Boots and Bareback: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 3 (3 page)

The music ended and Isabella sat for a moment, reining in her lusty thoughts.

Three tall, dark-haired cowboys slid past Jackson and held out their hands to her. Ah, yes, the handsome O’Briens.

Her belly tightened and a rush of heat pooled even lower. Strong, healthy cowboys always held a soft spot in her heart and a hot spot elsewhere. Especially these three. They’d all asked her out at one time. She’d been too freshly rejected by Daniel to even consider dating at the time. And they hadn’t asked her again.

“Let me help you down.” The oldest, Gabe O’Brien, held out his hands.

She brushed them aside. “I can get down on my own.” Because she was in such a heightened sense of arousal, she couldn’t risk letting a man touch her intimately. Not now. Besides, she didn’t need a man to help her off a horse, real or mechanical. She slid her leg over the smooth fiberglass body of the horse and dropped to the ground, forgetting it was a little higher than the platform the mechanical horse was attached to.

Tanner, another of the O’Brien men caught her, pulling her against his hard chest to steady her. “Are you okay?”

His breath stirred tendrils of hair near her ear, sending all kinds of shivery shards of electricity bouncing off her skin. “I’m fine.” Again, she had to remind herself she didn’t need a man in her life. The previous one had ruined her, making her think she didn’t have a romantic or erotic bone in her body.

Then why, when Tanner’s hands circled her waist, had her body ignited and her breath lodged in her throat?

She’d gone almost six months without a man and Daniel hadn’t gotten her as excited during her year-long relationship as the O’Brien men had in less than a second.

Probably because she’d gone six months without any sex. One time with Tanner and she’d be bored and unable to reach that elusive orgasm she’d been longing for, going on a year and a half.

His hands moved lower, curving over her hips. “Would you care to dance?”

“He’s got two left cowboy boots.” Sean O’Brien stepped up to Isabella. “Dance with me. I, at least, can do a decent two-step.”

Gabe shook his head. “Give the gal some room to breathe, guys.” He held out his hand. “She’s not interested.”

Gabe’s commanding voice captured Isabella’s attention and without thinking, she put her hand in his.

He extricated her from his brother’s arms and led her several steps away. “You make riding bareback an experience that bears watching.” Lifting her hand, he turned it over and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Thank you.” Then he dropped her hand. “Come on, Tanner, Sean. Leave her alone.”

“But, she didn’t say no to the dance,” Sean argued, his smile turning full-force on Isabella. “Well?”

The younger O’Brien’s grin was infectious and Isabella couldn’t help returning his smile with a little shake of her head. “Sorry, I have to get back to work.”

Tanner lifted his cowboy hat. “Thank you for a great show, ma’am.”

With that, the three O’Brien men walked back to their table and sat.

Isabella’s brows furrowed as she headed back to the dressing room where she could change into her cutoffs, tank top and cowboy boots, each of the O’Brien men on her mind. All of them as tall as church steeples, broad-shouldered and sun-kissed from working outside. Her dormant sex drive kicked up, reminding her that she was a young female with needs, not a dried-up old biddy. Following on the heels of that thought was the echo of Daniel’s parting words.
A man wants to know he can make his woman as hot as she makes him. You bring nothing to that table, lady.

For the past six months, Isabella had believed that. Bumping into the O’Briens made her think perhaps she wasn’t as frigid as Daniel made her out to be. Too bad, she wasn’t interested in testing that theory. God forbid Daniel might be right.

Her belly tightened and her pussy throbbed.

Or was she just frightened by the intensity of the heat roiling inside her body at the mere thought of going out with one of the O’Brien men?

Chapter Two

Gabe sat at the table, nursing his beer, watching for when Isabella emerged from the back room behind the bar. “Maybe Dad’s got a point.”

“What? Don’t tell me you’re buying into that
find one before all the good ones are gone
bullshit?” Tanner shook his head. “I’m not ready to go running after a woman just because Dad says we’re getting old. Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it.”

“You went after the wrong woman, Tanner. Don’t paint them all with the same brush as Lucy.” Sean patted his brother’s back. “You can’t let one woman turn you against all of them.”

Tanner crossed his arms. “Who said I was?”

“Have you been out on a date since Lucy ditched you over a year ago?”

“Yes, plenty.”

“How about a second date?” Sean persisted.

Tanner’s lips thinned. “So, they weren’t right for me. Why drag it out?”

“Think about it,” Gabe said. “Jesse’s getting married. He’s the youngest.”

“No, Molly’s the youngest,” Tanner interjected.

“Of the men, dumbass.” Gabe focused on the door leading to the storeroom and backstage. “Isabella is single, isn’t she? She’s not hiding a husband somewhere, is she?”

“As far as I know she isn’t married.” Tanner’s eyes narrowed. “Now, wait a minute. I saw her first.”

“Like hell you did.” Sean leaned forward. “Besides, you’re not interested in running after women.” He nodded toward a duded-up cowboy. “Maybe he’s more your style.”

Tanner rose, his fist clenched. “That’s not what I said. And you’re right. Isabella’s different—nothin’ like Lucy.”

“Forget it. You two are too young for Isabella, anyway.” Gabe set his beer on the table. “She’s too much for both of you to handle. It will take a real man to win her over.”

Tanner snorted. “Well that would rule you out. When were you ever in a lasting relationship?”

Gabe bristled. “I’ve been in relationships.”

Sean’s brows rose. “Yeah. The longest one lasting…what…all of two weeks before you started feeling hemmed in and dropped her like a hot branding iron?”

“I’d call that being allergic to commitment.” Tanner’s lips quirked upward in an almost smile.

Gabe wanted to punch both of his brothers for being way too close to the truth. “A man can change.”

“Uh-huh. Right.” Sean shook his head.

