Cowboy Love (2 page)

"Wow. That hugs every curve perfectly. You would definitely catch some attention wearing that little outfit."

"I do like the way it fits." Amy twisted and turned, studying her reflection in the mirror. "And I really don't have a nice dress to wear out."

"Then splurge. It's not that expensive, anyway." Chris walked toward her, checking the tag under her arm. "Look, it's on sale."

"A hundred dollars, Chris? I never spend that much on myself." Amy frowned, smoothing the fabric over her hips.

"Well, maybe you should start. You earn it—spend some, for crying out loud."

"I know, but I'm always afraid I will need it for something like tires for my car or a rainy day emergency." Amy looked wistfully at the dress.
I really do love this dress.

Chris took Amy's hand in hers, "Amy, this is your weekend. Take advantage and live a little."

"Are you sure it looks okay?"

"You are a knockout in that dress. It's perfect."

"Okay, you've convinced me. I'll buy it."

"And the cute shoes?"

"Yes, and the cute shoes."

"Good. Now, I'm starving!"

Shaking her head, Amy retreated into the dressing room with a smile.

Once they went through the checkout with their purchases, they headed for the exit near the car to find something to eat. Chris mentioned a steak place, and it sounded wonderful. Amy was pretty hungry herself and she planned on drinking tonight, even possibly getting drunk. A heavy dinner could stave off the hangover come tomorrow morning.

"Hey, when we're done eating, how about we run back to your parents' house and shower. I don't want to go to the bar all sweaty from running around all day." She stuffed her packages behind her before slipping into the driver's seat.

"Yeah, we can do that. You never know who might be bar hopping tonight."

She gave Chris a sideways glance, she remembered the guy her friend had been trying to set her up with for the last six months.

"You aren't trying to hook me up with that guy, are you? You promised you wouldn't even mention his name this weekend."

"No, I'm thinking for myself."

"Good. You don't need to be playing matchmaker while I'm here. I really don't want another guy in my life right now." Her tone did not sound convincing even to her own ears as her thoughts drifted back to early that morning for a moment.

"Of course you don't. Men are bastards, right?" A sly glance from Chris and wariness tingled down her spine.

"Yes, they are."

Chapter 2

Chris and Amy pulled up to the bar about eight, finding a spot to park. Tons of cars already lined the parking lot so they took a slot a little farther from the entrance.

"This must be the happenin' place." Several people milled about as Amy and Chris moved inside.

"Yep. Everyone comes here on Friday nights."

George Strait's voice crooned, "Amarillo By Morning" as the cool air of the bar caressed her face. Once inside, the two found a table to the left of the stage against the wall and she sat down facing the door as Chris took the chair opposite her. A long mahogany bar covered one whole wall and several customers inhabited the barstools as they talked and laughed with others nearby. Bright gilded mirrors hung behind the bartenders, reflecting faces of the people standing close. Bud Light, Michelob, Corona and every other type of beer a person could think of, neon signs flashed brightly with colors of red, gold, blue and white. The large mechanical bull in the corner drew her attention. A small grin lifted the corners of her mouth.
Something new to try.

"I thought you said they had a band," raising her voice to be heard over the music blaring from the speakers on the stage, standing to their left.

"They do. Doesn't start until nine."

A blue-eyed blonde cowboy stopped at the table and took their drink order. Amy admired the tight fit of his Wranglers as he walked away, before her attention returned to her friend. "So how many of these people do you know?"

Chris scanned the mass before she answered, "Almost everyone. I went to school with most of these people. I do see a few new faces."

Amy's gaze moved over the throng, hopeful of catching a glimpse of the cowboy from this morning, but no one appeared familiar.
There are lots of good-looking men here, though.
The crowd was divided a little unevenly, with the men out-numbering the women close to three-to-one.

Chris waved at someone she knew, and as the cute guy reached the table, she stood and made the introductions.

"Amy, this is Rob."

She stuck out her hand and said, "Nice to meet you."

