Playing for Keeps (Honky Tonk Angels Book 5)

by Ciana Stone

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Well, now, I know a person has to do what they must to earn a living, but let me tell you what I told your blonde friend. This is a Christian home. I don’t cotton to anyone having shack ups, loud parties, drinking or drugging in my home. So, no bringing men home and respect my other tenants and be quiet when you come in.”

  Roxie bit back a smile. At four foot nothing and darn near as wide as she was tall. Dressed in lime green Capri pants, a white pullover top with green appliqued butterflies and a green short sleeve jacket to match her pants, Mrs. Baker didn’t exactly pull off the intimation routine. Especially not with that squeaky high-pitched voice, big blonde teased up hair and makeup fit for a stage act.

  Still, she owned the house and Roxie respected that. “Yes, ma’am. You can count on it. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

  “So, are you going to be working in the kitchen or waiting tables?”

  Roxie stopped in mid-motion. “Waiting tables and working the bar.”

  “You ever done that before?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Oh so you’ve spent a lot of time working in bars, have you?”

  All at once, she got it. Mrs. Baker was digging for information.

  Roxie smiled. “I better get changed. Don’t want to be late on my first day. You have a good evening, Mrs. Baker and don’t you worry. I’ll be quiet as a mouse when I come in.”

  Before Mrs. Baker had a chance to respond, Roxie hurried to her room. She grabbed her bag of toiletries and headed for the bathroom to shower. Twenty minutes later, she turned in front of the mirror. When Cade said he’d have a shirt sent to her, she’d assumed it would be a standard T-shirt. Not a spaghetti-strapped, tight, white, cropped-off top that showed as much as it covered.

  There was no way to put a bra under it. Well, maybe a strapless one, which she didn’t own. And forget borrowing one from Dini, who probably had a dozen. Roxie would have to invest in extra socks to fill Dini’s cups.

  At least the wording on the front of the shirt covered her breasts and obscured her nipples. Honky Tonk Angel was stamped boldly in red with a set of angel wings framing the words.

  Cute design. And now her official work uniform.

  Damn, why the hell had she left Las Vegas?

  That thought caused a tightening of her jaw. Not even Dini knew the real reason Roxie had left. It wasn’t something she was willing to share with anyone. Besides, what was done was done and right now she had to focus on making enough to have the car fixed so she could leave this one-horse town and get on with her life.

  As she brushed her hair, her thoughts turned to her new job and her new boss. She’d always made a point not to get involved with people she worked with. It caused too many complications when it didn’t work out. And in Roxie’s experience, work relationships never worked out.

  Cade Beckett was going to make it hard to stick to her rule. The man was lethal. And it wasn’t just his going-silver hair, eyes the color of storm clouds and a face that was handsome enough to stop traffic. Maybe it was that gambler’s air about him. That air that said the bigger the stakes and the more he had on the line, the better he liked it.

  There was an intensity to him that the good-old-boy façade couldn’t cover. And that was dangerous. At least for her. It spelled trouble with a capital T. Bottom line? She had to keep her hands off Cade Beckett. Regardless of how much she’d like to dive into that tantalizing pool of temptation, she had to steer clear.

  With her resolve firm, she headed out the door for her first night of work.

  *****

  “Want a warm up?”

  Cade turned his attention away from the schedule on the bar to look up at his cousin Hannah. She held a carafe of coffee in one hand.

  “Yeah, thanks.” He lifted his cup.

  “So the new girl starts tonight?”

  “Yep.” Cade hid a smile. Cotton Creek was a small town and it didn’t take high-speed cable, smart phones or the internet for news to spread faster than wild fire. By now, half the people in town knew Roxie and her friend had broken down. Probably knew that Dini had been hired at the Blue Belle, and that the Honky Tonk was getting a new waitress.

  He’d lay odds that tonight’s crowd would be bigger than normal just out of curiosity. It was the way of small towns. Not much happened out of the ordinary and when something did, everyone was curious.

  “Shit, there go everyone else’s tips,” Hannah said softly, her eyes turned toward the door.

