Boots and Buckles (12 page)

“That’s my Mona.” Bunny hugged her, the lace of her bra scraping across Mona’s skin. “Now hurry, or you’ll keep the boy waiting.”

“It wouldn’t hurt him,” Mona muttered. “He kept me waiting for three years.”

“Oh, sweetie, I wouldn’t say that to him.”

“I know. Sounds pretty damned pathetic.” But that’s what she’d been doing. After Dalton and Grant, she’d sworn off men. Had she sworn off all men, or just Grant? None of them measured up to her expectations. So why did she subconsciously still think Grant was so fine? He’d dumped her!

Grant wasn’t finished getting ready before Sam left the trailer, taking his truck into town. His partner hadn’t said two words to him about where he was going or what he was doing. All Grant knew was that he’d be at the Ugly Stick later that evening, hoping for a chance to see Mona.

Grant’s lips curved upward. Thank goodness he’d gotten her to commit to dinner with him. At least he was one move ahead of his partner. Where Sam was starting from nothing, Grant had a history with Mona. Although not necessarily a good history with her. Other than when he’d called it off, they’d been very happy together and they never seemed able to get enough of each other.

Then again, Dalton had been part of that picture. He’d led off the ménage. Would Mona be satisfied with only one cowboy when she’d been accustomed to two?

Doubt assailed Grant as he drove into Temptation. Closing in on six o’clock he eased down Main Street, not wanting to be late, but not early either. He felt like he did on his first date in high school, expecting to be graded on every little thing he did. He deserved it after how he’d treated Mona. But it didn’t make it easier knowing that.

He parked in the empty parking space in front of the Shear Safari Salon, checked that his hair wasn’t standing on end and that his fly was zipped before he dropped down out of the truck. His hands were clammy and his pulse kicked up a notch.

Shit.
He
knew
Mona. They weren’t strangers. Then again, he didn’t necessarily know the Mona who’d been dumped by a cowboy who’d promised to love her forever. He pushed his shoulders back.
Suck it up, dude.
He’d screwed up and now he was there to make it up to her.

Grant reached for the door handle to the salon, but the door was locked. He peered through the salon window into the dark interior. The lights were all turned off for the evening. Then he remembered her apartment was above the shop and the stairs were around the side.

He pivoted and rounded the corner of the building, stopping short.

In the alley between the buildings stood a white pickup truck with North Dakota tags.

Sam.

Anger sent Grant charging up the stairs. Before he reached the top, the door swung open and Mona stood in the doorframe, greeting him with a smile. “Oh, there you are. We were just about to come looking for you.”

“We?”

“Sam beat you here.” She hooked Sam’s arm and brought him into the doorframe. “He said you insisted on him accompanying us to dinner,” Mona said. “I think that was really magnanimous of you, seeing that Sam and I have…you know…done the nasty.” Mona stepped out into the waning sunlight in a pale yellow dress that complemented her dark brown hair to perfection.

When she stepped out and turned to lock the door behind Sam, the sun shone through the fabric outlining every curve of her body beneath.

Grant’s breath caught in his throat and he almost choked, coughing, sputtering and nearly falling back down the stairs.

Mona hurried down to stand on the step above the one he was on. “Are you okay?”

“You’re wearing
that
?”

She smiled and pivoted on the step. “I know, it’s wicked, isn’t it? All the old biddies will have their tongues wagging by the time we leave the restaurant.”

Grant glanced around at the ground below them, wondering if anyone else could see through her dress like he could. “Maybe we should get our dinner to go and come back here to eat.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Two hulking cowboys would give me claustrophobia in my tiny apartment.” She pushed past him and started down the stairs.

When Grant didn’t follow, she glanced back at him. “Just so you know…” she raised the skirt on the back of her dress until he and Sam could see the rounded globe of her derriere, “…I’m not wearing panties.” She pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh. Don’t tell.”

Then she skipped down the rest of the steps, her skirt flapping just enough to show a little ass.

