The Big Girl's Guide to Buying Lingerie: A Cowboy Love Story (Bluebonnet, Texas Book 4)

by Amie Stuart

  “Rowdy, I need to speak with you.”

  He patted Jade’s leg, signaling for her to stand up. “Could you go tell your dad hey while I talk to Susie?”

  Jade glanced from Susie to him and back again before nodding. Rowdy stood and draped an arm around Susie’s shoulder, watching Jade greet her dad and Nicky.

  “I oughta have Jerrod take you to the barn and whup your ass, young man!”

  “What did I do?” he muttered, waving at his future in-laws. Thank God they hadn’t brought Judge Trudy.

  “I’m thrilled you’ve made up with Liv, I’m beside myself you’ve worked things out so happily with Jade, but Liv’s talked about nothing but your wedding all day to anyone who will listen!” She tightened her grip on his upper arm as she talked. “You’re going to break her heart when she finds out—”

  “Wanna meet Jade’s daddy?” He led her across the porch and down the steps, doing his best to ignore her indignant sputterings.

  Susie was on her best behavior during the introductions, then Rowdy pulled Nicky aside and led him toward the backyard. “Sus, would you introduce Dr. Ballard around? Nicky and I have some business to take care of.”

  With a low, self-satisfied chuckle, he led Nicky away.

  “So, what’s this all about?”

  “I've got someone I want you to meet,” Rowdy replied, winding his way toward a picnic table situated in a far corner.

  “Which one of those pretty girls sitting at that table are you going to introduce me to? And have you and my sister come to some sort of permanent decision?”

  “Kellie, the redhead. And, yes I do believe we have.”

  “Oh, man...that’s good. That’s good you have. Oh, man, she’s pretty.”

  They stopped a few steps from the table where Kei, Toni, her best friend Kellie, Nicholette and Rene sat chatting. “See the dark-haired woman sitting next to Kellie?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “That’s Toni. If you hurt Kellie, Toni will hurt you.”

  “She’s a doll.”

  “Your mom’ll hate her,” Rowdy warned with a smile.

  “How come?”

  “She’s a waitress at the dancehall.” Rowdy led Nicky to the table and introduced him to Kellie, smirking at the blush on her face and the frown on Toni’s. With one last small salute, he took off to find Jade. He found her standing at the bottom of the back porch steps with her father and Jessa’s, listening while they discussed Montana—from a geological aspect. Maybe now would be a good time to steal her away for a few. They could go for a walk...

  “Rowdy,” Jessa hollered from the stage. “Time to play!”

  Then again, maybe not. “Be right there!”

  “Jade, would you like to hold Hope?” Jason Stratton offered, patting his first granddaughter’s diapered bottom.

  “Of course, she would. She needs the practice, right Baby?” Rowdy grinned and pressed a kiss to her temple. He didn’t miss her muttered threat to do him bodily harm if he didn’t stop.

  With one last kiss, he took off for the stage and stayed there, but for the occasional break to kiss and pick at Jade. While he played, Rowdy watched his mom and the woman he loved sit and chat like old friends, despite Jade's distress over their lie. And he’d watched Aaron and Nicky Ballard spend some time getting to know his family—and Kellie, too.

  He stayed put, enjoying a good old-fashioned jam session with anyone musically inclined to join in. Everybody who could, had sung or played something. Everybody but him. He was exhausted, but today had been one of the best he could remember in a very long time.

  The sun had begun to sink, though it’d be hours before it actually set. People were slowing down, exhausted after a day of beer and good food, and he sat on Jessa’s stool picking out random notes with just Bo Foster for company.

  “What’cha gonna play,” Bo muttered.

  “Just thinkin’.” He sat and continued to pick. Jessa sat in a nearby chair, nursing Hope. Her older brother Travis had crashed out on Maggie’s couch after spending the day playing with his cousins. And up on the porch, Ty and Betti sat cuddled up on a swing.

  Jade finally crossed his line of vision, little Darach Boudreaux on her hip. She handed him back to his mother, who sat in front of Rowdy chatting with Jessa. Errand done, Jade turned and smiled up at him, settling on the bench beside Kei.

  Bo pulled up a stool and sat beside him, resting his fiddle on his leg, his bow clutched in the other. “You gonna sing something, or what?”

  Rowdy whispered in Bo’s ear, then smiled down at Jade. “I’m gonna sing something, I think. Any special requests, Honey?”

  Jessa burst out laughing, but Rowdy shushed her before she could say anything. “Well?”

  Jade's grin would have done the Cheshire Cat proud. “Surprise me.”

  “Come help me.” He softly strummed his guitar and smirked down at her, waiting to see if she’d rise to the challenge.

  “I can't sing,” Jade insisted, vigorously shaking her head while Kei and Jessa cheered her on. She frowned up at him, panic written all over her face. Jessa stood and gave her a little shove toward the stage. “I can’t sing!”

  “Then come inspire me. Come on,” he coaxed, doing his best not to laugh. “Come stand up here next to me.”

  “I’m waitin’ on you, boss,” Bo murmured, while giving Jade a hand up.

  Rowdy nodded and strummed a few bars, watching Jade to see if she’d catch on. She didn’t. But she jumped ten feet when Bo set a mike stand in front of her.

  She backed away and waved her hands in protest. “I really don’t sing!”

  “Scars heal, glory fades,” Rowdy softly sang in between fits of laughter.

  “Chicks Dig It”?” You’re gonna serenade me with “Chicks Dig It”?” she asked with a frown on her face. More than one person in the crowd laughed but he caught a puzzled frown on Kei’s face.

