Briar's Cowboys (13 page)

Ram reached over and took over the torture of one of her breasts. Her legs didn’t bother supporting her any longer. Her arms were jelly and her head rested on Cannon’s shoulder.

“Oh God,” she muttered over and over. “Please…oh…God…please…”

“That’s right, baby,” Jax growled. “That’s right, milk my cock. Take it from me. Take it.”

“Oh!” Briar screamed, rearing up. Shaking. Her entire body was mass of electrical impulses and a pleasure/pain so exquisite she felt herself drifting away.

And then there was nothing.

Chapter Six

“This isn’t as good as Briar’s,” Ram complained as he stirred a bowl of chili at Leena’s diner later that night. Since Briar was gone for the evening and she hadn’t thought they’d be there for dinner, there hadn’t been a meal in the Crock-Pot—something he blame completely on Jax.

“She’s never made chili,” Jax said as he crumbled crackers into his own bowl.

“I can guess,” Ram grumbled. Of all the men, he’d probably been the most disgruntled when Briar had left for work—late—earlier today. He’d tried to hide it as she’d kissed them all sweetly before skipping out of the house. For one, the woman had no right to have so much energy after they’d fucked her into oblivion. For another, he wanted her home with them.

When she’d said he wanted a traditional woman, she’d struck far too close to home. Their sexual relationship might be far from conventional, but for everything else, he wanted what his daddy and ma had had. His father had supported the family and his mother had taken care of them all. Damn it, Ram saw no reason he and Jax couldn’t do the same for Briar. Whether she owned the ranch or not, they’d make sure it ran well and was a lucrative venture. Their woman would have no reason to worry. Ever.

She was everything he’d ever wanted—warm, loving, soft and hot. She baked cookies and she kissed him as if no one else had even mattered in the world. Even when she turned to the next man in their group and kissed that one, Ram never doubted the four of them were the center of her universe. In her arms, his aches and pains diminished and he felt like a hero, not a broken down rodeo cowboy turned cowpoke.

Sipping his tea and contemplating Briar’s embrace later that night, he ignored the conversation around him as well as the bell over the door, ringing to announce another customer. Morosely, he pushed a fry through ketchup while he thought. He needed to tell Briar his ideas soon. The more he contemplated the city slicker ranch getaway plan, the more he thought it could work.

The scrape of a chair caught his attention. “I’m surprised you’re here,” the newcomer said as he straddled the seat. The four looked to him as he grinned darkly. Robert, Briar’s cousin and their former boss, knew something they didn’t.

“Why’s that?” Jax asked casually. He leaned back and draped his arm on the edge of the table in front of him.

Cannon and Hawk leaned against the window next to the booth, as they too turned to look at Robert. A sick feeling churned in Ram’s belly. His old boss wasn’t one to relish bad news, but something about his demeanor said this was big and it would piss off every man at the table.

That being the case, it was probably about Briar.

“I was just about to head over to Bowen’s,” Robert started.

“Fuck,” Ram muttered under his breath at the same time Jax growl, “You’ve got to be kidding.”

Ram knew exactly where this was going. He hadn’t considered Bowen’s. He hadn’t even known they’d been hiring and had assumed Briar had a job in the city.

“I heard from my staff that they have a new bartender over there,” Robert went on as if he hadn’t set off four grumbling men. “I was about to head over there. Wanna join?”

“Um, hell yeah,” Cannon said.

Ram nodded. “If the guys are talking about her then they must think she’s available. I know no one’s gonna step out of line for fear of getting the crap beat out of them by the rapid wheels of Daly justice, but I don’t want anyone thinking my woman is available.”

“Concur,” Jax growled. “A bar in Daly. What the fuck is she thinking?”

“Let’s find out,” Robert said, standing then sliding his chair back to the table from which he’d taken it. Cannon and Hawk, growing boys that they were wolfed down the remainder of their fries before sliding out after Jax and Ram.

“We’re gonna need strength for this confrontation, I think,” Hawk justified as he stepped past Ram. “Let’s go make a mark.”

Jax threw money on the table for their food then, determined, the five men marched out the front door and headed next door.