"You, too." His blue eyes twinkled as they met hers and he snaked an arm around Chris' waist.

"Rob and I have known each other for years."

Her eyebrow arched in question, and she smiled at the man next to her.

"Really? I'm sure you can tell me some awesome stories to blackmail my best friend with."

Giving her a wide smile and a wink, he replied, "I bet I can. We'll talk soon."

"You will not!" Chris exclaimed, pushing him from her side with a giggle. "I'll catch you later."

"Sure, Chris. Behave yourself, young lady." He winked before he headed toward the bar.

Amy shook her head. Chris complained she never had a serious connection. Her serious relationship just walked away from her side.

Her eyes moved over the group again, watching as they shifted and mingled, reacquainting themselves amid the others in the room. As more people came in the doors of the bar, she skimmed each face, almost hoping.

A moment later, she caught the sight of someone in a white long sleeved shirt and black cowboy hat, weeding through the crowd carrying a guitar case. Unable to make out his features, she watched as he worked his way toward the stage.
He has to be with the band.
Her interest piqued, she continued to be fascinated by the way he moved as the word graceful came to mind.

Right before he reached the edge of the dance floor, he turned and Amy could make out his features. Her breath caught in her throat.
My cowboy. No, not mine, hell, I don't even know his name but the guy from the corral.
This time he was dressed to impress, with a pressed western style shirt and tight Wranglers emphasizing his nice ass and polished boots.
Damn! He's just as nice all cleaned up.
Her appreciative glance raked over him from head to toe.

When he finally turned in her way and his gaze met hers across the room, surprise registered on his face, and he took a step in her direction. One of the band members approached behind him, grabbing his arm and ushering him toward the stage before he could go any farther.

Once he reached the stage, he stepped onto the platform prior to swinging his glance back to her. Her heart hammered in her chest and her mouth went as dry as the Sahara desert. She wasn't able to drag her eyes from his, even if she wanted to. He tipped his hat and gave her one of the sexiest grins she had ever received before turning to remove the guitar out of his case.

When he broke their eye contact, a voice finally permeated the fog encompassing her mind.

"Hello? Amy?" Chris waved her hand in front of her face.

"Who are you flirting with?"

"I'm not flirting with anyone, why?"

"You did, too. You weren't paying attention to a word I said."

Chris looked in the direction of Amy's stare and saw the handsome man up front as she gave him a hearty wave. She flashed Amy a secretive little smile before she changed the subject as the band started to warm up.

For the next hour, his rapt attention from across the room sent shivers across her arms. The air seemed to be sucked from her lungs as several different men twirled her around the dance floor. Unsure of the culprit, the dancing or his heated gaze, she struggled to calm her breathing as the band took a break.

"We'll be back in fifteen, folks."

The song ended and she headed back to her table. She watched as he set his guitar down and hopped down in front. He was quickly engulfed in a party of four women sitting at his feet.

Amy continued to study him from a distance as he stopped to talk, but his eyes met hers over their heads. Finally, able to pull away from them, he walked in her direction, keeping her pinned to her chair in nervous anticipation.

As he approached, Chris stood up and enveloped the handsome cowboy in a warm hug.

"Tanner, you devil. What have you been up to?"

"Same old stuff." He wrapped his arms around Chris, hugging her tight.

"Sit down, sit down. I haven't talked to you in forever. How are things with the band?" They both slid into the empty seats while Amy watched the exchange.

"Good. We are doin' shows all over."

His eyes moved over her face as a small smile lifted the corners of his mouth, before returning to Chris. The little grin made her breath hitch in her throat even as her body grew warm from his gaze, and made her incredibly aware of how the room seemed smaller. His very essence filled the space between them and the air crackled as Amy shifted nervously in the chair.

"I haven't heard you play in Dallas."

"No, we haven't done anythin' up there in a while. Is that where you're livin' these days?"

"Yeah, working at a hospital on the outskirts of town."

"Really? You must be keepin' busy, then."

