COWBOY FOR SALE--A Second-Chances Spicy Romance

by Janet Wellington

  “Thanks. I was afraid it might fall off the rail into the parking lot,” she explained.

  “So, do you come here often?” Jared groaned and laughed. “I can't believe I just said that. Believe me, I actually do know how to make conversation. Anyway…it's just that I haven't noticed you in here before.”

  Lacey grinned and felt all the more comforted that she was not the only one who wasn't completely at ease tonight, based on his faltering speech and cute blush. She examined his face because she couldn't decide exactly what it was that made him seem different…and appealing, she had to admit. He wore no cowboy hat, for one thing, she decided, and his face looked a touch older than the majority of the people at the Rockin' Ranch. His brown, wavy hair, cut in long layers, fell over his collar and she couldn't help mentally designing a new style for him. In the light shining from a bulb over the back door she also noticed more than a few fine strands of silver mixed in with the dark gold highlights.

  Then she noticed something new…a well-worn wedding ring on her dancing cowboy's left hand. So, it was official…definitely not a bachelor.

  “Actually it is my first time here tonight. I'm with some friends.” She took a sip of her beer, and forced herself to take a deep breath before adding, “My name's Lacey—you're Jared, right?” That wasn’t so bad—at least this cowboy was safe to practice on, she decided. Why not?

  Jared's brow furrowed, his expression seeming to question her use of his name.

  “When they called you in to fix the microphone, didn't that man call you Jared?”

  “A good dancer and observant. Lacey, you'll do fine tonight. I predict you'll be beating them off with a stick. In fact, just give me a wave and I'll throw you a drumstick from the stage.”

  Lacey felt herself relax and begin to enjoy the banter. “So, are you a roadie or are you in the band?”

  “Actually, I'm just filling in for part of the summer—substitute bass player. Glenn's wife just had a baby and he wanted to spend some time at home. So it worked out for both of us.”

  “Ah...substitute bass player and microphone magician.” Lacey heard a drum roll from inside, then the crash of a cymbal. A cheer escaped from the crowd. By the sound of it the live music was about to start. “Well, I guess I better get back to my friends.”

  “And I better get back to work. Have fun tonight, Lacey.” Jared nodded politely and swept his hand out for her to go through the doorway first.

  Lacey rejoined Kandy and her boisterous group still gathered at the middle of the bar. All were giddily drinking shots of tequila, licking salt off their hands and biting limes. Lacey took a sip of her now lukewarm beer and looked around the crowded room. She knew the night was going to be a challenge, but she was determined it would at least be fruitful.

  And she wasn't leaving without settling on a cowboy for the auction.

  Chapter Two

  Sitting at the bar, Lacey paid close attention as Kandy pointed out the single men she knew—some on the dance floor, some at the bar, and some from the group near the ladies room. She included Hank in the long—and descriptive—list. And even though Kandy said she'd heard he was a flirt and a playah, she declared he was probably worth the trouble.

  “He really is a cutie—and a great dancer. You should just ask him to dance. I'm telling you, he won't turn you down,” Kandy said, now staring at the band, her gaze fixed on Luke like a thirsty person eying a glass of water. She bounced with the music, her upper body moving with the beat of the song.

  “You're lucky I'm even here, let alone entertaining the thought of dancing with a stranger.” But hadn’t she done just that outside? She made a mental note to ask Kandy later about her bass-playing, dancing cowboy. Maybe he wasn’t as attached as the name charm on the necklace made it seem. A girl could dream.

  “Oh, Lacey, quit worrying about it,” Kandy said, offering her a confident smile. “Just chill—it'll be fine.”

  It was pretty obvious Kandy agreed with anyone who had the opinion that Lacey needed to relax a little more and let down her guard. Okay, so she would. At least she’d try. Maybe it really was time she stepped away from the past and at least considered the future. She was certainly wiser for having gone through hell, right? So, wiser and perhaps ready. Time would tell.

  “Who’s doing a watermelon?” one of the young women yelled as she waved to the waitress.