* * * *

Briar cringed as her four guys slipped in the door with another man she didn’t at first recognize, but after a moment, she realized it was the older version of her childhood friend, Robert—the friend who was now her cousin and didn’t look any happier than her cowboys. The expressions on their faces showed they were pissed—very pissed. Peachy. She’d been hoping it would be a few more days before they showed up here, by then maybe the novelty of a new woman in Daly would wear off. It only seemed to be getting busier. John had told her that after just one week, business had doubled.

Ignoring the five newcomers and knowing she’d face at least four of them later, she turned to one of the patrons at the bar and left the bar’s waiter, Devon, to get the order from the sulkers who’d taken a table in the corner.

“What can I get you, Gus?” she asked.

“How about your number?”

“How about no? I told you. I’m taken. Check the menu and let me know your choice from there.” She looked to the one beside him. “Another beer, Pete?”

He nodded, and she got him one from tap as Devon returned to the counter.

He smiled. “Jax would like a…” he looked at his pad. “A…
What the fuck are you thinking
? And Cannon would like a…
Are you insane
? Ram and Hawk both ordered a…
we’ll kick the ass of anyone who touches you
. And your cousin said he’s just having a
you damned well will take my help.
Not sure I understand that.” Devon smirked while Briar rolled her eyes.

“He wants to help me with my ranch. So…beers for all of them, then.” Shaking her head, she got them each a draught and put them on Dev’s tray. “I trust you can tell this apart.”

“Hey. I’m a professional, newbie. Good luck with the smoldering stares. Don’t get burned.”

“I think I’m pretty burned already.” Heat rolled through her as she remembered the tie-up games they’d played today. She hoped she’d get lucky and there’d be more soon. As long as they weren’t pissed enough to move back to the bunkhouse, or worse, quit and go back to the Flying D. After the breakthrough they’d had earlier, though, she trusted them more than that. There might be yelling and glaring but then there’d be wonderful sex and lots of cuddling. Crossing the ravine was worth the nirvana beyond it.

Dev patted the back of her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. They’ll get over it. Though…I still don’t get why the owner of the Last Chance is working at a bar.”

“Long story.” The way gossip flew in a small town, Briar knew she needed to be careful what she said near others. She’d gotten to know Dev over the past few days and deep in her gut, she trusted him. Still, she needed to be discreet.

Jerking her head to indicate for Dev to follow her, Briar turned her back on the bar and went to the cooler against the back wall. She glanced up at the mirror. From here, she could still survey everything through the reflection.

She looked over at Dev who’d followed her then focused on pulling out the sliced limes she’d cut up earlier. “My dad left the ranch almost broke,” she revealed. “He sold off most of my livestock and fired the crew. With the little left, I need to feed the cattle, pay the nightmarish taxes and general bills. Beyond that, I need to live and take care of my staff. I’d rather try to make ends meet without getting a loan—or taking money from my cousin.”

“Have you ever…considered selling part of the land? Maybe a small parcel?”

“Why would anyone want a tiny plot in the heart of ranch country?”

Dev grinned. “I know someone. Maybe, I can explain tomorrow—just not here. Mind if I come over in the morning?”

Briar nodded. She was intrigued, and it couldn’t hurt to hear the man’s proposal. It could help. Still, even if she sold a part of the Last Chance, she’d remain at Bowen’s for a bit. She couldn’t leave them in a lurch; she was more reliable than that. Besides…she liked the work. She was good at it.

Turning back to the bar, she stowed the fruit in her work area and looked to the new cowboy who’d sidled up to the bar. Grabbing up a bottle, she spun it and poured a whiskey neat for him while he eyed Devon. Hugh Redder didn’t strike her as gay, but he sure had his eye on her co-worker. He came in every night, ordered the same drink and watched the waiter work the room.

“Gus,” she called after setting the drink before Hugh, “did you decide or are you giving up that stool?”

Jax watched Briar working the bar and was simultaneously irritable and impressed. She was a perpetual ball of friendly and competent motion. She moved with fluid grace, skillfully pouring drinks, conversing with the customers and staying clear of their reach. He knew she’d worked a bar in Chicago, but he’d never imagined such a smooth almost-choreographed rhythm.