  Cade turned his head to follow the direction of her gaze and a spear of heat spiked through him.

  Roxie.

  Christ on a crutch. What she did for a tank top and cut-off jeans was a sin. A tempting, dead sexy sin. The tank top was tight enough to have been painted on. It accented her full breasts and exposed her from mid-torso to the top of her low-riding jeans. He couldn’t help noticing that the jeans had been cut off short enough to make a man hope she’d bend over.

  Over-the-knee black leather boots showcased thighs that brought images best left for wet dreams to mind.

  “Mr. Beckett,” she said as she stopped beside him.

  “Roxie.”

  “Where do you want me?”

  The sudden swell of erection at her words had several suggestions spring to mind. In my bed, on the bar, the floor, bent across a table. There was a multitude of places he’d like to have her.

  “Why don’t you start behind the bar?”

  “Will do.” She turned her attention to Hannah. “Hi, I’m Roxie Ellis.”

  “Hannah Sweet.”

  “The owner?”

  “One of them. My sister, Cody and I own the place.”

  “Well, it’s very nice to meet you and I appreciate the job. Would you mind showing me the ropes?”

  Hannah cut her eyes at Cade then back to Roxie. “Sure. Come on back.”

  Cade couldn’t help but smile as Roxie turned. Oh, damn. The way the denim hugged her ass was criminal. He better keep her working behind the bar. Sure as shit, there’d be more than one fella who tried to get his hands on that.

  The surge of jealously shocked him. What the hell? Was he experiencing some kind of alpha male thing? He didn’t even know the woman and already he was dealing with an uncomfortable hard-on and jealousy over the idea of another man touching her.

  He gave it some thought as he watched Hannah go over things with her. Roxie got to him and he knew himself well enough to accept that he’d never be satisfied until he had her. And being a gambler, the challenge of winning her had appeal.

  A smile came to his face. Winning Roxie was now the goal. But the key was making her come to him. And she would. He just had to figure out the right buttons to push.

  Yes, he was definitely going to have Roxie. Suddenly, it looked like it was going to be an interesting time in Cotton Creek after all.

  *****

  It was eighteen minutes past eight when Jayce and Callie walked into the bar. Cody knew that because she’d just looked at the clock hanging on the wall behind the counter. She turned at the sound of Hannah yelling hello to Callie.

  With them was Wes Pursell.

  Cody was about to yell out a greeting when she saw him.

  Lord have mercy. She’d gone on about it with her sister and her friends, bragged about how she’d know when “Mr. Mine” walked into her life and what she’d do, but she’d never fully believed it would happen.

  Truth be told, she was starting to fear that maybe her sister Hannah was right. Maybe they were both going to end up old maids. They’d be the Cotton Creek spinsters who lived out their lives working the bar, watching other people find romance and love.

  Then eight-eighteen happened. It couldn’t have been more than a second that she’d stood there paralyzed but it had felt like a frozen eon of time. All the noise had died and she could see nothing but him.

  He was tall. Taller than Jayce and even Wes, who stood a good two inches over six feet. His build was best described
as lean but it was clear from the tightness of his T-shirt and the skin it exposed that his lean was packed with solid muscle. His hair was dark, dusted with gray at the temples, a bit wavy and combed back. Eyes that were light, maybe hazel or gray, were topped with thick elegant brows.

  His face was not that of a young man. She estimated him to be well into his forties but he’d certainly not lost anything to age. He was, in her opinion, breathtaking. And looking right at her.

  Cody shook herself, collected her wits, and yelled hello to his group. Jayce, Callie and Wes all threw up hands in greeting. A moment later, Hannah hollered to Callie that she had the group set up with a table.

  The man with them watched Cody as the group made their way to the table. Cody came out from behind the bar and headed toward them. The man was still watching her and as she approached his gaze locked with hers.

  Holy shit. That was one potent look he was giving her. She could feel it clear down to her toes. Cody held his gaze as she walked up to him and stuck out her hand.

