by Ciana Stone
Age awareness, however, did nothing to dampen the attraction. She was one fine looking female, with a smoking hot body and something in her eyes that promised things that made a man unable to think about much else except getting her naked.
“Earth to Jaxon.” Callie’s voice had him turning his attention and his gaze to her.
“I wanted to know if you’d like to come to dinner on Sunday at Jayce’s family’s ranch.”
“Sure.”
“Great. It’s usually ready to go on the table at one.”
“I’ll be there, thanks. Want me to bring something? I’m no cook but I pick up a mean six pack.”
Jayce chuckled. “Beer is always welcome.”
“Bronson tells me you’ve got a big family.”
“My dad and us five brothers and our kids and wives.”
“All living in the same place?”
“On the same land. Everyone has their own house. We like each other but not that much.”
“I heard that.”
“Well, we need to get home and get Lily in bed,” Callie said and leaned over to give Riggs a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks again for coming to my rescue. It’s nice to have a new friend.”
“Yes, it is and no thanks needed. Drive safe.”
“Yep.” Jayce shook Riggs’ hand and then they left. Riggs watched them, noticing how many people stopped them on their way. Either they were a popular couple or this was one friendly place.
“Well, damn, I was starting to think we weren’t going to get you here.”
Riggs turned at the sound of Bronson Weathers’ voice. “Hey, Bronson. Take a load off.”
Bronson took a seat. “So, you and Wes got the details worked out?”
“We did. I left my stuff at the trailer before I headed over here.”
“It’s going to be okay there?”
“Yep. Place to sleep, shower and eat. Works for me. Want a beer?”
“Sounds good. I’ll go and—or not.” Bronson smiled at Cody, who’d just walked over to their table. “Hey Cody.”
“Hey yourself. What can I get’cha?”
“Draft is good.”
“All righty then.” She looked at Riggs. “Anything for you?”
“I’m good.”
“That remains to be seen.” She arched one eyebrow then turned and sashayed away.
“Oooookay.” Bronson watched her walk away, then looked at Riggs. “Something going on here?”
Riggs shrugged and grinned. “Just meeting the locals.”
*****
Roxie watched what was happening with Cody and the long cool drink of water that had entered the bar with Callie and Jayce. Obvious the guy tripped Cody’s switch. As Cody returned to the bar, Roxie sidled over next to her.
“Girl.”
Cody looked at Roxie and a second later they both grinned. Roxie had developed an almost immediate affinity with Cody upon their initial meeting. Sometimes all it took was one word and a look to convey a message.
“No shit,” Cody agreed.
“I’m seeing property of Cody Sweet already tattooed on that fine ass.”
“Yes ma’am. You don’t wanna wrestle me for him, do ya?” Cody drew two drafts as they talked.
Roxie laughed. “God knows we could make bank on that but no. Fine as he is, he’s not for me.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“He’s got the look of a gypsy.”
“And you want someone who wants to settle down?”
“Oh hell no, got too much gypsy in me, but I’m pretty sure his wanderlust and mine would mix like oil and water and I’m definitely not into complications. You, on the other hand…” She pointed at Cody. “I think you just might be itching for a little complication.”
“I think you just might be right.”
“Then go for it, hot stuff.”
“Oh you know it.” Cody gave her a wink and headed back toward Riggs’ table with the beer.
Roxie smiled, drew a draft for a new customer and then grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter. She could feel Cade’s eyes on her. It wasn’t an altogether unpleasant sensation. In fact, quite the opposite. But she was determined to ignore it. She had ignored it for almost two weeks and it was starting to wear her down.
The damn man was keeping her awake at night, imagining his hands on her and hers on him. She either needed to get laid or find a damn sex toy store because she was close to a meltdown.
When Cody returned to the bar, she filled Roxie in on the people who’d arrived with Riggs. Roxie was interested to meet Callie and filed away the information on everyone in her mental contact list. She had a near photographic memory so the chance of forgetting any of the people was slim to none.
By nine o’clock, the place was packed and she’d popped so many beer tops she’d resolved to scout out the local stores tomorrow and find a nice thick silver ring for her thumb. That was a trick she’d learned long ago. Wearing a thumb ring helped you pop a beer top without an opener and saved you from blisters.
“Hon, why don’t you take a break,” Cody said as Roxie rang up another sale. “Slip on back to the office and put your feet up for a few.”
“Thanks.” Roxie gave her a smile. She grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and headed through the kitchen behind the bar to the office. The moment she closed the door, the din of noise dampened. She took a long drink of water and leaned back.
“How’s it going?”
The sound of Cade’s voice had her springing away from the door. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. Cody told me it was okay to take a break in here.”
“Fine by me. That’s what I’m doing.”
“What?”
“Taking a break.”
“From?”
He chuckled and ignored the question. “You seem to have caught on to things. Cody says you’re raking in the tips.”
“It’s not rocket science,” she replied, stemming the urge to back away as he rose from his seat at the desk and approached.
“No it’s not.”
She waited for him to say more but he simply leaned one shoulder against the wall and regarded her with that slow sexy smile. “Customers like you.”
