Playing for Keeps (Honky Tonk Angels Book 5) (11 page)

“Hey. Kyle, how’s it going?”

“No complaints.”

“Well, you must be the only one.”

“Something wrong?” Liz asked.

“No, not really. Just tired, I guess.”

“Well you’ve pretty much been working non-stop the last couple of months. Maybe you need a break.”

“I wish. Hey, did you know that Pressley and Hannah have rented a house?”

“Yeah, Pressley told me earlier.” Liz replied. “It’s cool. I think they’ll make good roommates. She said they were headed up to San Antonio tomorrow afternoon to do some furniture shopping and have a weekend on the town.”

“Oh, that’s interesting.”

“Okay, what’s the deal?”

“What deal?”

“You’re interested in Hannah.”

“I didn’t say I am.”

“You didn’t have to. I know you’ve been out with her a couple of times and in fact, talk has it that Hannah and Cody were fighting over you.”

Cooper laughed. “Yeah right.”

“Just telling you the gossip. I know they’re not, but you know how fast gossip spreads in a small town. Anyway, I think it’s great that Pressley and Hannah are getting a place and hope it works out for them.”

“Same here. I was actually thinking of heading up to San Antonio myself this weekend.” Cooper looked around the bar rather than at his sister.

“Oh? Business or pleasure.”

“A little of both.”

“Well, it might do you good to kick back for a couple of days and I know how much you enjoy a five-star meal and luxury hotel.”

“Are you calling me a snob?”

“If the shoe fits, brother. Oh, there comes Hannah. Do you know what you want? I’m starving.”

Cooper turned to watch Hannah approach and couldn’t help but see the way other men noticed as well. She seemed completely unaware of it. In fact, her gaze was on him. That gave his ego a boost and also brought about another reaction. He actually wanted Hannah Sweet to like him. Not just be attracted to him, but like him.

It surprised him a bit.

“So, what can I get you all?” she asked.

Liz and Kyle both answered at the same time with, “The usual.”

Cooper had eaten there before and knew the food was good, so he smiled up at her. “I’ll have Kyle’s usual.”

“Not Liz’s?”

“Have you seen her eat?” Cooper asked.

Hannah chuckled. “She’s like Cody. Can out eat a man and never gain an ounce. I don’t know how they do it.”

“Doesn’t look like you have a bit of problem with weight from where I sit.”

Hannah actually blushed. How long had it been since he’d seen a woman blush? Would she be that shy when it came to intimacy?

“Why thank you. That’s so kind. And I’ll get this right out. Want another beer while you wait?”

“I’m good.”

“All righty then, it’ll just be a few minutes.”

Cooper turned to face Liz and Kyle. “What?” he asked at the expression on his sister’s face.

“Nothing. So, what did you decide to do about finding a place yourself?”

“You know you’re welcome to stay in the Creek House as long as you want,” Kyle said.

“And I appreciate that. But I’d really like to find a place in town. I just can’t decide whether to rent or buy.”

“I guess there’s no point in buying if you’re not planning on staying,” Kyle pointed out.

“Yeah, and I guess that’s what’s holding me back. I don’t know.”

“Well, I guess you’ll figure it out.”

“Yes, sooner or later.” He glanced toward the bar to find Hannah looking his way. He knew he was interested in her but he also knew that the interest wasn’t enough to get him to commit to living in Cotton Creek forever.

He’d tried the commitment thing and it had been a disaster. He didn’t know if or when he’d ever want to give that another try. The problem as he saw it right now was he didn’t know if Hannah Sweet was the kind of woman who would get into a possibly temporary relationship.

He didn’t have much time to ponder it. Wes and Lily showed up and joined them and before he knew it, the meal was over and Cody was yelling Honky Tonk Angels. She headed for the dance floor, dragged Liz to her feet and pulled her along as Hannah and Pressley joined them.

Who would’ve thought that a woman dressed in a 1940s style dress would look so damn sexy performing a country western line dance? He couldn’t keep his eyes off Hannah, and the couple of times she favored him with a sexy look, his estimation of her shyness was brought into question. Looks like that made a man think of all the physical pleasure two people could enjoy.

When the dance ended, Liz returned to the table to drag Kyle onto the dance floor with her. Cody, Pressley, and Hannah headed back toward the bar as other couples got up to dance. Cooper stood and as Hannah drew near and stepped in front of her.

“Care to dance?” He offered his hand.

“I’d love to.” She placed her hand in his and he led her to the dance floor, swung her into his arms, and pulled her close.

There was no stiffness or tension in her body. In fact, she molded against him, making him aware of her lush full breasts against his chest and the rhythm of her hips. It was intoxicating. Her feel, the slight smell of gardenia that seemed to waft from her hair and those green eyes looking up at him and going all smoky was like an aphrodisiac.

Yes, it was enough to have him making a conscious effort not to have a male reaction. Last thing he needed was for things south of the belt to stand up and salute.

“So, I’ve been meaning to ask if you’re busy this weekend?”

“Oh, darn. Yes, I am. Pressley and I are headed up to San Antonio to do some furniture shopping.”

“Well, that’s an odd coincidence. I’d planned on being in San Antonio myself this weekend. Maybe we could have dinner one night.”

The smile on her face told him she liked the idea. “Oh, I’d love that.” Then the smile faded. “But I should probably check with Pressley. I don’t want to leave her on her own with nothing to do.”

“When are you leaving and coming back?”

“We’re leaving on tomorrow and coming home on Sunday.”

“Okay, so how about asking her if she’d mind you having dinner with me on Saturday?”

“I’ll ask.”

