Boots and Roses (13 page)

Bunny bit down on her lip to keep from calling Ray a name.

“Bastard,” Mona said behind her. “You never deserved Bunny, you rotten excuse of a coward.”

Ray snorted. “I’m disappointed in what you’ve become.”

“Careful, dentist.” Charli joined them, her fists clenching. “Or I’ll give you a little of what Bunny gave you the other night.”

Ray pressed a hand to the bruise on his chin, glared at Charli, then faced Bunny again. “Your behavior the last couple days proves only one thing: you’ve become a first class slut.”

“I warned him.” Charli slugged Ray in the nose.

Ray squealed and clutched his broken nose, blood spurting out onto his white shirt. “Bitch!”

“Better clean that up before Chrissy gets here.” Charli stood in front of him, her legs spread wide, daring him to do anything. “And never, ever fuck with my friends again.”

Her lips twitching, Bunny grasped Charli’s arm and tugged her toward the van. “Come on, he’s not worth it.”

Charli resisted for a second, then shrugged. “You’re right. He’s got little-dick syndrome.”

The three women climbed into the van and left. A few minutes later, Bunny pulled up to the flower shop and parked in the alley beside it. “Thanks again, ladies. I couldn’t have done it without you. And I mean it.” She got out and hugged them both. “I don’t suppose you two would like to go out to dinner as a celebration?” Anything to keep from being alone. Especially tonight.

Charli slung her purse over her shoulder. “I got a man waiting for me at home. And who knows what we’ll do tonight. All your teasing about Cory and Jack has me horny as hell. Gotta go scratch that itch.” She took off toward her truck without looking back.

“What about you, Mona?”

Mona heaved a sigh. “Sorry, I promised Molly O’Brien I’d do her hair this afternoon.”

“After helping me all day?”

Mona shrugged. “I know, I should have put her off, but she sounded desperate.”

Bunny nodded. “I understand.”

“Maybe Kendall will be free tonight,” Mona suggested.

“Right.” Bunny doubted Kendall would be free when she had Ed to go home to. “You go on. I can unload myself.”

“You’re sure?” Mona asked.

“I’m sure.” She’d rather be alone to think about what had happened last night. Reliving every moment had been difficult throughout the day.

Bunny carried the stepladder through the back door into her work area and hung it on hooks on the wall. “Hey, Kendall, I’m back,” she called out.

As she walked through the back room lined with glass-fronted refrigerators, she took an automatic mental inventory of the flowers she stored there, noting the absence of roses. As she entered the front of the shop, Kendall was slinging her purse over her shoulder.

“Oh, Bunny. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“How was it today?”

“Great.” Kendall handed her an envelope. “This was delivered to you. I have a date with Ed and can’t stay, but I sold every last one of your pink, white and red roses. Gotta go. Bye.” Kendall left through the front door, a big smile on her face.

“Probably gonna get some tonight,” Bunny muttered, picturing her own small, empty bed upstairs. Then what Kendall had said about selling all her roses struck Bunny, and she ducked back into the workroom and let it sink in. “Holy smokes, she sure did.” She’d have to order fresh stock on Monday as soon as the market opened. Her work never ended. But it was her livelihood and it helped keep a roof over her head.

Bunny wondered who the lucky girl was who’d gotten all those roses. With a sigh, she slid her finger in the back of the envelope and popped the flap open.

Inside was a beautiful note card with a picture of roses on the front.

Bunny’s heart bumped unsteadily and settled into a fast pace. She flipped the note card open and read,

That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell so sweet

Come fair Bunny,

Be thou the rose that brightens our garden?

The flowing handwriting switched to strong, bold strokes. Bunny’s heart lightened as she read,

I told Cory this was dumb, but whatever it takes to

Woo the fair Bunny, I’ll go for.

Comest upstairs, fair rose by another name.

See? Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?

Just remember, it’s what’s in our hearts that matters.

Her pulse pounding, Bunny glanced up at the sound of footsteps in her apartment above the shop.

Could it be? Would they really want to see her again? No strings, no auctions, no obligations?