Grant sucked in a huge breath and blew it out. “Holy hell.”

“You’re tellin’ me.” Sam patted Grant’s back.

He shot a glare at the Lakotan. “This was supposed to be
my
date.”

“Yeah, and I want my chance with her too. So we give her the menu and let her choose.”

Grant growled. “I should give up team ropin’ all together.”

“What’s that got to do with Mona?”

“
Everything
.” He stomped down the stairs to the bottom. “We’ll take my truck.”

“Actually, I thought we’d go in my car,” Mona said. “Nick McBride got it fixed and delivered it just a few minutes ago. I want to try it out.”

“Shotgun,” Sam called out before Grant could think.

“I’m
not c
rawling into the back.”

“Suit yourself.” Sam slid into the passenger seat and settled back with a wide smile.

Grant growled. This date was not going according to his plan. “I’ll take my truck and meet you there.”

“Good idea,” Mona agreed brightly.

And that’s how Grant ended up driving alone on his date with Mona, while his partner rode with her. His hands had etched permanent grooves in the steering wheel as he followed them to the restaurant. On the four short blocks from her shop, he imagined what Sam might be doing or saying as they sat in the close confines of her Camaro. Hell, she wasn’t wearing panties! Sam could cop a whole lot of feel in four blocks.

His heart pounding against his ribs, Grant tailed Mona so close that if she’d jammed on her brakes, he’d have driven up her tailpipe.

Damn.
So much for giving her a chance to get to know him again. He’d have to even the odds at the diner and maybe later that night when she got off work.

He still loved Mona, even after all these years and he’d do anything to win her back. As far as he was concerned, it was game-on with Sam. Let the better man win.
And let the better man be me.

Chapter Nine

After the striptease with Bunny, Mona’s sex drive was on hyper-alert. When Sam had shown up at her door, she’d wanted to pull him in as the most convenient male and hump his bones until that itch that had started with the stripper music was thoroughly scratched.

Bunny had dressed quickly, made excuses and skipped out on her, maybe sensing Mona wanted more than a handshake from the tall, dark Lakotan.

With Grant on his way and Sam already there, Mona had to change her mindset and fast. Sam knew about her and Grant’s past. That was clear. And the fact he’d arrived earlier than Grant led Mona to think he’d wanted to be one step ahead, as if he was in competition to win her affections, just like Grant.

When she stopped to think about it, it felt good to be fought over. Especially after such a long dry spell. She’d damn well turned the tables in her favor. Thus the happy inclusion of the two men at dinner.

She plugged her smart phone into the dash and selected the song she’d been dancing to earlier, the music making her pussy throb. With one hand on the steering wheel, she moved her upper body to the sexy rhythm.

Sam leaned toward her. “Mona, I wanted to talk to you before we sit down to dinner with Grant.”

“Sorry, Sam, I just have to listen to this song.” She increased the volume, shutting out any chance at conversation with the man until they arrived at the diner. If all went well, she’d have both men so hot and bothered they’d be ready to do just about anything to get into her panties.

Oh, wait. I’m not wearing panties.

She had to give Bunny credit for that idea.
Mona smiled, liking how naughty it felt and how hot it made her. After three long years, she was ready to set the town on fire. It was probably a good thing she had to work that night or she’d be in big trouble with these two men.

At least this way the anticipation would be heightened and she’d be more than ready to explore the possibilities with Sam and Grant. A shiver rippled across her senses, sending a rush of warmth to her center.
Oh yeah, let’s get the party started.

Inside the restaurant, Mona chose a narrow booth that barely had enough room between the table and the backs of the seats for the two hulking men to slide into. Sam stuck to Mona like glue, easing into the booth beside her.

Grant’s fists clenched and he looked like he wanted to punch Sam’s lights out.

Mona hid her grin and waited for Grant to scoot across the opposite seat in front of her. She’d make sure he was glad he sat there.

