Boots and Leather: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 2 (2 page)

Mark shook off Luke’s hand and stood still, letting the gap between himself and Libby widen. “You like peace and quiet don’t you?” he asked, his tone softer, gentler, his eyes wide like a sad puppy’s, begging for affection. Beautiful and dangerous to her control.

Libby couldn’t resist, and nodded. “Yes.”

“And she’s not getting much of that now.” Luke shook his head. “Look, if you feel like getting out in the open air, no cars, no honking, nobody to pester you but the two of us—and I promise we won’t pester you too much—drop by our place at eleven o’clock on Thursday. We’d love for you to join us on a ride.”

Libby’s eyes narrowed. The way Luke had pulled his brother back and left the invitation open appealed to her, making her wonder what it would be like to have more of his intuitive attention, maybe even having those large, capable hands skimming across her skin, awakening places that had been long dormant. And Mark’s broad shoulders and eager, brown-eyed gaze tripped her heartbeat and sent butterflies fluttering through her belly. No. She shook her head in an attempt to clear it of the vision of delicious twin cowboys. She couldn’t get sucked in. She opened her mouth to decline.

Luke put up a hand. “Don’t decide now. Sleep on it. You have a couple days to think about it.”

“We can be as peaceful and quiet as you want,” Mark promised.

Libby couldn’t help her snort. “Mark…quiet? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you quiet.”

His brows furrowed. “I can be, especially out on the ranch.”

She sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

“Great!” Mark clapped his hands together. “We’ll see you at eleven on Thursday. Wear boots and jeans. We’ll make it a picnic.”

Libby chuckled. “I said I’d think about it.”

“Libby!” Audrey’s voice carried across the back parking lot.

“We’ll be countin’ the minutes until we see you again.” Luke captured her hand and lifted it to his lips.

Libby’s cheeks warmed and a deep yearning low in her belly blossomed, making her ache for more than just a kiss on her hand.

“The two of us will make it a treat you won’t forget,” Mark promised, sweeping her into a bear hug, lifting her off the ground and planting a kiss on her surprised lips. Before she could find her wits to struggle, he set her back on her feet and tucked something in her jeans’ pocket. “If you need us for anything…” He waggled his eyebrows. “And I mean anything…call.” He spun her toward the building and patted her bottom.

Libby hurried back into the saloon, wondering what had just happened. She pulled a card from her hip pocket and stared down at the logo for Gray Wolf Architectural Designs and the phone number listed.

“Oh good, I was beginning to think the twins had absconded with my best bartender.” Audrey leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. “Are you all right?”

Libby jammed the card back into her pocket, frowning. “I think I’m going on a picnic.”

Audrey laughed. “Did Mark and Luke talk you into an outing?” She patted Libby on the back. “Babe, you’re in for a real treat.”

“That’s what
they
said.” A tingle of excitement threatened to grow inside Libby’s body.

A secret smile lifted Audrey’s lips. “The two of them are amazing together.”

Her frown deepening, Libby glanced across at her boss. “And you know that
how
?”

Audrey’s lips quirked upward in a smirk. “Did I tell you the story of how they got me and Jackson together?” She slipped her arm around Libby’s shoulder and walked her slowly into the bar.

“No, you didn’t.”

Audrey touched a finger to her own lips. “Hmm. Maybe I shouldn’t, and let you discover for yourself why those two are phenomenal.”

Libby’s core tightened, a wash of moisture trickling out of what she’d thought was her dried-up pussy, shocking her more than she cared to admit. She marched the rest of the way to the bar and took up her bar towel. “I’ve a good mind to cancel.”

“No way,” Audrey called out.

Her heart sped and pressure pushed against her chest, the sure signs of the beginnings of an anxiety attack.

Audrey laid a hand on her arm. “You have to go on that picnic. I promise you won’t regret it.”

Forcing a smile for the next customer, Libby muttered beneath her breath, “I think I already am.”
Yeah, yeah.
Then why did a shiver of anticipation spread throughout her body?