  “I guess I should explain. For those of you that don’t know, Jade and I met on an e-mail list for Chris Cagle fans. So, I thought, maybe I could sing her...a Chris Cagle song. Of course. How about “Night on the Country”?” He gave her a wicked grin, thinking of their late night horseback ride. Apparently she did too. Her face turned bright red.

  “How about “Ton of Love”?” she practically demanded from between gritted teeth.

  “I got your ton of love, Honey.” He winked and nodded at Ty who joined them, drumsticks in hands.

  “Muh Gawd,” Jade muttered, hanging her head.

  Ty stopped laughing long enough to shake his drumsticks at him. “You’re gonna get yourself in big trouble, bubba!”

  Jessa sat in the front row, howling with laughter.

  “Alright, alright, alright, I guess I’m gonna play something now, since you won't choose.” He nodded in Bo’s direction and they played the opening notes again. Jade's mouth slowly sagged open and her eyes widened.

  And he sang, “I’ll never be anybody’s hero...No wait stop! Stop!”

  Bo and Ty came to a screeching halt—literally in Bo’s case—and Jade frowned. Rowdy sighed. “I’ve waited all day for my turn to sing, and I have to get this right, okay?”

  “’Kay,” she whispered in the microphone, her huge eyes glued to his face.

  “You’ve asked me repeatedly what to do with me.”

  She wasn’t the only one to laugh, despite the shine of tears in her eyes, and he held up his hand for silence. “And I keep givin’ you the same answer. Just Love Me, honey.”

  Her lower lip started to quiver.

  Rowdy ignored it and plowed on, “I don’t think there’s any other song...I don’t even know if I could come up with the words to tell you how I feel as well as that song says it. I’m no poet. I-I’m just a simple man, like the song says. But I’ll always do my best by you. I’ll be the best husband and father that I can, if you’ll let me. All I have ever wanted from you, Jade Skye Ballard, was for you to just love me. But now I want something else. Are you up for the challenge? Will you be my
life? My wife?”

  “Yes.”

  TWO WEEKS LATER

  “Finished?” I asked softly from the door of Rowdy’s office. I'd stood there for the last five minutes listening to him type, afraid to interrupt.

  “Wanna read it?” Rowdy spun around in his chair and pulled a piece of paper off the printer.

  “Do you want me to?” I slowly crossed the room and waited to see what he’d say. The two weeks since our real engagement had been a beehive of activity—and explanations. Lucky for us, Daddy and Liv had been able to see the humor in our whole charade. And Susie hadn’t stopped smirking. But then, neither had I.

  I’d found everything I wanted in my Redneck Casanova.

  “Yeah,” he said, his voice all gruff. He held out his arm and I sat in his lap. I took the letter from him and read it.

  Dear Charlene,

  You’re right. You were a lousy sister, but then, I’ve been a pretty lousy brother. Guess that makes us even, huh? You could have told me mom had a boyfriend. Or maybe I’m telling you—his name’s Joseph and he’s pretty cool.

  I don’t really know what to say except I’m sorry for being such an ass. And I hope you’re home for my wedding in May, but if not, that’s okay. I know we’ll see you soon.

  I’m sorry about before. I missed you. Write soon.

  Love,

  Rowdy

  Acknowledgements

  The idea for The Big Girl's Guide to Buying Lingerie was a combination of three things:

  Once upon a time my BFF, Denise, and I attended a Chris Cagle concert (WOOT WOOT BILLY BOBS, TEXAS!) … and then walked into Whataburger to find Chris standing there, waiting on his food order. How we managed to get out of that Whataburger with our sanity and dignity intact, I have no clue, but we did. LOL

  I'll never admit just how many times we've seen Chris play over the years, and I still love me some Chris Cagle. I still play him on repeat more frequently than I'll (also) ever admit because…CHICKS DIG IT.

  Once upon a time, I went bra shopping at Target. YES that scene in chapter one is based on real life observations after a real trip to Target for new lingerie. And based on the feedback from my Wattpad readers (many of whom were keen to share their bra sizes), my complaints are legit.

  Once upon a time, I stood in my bedroom in a bra that didn't fit thinking, "I could totally write a book about this." Sometimes stories are a struggle. Sometimes they come at you full blown and it's all you can do to type fast enough. This was the latter. We writers call these gift books because they tend to be like unicorns.

  So this book's for Chris and all the amazing singer-song writers who understand the struggles that come with creating and who also make the music that inspires.

  It's also for my favorite Caglehead. Love you Dennie!!

  From The Author

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading The Big Girl’s Guide to Buying Lingerie! I hope you enjoyed Jade and Rowdy’s story. If you’re a frequent visitor to Bluebonnet, Texas, then I hope you enjoyed catching up with the family!

  Be sure you sign up for my newsletter so you can stay up to date on all the latest happenings:

  http://amiestuart.com/contact

  Tim’s story, the next Bluebonnet, Texas, book should be available in early 2016.

  Thank you for helping me spread the word, including telling your friends! Reviews really do help readers find books, so please take the time to leave a review on your favorite site.

  It would mean the world to me!

  Thanks again,

  Amie

  Other Places You can Find Me

  My website | Newsletter | Goodreads

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  The Bluebonnet, Texas Series:

  The Cowgirl Rides Away

  Once in a Blue Moon

  Redheaded Stranger

  The Big Girl’s Guide to Buying Lingerie

  COMING JANUARY 2016

  Even Cowboys Get the Blues

  Other Books by Amie Stuart

  Nailed (Wynn and Julie’s story),

  Hittin’ It (Will and Sabrina’s story)

  Screwed (John and Tish’s story—coming March 2016)

  Ropers Rule

  …and more!