“Or the beer.” She wasn’t stupid. She’d been hit on and flirted with before tonight. And knew how to give just enough flirt in return to ensure a good tip but not leave the impression that she was available.
Cade’s smile widened. “Honey, they can get that beer all they want. You, on the other hand—you’re a temptation they haven’t tasted.”
“And aren’t likely to.” She met his eyes to show him she was not kidding.
“I wouldn’t fire you for it, sugar.”
“It wouldn’t matter—if I saw anything I was interested in.”
He moved a little closer. “So you haven’t seen anything that interests you?”
She knew what he was asking. And knew she should meet his eyes and lie through her teeth. But her brain didn’t seem to be working at the moment. The close proximity of his lean muscular body had her hormones spiking. She could smell the clean scent of soap and man; feel the heat coming off him.
“Nothing I’m going to act on.”
“Oh? And just for the sake of argument, if you were inclined to act, just what would be the subject of your interest?”
“I think we both know the answer to that.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she knew it was a mistake. First rule of gambling—never give your opponent anything to use against you.
Cade’s smile faded, to be replaced with a look that had her wanting things she knew she had to stay away from.
He leaned a little closer. “You want to fill me in on why acting on this interest would be a bad thing?”
“I already told you. Not as long as I work for you.” Roxie edged away a few inches, then mentally cursed herself for showing weakness. “I don’t mix business and pleasure.
“Yeah, I remember.”
“I guess I’ll get back to work
.” She turned to leave, eager to escape the feelings his nearness inspired.
“Hold on.”
She paused.
“We’ve got a bit of a problem, Roxie.”
“With what?”
“This.”
He had her pressed against the door and his lips on hers before she could protest. She could have pushed him way. Should have. But damn he felt good, the long lean length of him pressed against her, the taste of him. She gave in and returned the kiss, grabbing his hips to pull him more firmly against her.
Then reason returned and with it, anger. Not at him. At herself. She pushed him away.
“It isn’t going to happen. I already told you.”
“Yeah, I know, not as long as you work for me.”
“Right.”
“Easy enough. You’re fired.”
“No!” She pressed both hands against his chest as he moved in on her. “No.”
Cade stopped, planting both hands on the door on either side of her and boxing her in. “Why? We both want it.”
“Sometimes that old saying is true, Mr. Beckett. The wanting is better than the having.”
“I’d be willing to bet that isn’t the case here, darlin’.”
“Maybe not, but I need a job more than an orgasm.”
He didn’t respond for several moments. “I disagree.”
“Then we’ll have to agree to disagree, won’t we?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. How ’bout we have ourselves a little wager?”
“What kind of wager?”
“That if you spend time with me outside of work, inside of three weeks you’ll change your mind and ask me to take you to bed.”
Roxie barked a laugh. “That’s so not going to happen.”
He smiled. “Put your money where your mouth is.”
“I have no money, as you well know.”
“Fine. If I win, you agree to stay for six months. Working for me and sharing my bed.”
“And if I win?”
“I pay you six month’s salary, fix your car, and wish you good luck as you leave Cotton Creek in your dust.”
Roxie considered it. “Six months regular bartender’s pay or six months at the same rate you pay me now?”
His mouth twitched as if he were fighting back a smile. “Your rate.”
“Define spend time with.”
“You know, sugar, dinner at my place, maybe some dancing on your nights off and necking on the couch.”
“Necking?” Damn, why did her pulse spike at the idea?
“Well hell, Roxie, are you scared you can’t resist me?”
“Not on your best day, Beckett.” God was going to get her if she didn’t quit lying, but she wasn’t about to let Beckett know that resisting him required effort.
“Then do we have a deal?”
Three weeks. All she had to do was hold out three weeks. She could do that. Couldn’t she? She might need to find that sex toy store pretty quick, but she could do it. Only twenty-one days and then she could say adios to Cotton Creek and get on with her life.
“Deal.” She stuck out her right hand.
“I think we can do better than that.” He claimed her in a kiss that had her blood humming and her toes threatening to curl. When he pulled back, his smile was cocky. “You’re going down, Roxie.”
Roxie felt the gambler within rise to the challenge. She leaned in toward him, pressing her breasts against him as her right hand moved down to cup the erection that strained against the leg of his jeans. “You wish.”
Cade laughed and moved away. Yep, he was definitely going to win this bet. Roxie might not warm his bed tonight, but soon she would. He would bank on it.
Chapter Four
Roxie popped the caps from the beer as she pulled them from the refrigerator. One by one she put them on the counter, except for the last one. That one she lifted to her lips for a long drink.
“Woo damn, that hit the spot.” She moved out of the way to put the empty beer container in the trash as the others moved in to grab drinks.
She and Dini had been invited to Cody’s ranch to have a Sunday afternoon cookout and “single girls’ night out” as Hannah called it. Two other women, Pressley Pursell and Lily Matthews, had also joined them.
Roxie liked all of the women and was surprised how easy it was to fit in with them.