  “Cody Sweet. Co-owner of the Honky Tonk Angels.”

  “Jaxon Riggs.” He took her hand and gave her a sexy smile.

  “Renegade Riggs?” This was Renegade Riggs? The man Wes and Cooper had been trying to hire? She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but she was certain she hadn’t expected him to be sex in jeans, melt-a-woman-into-a-puddle-with-a-look sexy. Nor had she expected him to have a voice as smooth as butter, deep and soft, caressing the words that emerged from his mouth.

  “Been called that a time or two.” He smiled as if he were all too aware of the thoughts going through her head. That snapped her back into control.

  “Yeah, right, the gypsy. Can’t stay in one place?”

  “Seems to be the way of things.”

  “That’s going to change.”

  “Is it now?” The smile he gave her had enough power to light the state of Texas, and was sexy enough that she knew she wouldn’t be sleeping tonight.

  “That it is.” Cody returned the smile before she turned her attention to Callie. “You get everything squared away?”

  Cody already knew that Callie had gotten everything settled with the father of her child. He’d shown up at court, started trouble, and a police officer had died. He was now back in prison where he belonged and he’d never bother Callie or her daughter Lily again.

  What Cody didn’t know was what Callie had decided to do about the offer she’d received. A music producer from Nashville had offered her a contract. Cody was aware that being a performer was Callie’s childhood dream and she was happy that Callie had been offered the chance to fulfill it.

  She was also sad that it came at a time when Callie had found a man like Jayce Weathers. Jayce was a stand-up guy, a good father to his son Carson and just a downright good man. Not to mention hot as a July 4th firecracker. And so in love with Callie he could barely see straight.

  Callie looked at Jayce. “Did we work it out?”

  Jayce shrugged and looked at Cody. “I’m kind of hoping she’s going to stay.”

  “Me too.” Cody looked at Callie. “So? What’ll it be girlfriend?”

  Callie looked at Jayce. “Are you sure that’s what you want? Really sure?”

  “I am. The question is, are you? It’s no small thing to turn your back on an offer like the one you received. This is a recording contract, honey. You dreamed of that since you were a child. You told me that.”

  “Just like I dreamed of being happy and having a family. Besides, I have plenty of places to sing. Here, in the shower, on the porch swing, riding in my car—”

  “It’s not the same.”

  “The joy is in the doing, not the money or the fame. I want happiness, Jayce. A home and a family.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  Jayce cut a look around. “This is not the way I planned to do this, but what the hell. “Stay with me Callie. Be my wife and family.”

  “Your wife?” Callie looked from him to Cody and back to him. “Your wife?”

  “My wife. I love you, honey.”

  “Oh, god. I love you Jayce. But…are you sure? One hundred percent sure?”

  “I am. I love you, Callie. Please stay with me and be my one and only.”

  Cody smiled when Callie looked at her. Callie gave her a wink, then grinned at Jayce. “Well damn, Jayce, how can a girl say no to that?”

  “I’m hoping you can’t.”

  “You know I can’t. I love you.”

  “So are you going to marry me, Callie?”

  “Oh, yes I am. I most definitely am.” Callie went into his arms and Cody grinned at the sight.

  Cody was thrilled for Callie. Callie had become not just a dependable employee, but a good friend. “Then this calls for a celebration,” Cody said when Callie turned to look at her.

  “Indeed it does,” Callie agreed and smiled at Jayce.

  “Hannah!” Cody yelled and looked around.

  Hannah was at the bar and looked around at Cody’s shout. “What do you need?”

  Cody motioned for Hannah and when Hannah joined her, Cody grabbed her hand and led her to the stage, telling her about Callie and Jayce on the way.

  They stepped onto the stage and up to the microphone. “Hey, ya’ll,” Cody said.

  The people in the bar quieted and looked at the stage. “Happy Friday,” Hannah said. “We’re sure glad to see everyone and hope this is the start of a good weekend for all of you.”