  When Gloria took their order Lacey agreed to join the group in a shot. When the tray arrived of shot glasses filled with bright pink liquid, the young women all tipped their heads back and slammed back the watermelons, then let out a woot. Lacey sipped half hers and was surprised it was so sweet. It definitely reminded her of the watermelon-flavored hard candy she'd loved when she was a kid, always trading the green sour apples for the pretty pink watermelon ones.

  Gloria stood by in case refills might be ordered, Lacey assumed.

  “What are these made of,” she asked her.

  “Jack Daniels, pineapple juice, a little grenadine for color. Careful, though, a few too many and they’ll kick you in the ass,” Gloria warned.

  Though she didn't really care for the strong taste of alcohol, as a rule, the sweet watermelon went down easy. She finished her shot and placed the empty shot glass on Gloria’s tray, but waved off a refill. The rest of the women yelled in unison, “one more!”

  The alcohol definitely took the edge off her nervousness and Lacey felt her anxiety ease a little. Maybe everything would be all right tonight. It could happen, right?

  After the group’s second round of shots, a popular line dance song enticed Kandy and her friends to the dance floor while Lacey stayed behind and watched from the security of her barstool. She watched as Kandy danced quickly to the front, placing herself directly in view of Luke as he sang. The floor quickly filled with solo dancers who slipped into the pattern of steps, while some couples ringed the outside in a quick two-step. Lacey studied the repetition of steps and smiled at Kandy's determination to hold Luke's attention.

  Kandy was a good friend who, despite her young age, probably knew her better than anyone. Most importantly, she'd been there for her during the last year when she'd thought her whole world was falling apart. Though Kandy was immature in many ways, she had a level head and a solid foundation built from growing up in a loving, supportive family. Something Lacey envied.

  Kandy had managed to help her face the fact that even when everything seemed devastatingly horrible, life just went on anyway, and that ultimately everyone needed to look for a way out of their own unhappiness.

  The young stylist’s solution had sounded so simple. Over egg rolls and chop suey at lunch one day in the food court, Kandy had convinced her that she had to give up the whole idea of life being unfair. In fact, she'd told her, life was basically unfair and she’d reiterated how each person was responsible for creating their own happiness. That’s what her grandmother had preached to her since she could remember.

  Even Lacey's fortune cookie had agreed, affirming that There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way.

  From that moment on, Lacey's journey of healing had begun.

  Her life had been such a roller coaster of ups and downs. Promoted to Salon Manager one month. Falling in love the next month. Then she'd been busy planning a wedding and picking out china and registering at the mall’s nicest department store.

  Things had changed drastically in one dreadful day.

  Lacey shuddered, trying her best to keep the dark memory under control. Dirk had appeared to be the perfect catch: undeniably handsome, charming, seemingly financially secure, and a single dad with custody of a four-year-old son. She had fallen head over heels with Dirk very quickly in their dating relationship. She had also fallen in love with his little boy. Hard. Little Devyn had taken residence in her heart the moment she’d met him and they’d been best buds from day one.

  It had surprised her to feel what everyone called her natural maternal instincts. She said it was Devyn who deserved the credit. He
was bright, ever cheerful, and full of fun. He made every day brighter and she quickly realized how much her world had improved when Dirk and Devyn had become a part of it. Every day began with a smile, a hope to see the little boy and to plan their next adventure.

  Everything had seemed so wonderful, Lacey remembered, and her world had seemed perfect. Perfect until she'd called Dirk's number in the middle of the day, intending to leave a romantic message on his home phone’s voicemail.

  Her stomach had literally lurched when a female voice had answered the phone instead of Dirk’s voicemail message of “You know the drill, leave a message.” Closing her eyes, Lacey replayed the moment for the hundredth time. Not knowing what else to say, she had asked for Dirk and was told he wasn't home. The voice sounded very young…and familiar. Somehow she had found the courage to ask who she was.

  The voice had replied, “Heather. Who's this?”

