Dixie Lynn Dwyer (6 page)

“Uhm, would this have anything to do with Vic and Tommy?”

Elise lifted her head so quickly that Ava must have immediately known she had been right. She smiled at Elise.

“Okay, spill the beans. They finally made a move?”

Elise’s mouth opened then closed. She swallowed hard.

“They really aren’t interested in me. They never have been. They just saw Tagart flirting and showing interest.”

“Honey, you have got to be blind. I guess ignoring all the signs that rough, rugged, ex-military men show when they’re interested in a woman can’t be seen by Dixie Chix. None of you ever realize, until your men push full force, how interested they really are.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Susanna, Paula, Juliet, Alexa, and even Sally. Their men showed all the signs, but none of them saw them, acknowledged them, or took them seriously. At least not until they pulled out the big guns. So what is it going to take for you to realize that Tommy and Vic Ollsen want you?”

She shook her head at Ava.

“Can’t happen. I’m not interested.”

“Not interested my ass. I’ve seen the way you watch them, especially while they’re riding the bull and the women are hanging all over them. You’re jealous and you get all quiet and nervous. I’ve also seen the way they watch you. They’re like hawks. It must be something in their heritage or backgrounds that makes them look so intense when they’re watching you. It’s eerie and sexy.”

Elise covered her face with her hands.

“It can’t happen. I have to ignore them and these feelings.”

“What happened last night?”

Elise began to explain about the text message and then about Tommy and Vic making moves on her in the bedroom together.

Ava began to fan herself.

“Hot damn, woman, you should be jumping at that opportunity. They are good-looking men and good men for that matter.”

“There are lots of good-looking and nice men at Dixie Chix.”

“Give me a break. I know there are, but have any of them made you feel this aroused and attracted to them? Have any other men made you think about them so much that you couldn’t sleep? When they were kissing you and they were touching you, were you lost in the emotions and connection you felt with them? How about turned on being intimately touch and kissed by two men at once?”

“Oh God, no. No, I can’t let all that make me forget about Devlon. I’m not over him.”

“He’s the boy you were involved with in Tennessee that died?”

Elise nodded her head.

“Honey, I’m sure he loved you and you loved him, but life goes on.”

“I can’t go on with that part of my life. He was killed, Ava. I saw his body. I nearly died myself from the sadness and pain.”

Elise felt the tears roll down her cheeks. Ava walked closer and gave her a hug.

“I’m going to share something with you, Elise. I was married once.”

Elise looked up, shocked to hear this information about Ava. They all knew very little about one another’s pasts, just that they struggled and needed to survive.

“I was, to a wonderful, loving, hard-working man. He was in the military. We waited until he was discharged to get married. We were married for two months when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.”

“Oh Jesus, Ava. I’m so sorry.”

“It was a terrible time. Not only because I was losing my husband, but also because I was with child. I found out the week before he died.”

“A child? What happened?”

“I lost the baby. I had a miscarriage four months into my pregnancy. They said it was sick and that the baby wasn’t growing correctly and that I should abort. I wanted that baby so badly, because it would have been a reminder of Jonathan and a part of him that I would always have. It wasn’t meant to be. I lost everything and felt like I shouldn’t even be alive. I didn’t want to live. I sold all my stuff, including the house, the baby things, and everything that reminded me of my life and I packed one bag and took the bus out of Georgia. That’s when I met Susanna. She was working at the bar in this place and we started talking about making money. Meeting people and not looking back at the past but starting over. Anyway, what I mean to tell you in all of this is that you can find love again. The heart heals with time and just because you find another man or two attractive and sexy men doesn’t mean that you’ll ever forget the love and relationship you had with Devlon. It’s time to move on. It’s time to give love another try.”

Elise began to cry and Ava held her tight.

“It will be okay, sweetie. I promise, it will be okay.”

Ava was speaking with Tagart and Carver about the promotional items they brought along with them to hype up the event.

“We brought a photographer with us. The boss wants to get some pictures of the place and some of the guys entering the contest,” Tagart stated.

“Yeah, we’ll need Elise for some photos, too. We discussed how awesome it would be if Elise did a little routine like she did the other night on the electric bull, before each event. Then maybe she could be like a cover girl for the whole event. The winner of each round that moves on to the final round will take photos with her,” Tagart stated.

“Oh jeez. I don’t know about that, guys. Sure, Elise is pretty crazy sometimes, but I can’t make that decision for her. You’ll have to talk to her about it, and I’ll have to run your ideas by Susanna.”

“That’s not a problem, Ava. I personally think that Elise would do fantastic, but I guess I’m biased.” Tagart looked toward where Elise was tending bar and talking with some guys.

“Well, let me call upstairs to Susanna and see if she has some time to go over this now. I’ll come get you in a little bit.”

“No problem, we’ll be at the bar,” Carver said then winked at Ava.

“That is one gorgeous woman.” Carver watched Ava walk away. Tagart chuckled.

“She is out of your league. Plus, I may need some help with Elise. Let’s go make nice.”

Tagart walked up to the bar and some guys made room for him and Carver.

“Hey, gorgeous, I missed you last night. Your phone ain’t working?” he asked and winked. She raised her pretty little eyebrows at him and placed her hands on those sexy hips of hers. The woman had a body on her. He was disappointed that her tight red top landed at her waist instead of her midriff so he could see those tight abs.

“No, my phone is fine. I’m not some booty call, Tagart. Plus I hardly even know you.”

Carver laughed. “Oh shit, you gave her one of your lines?”

“Shut up, Carver.” He looked back at Elise as she wiped down the bar.