  There was a bit of cheering and hooting for a few moments. Cody waited until it died down. “We’d like you all to join us in congratulating our gal, Callie Williams and Jayce Weathers. Seems like they decided to tie the knot. Callie and Jayce? Congratulations and a lifetime of happiness.”

  “Congratulations,” Hannah added. “We love you guys.”

  “The next round is on the house,” Cody added.

  The people in the bar cheered and clapped and by the time Cody and Hannah stepped down from the stage, Callie and Jayce were surrounded by people wishing them well.

  “I need to check on some things in the kitchen,” Hannah said. “You have the bar covered.”

  “That I do.”

  Cody made her way for the bar as Hannah headed for the kitchen. As she drew near, she saw him. Jaxon Riggs. Leaning on the end of the bar. She walked behind the bar and stopped to look at him.

  “What can I get’cha?”

  The smile that came on his face spoke of a lot of things—things she hadn’t thought about in a long time. “Beer.”

  “Draft, bottle, domestic or import?”

  “You choose.”

  “What makes you think I’d know what you’d like?”

  “Oh, I’m betting you know what I want.”

  Fuck me. Cody wasn’t someone given to cursing and rarely dropped the F-bomb, but damn if this didn’t call for it. The look he gave her was powerful all on its own and his voice had the capacity to turn a woman’s thoughts to all kinds of delicious ways to sin. Combine the two and it was enough to have her wanting to drag him into the office and commence putting those naughty thoughts into practice.

  She turned, went to the cooler and selected a beer. After pouring it into a mug, she poured a shot of liquor. He was waiting when she placed both glasses on the bar in front of him. Jaxon looked at what she’d brought.

  “So what do we have here?”

  “Old school. PBR and Jim Beam.”

  Jaxon grinned, picked up the shot glass and dropped it neatly into the mug. He then lifted the mug and, with his gaze locked, on hers, downed half of it. When he pulled the glass away from his mouth, he blew out a breath. “That does it.”

  “You want anything else?”

  “Oh, I do, but I have to get back to the table and talk to the boss.”

  Cody heard the message and saw it in his eyes. She nodded and smiled at him. “Then you best get a move on.”

  “Be seeing you, Cody Sweet.”

  “Yep.”

&nbs
p; She watched him make his way back to the table. Someone at the end of the bar yelled and she turned her attention back to her customers. She told herself she wasn’t going to pay Riggs any more attention. She’d chat with her customers and go about her normal routine as if he were not even there.

  That was what she told herself. It was not what happened. She couldn’t keep from glancing his way every few minutes.

  *****

  Riggs shook hands with Wes Pursell and watched as Wes left. He and his partner, Cooper Quinlan had offered way too sweet a deal to turn down. Riggs found it interesting that Herbert Pursell’s and Lucas Quinlan’s sons had partnered up in an energy venture.

  Having worked for both men, Riggs could speak from experience and say that he was willing to bet that both fathers were about as happy as sore tail cats and hoping like hell their sons failed.

  Riggs didn’t think that was going to happen. He’d been on the phone with Wes and Cooper quite a few times, as well as with Bronson Weathers, who he’d known a long time. They were sitting on what could be the biggest strike in the continental United States.

  And they were offering him five times what he normally made to take the job. The sticking point for him had been the clause they threw into the contract about him guaranteeing them one year.

  A year went by quickly, but Riggs didn’t like making that kind of commitment. He’d had them reword the contract so that if things went south, he had a way out. When they agreed and then offered him a huge bonus if he made the entire year, he couldn’t find a reason to say no.

  They’d had a trailer brought in and set up at the main drill site, so he didn’t have to worry about housing, or having to drive far to get to work. While some people didn’t cotton to the idea of living at the drill site, it didn’t bother Riggs. It wasn’t like it was permanent.

  But then, that was the way everything in life was, in his way of thinking. Nothing was ever permanent. Everything changed.

  This job definitely had its perks and one of them was the way-too-fine brunette bar owner, Cody Sweet. Riggs would be the first to admit that she was probably too young for him. Chances were, he was old enough to be her father.