“Hi, I’m Mandy.” A pretty young woman wearing an old-fashioned apron, stopped at their table. “I’ll be your waitress.”

As soon as the server took their order for drinks, Mona slipped her right foot out of her sandal and stretched her leg toward Grant, glad this was the narrowest booth in the restaurant. “Tell me, boys, how was the team roping event today?”

As Grant opened his mouth to respond, her toes curved around the back of his calf. He jumped slightly before he realized what she was doing. His eyes narrowing quizzically, he responded, “We had the best time of the event today.”

“Congratulations.” Mona’s hand rested on Sam’s leg as she stared across at Grant. “I know you’ve told me before, but humor me. How does it work in team roping? Who ropes what?” Her fingers smoothed across the top of Sam’s leg, working their way toward his crotch. At the same time, she raised her foot to the inside of Grant’s thigh.

“Uh,” Sam said, his face turning a ruddy red.

“I’m the header.” Her toe slid along the inside of Grant’s thigh and he sucked in a breath, finishing in a rush, “I rope the horns.”

“And I’m the heeler.” Sam gulped when her fingers found the hard ridge of his cock beneath his jeans. “I rope the steer’s hind legs.”

“I bet it takes some coordination and teamwork to get the animal all tied up like that. Sounds fascinating.” Mona’s toe touched Grant’s crotch at the same time as her hand curled around Sam’s. “You two must practically read each other’s minds.”

Sam stared across the table at Grant.

The two men sat in silence, their faces a warm shade of red beneath their tans.

Mandy reappeared with a tray of drinks and Mona sat up straight, retracting her hand and foot.

“Have y’all decided?” Mandy asked.

Mona had, and she was setting out to get just what she wanted, more sex and to teach a couple men some lessons. “I’ll have the filet mignon, rare,” she said, then added fast and low, “With a double side of horny cowboys.”

Mandy’s brow wrinkled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that last part. What did you say?”

Mona smiled. “Nothing.”

Sam scrambled for his menu, opening it upside down, then closing it. “I’ll have what she’s having—the filet.”

Grant didn’t even try to look at the menu. He shifted in his seat, adjusting his jeans. “Make mine the same.”

“Three filets, rare.” Mandy made a note on her order pad then glanced up. “What sides would you like?”

“I don’t care,” Sam said, his voice a bit too sharp. “Use your imagination.”

“Same,” Grant bit out.

Mona took her time, loving that the men were already flustered by her attention and that they had to have heard her whispered comment. “What are the options?” she asked, knowing it would keep the waitress there longer, frustrating the men even more.

Mandy stared at the corner and recited the list.

The two men sat straight and stiff, probably in more ways than one, and Mona grinned. For once she felt like she was in the position to make things happen. She had the power over the men in her life. The feeling was heady. “I’ll have the house salad with the vinaigrette on the side and a baked potato.”

The waitress wrote down her order. “What would you like on your baked potato?”

Grant moaned and Sam’s hand clenched around his napkin, dropping it over his lap.

A giggle threatened to bubble up and escape Mona’s throat. She swallowed hard to keep it at bay and answered, “Bacon bits, cheese and sour cream.”

“Gentlemen?” Mandy addressed them.

“Same,” Sam and Grant said at once.

After Mandy left, Mona added in a sexy, sultry voice, “I love the creamy stuff on my potato, don’t you? The way it gets all hot and wet and spreads across the milky white potato.”

“Yeah.” Sam tugged at his jeans.

“Sure,” Grant said through clenched teeth.

“Will you both be at the Ugly Stick tonight?” Mona asked, her voice upbeat, innocent.

“I will,” Sam jumped in. “I’d be happy to give you a lift there and back home.”

“I can drive myself, now that my car is fixed. Besides, I’ll be working a late-night private party.” She laid a hand on his arm and smiled at the tall, dark, cowboy. “But thanks for coming to my rescue last night. I don’t know how my night would have gone if you hadn’t showed up.”