Southern Comfort: Compass Brothers, Book 2 (9 page)

“Got a plan, but I need to use the hunting cabin down in Walker’s Ridge.”

“You’re not gonna woo my girl with a hunting excursion.”

Seth grinned. “No, but the cabin is secluded. Thought it might be a nice place to do a little private seduction, especially if the lady in question kicks up a bit of a fuss at the beginning.”

Thomas chuckled. “I like your style. The place is yours. You still got your key?”

“Yeah, I got it. I’m also gonna need the next couple days off.”

“Think a couple will be enough? Jody’s pretty headstrong, you know. Got that particular character trait from her mother.”

Seth snorted, knowing good and well where Jody got her stubbornness. “Why don’t we say a couple to start with and I’ll call you if it looks like my campaign might take a little longer?”

“Deal,” Thomas said. “I’ll hold down the fort here with Paul. Come up with some reason for her disappearance.”

“Good. Think I could raid your kitchen before I leave? Pack up a few days’ worth of food. I don’t have much here in my cabin, and I don’t have time to hit a store.”

“Not a problem. I’ll get the cook to start putting the stuff together for you. She’ll have some extra time now that she doesn’t have to prepare food for the party after the ceremony. Gonna be tough to have to postpone the wedding,” his boss added with a chuckle that told Seth he was looking forward to making those calls.

“Thanks.”

“Oh, and Seth?”

“Yeah?”

Seth could hear Thomas’s soft laughter through the phone. “Way to be creative, son.”

Chapter Six

Seth walked into Philly’s and immediately tried to process what he was seeing. Jody was wearing tight jeans, cowboy boots and a low-cut T-shirt that barely contained her breasts. She was also dancing on a pool table to “Redneck Woman”. She was gyrating, lip-synching to the song and moving like the most seductive cowgirl he’d ever seen. He would have bet his family’s ranch every guy in the place was sporting a hard-on watching her. His cock filled instantly at the image, then his anger kicked in as he watched his ranch hands surrounding the table, cheering her on.

Obviously, Paul hadn’t exaggerated about her alcohol issue. His temper rose to think none of the men she’d grown up with could recognize the fact she was out of control. He pushed his way toward the table, patrons giving him dirty looks until they saw his face, and then stepping out of his way. A couple of cowboys tried to shove back and he clenched his fists, ready to pound them into dust.

“You don’t wanna go there,” he warned one asshole who looked like he was itching for a brawl. The man told him to fuck off, but moved aside.

Chase grinned when he saw him as Seth finally managed to get to the table.

“Hey boss. You got here just in time for the fun.”

Seth scowled, and Chase’s grin faltered. “How much has she had to drink?”

Chase shrugged. “Not that much actually. She’s a pretty cheap drunk.”

Chase’s words were the straw that broke the camel’s back. Seth curled up his hand and threw the fist before he could think about it. Chase staggered back, his hand flying to his jaw. “What the fuck was that for?”

“You think this is funny?” Seth yelled, pointing to Jody, who was oblivious to anything going on in the bar. A guy Seth didn’t know hopped up on the table and started dirty dancing with Jody, his hands roaming over her body in a way that made Seth see red. She started dancing with the stranger, stealing the cowboy’s hat and putting it on her head.

Chase looked chagrined when it was apparent things had spiraled out of control. “Sorry, boss,” he murmured, but Seth didn’t acknowledge his words.

He reached up and attempted to grasp Jody’s waist to pull her off the table. Her new dance partner took offense and put himself between Seth and Jody. The move was a mistake.

Seth hopped up on the table. The patrons of the bar started to cheer, making crude comments about a cowgirl sandwich, encouraging Seth and the other cowboy to do a little double-teaming.

Seth’s temper exploded as the other man grabbed Jody and tried to kiss her. Seth reached over and shoved Jody behind him.

“What the fuck, man?” the cowboy bellowed.

Seth was furious, but more than ready to take on every prick in the joint if they tried to touch his woman. “If you’re smart, you’ll go back to your table. If not, stand there another three seconds and see if I don’t beat the fucking shit out of you.”

The man wanted to argue, Seth could see it.

“Is she your wife or something?” the cowboy asked, apparently trying to decide how far he wanted to push things.

“Or something.”