Chapter Two

By the time the saloon closed, Libby could barely think of anything else…and the
date
was two days away. She finished cleaning up the bar and called out a goodbye as she passed the storeroom.

Audrey echoed her good night and giggled. The low rumble of a male voice sounded behind the door.

Squelching the urge to peek into the storeroom, Libby sailed by, knowing Jackson Gray Wolf had her boss cornered, probably doing naughty things to her among the stacks of supplies.

With a sigh, Libby let herself out the back door of the saloon and strode toward the spot she’d left her motorcycle. How long had it been since she’d had sex? Too damn long. The invitation from Mark and Luke had been the first time she’d been tempted. The riding date was two days away, making her
dry spell
that much longer.

She passed by Audrey’s red pickup and Jackson’s black one and ground to a stop, shock stealing her breath away. Her precious motorcycle lay on the ground, the leather seat slashed, a mirror broken and the acrid stench of gasoline filling the air.

“Damn!” Anger shot through her veins as she closed the distance, inspecting the damage. Someone had deliberately sabotaged her bike, tipping over
The Beast
.

Libby struggled to right the machine, fury giving her the strength to set it on its wheels despite the weight. Once she had it upright, she straddled the seat and flicked the starter. The engine turned over once and then nothing. She tried several more times, still nothing.

With a sigh, she hung her head, tired and a little defeated. Then she noticed the large damp spot on the gravel where the gasoline had spilled. She checked the fuel gauge and groaned.

She’d had just enough to get her home and to the station the next day. Now, the tank was completely empty. And she had no idea if anything else had been tampered with. No doubt a disgruntled customer or that man she’d kneed in the groin had done this, knowing exactly who the bike belonged to. Not until the following morning, when the garage that serviced her bike opened, would she know the full extent of damage to her
baby
.

She patted the tank like a favored child. “Don’t you worry, Beast. We’ll have you fixed up in no time.”

With no other alternatives, Libby trudged back into the saloon. Everyone else had gone except Audrey and Jackson. From the noise on the other side of the storeroom door, they were getting it on. At least someone was having some fun.

Reluctant to disturb the private party, Libby wandered around to the bar and sat at one of the stools, prepared to wait them out. After ten minutes, Audrey and Jackson still hadn’t emerged and Libby was getting tired of waiting. The waitresses had gone earlier, before Libby had finished cleaning and restocking the bar. They were probably sleeping soundly by now, their aching feet propped up in bed.

Libby wiggled her toes in her black leather boots. What she wouldn’t give for a long, hot shower, or better yet, a steaming bubble bath. Had she been in New York City, she’d have called a cab. No such convenience existed in the counties on either side of the Ugly Stick Saloon. If you needed a ride, you called a friend.

As that thought passed through her mind, Libby remembered the card in her back pocket. Mark and Luke had said if she needed them, just call.

She pulled the card from her pocket and stared down at the stiff paper with the bold print. Her head tipped toward the storeroom, where giggles and noises indicated no end to their antics anytime soon.

She slipped her cell phone from her purse, studying the display screen, stalling. For once she had three bars service. At the Ugly Stick, reception was always questionable. Maybe it was a sign. Quickly, before she could change her mind, she dialed the number on the card, half-hoping the men wouldn’t answer.

After only one ring, a deep male voice cut through the line. “Libby?

For a moment, her voice froze, and the hand holding the phone shook.

“Libby? Are you there? Tell me this isn’t a butt-dial.” A deep chuckle rumbled in her ear.

“No butt-dial. I’m here.” A smile tugged at her lips and she relaxed a little. “Which one of you did I get?”

“This is Luke. Are you all right?”

Warmth filled the empty spot in her chest at the sound of concern in Luke’s voice. How could she let herself get so needy? When she’d left home, she’d vowed to be independent no matter what. Regretting the call already, she almost hung up, but knew it would be rude. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called. You two are probably in bed already.”

“No, no. We’re glad you called. And we haven’t even started home yet. We’re over at the truck stop in Temptation, finishing an early breakfast. Wanna join us?”

