Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off

Tease Publishing LLC
www.teasepublishingllc.com

Copyright ©2006 by Cara North

First published in 2007, 2007

This was a truly great read! Cara North proves she has a captivating writing style with Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, spinning a contemporary tale of love between two people who thought they'd never find it and have resigned themselves to a business relationship.

5 Clovers—Jennifer, reviewer for CK2S Kwips & Kritiques

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off is one of the most entertaining, sexy and witty books I have read in a long time. Absolutely amazing this story will mesmerize from the beginning. It seduces you with the handsome cowboy and entertains you with the dialogue titillates you with scorching love scenes and makes you laugh at the wit. Completely ensnared you will not want to put this book down. I loved this book.

+ Wateena, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off is a delicious read with non-stop entertainment at its best. The dialogue is loaded in magnificent wit and the sex appeal transcends in the pages between the characters. I could almost picture Bethany and Jack making their first encounter all the way standing together at the chapel. Jack is one stunning, sexy, hot and tantalizing cowboy.

-
Linda, reviewer for Romance at Heart Magazine

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Qff

A Tease Publishing E book

Copyright© 2007 Cara North

ISBN: 978-1-934678-03-9

Cover Artist: Stella Price

Interior text design: Stacee Sierra

Editor: Heather Spence

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

Tease and the T logo is ã

Tease Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.

This book is dedicated to my grandmother; Mary E. Miller. She would probably smack me with it before laughing and then hugging me. I miss you Grandma, rest in peace.

I would like to thank my husband, Chris, for understanding that writing is a career not a hobby. In addition to my husband, I would like to thank the following people for their encouraging words regarding this book: Diane Osepchook, Diane Merlin, Laura Kitchell, and Nancy Naigle. I would like to say a special thank you to the editor Heather Spence, and the cover artist the awesome Stella Price you are both true friends and professionals.

Hoochie mommas!
Her girlfriends had left her at the slot machine, and now she could not find a single one of them. They were probably having a three way in an elevator right now.

Bethany Dodson took one look around the bar and considered walking right back out. She tugged at the sweater-set and made her way to the bar. Bethany actually felt a little relieved she was alone. There was one thing she planned to do for herself this weekend, and none of her so-called friends were going to be involved. If they had any clue, she would not be let out of their sight, much less dumped at the slot machines.

The only seat available was next to some long-legged cowboy, equipped with a cowboy hat and all. This really was not what she had in mind, but the only way to grab a guy and get married would be to get him drunk first. Bethany was not proud of this, but it seemed like the only way she would get what she needed. Her father had entirely too much influence back home. This could be her last shot at freedom.

"Do you mind if I sit here?” Bethany indicated the seat as she placed a hand on it. She would have to tiptoe to reach the damn thing. Why do they make bar stools so tall in the first place?

"Suit yourself.” He nodded and tipped his hat.

Bethany smoothed her hands along the back of her skirt to keep it in place, turned facing away from the bar stool, and began the process of easing up onto the seat. She tried to mount it like a lady, only to trip, sending her sideways into the cowboy.

"I'm so sorry.” Bethany realized she looked very unladylike as her arms flailed and grabbed onto his biceps for dear life. The last thing she needed was to fall on her ass. Making a fool of herself certainly would not get her anywhere.

"You wanna sit at the table?” He motioned with his head as his hands settled on her shoulders.

"I'm here alone.” Bethany thought about her statement and rephrased it. “I'm not here alone. I'm just at the bar alone."

"Come on, now you're not at the bar alone either.” The mysterious cowboy led her to the table.

"Manners. Wow! I thought those went out of style in the eighties.” Bethany fidgeted with her small Coach wristlet under the table. This was not the kind of guy she planned to con, but since he had made himself comfortable in the seat across form her, she really had no choice.

"And I thought ladies only existed in the South. You don't have a southern accent.” He winked. “What brings you to Vegas?"

"Bachelorette party, well weekend is more like it. My uh, friend Katie, yeah, Katie is getting married next week, and all of us came out here to send her off. My friends seem to think we're on spring break again.” Bethany hoped she did not sound as nervous as she felt.

"So, they're all off gallivanting, and you're here by your lonesome?” He motioned for a waitress and sighed. “Well, I'm celebrating the end of a bad relationship. An old friend turned out to be someone I couldn't trust at all."

Before she could say anything, the waitress approached. She propped her hip on the table and talked to him. “Hey cutie, what'll it be?"

Bethany didn't know what made her bristle at the waitress’ flirting. Maybe it was because she was sitting right there, and for all the busty blonde knew, she was his girlfriend. Maybe it was because she thought his whiskey brown eyes were the most seductive eyes she had ever seen. Or maybe it was because all her life she had been labeled goodie-two-shoes and was fed up with it.

