Trouble in a Stetson (3 page)

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Trouble in a Stetson

Roxie and Emily were already seated at a table in the darkened club when she arrived. Both were nursing something cold that would offer up a nice buzz. A plate of nachos sat between them.

Scowling, Lola plopped into a chair. “Hey ya’ll,” she said before grabbing a nacho and biting down.

“Damn, get this woman a margarita,” Roxie said flatly.

“Looks like she needs one,” Emily added, lifting her hand to the waitress on duty.

Lola looked at her friends, feeling that instant connection she always had with them. “How about ten? I’m sick of men I tell you. Sick, sick, sick.”

“Who do you want me to kill for you, honey?” Roxie, a tall, very pretty brunette leaned back in her chair, one dark brow raised.

“The sheriff. He’s got to go.”

Emily, also brunette but more on the petite side of things, propped her elbows on the table. She looked ready to do battle. “I’ll hold him down while Roxie smacks him in the nose. So he’s being an ass, huh? What did he do? Heck, that first day in the café he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

“Yeah, I know,” Lola sighed and thanked the waitress for the frosty margarita she’d set down in front of her. Running her finger around the rim, she gathered up a bit of salt and stuck it in her mouth. “I swear, just looking at the man makes me shiver and then there was that thing where he caught me when I fell.”

Emily’s eyes went wide. “Huh? Fell?”

“Yeah, spill it,” Roxie said, leaning forward in anticipation of a story. “What happened?”

So Lola told them all about the spider and her fall and about how she landed right on top of Sam, owner of that big, hard cock. Emily started laughing first and then Roxie and before she knew it she was laughing too. But then she went serious. Huffing out a breath, she sipped her drink. “But ever since then he’s been avoiding me like I have a 19

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disease or something and then tonight, before I walked in the door he pulls up and glares at me, questions what I’m wearing and gets all pissy. I’ll never understand men.”

“Avoidance,” Roxie said with an air of finality. “Cliff told me that Sam’s wife left him because she just didn’t want to be tied to a poor county sheriff. She took off for Dallas, found herself a wealthy man and married him. I think it broke Sam’s heart. He loved her or at least thought he did.”

“I didn’t know.” Lola wondered about a woman who valued money over love. She could never be that way despite the poverty in which she grew up. Finding someone to love was more important than anything, in her estimation. To think Sam had suffered because of this woman made her heart tighten with sympathy. He was a good man despite his ornery ways, and proud. Even now, as ticked off as he made her, Lola wanted to crawl up in his lap and hang on for whatever ride he wanted to give her. Not even her ex-fiancé, Nick, had affected her this way. She wanted to know Sam and see what made him tick. “That’s so sad.”

Emily lifted her hand to order another round before looking her dead in the eye.

“Know what I think? I think he’s one scared puppy.”

Lola laughed. “Scared? Of me? Hell, I don’t think anything frightens that man. He’s one tough hombre.”

“I think you’re on to something, Em,” Rox chimed in. “I mean look at you, honey.”

“What? What’s wrong with the way I look?”

“Not a thing,” Emily said, taking up the thread. “But you’ve gotta admit you come off pretty flashy. Maybe Sam just has the wrong idea about you. He sees that whole tits and ass combo you have going on along with everything else that goes with it. He wants you but he’s scared to get involved.”

Anger whipped through her. Same old story. Same sad song. “I’m sick of this shit, ladies.”

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Emily patted her hand. “I know you are, honey. We know how sweet you are and how smart. It just takes people awhile to realize you are a whole lot more than just another pretty face.”

Lola sighed.

Several hours later she stepped from the shower, dried her hair and pulled on the cute little nightie she’d bought before leaving Vegas. The silky pink fabric felt like sheer heaven against her skin. Once upon a time she bought these things to please her fiancé but no longer. An unabashed girly-girl, she now wore the frilly, beautiful things just to please herself. After slathering on lotion that matched the perfume she always wore, she settled on the couch and flipped on the television. While a reality show about finding true love and everlasting happiness flickered over the screen, Lola thought about her conversation with her friends. Things were hopping between Emily and Roxie and the men in their lives. They didn’t say much but then they hadn’t needed to.

