Acting Happy (Texas Desires #2) (17 page)

A huge neon sign had come out of nowhere to guide Ty to the entrance of the Cock and Bull Bar. Based on the coolness factor of the sign, Ty expected something far different than what they found. How had such a small building managed to hold such a badass sign so high in the air?

“I’m not so sure about this. It looks like a dive,” Kenzie said as they bounced down the gravel road. Ty had to slow the Jeep when he hit a giant rut that sent Kenzie flying forward in her seat.

Since there seemed to be no defined parking lot, Ty was forced to go off the road into a field to find the closest place to the front doors. From the sounds of the thumping beats inside, the party had solidly started. He’d seen a flyer when they were in town about a local favorite band playing there tonight which was sure to draw a large crowd. It seemed like a fun time, and from past experience, Ty knew that hiding in crowded, wide-open spaces always worked well for him.

“Nah, I think it looks local and well-used,” Ty said, turning off the ignition while looking out the front window at the club. Honestly, he’d have to give it to her, it did look like a major hole-in-the-wall biker bar kind of deal, but he was fully invested in this night, even excited to spend the next few hours with Kenzie and eager to get this night started right away. “You doubting my ability to keep you safe?”

“Are you taking me to a place where I need protection?” she countered, looking him over, even more skeptical now.

“Okay, that was a good comeback, and if I am, then we’ll leave,” Ty shot back, opening his door. For the first time since they’d started dating, Kenzie was slower to move. Ty made it around the hood, almost to the door, before it opened. She was tentative in getting out, and he found he was kind of into that since it allowed him to put his hands on her and gently guide her down from the Jeep.

Once inside the building, Kenzie’s curiosity got the best of her. He paid their entrance fee, with her craning her neck to get a better look inside. He’d envisioned exactly this kind of honky-tonk. A huge bar ran down one side of the room, a large stage on the other, and a dance floor separating the two. Tables were arranged on either side of the dance floor. He scanned those, and they all seemed taken until he spotted two empty barstools at the far end of the bar.

“I was wrong. This looks fun!” she yelled when he came to a stop at their seats. Kenzie wore a short flowy skirt, a pretty blouse with matching jacket, and cowboy boots. She took the barstool, scooting up close to the edge of the bar. She seemed to relax as she shrugged off her lightweight jacket and put it on a hook underneath the bar.

“I’ll admit I was a little worried too when we pulled up,” he confessed, taking his seat and lifting a hand toward the bartender.

“What can I get you to drink, beautiful?” The bartender pointed a finger at Kenzie and yelled the same words Ty was about to ask. The guy was working continuously at pouring drinks in several glasses lined up in front of him. Ty swore the guy did a couple of tricks with the liquor bottles just to impress his girl, and based on the big smile she gave, he’d done well in achieving his goal.

“I’m not a big drinker. No beer. What do you suggest?” she yelled back and placed her elbows on the bar to get closer. Ty watched the guy get a little more mesmerized. He quickly finished what he was doing, shoved those drinks to some waiting patrons, and somehow managed to never take his eyes off Kenzie. Funny, Ty couldn’t even find it in him to be jealous when the guy grabbed a hand towel, ignored everyone else, and came toward her.

One thing for certain, she had no idea of her effect on men, because the best he could tell, she was just being herself.

“You like fruity, sweet drinks?” he asked, giving her a cocky grin.

“I like pineapple,” she said and raised her brow in challenge. The bartender gave her a speculative look before he cut his gaze toward Ty.

“You two together?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Ty nodded and reached for his wallet to dig out his credit card.

“Huh. Lucky guy.” His gaze moved back to Kenzie as he said exactly what Ty figured he would. “Why don’t you let me surprise you, beautiful?” Clearly he didn’t care too much that they were together with the wink he gave her, but in a stealthy move, he swiped the credit card from Ty’s hand, never looking over at him.

As the guy turned to fix her drink, Ty called out, “Heineken for me,” and turned toward Kenzie. “It’s not as bad as it looked,” Ty said again. From their position, he could see out over the entire bar. The dance floor was packed. He spotted a DJ over in one corner that he’d missed before.

