Dixie Lynn Dwyer (12 page)

She waved good-bye then headed inside.

“Someone looks very happy and well loved,” Ava stated as she leaned against the counter. Elise chuckled then plopped down onto the stool in the kitchen. She took a deep breath.

“That good, huh?”

“That good and then some.”

Ava smiled. “I’m happy for you, Elise. This is a good thing.”

“I know.”

“You sound funny? Are you still unsure about them?”

“Um, no, it’s not that. I don’t know really. Maybe it’s just my insecurity.”

“You, insecure? Since when? You’re pretty damn tough.”

“I appreciate that, but I just can’t seem to get rid of this feeling that something isn’t right. I don’t know. It’s like I don’t know.” She tossed her hands up in the air. “I just had the most amazing two days of my life and I’m totally hooked on Tommy and Vic, but, yet…there’s this feeling, deep in my gut.”

“Maybe it’s just a little guilt because of Devlon? Even though it has been years, he was still your first and the circumstances of his death were pretty traumatic from what you shared.”

“That’s true. I didn’t think of him once when I was with Vic and Tommy until we started talking about other relationships.”

Ava sat down by the island next to Elise. “So you told them about him?”

Elise shook her head.

“I should have, and there was an opportunity, but I didn’t.”

Ava covered Elise’s hand with her own.

“Hey, when the time is right, you’ll tell them. If this relationship is going to last, there can’t be any secrets.”

Elise thought about that a moment. Vic had secrets about his fears and maybe even Tommy suffered the same nightmares but hadn’t happened to have an episode while she was around. She could trust them with her story. But there was always that fear that whomever she got involved with as a boyfriend or lover could suffer the same fate. The thought alone made her heart ache and tears fill her eyes.

“Hey, it’s okay. You have time to tell them about Devlon.”

She couldn’t share her fear with Ava. Not now. It would be like saying it out loud could make it happen. No, she’d deal with this on her own and tell Tommy and Vic the next time they got together.

“I’m good. You’re right about no secrets or lies. I’ll tell them,” she stated, and Ava smiled.

“Good, now, how about we go do a little shopping for a better outfit for the bull-riding contest? That number the wardrobe person made you wear was a bit much.”

“You’re telling me? I though a boob was going to pop out while I was riding.”

“Well, you sure did draw quite a crowd, and I hate to be the one to tell you, but your picture is plastered all over the place.”

“What?”

“Oh yeah. I just hope Tommy and Vic can handle all the guys drooling over you.”

“Stop it. This is so not me and so not good.”

“We’ll see by Friday night. Hey, Sally’s doing a duet with Billy. They’ve been practicing since eight this morning at the club.”

“Really? And how did Mason and Steven feel about that?”

“Oh, I didn’t say she went alone.”

“Oh God, they are too much.”

“It’s only going to get worse since she’s pregnant. Those two are so overprotective of her.”

The moment Ava said the words “pregnant” and “overprotective,” Elise nearly gasped out loud. Tommy and Vic only used condoms the first time they made love. The rest of the time, they were so caught up in their desires and lust they just basically attacked one another.

“Why do you look like you’re about to pass out?” Ava asked.

“No reason. I just thought of something else I’m going to have to talk to Tommy and Vic about. Something that can’t wait.”

* * * *

“Are you certain?” Tagart asked Tysler as Tagart watched the one video footage of a cowboy named Keith ride the electric bull. He was definitely making that guy an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“Yeah, I’m a hundred percent sure. She was nineteen or so when she took off from the dude ranch in Tennessee.”

“What did she do there and why did she leave?” Tagart asked Tysler.

“You remember that stinking young kid that bet on the bull riding and won the event? The one you needed to get rid of for me?”

“Hell yeah. That little bitch cried and begged for mercy.”

“Well, Elise was his little girlfriend. She and a few cowboys found Devlon’s body outside of the bunkhouses.”

Tagart swallowed hard. He was a bit young and ruthless himself those days. He had really pounded the crap out of the kid and then shot him in a few places so he would really suffer. More importantly, this realization made Elise even more important to him. That would be the ultimate revenge on the kid’s mistake. Tagart killed Devlon himself and now he would get the runt’s woman.

“I want her. The sooner the better and you can use killing Devlon to get her to cooperate if need be,” Tysler stated.

“What? Why do you want her?” he asked Tysler. He felt sick to his stomach and angry. Elise was his, not Tysler’s.

“Because, she got away. I was going to use her to pay off Devlon’s debt, but then she came up with the money and disappeared. Now she’s back and that has to be some sort of fate. You get her and the two riders and be here by Sunday morning. If you need to grab her sooner, then do it. I also think she had something to do with that prize calf of mine disappearing. There’s no other way she could have came up with that kind of cash. Even if she was whoring that sweet little body of hers out. Before I could question her, she disappeared. Now do what you have to. ”

Tysler hung up the phone, and Tagart threw his phone across the room onto the couch.

“Fuck!” he yelled.

“What’s wrong?” Carver asked, and Tagart explained.

“Damn, that is, like, fate isn’t it?”

“Fuck you and fuck fate. Fate is Elise under me in my bed. Not that old fat fuck Cobbs. Fuck him. She’s mine, and if he doesn’t like it, then the hell with him.”

He walked over to the bar and poured himself a martini. He had a series of photographs of Elise scattered all over the table and bar. He pulled one out of the pile. She was on top of the bull with her hands in the air and her hips swaying. She looked like a goddess. The sight of her belly, taut and flat as her top barely covered her breasts, was enough to send him over the edge. She was his goddess, and he was going to have her. By this time next week, she would be hidden away in Tennessee and all his to play with.