Jody was still dancing behind him, much to the amusement of the drunks in the room. She pressed her chest against Seth’s back as she moved. If he hadn’t been so pissed off, her motions would have sent his libido into orbit.

“Not now, Jody.” Seth pushed her hands away from his waist without turning his back on the man in front of him.

The cowboy took a last look at his face and threw his hands up. “It’s cool. No fight here. Just having fun.” He hopped off the pool table and headed in the other direction.

Seth twisted in time to see Jody had gotten down and was doing another shot of tequila.

“Jesus.” He jumped to the floor and knocked the glass away from her lips.

Some of the liquor spilled on her shirt. “Hey, what the hell?” She looked up and blinked rapidly. “Seth? You made me spill my drink. What are you doing here?”

He pulled the other cowboy’s hat off her head and handed it to Chase. “Party’s over, Jody.”

She glanced around, confused. “Already? We just got here.”

“I think you’ve had enough fun for one night.”

She leaned closer, running her hand along his chest. “I haven’t had any fun yet. Maybe you could help me with that.” She began to rub her body sinuously against his once again.

He seized her hips and pushed her away, praying his rising erection wasn’t visible through his jeans. “God dammit. We’re getting out of here. Now!”

The ranch hands were hovering too closely, listening to every word. The gossips were going to have a field day with this. Seth Compton pulling a drunk Jody Kirkland out of her own bachelorette party.

Paul hadn’t exaggerated about the alcohol. If he weren’t so worried, he would be slightly amused. There was no way she would voluntarily come on to him like this. She was disoriented, confused…sexy as shit.

She reached around his hip and grabbed his left cheek. “I love your ass,” she said, squeezing it as some of the hands laughed.

He stifled their humor with a dark look that promised they’d pay for anything they did now in the hot Texas sun tomorrow.

She started to unbutton his shirt, and he gripped her wrists as the ladies around them started to whistle.

One woman yelled for Jody to keep going. Jody grinned, pushing her hips against his as he restrained a groan. She was just asking for it.

Another man moved closer as Seth managed to thrust her back again.

“If you don’t wanna piece of that, I’ll have some,” the stranger said.

Jody laughed and started to move toward the other man.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Seth said, holding her in place.

Unlike the other men, this cowboy didn’t like being deprived and he moved closer. “Come on over here, darlin’. I’ll show you how a real man does it.”

Seth turned toward the stranger, sizing up the threat as he forced Jody behind him. The cowboy was about an inch or two shorter, but his aggressive stance and the scar on his right cheek seemed to bespeak he had plenty of experience with bar room brawls.

“She’s spoken for,” Seth said, his voice filled with menace.

“Doesn’t look like that to me,” the cowboy said, as a few of the man’s friends rose and walked over. The four of them made an intimidating front, but Seth would die before these assholes laid a hand on Jody.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Chase and the other ranch hands stand, placing themselves firmly behind Seth.

Great. Jody had set events in motion and Seth wasn’t sure how he was going to escape the evening without nursing some wounds from a full-scale battle. He didn’t know who threw the first punch, but one minute they were in the face-off from hell, and the next, furniture was breaking as fists and beer bottles flew. Seth took a hard left to the jaw, which he returned with interest. He managed to land three or four more good swings, all while trying to keep an eye on Jody.

Damn woman had joined the fight. He turned just in time to see her kick the cowboy who’d started the whole thing in the nuts. The man crumpled to the floor, and Seth used his distraction to drag Jody away. Tucking her close to his side, he shoved and punched at least a half dozen other men as he made his way to the door.

“Come on.” He pushed her through the front exit of the bar, the sound of glass breaking and people yelling, dimming as the door shut behind them. If he’d expected her to kick up a fuss, he would have been disappointed. She followed him like a docile puppy on a leash, a sure sign the alcohol was fucking with her head.

When they got to the truck, he opened the passenger door and helped her inside. When he reached over her to snap the buckle of the seatbelt, her arms latched around his neck.

“Hey, good lookin’,” she drawled, leaning closer and rubbing her cheek against his.

Despite the fact he knew she was drunk, his cock stiffened up like a fireplace poker. “Behave, Jody.”

Her tongue darted out, teasing his earlobe. “I don’t wanna behave. I wanna be bad. So bad.”