Her hands shook, the note card rattling against her fingers.

A voice inside her head, shouted,
Go! Go! Go!

Bunny spun and raced out the back door and up the steps to the tiny suite of rooms above the shop. When she reached the top of the stairs, her hand paused on the doorknob as she fought to catch her breath.

Then she flung the door wide, the rich, sweet smell of roses filling her senses.

Vases of roses lined every surface, and rose petals in every shade of red, white and pink carpeted her floor through the tiny living room into the bedroom.

A heavy thud was followed by a muttered curse.

Bunny grinned and slipped off her shoes, letting the velvet petals caress her toes as she closed the distance between the front door and the bedroom.

Candles lined her dresser, threatening to set fire to the vases of roses crammed between them. But it wasn’t the candles that made her heart race. It was the two men wearing black tuxedos with no shirts beneath the jackets, lying across her bed, each with a single red rose clamped between his teeth.

Jack spit out his rose. “I said we should be naked.” He jerked his head toward the other handsome man in the bed. “Cory said tuxes.”

Cory grinned and twirled the rose stem between his fingers. “We compromised.”

Jack flung out his arm. “Welcome home.”

Her heart nearly bursting from her chest, Bunny whispered, “What are you doing here?”

Cory blinked. “Isn’t it obvious?”

She shook her head. “I only paid for one date.”

Jack climbed off the bed and gripped her hand, dragging her over to the end of the bed. “We don’t want it to end at one date.”

“But you don’t have to. You’re not obligated…”

Cory leaped to his feet and pulled her into his arms. “I told you, we
wanted
you to win us. It was just the beginning of our quest to win your heart.”

Bunny glanced at Jack.

He nodded. “What he said. He’s much better with words.” Jack brushed the hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “I only know what’s in my heart. You’re the gal for me.”

“And me,” Cory added. “You’re the woman we want in our lives.”

“So, what do you say?” Jack grinned.

“It’s so sudden.” Bunny pressed a hand to her pounding chest. This couldn’t be happening. She pinched her arm and flinched. No. She wasn’t asleep. With a glance from Jack to Cory, she asked, “Both of you? You won’t be jealous?”

“We both care about you,” Cory said.

“And we’re good enough friends we wouldn’t do anything to bust that up,” Jack continued.

“And we know what we want.” Cory lifted her hand to his lips.

“You,” Jack concluded.

“Say you’ll give us a chance.” Cory pressed her palm to his cheek.

“We got you roses,” Jack said.

“Yes, you did.” Bunny bit her lower lip, but she couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across her face. “What if I lose the shop and have to move to find work?”

Cory shook his head. “Not happenin’.”

She frowned. “How can you be sure?”

“We invested in it.”

“You what?”

Jack jumped in, “We’re partners, you, me and Cory.”

Cory grinned. “We’re going into the flower business.”

Bunny’s eyes widened. “You bought the note from the bank?”

“Yes, but we have it in writing that Bunny Leigh is to be the CEO and have all the decision-making authority on how the shop is run.”

“We’ll be silent investors,” Jack said.

Bunny’s heart lightened and she shook her head. “I can’t imagine either one of you being silent.”

“So are you good with it?”

“I’d like to have known before Ray told me he’d turned it over to the bank.”

“We wanted to surprise you.”

“Maybe use it as a carrot to win you over to our side.”

Bunny laughed. “How can I resist?”

“Then you’ll give us a chance?”

Her eyes filled with tears and she nodded. “Okay. We’ll give this crazy, mixed up ménage a shot.” When they lunged toward her, she held up a hand. “And if it doesn’t work?”

“It will.” Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her closer.

“We know what makes you happy.” Cory slipped her purse off her shoulder and tossed it on a chair. He shoved his jacket off his shoulders. “A little stripping.”

Jack shucked his jacket and pressed her hand to his chest. “A lot of skin.”

Cory backed her to the end of the bed until her knees bumped the mattress. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head. Then he clasped her in his arms and kissed her soundly. “And a whole lot of lovin’.”