“Honey, it wasn’t like that at all. I really meant that we could get together at the bar or something when I said meet at my hotel.”

“Sure you did. Now, can I get y’all a drink or what?” She glanced around at the crowded bar, and he figured now was not the time to push. But he would get her in his bed, one way or another. She was too sexy.

“We’ll take two beers and don’t be a stranger down this end. I like to watch you smile.”

She shook her head at him.

“I don’t think that your plan is going too well,” Carver stated then took a sip of his beer and looked around the dance hall.

“I think it’s going great. She likes me. That’s the first step in seduction.”

Carver leaned closer. “But you ain’t just trying to seduce her, you’re planning on abducting her.”

“If necessary, when the time comes. But for now, I’m working my charms. I have a feeling if her friends can talk her into that photo shoot and Tysler Cobbs get’s a look at her, he’ll be way interested. Now, what we need to do is get more information on these challengers for the contest. I need to know if they have families, girlfriends, et cetera, so we know what strings we can pull to bribe them into the ring back in Tennessee.”

“I’m already working on it. Plus James and Stucky are in town now, too. We’ll work it, as we always do.”

“Good. Real good,” Tagart stated as he looked at Elise.

Maybe he could get the photographer to talk Elise into wearing a bikini on the bull. Now that would be a fucking hot sight.

* * * *

“There is no way that Elise is going to pose for pictures in some getup for the promotions. Is that Tagart’s idea? I don’t like how thoroughly interested he is in her,” Susanna expressed to Ava as she looked over the balcony and down to the floor below. She had a great view of Elise’s small bar and Tagart and Carver. Tagart was smiling and watching her every time she walked away from him.

“It’s not like she has to wear a bikini. She’ll wear what she usually does,” Ava stated.

Susanna looked out toward the bar then back at Ava.

“I’m a little worried about Elise. She was acting kind of funny yesterday and then she disappeared for a bit.”

Ava turned away and smiled to herself. She knew that the Ollsen twins had finally confronted Elise about their attraction to her.

“What? What do you know but aren’t sharing?”

“My lips are sealed.”

“Oh no you don’t. Y’all keep referring to me as the mother hen, then this mother hen needs to know that her Dixie Chix are okay.”

Ava chuckled. “God, that sounds so funny coming from you. You’re only twenty-six.” Ava laughed.

“Well, any time you’d like to take over, miss twenty-seven, you let me know.”

“Ah, hell, no one mothers like you do, Susanna. By the way, how do you feel about being a grandma soon?”

Susanna gasped then gave Ava a gentle smack on her arm.

“Don’t you dare start that shit.”

Ava was laughing hysterically and then Susanna did, too.

“It was a funny one. I’ll give you that.”

“Sure was,” Ava replied.

“Now, back to Elise. What’s going on?”

“Well, let’s just say that the Ollsen twins have finally decided to embrace their attraction to Elise.”

Susanna widened her eyes in shock.

“No way? Big Tommy and Big Vic Ollsen, the deputies?”

“That’s them.

“Damn, those two are good-looking.”

“Yeah, and they have that wild, untamed look to them, too. I guess it has something to do with their heritage.”

Susanna sighed then nibbled on her bottom lip.

“What’s wrong?”

“Now I’m really worried about her. If she’s seeing them, they’re going to flip out about the photo shoot and the exposure she’ll get.”

“She’s not seeing them yet. They just made a move at Thanksgiving and she’s not biting. She’s scared and not quite sure she’s ready to date.”

“I know she’s still not over Devlon and how he died. She never gave all the details, but she did mention some bad people and not being able to prove that they killed him.”

“I know. She didn’t sleep well last night either. I think she’s drinking Red Bulls behind the bar,” Ava told her.

“I’ll maybe have a talk with her about all this stuff first, before we say yes or no to Tagart. If he doesn’t want to do the promo stuff then so be it. I think we’ll be fine either way.”

“Okay, that sounds good to me. I’ll get someone to cover her.”

“Thanks and do me a favor and help Sally check over the stage for tonight’s performance? Now that she’s pregnant, I’m going to worry about her tripping or falling or who knows what.”

“You? What about Mason and Steven? They’re going to scare everyone away from that front table by the stage.”

Susanna laughed. “We might as well put a reserved sign on it, or they’re liable to toss people out of the seats.”

Ava chuckled as she shook her head and closed the door behind her.

* * * *

Ava was heading down the hallway when she saw Tommy and Vic coming through the back emergency door. G-Force was letting them in. She also noticed the box Vic carried and the smell of BBQ sauce that filled the hallway. She smiled, wondering what they were up to. They were very intense-looking men, but she had learned quickly how kind and respectful they were. If Elise could get over her past, they would make her very happy.

“What do you have there?” Ava asked as they walked closer. She inhaled as she closed her eyes.

“Is that BBQ chicken from Big Bob’s BBQ?” she asked, and Vic smiled.

“Yep.” Then Tommy looked at G-Force and smiled as he handed him a big bag. “That’s for hooking us up.”

G-Force smiled. “Any time, brother, and good luck with Elise.” G-Force headed back toward the front.

“What’s going on?” Ava asked with a smile.

“We told Elise we would discuss some things at dinner, then remembered that the three of us are working, so we took our break and are hoping that right around now she’ll take her break,” Tommy stated.

“She usually takes it now,” Vic added, and Ava smiled, thinking how sweet it was that they knew exactly when Elise took her breaks at night. They also went as far as driving to Cellar County to get food from her favorite place. But she wondered if they knew how much Elise liked the corn bread from Big Bob’s.