the middle of Clink, ignoring everyone else in the place, all because she wanted to inform Tristan of Patience’s sex life status.
“At Clink.”
Shit. “Who else is there?”
“Just Tristan. He had already said you and Baron would be naked and grinding before the day was over.”
He was almost right. “We’re not quite there yet, Ansley.”
“Well why are you talking to me? Get out there and grab hold of opportunity.” Ansley laughed aloud. “You know what? I get a real kick out of me.”
“Of course you do.” Patience grinned as she thought of Baron saying something similar about opportunity. “You know what? You’re right. It may be time to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“I sure wouldn’t turn the other way,” Ansley said. “Oh, speaking of which, I meant to tell you. We hired more bartenders.”
“Great.” She hoped they were ugly and fat.
“They’re hot.”
“But of course they are. I’m sure Tristan is thrilled.”
“He’s not the one who’ll be climbing the walls,” Ansley said. “Consummate the deal before you come home. That way Baron will know who you belong to.”
“I’m pretty sure he already knows.”
* * * *
“You’re fucking her.” Drew didn’t beat around the bush. “Mark and Spenser will be okay with it. So ya know.”
“I’m not sleeping with her.” Baron dragged his hand down the length of his face. “Speaking of sleep, I wish Mark and Spenser would hop to it. I could use a nap before the show tonight.”
“Good luck with that. I don’t know why they didn’t tell you to meet them at the fairgrounds. They’ve been at the recording studio all morning.”
“Why aren’t you there?”
“It’s all vocals, man. I can’t hum, much less carry a tune. And you changed the subject.”
“You’re not interested in her?” Drew snorted at that. “Right.”
“I never said that.”
“Of course you didn’t. You’re a standup guy who wouldn’t lie. But you would fuck your buddies’ woman. That you would do.” He shook his finger at Baron and then winked at whoever was behind him. “They know it and she probably does, too.”
Baron didn’t turn around. He could tell by the look on Drew’s face. He wasn’t flirting with a stranger. Drew had a particular expression he seemingly reserved for Patience and no one else.
“You don’t know me too well.” Baron pushed away from the table. When he first stood, he had every intention of stepping aside and letting Patience slide right in beside him, but as soon as he turned to look at her, his thoughts took a detour. Glancing over his shoulder, he muttered, “We’ll be right back.” A stride or two into his walk, he realized how Drew would perceive what was happening. He turned long enough to leave him with a warning. “Not a word about this. I’ll explain later.”
Drew smirked. “No explanation necessary, man.”
“Baron, what’s wrong?” Patience clearly misinterpreted his intentions.
Apparently his quickened gait was enough to set off a few alarms in the busty little vixen’s head. The damn things should’ve been blaring all right, but not for the reasons she might have thought.
He grabbed her wrist and spun her around. Then, he redirected her down the same narrow hallway she’d just left.
“What are you doing?”
“You’ll see.”
“Baron!” She jerked her arm and glared at him. “What is wrong with you?”
“Damn if I’m not ready to show you.”
“Let me go,” she said, trying to break free again.
“I will in just a minute.” He pushed her inside the restroom and reached behind her hips to lock the door. By that time, he was bat-shit crazy, but when he caught a hint of her perfume, he was a man in the moment.
“What. Are. You. Doing?” Patience stamped her small foot beside his.
Sex Fest [Cowboy Sex 8] (Siren Publishing LoveEdge) Page 5