“No, it’s not. I’m sorry about that out there. I had a bad experience with a biker gang in Texas,” she said, looking over at him, giving him another piece of the puzzle. Slowly, through one cryptic response after another, he was really picking up something life-shattering had happened to her.

“It was good that we stopped for dinner,” he said, knowing she wouldn’t want to expand on that piece of information. He reached out to tuck behind her ear a piece of hair that had fallen.

“I shouldn’t have worn this. I knew it was gonna be a problem,” she said, reaching up to unclasp the clip in her hair. She ruffled her fingers through her hair, swinging a large section over one shoulder. “Be honest, does that look okay?’

“You know I like your hair down,” he said. She was just so pretty and sweet with those big blue eyes looking over at him. He placed a hand to the back of her head and drew her closer for a soft kiss.

“Try this. It’s a Rum Runner,” the bartender said, putting a pinkish-colored drink in front of Kenzie. He waited there in front of her with his hand against the bar, looking excited as she picked up the drink and took a sip.

“That’s wonderful! Does it have alcohol in it?” she asked.

“Lots. You just can’t taste it. You drivin’, right?” he asked, looking over at Ty.

“Yep,” he said, and the bartender nodded.

“A few of those and you won’t have a care in the world. Enjoy.” The bartender reached over to grab a bottle, opened Ty’s Heineken, and placed it in front of him before getting called away.

“They’re magic, then?” she said, taking another drink before lifting the glass to Ty. “Try it. It’s like a gourmet fruit punch.” He couldn’t resist her invitation and did take a drink as she held the glass, but he could definitely taste the alcohol. No doubt it was strong.

“Very good. Drink as much as you want, I’ll be the DD tonight,” he said, before he scooted off his stool to stand there beside her. “Drink up. I wanna dance.”

“I told you I’m not a good dancer,” Kenzie said, losing some of that fun glow radiating off her.

“We’ve got all night to change that,” he said, running a hand down her back as he lifted his beer, taking a long a drink.

“You were in a couple of dancing movies, I think. You’re really good.”

“Yep,” he said, circling his finger in her face, encouraging her to drink. He loved to dance. Always had. He had a natural rhythm or so he’d been told often enough, but he’d also had some extensive training over the years, making him the ideal partner because he could usually give some useful tips.

“I’m nervous, Ty. I really can’t dance.” She had completely stopped drinking and sat there worrying her lip, staring up at him.

“Liquid courage. Take a big drink and come on,” he said and lifted a hand toward the bartender. After a second, he got the guy’s attention. “We’re going out on the dance floor. Another one for her when we get back.” He turned to Kenzie, and her one big drink had her gulping the contents down. “They’re strong, babe, be careful.”

Ice rattled as she slammed the glass back on the bar. That was fine by him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, scooting her off the seat. He draped his jacket over their stools, hoping to save at least one of them while they were gone. He placed her in front of him, guiding her out on the dance floor as another fast-moving country song started. A few steps from the floor, he bent in and asked, “You know how to do the two-step, right?”

“And that’s about all,” she yelled over her shoulder.