It was Friday, and Elise was getting out of her car at Dixie Chix when she saw the police cruisers enter and park behind her. Tommy and Vic were both working tonight, and they hadn’t had time to get together. Elise smiled as she smoothed out her short skirt and pulled the thick fall jacket tighter against her. It was getting colder, and tonight she might have to turn the heat on in the car when she left for home.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Vic stated as he approached. He was wearing a matching dark blue sheriff’s department bomber jacket, and so was Tommy, who was exiting his car and approaching her, too.

“Hi,” she replied and couldn’t help but look him over. Vic was a sight in his full uniform, and despite her heeled black boots, he towered over her. Vic also seemed to read the desire in her eyes, and he didn’t hesitate pulling her into his arms. She held on tight and smiled up at him but also shivered. It was chilly.

“Hey, are you cold, honey?”

“Just a little. I’ll be needing to turn on the heat in the car before I leave tonight.”

“Or, you could leave the car and one of us can pick you up and bring you over to our place.” Tommy reached over and gently rubbed his thumb along her cheek.

“Or we could do that,” she replied. She felt Vic’s hand press against her ass over her skirt. She suddenly felt very exposed despite the warm coat she wore.

“This skirt is a little short, ain’t it, darling?” Vic asked.

“No shorter than any of my others, Deputy Ollsen.”

He raised his eyebrows at her. “Deputy Ollsen, huh?”

“Let me see how short it is.” Tommy ran his hand from her waist down her hips to her rear. Thank God they were facing away from the building and the car door blocked anyone’s view and especially the surveillance cameras.

“Questionable, ain’t it?” Vic asked Tommy, and Tommy raised his eyebrows at her.

She chuckled at them. They were so damn sexy. It was crazy how quickly her body desired them.

“How about I let you check it thoroughly later tonight at your place?”

“Oh, I like the sound of that. Now, we better get going, but we wanted to see you tonight, we missed you,” Tommy admitted.

“I missed you both, too. What time do you get off work?”

“Midnight,” Tommy replied.

“Okay. I’ll call you later.” She held on to Vic’s arms as she stood on tiptoes to kiss him. He made the kiss last longer then finally released her lips and smiled.

“I like when you take a kiss from me,” he told her.

“It seemed like you were the one taking the kiss.”

He gave her a squeeze then released her so that Tommy could kiss her good-bye.

“See you in a while, baby. You be good now, ya hear.” She felt the palm of his hand smooth over her ass and squeeze right as he covered her mouth and kissed her thoroughly.

When he finally let her go, she held on to him and her eyes remained closed.

“That just isn’t fair, what you two do me,” she admitted, and Tommy gave her a sad face.

“We’ll take good care of you later, darling. Now get inside before you catch a cold.” Tommy tapped her ass, and she locked her door then headed inside, waving behind her as she entered the back door to the dance hall.

* * * *

It was Friday night, and Dixie Chix was hopping. Sally was singing a duet with Billy, and Elise, Juliet, Alexa, and Paula were watching Mason and Steven.

“Man, do they look pissed off right now,” Alexa said then chuckled.

“I don’t know what the big deal is. I mean they know she’s their woman. It’s just a song,” Paula said.

“I think it has a lot to do with that baby she’s carrying,” Juliet said with a smile.

“Do all men get that overprotective when their woman is pregnant with their child?” Elise asked.

“I would hope that it means they really care and love her and are so thrilled about the baby, they want to keep them both safe,” Paula stated.

“That’s awesome,” Elise whispered, and she wondered for the first time in her life what it might be like to have a baby and be a mother. Immediately she thought about Vic and Tommy. They would make excellent fathers. But they hardly knew one another. And she had so much to share with them. What if they got angry about her past and the fact that she stole a prize calf to pay a thief who killed her boyfriend and lover? Her stomach clenched tight, and she didn’t like the feelings of uncertainty.

Sally’s performance ended and everyone cheered including Mason and Steven, so they must have been okay with it after all.

“Hey, Elise, can I have a minute?”

Elise turned around to find Keith, one of the bull riders in the contest.

“Sure, Keith. Come on over here.” Of course her friends raised their eyebrows at her and gave a few winks. She hoped that they didn’t think she was flirting with Keith.

She walked down to the corner of the bar near a set of high tables and stools that were vacant.

“What’s going on?” she asked him. It was then that she saw the uneasiness and concern on his face.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I want to know how much you know about Tagart and that guy Carver. I mean, are they legit or what?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I know they work for a company that helps to promote events like this one we’re running.”

“Well, aside from that, I’ve heard that he has connections to the real bull circuit. Like, he might be able to get me in there. I’m just wondering if it’s legit, because you know, I’d have to travel and my girlfriend Bella means the world to me.”

“Well, did Carver or Tagart say they had these connections and that they’re interested?”

“Sort of. It was more like, you need to do a few sideshows and work up your name, and then if all goes well we could begin promoting you under the business label.”

“I see. Well, do you get paid for the sideshows.”

“If I win.”

“That sucks and that sure is a risk.”

“Exactly. I thought, since you can ride so well and seem to know a bit about bull riding that maybe you could direct me. You know, make sure I ask the right questions.”

She felt a bit uneasy about this. She wasn’t sure what was going on here, but she would have a talk with Tagart and see.

“You know what, why don’t I have a talk with Tagart or Carver and see what exactly they could do for you and what connections they have. That should be able to send you in the right direction.”

“Okay. That sounds good. He wants to know by the show tomorrow night.”