Both were really distracted by the men they had met in Mesa Blanco on the day they’d rolled into town.

Hoping the boring show would help her get sleepy, she continued to stare at the screen when she heard mumbled voices.

Huh?

Suddenly alert, she straightened and stood to face her front door.

More mumbling and muted male laughter.

She might be a country hick from the Mississippi boonies but she’d lived in Vegas long enough to learn caution. Lola grabbed her cell phone and frantically began searching for Sam’s number.

“Loooooola! Loooooola!”

Lola froze and then heard another laugh, louder this time. It was followed by a series of little knocks at her window. A chill raced up her spine as she pressed Sam’s number. He answered on the first ring.

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“Lola? What’s wrong?”

How did he know something was wrong? No matter. “Sam, come quick. There are some men outside my place.”

“Be right there. Don’t you
move
.”

She heard the anger in his voice along with that no-nonsense tone one expected from a seasoned cop. Clutching the phone to her chest, she stood there, frozen in place.

Anger riding him hard, Sam gripped the steering wheel and gunned the vehicle toward Lola’s place on Main Street. He was officially off duty now but he was restless and just driving around, hoping for a way to blow off some steam when her call came in. Tracking down prowlers outside Lola’s place was just the excuse he needed. The fact that Lola herself was the reason for his black mood and restlessness was pretty damn ironic.

His britches had been twisted in a bunch from the first minute he’d set eyes on the outrageous woman and he didn’t know what he was going to do about it. She was not his type but damn if she didn’t push all his buttons and then some. Rounding the corner, he stopped the truck and jumped out. Making his way down the alleyway, his anger dissolved somewhat. Three local teenage boys, swigging on bottles of beer were prowling around outside Lola’s place. He’d known them since they were babies and knew their parents. They certainly weren’t dangerous but had sure as hell crossed the line tonight.

“What the hell are you boys doing?” Sam tromped up and three bottles of beer hit the ground. One of the kids yelped but he wasn’t sure who. “Got an explanation about this? It better be a good one.”

“Um. Well, uh…” one began.

Well, shit.

“Do you boys want to get locked up in my jail?”

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A chorus of nos sounded. Sam pulled out his cell phone and punched in his deputy’s number. Within thirty minutes, the boys’ scrawny asses were loaded up and being taken home to face the wrath of their parents. He wasn’t excusing what they’d done, but since they’d never been in trouble before, he was willing to be lenient despite how raw he felt at this moment. Had they done anything other than scare Lola and make utter fools of themselves, he would have been much harsher.

Sam tromped up to Lola’s door prepared to knock when she flung it open and leaped into his arms. Those long, luscious legs went around his waist and her arms squeezed so tightly at his neck he almost lost his breath. His hands swept the silky bit of nothing covering her back and instant lust swept him and carried him under. Stepping into the room as if he owned the place, he kicked the door shut not giving a hot damn at the moment about anything but being there for her, with her.

But if she wanted more from him tonight he wasn’t fool enough to say no.

“You okay?” he whispered into the mass of her hair.

“I am now.”

“Just a few local kids acting like fools. I sent them home to their parents unless you want to press charges.”

“No. No charges. They just scared me.” She looked up at him, her big, blue eyes suddenly at half mast and filled with easily recognizable heat. Her breath came out in rapid little pants. “You’re quick. You got here so fast,” she whispered breathlessly, her voice like honey and molasses.

“About to get a lot faster. I’m sick of dicking around here, darlin’.” Turning he pressed her against the door and planted his lips along her neck. The sexy, classy fragrance of her curled through his system. He wanted her. Savage hunger and the need to touch her surged through his blood like aged whiskey. Sam swept his hands down her sides and arrowed straight to her ass. The firm, toned globes fit neatly into his palms and Sam stroked them as though he’d wanted to do from the very beginning.

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“Been wanting to do this for days and I’m not a man who’s into self denial. I’m done needing you, watching you, and not letting myself take what I want.”

Lola squeezed him tight and planted soft, sexy little kisses all over his face. “About damn time, cowboy. Fuck me now, Sam. Don’t you know I’m dyin’ for you?”