“No. Thanks.” She shifted her hand, ready to click the off button at the soonest possible chance.

“Where are you?” Luke asked, forestalling her sudden urge to end the conversation.

She breathed a long, deep sigh and went with the flow. Hell, she’d already called, she might as well ask for a ride home. “At the saloon.”

“Didn’t y’all close thirty minutes ago?”

“We did. But someone messed with my bike and I can’t get it started.”

Even before she got the last word out of her mouth, Luke said, “We’ll be there in ten minutes. Five, if I can get Mark to let go of his steak.” He hung up before she could tell him to let Mark finish his meal and not to come, that she’d wait for Audrey and Jackson.

With all intentions of calling back and telling them not to bother, Libby hit the redial button. Nothing happened. No bars, no reception. If she wanted to call Luke, she’d have to do it from the landline. She rounded the bar and lifted the phone from the wall mount and quickly dialed the number on the card.

Again, no response. Apparently, Luke was having reception issues on the other end. Great. By the time the boys got there, Audrey and Jackson would probably be sexually satiated and ready to leave.

Then again…maybe not.

The noises in the storeroom increased with loud laughter and even louder groans. The giggles erupted from the doorway and footsteps sounded across the wood flooring, headed for the costume room behind the stage.

Her pussy tightened as Libby imagined the hot sex the two were having and wondered what they were up to now. Envy burned low in her belly. She gathered her purse and strode for the back entrance, forced to pass by the wardrobe room backstage where Audrey kept the costumes for stripper nights. She and Jackson were laughing. The sound of a whip popping captured Libby’s attention.

With ten minutes to cool her heels, Libby slowed and paused at the entrance to backstage. A flash of naked skin snagged her attention and she tipped her head to the side to get a better view of what was going on.

Libby’s heart fluttered at the sight of Audrey perched on a stack of boxes, completely naked except for her bright red cowboy boots. Her legs wrapped around Jackson’s equally naked body as his hips rocked, grinding against hers.

One of Audrey’s arms circled Jackson’s shoulders as she rode him, leaning close to kiss the side of his neck. In her other hand, she held a long leather whip. She glanced across the room, her gaze connecting with Libby’s. Audrey winked and flicked the whip, a loud crack splitting the air.

“Careful with that. You almost got me,” Jackson warned.

“Had I been aiming for you, I wouldn’t have missed. Now, ride me, cowboy,” Audrey demanded.

Libby’s breath hitched and she stepped back, just enough so she couldn’t see. Heat rose from her chest into her cheeks. She’d never spied on another couple having sex. But Jackson and Audrey had looked so very hot and sexy, and the kink factor of the whip made Libby’s blood burn.

Audrey’s moan drew Libby back to the entrance like a sailor to a siren. She couldn’t help watching as the couple engaged in hot and kinky sex.

Jackson shifted, turning himself and Audrey, giving Libby a side view of the action. His long shaft pumped in and out of Audrey’s cunt. The soft slurping sound of a well-lubricated channel interspersed with Audrey’s moans and Jackson’s grunts as he thrust into her.

Libby’s belly tightened. She pressed her hands to still the butterflies, her thighs quivering in anticipation of Jackson’s next thrust.

Audrey leaned up to whisper something into Jackson’s ear. He smiled down at her and then turned to Libby, his eyelids drooping down over his brown-black eyes. “Wanna join us?”

Libby jumped back, unable to pull her gaze from the couple. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to watch.”

“It’s okay. We don’t mind.” Audrey’s ankles crossed behind Jackson’s back and she pulled him into her. “Do we?”

Jackson shook his head. “If my lady likes a little more kink, I’m all for it.” He waved a hand, beckoning Libby into the room. “She has completely corrupted me.”

“No. I shouldn’t.” Despite her denial, Libby couldn’t move back another step—her feet were glued to the floor. The intimate connection between Audrey and Jackson set Libby’s pussy on fire. “The twins are coming to pick me up.”