Badass (6 page)

With a not-so-gentle tug, Isaac pulled her against his hot, hard body. He buried his face in her hair, and whispered right in her ear. “I have every right – as you well know.”

Avery looked up at him, to see what he meant. Was he claiming ownership of her? God, please, yes. His next words dashed that hope. “I own this bar, my word is law.”

Fine. He may not want her here, but that gave him no right to manhandle her. “Let me go, Isaac. I’m perfectly capable of walking out of here by myself.”

About that time, ape-man decided to intervene on her behalf. “The little lady said no, barkeep.” He made the mistake of grabbing Isaac by the shoulder. “She wants to stay here with me. Don’t you sweetheart?”

Frankly, both men were getting on her nerves. This had been a mistake. Isaac was never going to admit he wanted her. Stopping in her tracks, she tried to extricate herself from the iron grip of the man she loved with all of her heart. “Why should I go any place with you, Isaac? I wasn’t bothering you; I just came in for a drink like all the rest of your customers.”

“Yea, she just came in for a drink,” Avery’s self-appointed hero stepped up right in Isaac’s face. Big mistake – but one he might have gotten away with - his next move, however, became his downfall. Before she could react – the bearded wonder had the audacity to reach out and cup her bottom and – as the old saying goes – that was all she wrote. Isaac lost it and knocked the big ape sprawling – and then all hell broke loose. Cowboys, good ole’ boys, bikers – it became a blur. Avery realized she was witnessing – no – correct that – she had caused a knockdown, drag-out bar fight. She didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted.

The brawl kept growing – chairs flew – tables crashed – the sound of breaking glass filled the air. One biker piled up on top of another – they ganged up on cowboys and vice-versa. She put her hand over her mouth and managed to avoid flying fists. Isaac looked up once and cursed – he grabbed her hand and managed to head Avery toward safety, motioning for Crowbar to come get her. She went, reluctantly, dodging a half full bottle of whiskey that was tossed across the room. “Avery – I’m Crowbar, it’s nice to meet you. I’ll take you to Mr. Noah.” He gave her a friendly smile.

“Thank you, Crowbar. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.” Avery didn’t know this big, gentle man, but Noah she would recognize. He was the only blonde McCoy. She always thought he looked like a young Brad Pitt. His shoulder length hair and chiseled features made him look like an avenging angel. When they reached the bar proper, Noah intercepted. “It’s good to see you again, Noah.” She spoke politely, realizing she was trying to maintain Southern gentility during the midst of drunken mayhem.

“Hey Avery, you sure know how to liven up a party. Let’s get you somewhere safe.” He steered her toward the back door.

A loud crash and a grunt. “Noah, I think Isaac needs you more. Most likely, I can find my own way out, thank you. I’ve been shown the door before.” She smiled at him sadly. “Tell Isaac that I apologize and will be glad to reimburse him for all the damages.”

Noah looked at her quizzically, but he didn’t argue. Thankfully, he went over to assist his brother who didn’t seem to have the upper hand at the moment. Avery gave him one last wistful glance and left.

****

Wham! Ummph! A chair came crashing down on his head. Hell! A voice at his shoulder sounded entirely too amused. “Do you need any help?” Isaac glanced over and saw Kane – sheriff of Kerrville County. He was looking way happier than the circumstances warranted.

Weaving through the mass of bodies, Isaac tried to figure out exactly who was on his side. There was no use hitting somebody who didn’t warrant it.

“I thought you weren’t gonna do stuff like this anymore – after all you’re trashing your own bar.” Kane noted dryly as he apprehended a couple of noxious no-counts.

Isaac wasn’t arguing the facts – it was a puzzle – but there was only one answer that made sense. “Avery’s back.”

Kane nodded solemnly as he cuffed one spitting, snarling biker’s hands behind his back. “Ah – well that explains it.” He pushed his fresh arrest toward Terence Lee to deposit outside and hauled another one up short. “Where is she?”

Isaac turned too soon, and a strange cowpoke landed square on his back. He swatted him off like an unwanted insect. “She’s right over there.” He pointed – then cursed. “Damn!” She was gone. “Well, fuck.”