Bunny laughed and fell into their arms. “I believe I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”

“Oh, you’re gonna get lucky all right.” Jack waggled his brows and ripped the pants right off his legs.

Cory did the same. “One of the perks of being a stripper…quick-release clothes. Now, let us show you how much you’re gonna love us.”

About the Author

Twenty years of livin’ and lovin’ on a South Texas ranch raising horses, cattle, ostriches and emus left an indelible impression on Myla Jackson, one she likes to instill in her red-hot stories. Myla pens wildly sexy, fun adventures of all genres including historical westerns, medieval, romantic suspense, contemporary and paranormal beasties of all shapes and sexy sizes. When she’s not wrangling words from her computer she’s snow-skiing, boating, riding her ATV or spending time with family. She lives in the tree-covered hills of Northwest Arkansas with her husband of 20+ years and her muses—human-wanna-be canines—Chewy and Sweetpea.

To learn more about Myla Jackson and her stories visit her website at
www.mylajackson.com
.

Look for these titles by Myla Jackson

Now Available:

Ugly Stick Saloon

Boots and Chaps

Boots and Leather

Boots and Bareback

Boots and Lace

Bound and Tied

Honor Bound

Duty Bound

River Bound

She wants no strings…but he wants it all.

Boots and Lace

© 2013 Myla Jackson

Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 4

After her philandering husband left her, Lacey Lambert found sanctuary, and a better class of friends, at the Ugly Stick Saloon. She learned that the best revenge—against her ex, and the “friends” who kicked her out of the Temptation Garden Club—is to live life to the fullest. 

Now that her best friend is moving out of her apartment building, she’s feeling a little lonely. And more than ready for a little commitment-free sex with the hot new downstairs tenant.

Freshly divorced, Nick McBride isn’t looking for another failed relationship. But when the luscious brunette offers no-strings sex—with him
and
his brother—he can’t come up with a good reason to refuse.

After he gets over the shock that she likes it loud, long, and in front of an open window, he finds himself wanting more time with her. Maybe even on a permanent basis. But it’ll take every ounce of his cowboy charms to convince her to let him sweep her off her feet.

Warning: Contains a motorcycle-ridin’ cowboy, a wild-and-free woman who doesn’t care what the town biddies think, and semi-public sex loud enough to set tongues a-waggin’!

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Boots and Lace:

“I’m back.” Nick McBride stepped through the front door of the tiny apartment, wondering how he’d ended up in such a mess. Until his house was finished, he was beholden to his little brother, Cory, for a temporary place to live.

He’d still be camped out on the greasy cot in the back of the auto-mechanic shop where he worked, if Cory hadn’t offered to share his small apartment for the short-term. After they’d moved the big stuff into the apartment, Cory had suggested Nick run by the Ugly Stick Saloon and grab a beer. He’d certainly earned one. 

Exhausted from moving what little he’d chosen to bring with him and all the items Cory had accumulated, Nick hadn’t wanted to go anywhere but to bed. Cory insisted, saying he wanted some time to unpack a few things without bumping into his brother.

Nick had dragged himself to the saloon and ordered a beer. It was late on a weeknight and he was so tired he wanted to fall asleep on the barstool, but he stayed for over an hour, giving Cory time to make his apartment his own without big brother getting in his way. The waitresses at the Ugly Stick made him feel welcomed and had been a nice diversion from being alone with his thoughts. The one dance he’d participated in had lifted his spirits a little. But not much. The smile on the girl’s face made him feel better, like maybe his life wasn’t totally in the crapper.

“Are you as whipped as I am?” Cory stood at the refrigerator, a towel draped around his hips, his shoulder-length blond hair almost dry. “I totally forgot to pick up food.”

“Everything is closed in Temptation.” Nick’s belly rumbled. “Guess we’ll have to go hungry tonight.”

“Mind looking at the AC tomorrow? I’m all thumbs when it comes to anything mechanical. And we can’t go too long in this heat without some relief.”

“I’ll look at it in the morning.” He didn’t bother reminding his brother that he was a car mechanic, not an electrician. But Cory had always looked to him whenever something needed fixing.