  Lacey had said nothing more and quickly ended the call. Fighting the nausea that had threatened to overwhelm her, with shaking fingers, she had dialed Dirk's work number.

  After he'd listened to her questions, and finally her accusations, he’d pleaded for a chance to explain and they'd met for dinner that evening. He’d confessed his affair with his secretary, and that she was pregnant and he would marry her. They planned to leave California and move to Texas to be closer to her family who would help with the financial burden. He’d also confessed he’d stopped paying his mortgage and intended to walk away from his house, which was upside down, worth half of what he’d paid for it.

  Lacy had left the restaurant in tears, her perfect life in shambles, her heart too broken to ask the question she’d dreaded most: what about Devyn?

  In the end, she'd discovered Heather was just part of a long list of lies. Before Dirk and Heather left town, she’d had one tearful conversation with Devyn. That had sent her to bed for the weekend, crying her eyes out and vowing to never get hurt that way again. Ever.

  She had survived, but had been left with a hurt and a wariness that had kept her from dating over the last year. She'd found she just wasn't that interested in men, and took the time she felt she needed to heal. Though, even after a year, part of her knew the hole in her heart would never mend.

  Sighing deeply, Lacey allowed the memories to fade as she focused on the dancers still out on the floor. For the first time, the hurt was only a dull ache. The pain had lessened a tiny bit more each day. She had followed everyone's advice and kept as busy as possible, concentrating on her work, making the salon successful. At least her career path was on track. She smiled, knowing that Kandy had been right about being responsible for her own happiness. She was okay now, and, if she was totally honest with herself, she finally felt ready for her first step in returning to the world of the living, regardless of how panicky she still felt.

  Finally succumbing to Kandy's relentless pleading—even before the bachelor assignment—Lacey had agreed to at least start going out and having fun—try to be social again. All the younger women at the salon had encouraged her to be like the guys and avoid a serious relationship like the plague. They had persuaded her to play the field a little and concentrate on just having a good time, that she deserved it.

  That decision had been followed by another. Lacey had decided to take a mature, logical approach to re-entering the world of singles…she'd made a list of what she wanted. First and foremost, no more single dads. Ever. She wouldn't take another chance on losing the love of another child. She knew it would be too much for her fragile heart.

  And she would look for someone her age, or even a little younger, someone fun and adventuresome.

  She also decided to focus on physical traits opposite of Dirk. She would look for tall and blond—it had taken weeks to stop seeing Dirk in every dark-haired man she saw in the mall. And: financially secure, she'd added to the list, hating the fact that Dirk had hidden his precarious situation from her. No, she would only settle for an equal partner, someone with a stable income and a blossoming career. She ended the list with the requirement that her mystery man must respect and encourage her career, and enjoy her independence. Her profession was extremely important to her—actually the most secure part of her life—and her career was nothing she would give up for anything...or anyone.

  Lacey returned her attention to the jam-packed dance floor and smiled a small, secret smile, reciting her mantra to herself: I can do this.

  “How 'bout a dance, pretty lady?”

  Lacey jumped a little at the sound of the voice so close to her ear, then turned to look into Hank's bright blue eyes and caught her breath. “Sure, but I'm not very good and—”

  Hank smiled and said, “Well, I’ll teach ya—c'mon.” He took Lacey's hand and led her to the edge of the dance floor, behind the line dancers.

  Lacey’s heartbeat thumped in her ears. Maybe finding a cowboy would be achieved in record time after all. That thought was followed by: be careful what you wish for.

  Expertly, Hank scooped her into his arms and began to two-step.

  Amazingly, she found herself naturally falling into the rhythm of the two-step. She felt secure in Hank's hold and had to admit how nice it felt to be held tightly, being expertly steered behind the other spinning couples that ringed the dance floor. She slid her left hand down a bit onto Hank’s forearm, mimicking the position of the other dancers, noticing his firm bicep that flexed as he turned her, from time to time, or guided her around a slower couple.