That didn’t alleviate the edge of tension slicing through his gut. Tradition around Daly or not, one drink too many, one overly rowdy and determined cowboy and disaster could overtake the Bowen’s bar. Briar could be trapped beneath a pile of rutting bodies. He tried to tell himself that he was being over-dramatic, but he knew alcohol and lust didn’t mix. There probably wasn’t a man in this bar who didn’t want what Jax and his team had claimed for their own.

And he didn’t like her easy camaraderie with that Devon guy at all. The two of them seemed thick as thieves and just a little too close for Jax’s comfort. What the fuck was that guy up to anyway? Jax trusted Briar not to step out on him and the other guys since they’d made a commitment to one another, but he didn’t trust that Devon fellow one bit. Jax could clearly see the man wanted something.

Cannon jabbed him with an elbow. “She’s fine. You’re gonna start something if you keep glaring at everyone. There are four of us and at least forty of them.”

“I don’t like this,” Jax muttered.

“None of us does,” Ram growled. “I want to know what the hell she thinks she’s doing here. Why does she think she needs to tend bar and sell herself like this?”

Robert let out a low growl, only a protective and outraged family member could manage. However, the way Jax was feeling was damned close.

The five of them eyed the tight jeans and tiny shirt that bared a thin strip of her belly and the upper curves of her breasts. Occasionally, when she twisted or bent, she treated the bar to glimpses of her red, lacy push-up bra. While she wasn’t openly flirting with anyone, her dress was deliberately sexual. She didn’t dress this way for her men so why did she think it was okay here at Bowen’s? Dress like that purposely invited attention—perhaps unwanted.

“I’m burning that shirt—you all should know that,” Hawk muttered.

“I’ll help you take it off her and start the fire,” Ram offered darkly. His fingers tapped on the table as he stared at Briar. Never once since they’d gotten here had he taken his eyes off her. Not to look at them as he spoke, not to pick up his beer and not even to look at Devon when the man had come to get their orders.

“What’s up with her and that waiter?” Cannon muttered. Jax noted he’d barely stopped watching the guy since he’d come over to take their order. Apparently jealous, Hawk had hissed at him to stop staring earlier.

“They’re just friends,” Hawk growled now. “Fuck. There’s Briar’s bra again.”

“How soon until eleven?” Cannon asked.

Jax glanced at his watch. “Half hour. I think John just announced last call. He and Brian are rousting the non-paying crowd right now.”

As if summoned, Brian headed over to them. “Okay, guys, time to go unless you want something else.”

“Her,” Jax replied.

“No deal, man. Not on the menu. Behave yourself and go.”

Jax straightened and came to his feet to stand eye to eye with the bar’s owner. “Damn straight she’s not available.”

“Oh…” Brian glanced at the others at the table then back at him. “You’re from the Last Chance. You’re…you’re her team.”

“We’re her men,” Ram injected, rising to stand beside Jax. He jerked his head toward Robert. “And her cousin.”

“I see. Okay, then.” Brian turned and whistled loudly to get everyone’s attention. “Hey, y’all!” he called. “You’ve all been coming in here to check out the bartender and she keeps telling you she’s taken. These four here say she’s taken too, so spread the word.”

“Man…” someone groaned amid grumbles from a few others.

“Briar, hon. You’re done for the night. I think these fellas wanna go home. Everyone else, last orders come to me.”

Behind the bar, Briar blew out an irritated breath and tossed down her towel. Hand planted on her hips, she glared at the men waiting for her.

“Thanks. Now you pissed her off,” Jax muttered.

“Happy to oblige,” Brian quipped before taking off to replace Briar behind the bar. As she marched toward Jax and his companions, the bar’s patrons parted and gave her wide berth, none of them seeming to want her wrath or that of her men.

“Robert,” she said as she reached the table. “It’s good to see you!”

He pulled her into a hug. “What are you doing here, Bri? You know I would have helped you.”

“You’ve already helped so much. I don’t need you to support me.”

He sighed, as if rather put upon. “What about a low interest loan?”

She raised her eyebrows, her lips pinched. Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t mind the job.”

“We do,” the five men at the table snapped.

Robert caught her chin with his forefinger and thumb, making her look at him. Jax crossed his arms watching—at any other time, he would have swatted away the man’s hands, but right now, he knew Robert had something to say that Briar had to hear.