He gritted his teeth and pulled away. “Dammit, woman. Now is not the time.”

She reached down and cupped her breasts, pushing them up. “I want you to suck on my nipples again, like you did in the tack room.” Her eyes drifted closed as her fingers played with herself. Seth stood spellbound, watching her for a full thirty seconds before his brain reengaged.

“Jesus.” Crossing in front of the truck, he drank in huge gulps of air, trying to cool his overheated body. She was drunk. He couldn’t touch her tonight because she didn’t understand what she was asking for and she was
really
asking for it.

He climbed into the driver’s seat, surprised to find Jody had unhooked her seatbelt and was waiting for him in the middle of the cab.

Seth narrowed his eyes. “Get back in your seat, darlin’.”

She shook her head and leaned closer, dragging her hand along his chest. “I wanna suck your cock.”

“Fuck.” He gripped her hand firmly, removing it from his chest. “Jody. You’re getting married tomorrow, remember?” He didn’t mention the fact he was currently setting a plan into motion that would prevent her walk down the aisle. Unfortunately, it was the only thing he could think of that might possibly stop her. He was desperate.

“That’s okay. Paul said I could fuck you if I wanted to.”

He frowned, certain he’d heard her wrong. “What?”

She started to unbutton his pants, but he halted her. Holding her hand firmly in his.

“Paul pointed out that I’d saved myself for you and since our marriage is one of convenience, he doesn’t mind if I have a little taste before we say our vows.”

He tried to focus on her words, but the second she said
taste
, his mind started conjuring images of everything he wanted to give her a taste of. “I’m begging you. Get back in your seat and stop talking.”

She laughed lightly, the sound entirely too sexy. “I’ve never even seen you naked.” She reached down and rubbed his cock through his jeans.

He groaned, covering her hand with his to still it. He leaned closer to her, relishing the fact that she didn’t draw away. He’d grown accustomed to the leeriness in her eyes whenever he got too close. While he knew it was the tequila taking away her inhibitions, he savored the tiny bit of closeness the situation afforded him. “You’re gonna get up close and personal with my cock real soon, Jody. Trust me. You just don’t start something you can’t finish.”

She raised her chin. Even under the influence, she was indomitable. “Who says I can’t finish?”

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “I do. When I take you the first time, you’re gonna be stone sober and begging for it. Now get back over in your seat like a good girl or I’ll punish you.”

She narrowed her eyes, and he smiled. Life with her would be one sweet battle after another. She opened her mouth to speak. He reached up and gripped her head, pulled her close and silenced her with a quick, hard kiss.

With his hand in her hair, he held her in place as he spoke. “Drunk or not, there’s nothing I’d like more than to spank your ass after that little bar brawl you just instigated. You decide, Jody. Move over into the passenger seat and put the seatbelt back on or keep playing this game and see if I don’t pull down your pants and bare your ass to God and everybody right now.”

Despite the alcohol in her system, his words penetrated. She shifted back to the passenger’s seat and buckled up. He started the truck and began to drive. For nearly twenty minutes she was quiet, looking out the passenger’s side window, and Seth wondered if she’d passed out.

“Why did you come get me?” Her question broke the silence, and her voice sounded tired. He suspected she wouldn’t remain awake much longer.

“You needed me.”

She looked at him and even with a glance he could read the sadness in her eyes. “I’ve needed you forever. You’ve never come before.”

His heart broke at her admission. She never would have spoken such thoughts if she weren’t tipsy. He’d obviously hurt her more than he’d realized by rebuffing her all these years. He’d make it up to her. Somehow, he’d show her what she really meant to him.

He reached over and grasped her hand. “I always wanted to come. You just weren’t ready.”

She frowned. “And now I am?”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“You’re wrong.” She didn’t speak again and when he looked over, her eyes had drifted shut. He silently said a prayer of thanks. It would be much easier to do what needed to be done with an unconscious Jody. When she woke up tomorrow, she was going to be hungover and pissed off.

He grinned when he imagined the coming skirmish. She’d fight him tooth and nail. Odd part was he was looking forward to it. Now that he had her—with her father’s blessing, no less—he planned to pull out all the stops. He was going to seduce sweet Jody right off her cute little size six feet.