“So, Hannah tells me that you were a showgirl,” Lily said to Dini.
Dini smiled sweetly. “Guilty as charged.”
“Did you like it?”
“I did. It was fun—while it lasted.”
“Would it be too nosey for me to ask why you quit?”
Dini cut a look at Roxie and Roxie noticed that all the other women looked her way as well. An uncomfortable silence started to grow, so Roxie grinned at Dini. “Ready to give up your secrets girl, or do we need to get more in you than a beer?”
Her quip eased things and everyone laughed. Dini giggled. “Well you know me, Rox. One martini and I’m telling my life story.”
“You have fixings for a martini, Cody?” Pressley asked.
Cody laughed. “Come on ya’ll, give the girl a break. She’ll tell us what she wants us to know. Let’s go sit on the back porch and I’ll start the grill.”
Everyone headed outside. Lily fell in step beside Dini. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to interrogate you.”
“There’s no real secret,” Dini said with a smile. “I just—well, I just needed to leave after I caught my boyfriend cheating on me.”
“Rat bastard,” Pressley growled.
“No kidding,” Hannah agreed.
“My sentiments exactly,” Roxie added.
“So, you two just decided to leave?” Pressley asked.
“Pretty much,” Roxie answered.
“And how did you end up here?” Lily asked.
“A wrong turn on the way to Mexico and our car broke down,” Roxie said as she walked over to the porch rail and looked out over the land.
“And now that you’re here?” Lily’s next question had Roxie cutting a look over at Dini.
Dini smiled and took a seat in one of the wooden rockers. “Well, I don’t know about Rox, but I think Cotton Creek is a wonderful place. It’s full of friendly people and it seems like a safe place to live.”
“But no casinos,” Pressley pointed out. “And working in a diner can’t be nearly as interesting or exciting.”
Dini shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s interesting meeting all of the people and making friends.”
“But it can’t be as much fun as being a showgirl,” Hannah commented.
“Oh, you mean being trussed up in a costume that nearly cuts off your breath and leaves half your boobs hanging out, and shoes that have your feet screaming in two hours? Yep, that’s fun.”
“So you hated it?” Cody asked.
“No. At first I thought it was great, but then the newness wore off and it became what it was. Just a job and one where people never saw you for who you are, but what they thought you were.”
“Okay that part doesn’t sound good,” Cody replied.
“No, it wasn’t. For whatever reason a lot of people, especially men, look at dancers like we’re all for sale to the highest bidder.”
“Now that hits my piss off bone,” Cody said and looked over at Roxie. “But I’m glad that you broke down here—personally and professionally.”
“Thanks.” Roxie toasted Cody with her beer. “You’ve got a great place and I’m enjoying working there.”
“But it’s nothing like what you did in Vegas, is it?” Hannah asked.
“No, it’s not.”
“What did you do?” Pressley asked.
“Security.”
“As in bouncer?” Pressley asked.
Dini laughed. “She did that and let me tell you, she’s pretty much of a bad ass. But then she graduated.”
“To what?” Pressley looked at Roxie.
“To being an AP.”
“AP?” Pressl
ey and Hannah both asked at the same time, making Dini giggle.
“Advantage player,” Roxie explained. “I worked high stakes games.”
“Oh, like that show I saw once,” Lily said excitedly. “The casino had this guy sitting in on a poker game and he would win every now and then and loose some, but stayed pretty even while everyone else was either winning or losing big and it turns out he was put in the game by the casino to spot cheats.”
“That was Roxie,” Dini crowed.
“So is it true that people like you aren’t allowed to actually play?” Lily asked.
“Yep.” Roxie finished her beer.
“Because you can spot cheats or know how?”
“Both, I guess.”
“Have you ever?” Pressley asked.
“Ever what?”
“Spotted a cheat.”
“Oh, yes.”
“And what happens to them?”
“They get banned from the casino.”
Pressley shook her head. “Man, I don’t know about gambling. I mean it’s okay to plunk some coins into a slot machine but to actually put my hard earned money on the line? That’s something I have a hard time with.”
“You wouldn’t if you knew you would win,” Roxie said.
“And do you?” Cody asked. “When you gamble, I mean. Do you know you’re going to win?”
“You mean straight up, no cheating?”
“Straight up.”
“Well, I know what to look for to tell me how to win.”
“Which is what?” Hannah asked.
“People’s tells. How they play, their patterns. Everyone has them. You spot them and you know whether they have the hand to win or not.”
“I’d be too nervous,” Hannah said. “I’m like Pressley. It’s one thing to give up twenty dollars, but to put hundreds or thousands of dollars on the line? Nope, that’s not for me at all.”
“Then you’re smart,” Roxie said and started gathering up empty bottles. “Anyone ready for another?”
A chorus of voices had her smiling and heading inside for another six pack. She was happy to have a moment to herself. Talking about Vegas and what she’d done there made her uncomfortable. She knew how it was when people were curious. Eventually they’d ask enough questions that you’d slip up and say something you shouldn’t.
And Roxie’s secrets had to remain secret. There was too much riding to take a chance on them being revealed.