"Tequila.” Bethany smacked the table, getting the waitress’ attention, and nodded. “We're celebrating here."

The waitress eyed her and then nodded.

"What's your name anyways?” Bethany asked.

"Jack.” He smiled. “And you are?"

"Bethany, Bethany Dodson from Louisville, Kentucky.” Bethany accepted the shot the waitress sat on the table. “Bring a bottle of Patron."

She lifted her shot to Jack and smiled. “To new friends and past lovers."

"Here, here.” He toasted and swallowed his shot.

The waitress returned with the bottle, and Bethany poured another.

"So, you plan on getting wasted?” Jack asked as he watched her fill his shot glass as well.

"You got a problem with that, Cowboy?” Bethany decided the moment they sat down, the brochures were right all along.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
And she intended to make something happen tonight. Jack was not what she had pictured. He was everything she knew she could never have. Tall, dark, and handsome did not usually go for medium, plump, and sheltered. However, this was a desperate time and called for desperate measures.

"No ma'am. Just wanted to know your intent.” He lifted his glass, and they swallowed another shot.

"My intent is to have a good time. I have to tell you, I haven't had a good time outside a shopping mall in forever.” Bethany poured another round. “You know, you have the sexiest eyes. I mean, I don't normally go for the rough, rugged, tall type. But you have very nice eyes."

Bethany took another hit of liquid courage.

"Well thanks. I think.” He swallowed the next shot. “And so you know, I don't normally go for the brunette, short..."

"Don't you dare say fat.” Bethany turned up her lip in a snarl.

"Straight laced.” Jack tipped his hat. “I would never call a lady fat especially one who isn't. I would call her all buttoned down and closed up though."

Bethany gasped as he winked. He thought she was a prude! “I'll have you know this is a cashmere sweater-set, and this skirt is from the new Ann Taylor collection. These shoes alone cost two hundred dollars."

"So, you're a gold digger?” He set the shot glass down and looked around as if he were looking for an exit.

"Did you not hear who I am? I'm Bethany Dodson. My daddy was in
Time
magazine as one of the richest men in the U.S.” She took another shot. Since she could drink her friends under the table in college, it was not much of a buzz, but she could feel it. Bethany knew she should stop, but if she did, she would not have the nerve to seduce a cowboy. “I don't need your money. I just want to have a nice time."

"I see.” Jack settled down and smiled.

"So, here's to new beginnings and forgetting bad assumptions."

"One more and I'll lead you around the dance floor. What do you say?” he asked.

"You're on, Cowboy.” Bethany chucked back the shot and did not bother with the lime anymore. She motioned for the waitress and handed her a Visa. Jack was still pulling his wallet out when the waitress walked off. “You gotta be quick on the draw there, Cowboy."

"I see that, but don't worry. You'll appreciate my tendency to linger later on tonight.” Jack reached a hand across the table and grasped hers.

"I'll count on it.” Bethany had a feeling he was not kidding, and her big talk might get her into trouble. The tall cowboy led her out to the dance floor. She had not danced in ages. His butt looked divine in the well-fitted Levi's he wore. A refreshing sight compared to the khaki's and business suits she had grown accustomed to seeing men in. She followed his ass right out to the center of the floor and caught an eyeful when he turned to face her, leaving her staring at his crotch.

Jack cleared his throat.

Bethany snapped her head up and looked at him. She could feel the heat creep up her neck and into her cheeks. He was smiling again. Two well placed dimples, one on each cheek, popped out each time he flashed his winning smile. Bethany inhaled the spicy scent of a light aftershave as he pulled her close. One hand slid to the small of her back while the other held on to her right hand. Her thighs straddled one of his, and she realized he was tall but not uncomfortably tall. His hand, rough and calloused, spoke of hard labor. It was another contrast to the hands of her father, and her ex-fiancé's, men who probably got a manicure as often as she did. “How tall are you?"

"Six-foot even.” Jack looked down at her and took an estimated guess. “You're what five six, five seven?"

"Five-foot five inches, the heels give me an inch or two I don't normally have.” Bethany realized they were not moving around anywhere. They were just swaying back and forth. Probably the only reason she was still standing as the tequila began to have its desired effect. Her body warmed, and her smile came easier. She did not feel like she was drunk, but she definitely felt different. “What's this song about?"

"Well, it's about a guy who's doing something right. He doesn't know what it is, but his woman likes it.” Jack placed her right hand on his chest. Both of his hands then moved to her back, one pressed between her shoulder blades, the other in the small of her back. Her hands moved to his back. She hugged him closer as her cheek pressed against his chest and her hips moved against his as they swayed, making only the tiniest steps. She apparently had an affect on him. His erection pressed against his jeans and her abdomen.