"We work all the time, more than we want to." Amy's pulse went into overdrive as their eyes met and one corner of his mouth lifted in a flirty smile. "I'm sorry. I guess I didn't introduce you two. Tanner, this is Amy. We work together in Dallas. Amy, this is Tanner. He lives next door to my parents."

"Well, hello again." Tanner smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Nice to meet you."

"Again?" Chris questioned with a quizzical expression. "You two know each other?"

"Sort of," Tanner replied, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Care to explain?"

"She caught me in the dirt this mornin' tryin' to break a mare," Tanner explained as his glance finally swung back to Chris.

"Ah…I see." A mysterious smile rippled across Chris' lips.

"It was kind of hard not to notice when I heard some pretty descriptive cuss words coming from over there," Amy responded, as Tanner blushed under his tan.

"Sorry," he murmured, his caressing glance returning to Amy.

"No problem. It's not like I haven't heard them before, and probably said a few myself. I've had my butt in the dirt more times than I care to remember."

A small smile crept across his lips and she could almost read his thoughts as heat crept up her cheeks.

"Where'd you learn to tame a horse?" he asked curiosity bright in his eyes.

"My dad. He's been doing it for years. A gift or a curse, however you want to think of it."

"I've never seen anyone do that before." His eyes slid over her face, making the heat rise on her cheeks. "Incredible."

"Yeah, well, I try not to advertise."

"Why not? You could make a fortune."

"I'm not interested in doing it all the time. Nursing is where my heart is."

"Ah…well, I need to get up on stage. I'll come back on my next break. I would really like to hear more." The heat he projected with one glance made her inhale sharply. He smiled and winked, before turning and heading back toward the platform.

Chris cocked an eyebrow and Amy could almost see the questionings swimming through her mind. "What?"

"How come you didn't tell me you met Tanner this morning?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "No big deal."

The gears turned bright behind Chris' face and Amy groaned silently.

"Not a big deal? The looks you two exchanged say something else entirely different."

"Really, Chris, it's nothing."

"Um…sure, Amy. Okay."

The next several songs brought a barrage of good-looking cowboys, asking for a dance from both the beautiful women. Amy accepted each one who asked; sure her fascination with the guy on the stage was a passing fancy.

One his second break, Tanner returned to their table, sliding into the seat next to her.

"You're pretty good. Do you write your own songs?" She nervously pushed a piece of hair behind her ear and fidgeted in the seat.

"Thanks, and I do write some."

She shifted her chair, putting a little more distance between them. His nearness made her tremble, and she wasn't sure she liked the reaction.

"Have you been singing long?"

"Yeah, it seems like forever. My dad bought me a guitar for my ninth birthday and I've played ever since. We didn't start gettin' gigs until the last couple of years."

"Do you play outside of Texas?"

"No. We don't do anythin' too far from home yet, but I'm workin' on getting some stuff elsewhere. You live up near Chris and work together, right?"

"Yeah, on the same floor at the hospital."

"Have you known her long?"

"About five years. We met right after I moved to Dallas."

"Where did you grow up?"

"Oregon."

"Oregon? Why'd you move to Texas?"

"I needed to start my own life, I guess. My parents own a small place near the southern Oregon border. I got tired of the rain."

The death glare she was receiving over his shoulder from the dark-haired woman near the front, almost made her laugh.

"Your fan club?" Amy nodded toward the stage.

He looked back and the girl waved at him. Without returning the gesture, he returned his attention to Amy. "Yeah, I guess. They're here every weekend. I've known most of 'em for a long time."

Amy raised her hand and waved at the girl over his shoulder with a bright smile. The woman whipped around as if she had been slapped, presenting Amy with her back.

Tanner flashed a warm grin as he laughed. "That's mean."

"Well, she's been giving me a death glare since you came over here." She shrugged.
I don't have time for petty jealousy
. Her attention returned to the handsome man in front of her.

"She's wanted me to go out with her for quite sometime, but she's not my type. I can't seem to get through to her though."