“We’ll see.” Anger spurred Gabe to action.

“Wait a minute.” Tanner’s hand shot out, grabbing Gabe’s arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Gabe stared at Tanner’s hand. “Gonna see a man about a horse, and I don’t need you to unzip my pants.”

Tanner let go of Gabe’s arm. “Reckon you can manage on your own.”

“Your confidence overwhelms me.” Gabe chuckled and strode toward the men’s room. Halfway there, he shot a quick glance behind him.

Tanner’s attention had returned to the dance floor.

Good.

Gabe veered toward the back of the bar where Isabella had disappeared, slipping past Greta Sue, the bouncer, when she wasn’t looking. He had to get Isabella alone.

His father had been right. He hadn’t been persistent in pursuing Isabella. Gabe figured it was about time to get serious and see where things went. What was the worst that could happen?

She could say no again.

Gabe refused to take no for an answer. He just needed to turn up the O’Brien charm.

In the hallway leading to the rear exit, he ducked his head into the storeroom. Empty. He followed the hallway to the back room that comprised the back of the stage and the costume room that held all the costumes for stripper night at the saloon.

Isabella stood with her back to him, struggling to untie the red bikini strap around her neck.

Gabe stood stock-still; his heart thundered and his breath labored.

The woman was beautiful, slender and athletic, legs from her toes to her chin. Without trying, she had a natural grace in every movement. Her long, luxurious hair reached her waist, skimming across the top of her low-riding bikini bottoms.

Gabe wanted to bury his hands in her curls, and his cock in…

Isabella sighed, her hands falling to her sides, the knot at her neck remaining tangled.

Apparently she hadn’t heard Gabe enter, the noise and music from the bar drowning out his footsteps.

He cleared his throat and entered the room. “Can I help you with that?”

She started and swung to face him, her hand holding the bikini bra against her breasts. “What are you doing back here?”

Gabe smiled. “Looking for you.”

“Didn’t you see the
Employees Only
sign?” She frowned, standing there in nothing but the red bikini and looking good enough to eat, one lick at a time.

“I chose to ignore it. I wanted to see you.”

She snorted. “Well, you’ve gotten an eyeful, now leave.” Isabella pointed toward the door.

Gabe leaned against the doorjamb. “You look like you could use a hand untying that.”

“I can manage, thank you very much.”

“No, really, let me help.” He pushed away from the doorjamb and closed the distance between them. “I promise not to do anything…you don’t want me to.”

She snorted again, but didn’t argue.

He moved around behind her and grasped the knot. “You were great out there tonight,” he said softly, while working the fabric loose.

“Thanks.” She stood with her hands pressed to her bikini bra, her long, dark hair hanging down over one shoulder. “Felt strange riding a mechanical horse. I’m used to the real deal.”

He couldn’t help that his knuckles brushed against the smooth skin at the back of her neck or that the curve of her waist and the crease disappearing into the back of her bikini bottoms was wreaking all kinds of havoc, making his jeans so tight he could hardly stand it. “You ride much?” God, he’d like to ride her.

“Used to,” she whispered. Her body trembled beneath his touch.

Gabe suspected it wasn’t so much from his touch as it was from some emotion she was feeling. “Why don’t you ride anymore?”

She shrugged, one hand rising to brush at something on her cheek.

His finger freed the knot and he turned her in his arms. “Are you crying?”

Her lips pulled into a tight line as a single tear trickled down her cheek. “No, of course not.”

Gabe tipped her chin and studied her face, his head shaking. “Liar.” His thumb caught the tear, brushing it away. “Why don’t you ride anymore?”

“I was fired from my last job as a horse trainer.”

“You?” He leaned back, frowning. “You’re one of the hardest working women in this place.”

“Didn’t get along with the owner’s son.” She leaned her forehead into his chest. “All I ever wanted to do was take care of the horses. Now, the closest I can get to a horse is the mechanical one in the other room. God, I miss the real ones.”

Gabe tightened his fingers around her arms, dragging her against his chest. He smoothed a hand down her long, silky hair, fighting the desire to thread his fingers through the tresses. “I take it the boss’s son was a jerk?”

She dipped her head in a single nod. “Yeah. The worst part is that I was fool enough to think he really loved me. But I never quite measured up.” Isabella smiled up at him. “That’s the past, though. It was nice of you to listen.”

Her lips were rosy and full. Totally kissable.

“If you ever need someone to listen, I’m all ears.” Before he could stop himself, he slid his thumb across her bottom lip and followed it with a gentle butterfly kiss.

Isabella slid her hands up around his neck, urging him closer.

With her permission granted, Gabe claimed her, his tongue sliding past her teeth to thrust inside her warm, wet mouth. He slipped his hands down her naked back, dragging the strings of the bikini top with them.

She leaned her naked breasts into his shirt, setting his body on fire.

Gabe dug his fingers beneath the elastic band of her bikini bottom and cupped her ass, lifting her until her legs wrapped around his waist. “Just tell me to stop and I will.”

She crossed her ankles behind him and rubbed her crotch over the ridge beneath his fly.

Gabe moaned into her mouth, reaching one-handed between them to loosen the button at his waistband and unzip.

His cock sprang free, nudging against the fabric of her bikini.

She shifted, dragging the material to the side so that his penis nudged against her opening. “Ride me, cowboy,” she whispered.

He reached into his back pocket and yanked out his wallet. “Will you do the honors?” He shook it open.

Isabella located the foil packet he had tucked in with his money. He couldn’t believe he was here, holding her so close, about to make love to her in the back of the bar with a crowd of people on the other side of the curtain.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this. I must be insane. Something about riding that mechanical horse made me…”

He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Hot?”

“Wickedly horny.” She ripped the packet open and tossed the foil over her shoulder, her fingers clutching the rubber.