“Great, just let me know.”

“I will.”

The music ended and Hannah pulled away. “Thanks for the dance. I better get back to work.”

“Are you working until closing?”

“No, just until ten.”

“Then maybe I’ll hang around and get another dance when you’ve finished.”

Hannah smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I’d love that.”

Cooper watched her walk away and then returned to his table. Wes Pursel and Lily Matthews had joined the party.

“You and Hannah are looking real cozy,” Lily commented.

Cooper shrugged. “She’s nice.”

“And a Sweet,” Wes said.

“Meaning?”

“Meaning tread carefully. There’s probably not a person in this town that wouldn’t be ready to string you up if you hurt her. Most of all her father. Billy might seem like a simple guy, affable and easy going but I’m telling you that if you screw with his family, the man will take you down.”

“Good to know.” Cooper didn’t take Wes’ advice lightly, and it gave him pause.

Was satisfying the itch he had for Hannah worth putting himself in the position of having a town full of people ready to lynch him if things didn’t work out?

Chapter Eight

Roxie woke, feeling the steady rise of fall of Cade’s chest beneath her cheek. For a few minutes she lay there, eyes closed, savoring the moment. Then it hit her.

She hadn’t woken with a feeling of anxiety.

The constant weight that had been attached to her for the last five years was gone.

It was almost frightening. She started to rise, but his arm wrapped tighter around her. “Roxie,” he murmured, still more asleep than not.

And it dawned on her. She was free. Somehow, being honest with Cade had freed her from the prison she’d built around herself. She’d never stop caring about Danny and would always make sure he was taken care of, but the boy she knew was gone and couldn’t come back.

The boy she’d loved had left and it was time for her to move on. And the man who’d stolen her heart was there with her, murmuring her name like a caress as he slept.

She was broke, had no home, no possessions but a broken down car, and yet she was free.

Love welled so strong inside her that she nearly cried. But this wasn’t a time for tears. This was the time to celebrate life.

Her hand moved down his chest to the buckle of his belt. Cade’s eyes opened and she sat, undoing his jeans. He helped and soon his clothes were in a heap on the floor. Along with hers.

Cade started to roll her onto her back but she stopped him. “Huh-uh. My turn.”

Without preamble, she climbed on top of him. “Honey, slow down,” he whispered as she started to guide him inside her. “We aren’t protected.  And besides there’s no need to rush. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

Roxie went stone-cold still. His tone was that of a real lover, someone with an emotional investment, someone who was making a promise. Yeah, he’d said he thought he loved her, but his voice now said it without using the words.

It embarrassed her that tears filled her eyes.  A small lump lodged in her throat making her breath hitch. Then it thrilled her when he cupped her face in both hands and searched her eyes, looking inside her to places she’d grown accustomed to keeping private.

“It’s okay, Roxie,” he whispered. “You’re safe. I promise.”

When his lips met hers, it was a kiss of promise and caring. Passion was there, strong enough to have her eager to feel him strong and hard inside her, but the passion was colored with emotion.

He took his time, exploring and tasting, the kiss tender and slow. It enflamed her, excited and thrilled her. And it frightened her. Not so much what she felt and sensed from him but what it inspired in herself.

God, she was so in love with this man. The fear housed within that realization flared bright and hot, then faded like a shooting star. In its place was wonder and excitement. It’d been so long since she’d felt love controlling her heart, making her weak in one breath and filled with energy in the next.

She gave herself to the kiss letting go of everything else but that moment. She reached for him, but before she could so much as touch his erection, he covered her hand with his. “Before we go any further, I have to say this. We’re not having sex or fucking.”

Nothing could have shocked her more. “We’re not?”

“No. We’re making love, honey.”

She nearly cried it choked her up so much. He smiled and laid her back on the bed. He sat beside her, letting his fingers trace down her body from face to thigh, then back up. “You are the most incredibly sexy woman I’ve ever seen in my life, Roxie Ellis. I’ve dreamed about this moment ever since I first laid eyes on you.”

She smiled up at him. “My friends just call me Roxie. Or Rox.”

“What do your lovers call you?”

Her smile faded. “I’ve only really had one—well, one that counted and…and… well, you know how that ended.”

“That’s the past, baby. This is the right now. And right now I’m asking if you’re ready for me. For love.”

“I don’t know. I think so. But you… you said you thought…I love you, Cade, but I’m scared.”

The moment the words were out of her mouth, she knew they were not the right ones. It was clear in the expression on his face.

“Then what do you want, Roxie?”

She couldn’t articulate the feelings churning inside her and didn’t try. Instead, she sat up, slid her arms around his neck, and pulled his head down into a kiss. For her, the kiss was one of offering and surrender. She loosed the restraints on everything inside her, opening herself so that she was emotionally bare for him.

Would he understand what the kiss implied? She didn’t know, but hoped he would recognize what she offered. Maybe he did. His arms wrapped around her to pull her close as he deepened the kiss.

And she knew her entire world changed in that moment, in that kiss. The past receded to its proper place and the
now
blossomed. She knew beyond all doubt that she’d beaten the odds. She’d found her man.

“Divorce Danny,” he whispered against her lips.

Roxie couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “Divorce? Why?”

“For me. For us. I love you, Roxie.”

“But I thought—”

“I was scared to admit it. But I know it’s true. This is real, Roxie, and we can’t let it go. If we do, we’ll regret it the rest of our lives. Divorce him, honey. Please. Divorce him and be mine.”

She’d never have believed it possible but there was no need for hesitation. She knew what she wanted and what she had to do. “On one condition.”