****

Avery didn’t look back, but held herself tightly, fighting off the chill of the late evening. Sheesh! She didn’t have on near enough clothes. Still, she hurried – stepping carefully over the rocks. Turning an ankle in these high heel boots was the last thing she needed. All she could think of was getting away from Isaac. He wasn’t going to get the chance to lecture her in the parking lot this time.

Running away from him wasn’t exactly how she hoped the evening would end. But perhaps it was for the best – she needed to get back to the motel and come up with a strategy. Avery made her way across the street to where she parked her bike. Tonight wasn’t the best night for him to see what she was riding, either. She grabbed a pair of blue jeans out of the knapsack on the back and slipped them on over the skintight shorts. Her outfit was supposed to be seductive – hopefully, but it wasn’t worth a burn from the muffler. Straddling the Harley, Avery switched it on and pulled out into the street. Even before returning to Kerrville, she had decided against staying in her own home. The eyes of her neighbors were way too sharp, and several of them had her mom and dad’s phone number. So she booked a room at the Long Stay suites, instead.

A smile played on her lips. If nothing else, riding this motorcycle was a lot of fun. When she had been planning this whole ‘mission impossible’, Avery had imagined riding behind Isaac holding onto his strong chest or riding alongside him as they traveled across country. Silly dreams, she admitted to herself. Isaac would probably never see her as anything other than the church mouse she was. Cutting her eyes down at her chest, she almost laughed out loud. God, she was silly. What had she been thinking? Goose bumps covered her arms and shoulders, making her anxious to get out of the daring clothes and into something more comfortable.

Only Tricia knew where she was – and she wasn’t telling. Her friend was bugging her about taking on more responsibility and now she was ready to do it. Her dad and mom had been informed she was okay, she had made certain of that. She wasn’t in the mood to listen to more arguments about moving to their home in the valley. Avery had apologized for not contacting them. But if they had known she had been staying at a Nevada brothel getting educated in the finer sexual arts, they would have moved heaven and earth to come after her. Apparently, Isaac would have also. It had come to her attention he had hired private detectives to find her. They hadn’t even come close, however. The Shady Lady Ranch would have been the last place anyone would have thought to look for her.

The motel parking lot was deserted, thank goodness. Easing in between two pickup trucks, she parked and got off. This time she took her helmet in with her – Avery hated to think about people stealing from her, but she knew it could happen. As she walked to her door, she pondered why Isaac had been looking for her in the first place. It seemed farfetched to think he might have been helping her dad – but she couldn’t come up with any other possible conclusion. It certainly wasn’t because he wanted to find her for himself. What would he want her for? As much as it hurt her to admit the truth, Isaac had been right. The old Avery was as far from his type of woman as a female could get. Whether or not he’d give the new Avery a chance – well, that was debatable, but she wasn’t giving up without a fight.

Sounds of car horns and a child’s laughter wafted on the night air. As she stepped up on the concrete sidewalk, Avery looked up at the night sky. It was clear and there were a million stars scattered over the black velvet expanse. For just a moment, she let herself stand there and wish on those stars that Isaac could see her for the woman she really was. “Let him love me, please.” Sending the wish up into the heavens, she let it go and pushed the key card into the lock, hearing the beep as the door opened into her lonely room. Lonely, was right. At twenty-three years old, Avery had only been on a couple of dates in her life, and they had been structured, chaperoned church events. And she had shared a kiss with a man – exactly twice – the first time when Isaac kissed her in front of the drug store and the second time when she had kissed him the day he had told her to leave. Those meager exchanges were the sum total of her pitiful sexual experience.

Pushing aside those thoughts, Avery decided to have a positive outlook. She had changed – at least as much as she could. Isaac would have to take her the rest of the way, if he cared enough to try. So far, that alternative didn’t seem to hold much promise. He didn’t seem to be very glad to see her, nor did he give any indication he was any more attracted to this Avery than he had been to the old standard model. Nevertheless she was determined to give it her best - and if she failed, she wouldn’t have any regrets. Who was she kidding? She was desperately in love with Isaac McCoy and if she didn’t win his love, she would regret it every day for the rest of her life.