“I’ll handle the rest,” he offered, turning her in his arms, and wrapped an arm around her waist. He started right off, moving his feet, not giving her even a second to back out.

~~~

Four songs later, sweat trickled down Kenzie’s back as Ty twisted and turned her all over the dance floor. Kenzie had no idea how she did what she did, how she even looked executing those moves, or if she was able to keep up, but Ty Bateman was a dang fine dancer, and this was turning out to be one of the most fun nights she’d had in a very long time.

“I need a drink,” she yelled over her shoulder when he turned her. Now her back was against his chest. He tangled their legs together as he changed her position again. His hands came to her waist, holding her tightly against his pelvic bone. She could feel the hard erection he had pressing into her stomach as he skillfully moved her hips with his, dancing her toward the stage. The little dips he gave had her laughing, and she knew her feet were just moving forward, but the crowd on the dance floor seemed to love Ty’s dancing, many parting to let them by.

“Water!” she yelled, when it seemed he didn’t plan on taking a break. She broke free of his hold, and as she started to step away, he caught her hand, flipped her in a circle and they were back chest to chest.

“You dance better than you said,” he said, his lips against her ear.

“You know that’s a lie, Ty. We need a break,” she yelled up at his ear. This time he seemed to listen, moving them back across the floor toward the bar. Right when she thought they were leaving the dance floor, Ty executed another stealth move, stealing her breath as she was turned again and again before being brought up against his chest. She gave little yelp, clutching to his biceps in order to keep on her feet.

“I like when you do that,” he said, waggling his brow, draping an arm around her back to keep her there against his chest as he walked her backward off the dance floor. “And I don’t lie.”

They were awkward, Kenzie kept darting glances over her shoulder to judge her steps as she shuffled backward, trying to stay on her feet. Laughing so hard didn’t help keep her balance. It wasn’t until she was hoisted up off her feet that she squealed out another yelp, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“There you go. I like your attention right here,” Ty said, easily holding her right there against his chest.

“Everyone’s staring at us, Ty. Put me down!”

“Everyone’s staring at you,” he countered, and that made her laugh right in his face.

“Absolutely not! Everyone’s staring at you.”

“No, my beard’s grown back in enough. They’re wondering how someone like me got someone like you,” he said, coming to a stop at the bar in front of her seat. His seat was now taken, but that didn’t seem to matter. He put her back on her feet and hovered close, scooting in next to her as he reached for her new drink, before grabbing his beer. Having him standing so close always did funny things to her heart, but her entire focus was on that cold drink. Kenzie couldn’t help but gulp the contents down her parched throat as he did about the same, emptying his beer in one long tilt of the bottle.

“Another one?” the bartender called out from the other side of the bar.

“One for her and water for me,” he yelled back. Kenzie turned in her seat toward him. Her skirt was a little above the knee and flowy. When he pushed her legs apart to stand in the middle of them, she made sure she was covered before taking his waist with one hand and held her drink glass in the other as she shook a cube of ice in her mouth.

“Should I stop drinking?” she asked honestly, looking at him.

“No, of course not, if you don’t want to,” he said, pushing pieces of her hair off her face.

“But you’re drinking water.”

“I have precious cargo to get home. I wanna make sure we’re safe,” he said and leaned down to kiss her lips. “I like kissing you, Kenzie.”

“You’re a good guy, Ty,” she said casually, lifting the glass, letting the ice fall in her mouth until another drink was placed on the bar.

“You know, those are stronger than they taste. Don’t get me wrong, I like drunk girls, but you might regret that in the morning,” he said, when she took a giant drink of her third Rum Runner.

“Point noted,” she said, this time taking a sip as he reached for the glass of ice water. “It never occurred to me to ask this before. But what’s your real name?”

Ty reached down and used his finger to push her hair behind her ear before he leaned in and whispered in a real breathy voice, sending tingles skating across her body, “Ty Bateman.”

It took a second for functioning brain cells to return. By then, he’d stepped back and taken a long drink from the glass of water in his hand.

“Then how do you hide?” she finally asked. Ty lowered the glass, swirling the ice around inside the water before extending the glass to her lips, giving her a drink. He’d managed to relax her so much that she kept her eyes on him, opened her mouth, and took the drink. He seemed to approve because he leaned in, removed the glass and kissed her lips.

“You’re sexy as hell, and I’m Todd Weatherford—per my identification. I should have told you that already. See? You make my head crazy. I forget the important things,” he said quietly in her ear. She reached her hand around his shoulders, holding him right there. She liked him there against her face. Those soft whiskers rubbing along her jaw as he spoke. When he moved slightly, coming back into her line of vision, still all in her personal space, she noticed a trickle of sweat sliding down the side of his face, disappearing into his beard. For some reason, that was sexy to her, and she remembered watching that happen right before her orgasm. She could feel the warm flush washing over her and lifted her cold drink to her cheek.