“Hell.”

Lust riding him hard, he took her lips in a wild kiss that was little gentleness and all need. Sam fell into it, tasting her addictive sweetness, plying her tongue with his until her response flowed heady into his mouth. Lola was one hot bundle of woman and he suddenly knew he’d never get his fill of her. Her nipples tightened into hard little nubs that pressed the soft cotton of his tee shirt. Needing a firmer touch, he moved one hand from her ass and sent it down until the heat of her pussy practically singed him.

Groaning low, breaking the savage kiss, he licked and nibbled at the slender column of her neck, feeling her sigh break over him like a song.

Sam slid his fingers past the elastic of her next-to-nothing panties and stroked them over her drenched heat. Dragging his fingers over her slit, dipping into the melting layers of her pussy, he flicked her clit with his thumb until she squirmed, a tiny frantic sound breaking from her lips. “I love the feel of your cream on my fingers, darlin’. God, you’re responsive and sweet.” He sent two fingers deep, hearing Lola whimper as he finger fucked her long and slow and then he ratcheted up things by pressing her clit again and then again. Lola tightened her legs around his waist and shivered against him. “Ready for my cock, honey? God, please say yes. Not a beggin’ man but—”

“Yesyesyes. Sam, hurry.”

A little cry left her lips when he withdrew his fingers from her juicy pussy.

Reaching into the front pocket of his jeans, he found a condom and put it between his teeth. “Hang on, darlin’.”

“O-okay.”

Using his upper body strength, he pressed her tightly against the door for balance.

The rasp of his zipper sounded loud in a silence filled with anticipation. Ripping the 24

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package open, Sam covered his heavy erection then pressed up until he’d barely crowned her vaginal opening. Holding just the head of his cock there was pure agony.

Then finally he’d had enough. Plunging upward, high and hard, he filled her pussy to maximum capacity. Lola cried out, the sound low, nearly frantic. The idea that she was as hot as he was goaded him on as he gripped her ass and began to fuck her against the door. In and out he plunged, holding on tight as sensation tore through his body at the speed of light.

So good. So good.

Tight and perfect.

Lola milked his cock, fucking him back, writhing against him as if she couldn’t fuck him fast enough, hard enough. Her little cry swept the air coupling with the sounds of their bodies slamming together in the fervent need for blind orgasm. Then her cry became a wail as she pressed her head against the door, tightening her legs as if she’d never let him go. Lola went still then flew apart in his arms. Gasping his name, she flexed and squeezed. The orgasm slammed into him with the force of an eighteen wheeler hitting a brick wall. Lust swept him, completion too, powerful and sweet until with a low sound of his own, he jetted his cum into the end of the condom.

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Breathing hard, Sam held Lola in place against the door and wondered how she’d managed to turn him into an animal. He’d never been a man to disrespect women but he’d jumped her beautiful bones like a maniac. Drawing back, he looked straight into her eyes.

“I ought to apologize but I’ll be damned if I can do it, honey. I’m not sorry. Not a goddamned bit.”

Lola sent her fingers through his hair, eyes focused on his lips and damn if he didn’t feel his cock twitch. It was still buried inside her.

“No apologies necessary,” she whispered. “I swear, Sam, if you hadn’t jumped me soon, I planned to make my own assault. Getting up close and personal has been on my mind since I first clapped eyes on you.”

Sincerity rang in her voice and Sam grinned. Kissing her hard, once, twice, he finally pulled back and withdrew from her body. Not bothering to tuck anything away just yet, he took her hand and led her across the small space, straight to the side of her bed. Sam tapped the end of her nose. “Don’t move.”

Feeling her eyes on him, he stepped into her tiny bathroom, noting the little personal touches she’d added to the barren space. Pink fluffy towels hung along one wall and colorful bottles and tubes, makeup he figured, were in a basket near the sink.

Taking care of condom disposal, he grabbed up a wash cloth and cleaned up a bit.

Feeling like a voyeur in this feminine domain, he picked up a swirly cut-glass bottle and gave it a sniff. Yep. That was the scent that drove him crazy but he’d rather smell it on her skin.