Dang! It was cold in here! She scurried into the bathroom and turned on the bright overhead lights, seeking to generate a bit of warmth. Undressing, she turned the water on as hot as she could stand it and took a quick shower. With hurried, economical movements, Avery dried off and rummaged in her suitcase for something to wear. “No – nothing sexy tonight, there’s no one here but me, and I’m freezing.” She talked herself into wearing the least attractive garment she owned. “I love you, granny gown.” She held it over her head and shimmed it down and then laughed out loud. Glancing in the mirror, she realized that nothing showed but her head, the ends of her fingers and the tips of her toes. The offensive sleepwear was made of flannel and was baby blue with pink flowers – perfectly disgusting. And it felt wonderful.

Avery wrapped her arms tightly around herself and spun in a circle – and was a little surprised when she became a tad dizzy. Of course! No food in eight hours would make you dizzy; her stomach growled in agreement. “Pizza sounds good,” she murmured as she flipped through the phone book. After she had placed an order, Avery turned on the TV and curled up on the bed to wait. Tonight wasn’t the time to cry over the ill luck she had experienced at Hardbodies. As Scarlet O’Hara would say – ‘I’ll worry about that – tomorrow’. At least Isaac knew she was back in town.

****

He couldn’t find her anywhere. Isaac was pissed. It was after midnight and he was hungry, horny and hotheaded. For two hours, he had driven all over Kerrville hunting that beige little minivan Avery drove. The first place he had looked was her house, but it was as deserted as it had been the last time he checked it. Next, he had gone to every motel and hotel he could think of – but her vehicle was nowhere in sight. Isaac had always been able to recognize it because of the little crocheted cross that hung from her rear view mirror. That and the license plate, which said it all – was accidental, and he was sure she never realized it – but it read 2GO-OD4U. Its cryptic message always spoke volumes to him.

Pulling into Hardbodies, he cut the engine and just sat there on his Harley - defeated. The only other thing he could think to do was call every motel in a twenty-mile radius. As he stared at the door of his club watching people come and go, he noticed Terence coming toward him. “Hey, Boss. I know where Avery is.”

“Where? And how did you know that’s what I was doing?” Isaac wasn’t looking a gift horse in the mouth – but he was curious.

“I didn’t figure you wanted to misplace her again – not after all the trouble you’ve gone through trying to find her.” His bouncer had been paying more attention than Isaac realized. “Avery’s my friend, Isaac. When she left, I followed her, just to make sure she was safe. She took off from here riding a little Harley roadster and she’s got a room over at the Long Stay Motel just off Main.”

A Harley? No shit? Damn! “Thanks, I owe you one.” Isaac started up his bike and took off, relieved to have some idea where to find her. As he drove, he rehearsed a speech – he practiced it until the moment he slid into the parking spot. But nothing he could think of sounded right. It didn’t matter; he still had every intention of confronting her. The fact that he just wanted to see her wasn’t a factor. Yea, right. Hell! Rapping on the door, he waited.

“That was quick,” she greeted him with a smile but it only lasted a second. “Isaac! I thought you were my thin crust pepperoni. What are you doing here?”

She didn’t sound glad to see him. Still, he felt his heart being squeezed as if it were caught in a vise. There was no doubt about it – Avery was the sweetest, sexiest woman in the whole world. Standing ramrod straight before him, arms crossed over her mouth-watering chest, she was wearing some kind of flannel gown that covered every inch of her body. Isaac thought she looked absolutely adorable. “Now, this is how I expected you to look.” The sexy, seductive siren he had seen at the club might be unfamiliar to him – but this kitten he recognized. Isaac stared at her – yes, this was his woman and every molecule in his soul was chanting, ‘Mine, Mine, Mine.’

“How did you find me?” Avery ignored his comment about her gown. Drats, she was so mad she was sputtering. Why did he have to show up when she had on the drabbest, unsexiest nightclothes in existence? Why – oh, why hadn’t she kept her biker clothes on for just a few more minutes? “And why did you come looking for me? I thought the only thing you wanted from me was to get out of your sight.” He was here, in front of her. She wanted to grab him and pull him in, but she didn’t think she could stand to be rejected twice in one night. So, she decided to play it tough.