  She was definitely getting the hang of it, though she was still glad she’d gotten through that first dance out on the deck.

  When she looked up Hank flashed a dimpled smile at her. She couldn’t help but smile back. The man was even better looking at this close distance.

  As Hank guided her in front of the stage, Lacey caught Jared’s gaze. He mouthed something—doing great, maybe?—and smiled, though to her it seemed the smile never reached his eyes.

  “Either I'm a great teacher, Lacey, or you don't need lessons,” Hank said, then pulled her even closer as they circled the dance floor.

  The song ended abruptly with a yee-ha shout from the line dancers and Lacey pulled away from Hank to join in the applause, more than pleased with herself for having made it through without a stumble or a toe stomp.

  She felt Hank’s hand on her elbow and he led her toward the front door, saying, “How 'bout some air? It's pretty nice outside.”

  At the entrance Hank took her hand, drawing her outside onto the long front porch. He pointed and they made their way to an empty loveseat made of delicate, bent willow branches. She sat down, fanning herself with her hand, definitely feeling a little overheated from the dancing, or else it was a reaction to being in Hank’s arms.

  Hank removed his cowboy hat and fanned her with it, offering his dimpled smile that definitely reached his eyes. “So, where have you been all my life, Lacey?”

  She returned his irresistible smile with a genuine one of her own. “Thank you for asking me—I’d heard you were a good dancer.”

  “Entirely my pleasure,” he said, leaning in closer.

  Lacey's looked down at her hands, clasping them, afraid her fingers might tremble. She wasn’t feeling all that comfortable sitting so close, but she didn’t really want Hank to know she was nervous. And why did she feel nervous anyway…goodness, it was only a dance. She was being silly, just out of practice Kandy would probably say. This was normal behavior and she needed to just relax and go with it.

  Hank put his hat back on his head, then reached for her hands and took them both in his and leaned in even closer. In an instant, he found her lips, giving her a quick, light kiss.

  Lacey pulled away from him, surprised, then slipped her hands out of his grasp.

  “And that was for your bravery in getting out on the dance floor in the first place.” He watched her, maybe waiting for her reaction. Well, she wouldn’t react. It was a simple kiss. That’s all. Nothing to get excited about, right?

  “I'll go get us
something tall and wet and we can cool down a little out here, okay?” Hank stood up before she could reply and walked along the porch back to the entrance.

  With her lips still tingling from Hank's kiss, Lacey touched her fingertips to her mouth. Though she was a little taken aback, she again decided it had just been a friendly kiss. Nothing more.

  She watched Hank as he walked away, thinking Kandy would definitely label his as a “cute butt.” Leaning back, she took a deep, nervous breath.

  It had been a long time since she'd been kissed. Too long. Dirk had never enjoyed kissing and she remembered how odd it had seemed at the time. When he'd proposed to her, they had embraced and kissed almost as lightly as Hank had just kissed her.

  Lacey took another deep breath. Her stomach felt a little queasy and she couldn't seem to calm the butterflies. Closing her eyes, she took five measured breaths, instructing herself to relax and enjoy the moment. That was the point. It was time to rejoin the regular world, where people got together, got to know one another, and had a little fun.

  Drinks in hand, she watched Hank amble down the porch toward her. She smiled and when he got closer, reached for one of the glasses.

  “I thought you'd like a Tennessee Lemonade to help quench your thirst. My, you sure look pretty sittin' here waitin' for me.”

  Lacey drew deeply from the straw and finished half the drink in one long series of swallows.

  “Hey, watch it, little lady—that lemonade packs quite a kick.”

  “What's in this?” Her brow furrowed at the conflicting reactions from the iced beverage that warmed her stomach at the same time it cooled her throat.

  “Lemonade with a shot of Mr. Jack Daniels, just to keep it interestin',” he replied. His crooked grin told her he seemed amused at her reaction to the strong drink.

  But, she reminded herself again, this was perfectly normal. Having a drink, sharing some conversation. What was she feeling all worried about? With that, she smiled and took another sip.