Sex Ed (11 page)

So deep, Kendal could have fal en into it. Her breath grew ragged as the cowboy's hands slid up from her waist to cup her breasts. Kendal leaned back into him, his tough leather and man-musk scent making her knees weak. "No, real y." Her voice ragged, she swal owed hard and continued. "Who are you?"

"Ride with me into the sunset, beautiful lady, and I'l reveal al ."

Her heart skipped several beats then raced to catch up. Hel , what was she thinking? She loved Ed, not this sexy cowboy who danced in strip clubs. "No.

No, I can't. I have a boyfriend. I'm practical y engaged."

He spun her away from him and back into his arms so that she faced him. "This Cory dude is not the man for you."

Her boobs crashed into his naked chest, forcing her breath out in a gasp. Kendal stared into the man's sky blue eyes.

He lifted his cowboy hat and winked.

"Ed?" Joy swel ed in her chest as Kendal stood stock stil in the middle of the dance floor. "What are you doing here?"

"Keeping you from making a mistake with pretty boy." He nodded his head toward Cory.

"By dancing naked in front of al these barracudas?" She shook her head and laughed out loud. "Real y, why are you here?"

"That's just it. I couldn't let you go out on a date with Cory. He's not the right man for you."

Irritation straightened her spine. Kendal planted her fists on her hips and faced off with Ed Judson.

"No? Then who is, Ed? Who is the right man for me?"

Ed opened his mouth to answer, but before any words could come out, Big Joe Sealy plucked Kendal from the stage and set her on the barroom floor. "Time's up, Kendal . Let one of the other ladies have a shot at the cowboy."

"But, Joe, I need to be up there." Kendal placed her hands on the wooden surface and tried to climb back up.

Big Joe planted a heavy hand on her shoulder.

With the other hand, he helped a forty-something bleach blonde climb onto the stage where she immediately flung herself into Ed's arms.

A surge of jealousy ripped through Kendal 's gut.

Ed peeled the woman's death grip from around his neck, and he spun her away from him and back.

His moves were not nearly as practiced or suggestive as the other strippers, but stil fun to watch. When he turned his back to the audience, Kendal gasped and clapped a hand to her mouth.

Ed's very tight, very manly ass shone like a neon moon.

Women roared and surged toward the stage, bil s clenched in their fists or hanging from their teeth. They shoved Kendal out of the way, pushing her farther and farther away from the cowboy and his gorgeous tush.

The blonde in Ed's arms pul ed her top over her head and flung it out into the crowd. Wearing nothing but a black demi-bra, the woman jumped up and wrapped her legs around Ed's waist, pressing her D

cups into his face. She yanked his hat off his head and waved it in the air, shouting, "Ride me, cowboy!"

Ed's eyes widened and he looked out into the crowd. When he caught a glimpse of Kendal , he mouthed the word,
help.

Kendal crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "You're on your own." If Ed had hoped to stop her from seeing Cory, he deserved to be caught in his little act by al these women. Let him suffer. If he hoped to win her heart, his answers had to be faster and he had to be ful y prepared to declare his love. He needed to see what a treasure he had in Kendal and that having al the women in the world was not the right answer for him.

The song faded out and a roar of applause sure to deafen every ear in the room rose to a crescendo.

The men made a final pass along the edge of the stage, al owing women to stuff their G-strings with bil s, then they escaped behind the curtain.

Big Joe Sealy had to untangle the blonde from Ed before he could beat a retreat.

Final y backstage, Ed sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Not used to the meat market, are you?" The cop slapped him on the back and grinned. "Don't worry, after the first dance, you just go with the flow."

Flow, hell.
Ed didn't plan on dancing another dance in front of those rabid women. Al he wanted was get into his jeans and shirt, find Kendal and get her the hel out of there.

"Hey, cowboy, nice ass." A hand slapped his butt, staying there a little longer than necessary.

Ed spun, ready to defend his honor and politely tel the woman he was done playing stripper.

Lacey leaned against the wal , her lips twisted, her brows waggling. "You looked damn fine out there tonight."

"Don't get used to it."

She tipped her head, her gaze going to the flesh exposed by chaps way too smal for his thick thighs.

"I don't know. I think you can make a kil ing with that equipment.

Heat crawled across his chest and Ed covered his package with cupped hands. "Cut it out."

"So, why'd you come?"

"Would you believe I wanted to try my hand at stripping?"

Lacey shook her head. "Try again."

At just that moment, Cory entered the dressing room.

Ed straightened. "I came to talk Kendal out of dating that gigolo." His fists clenched. "Maybe I should just have a word with the man, instead of Kendal ."

Lacey placed a hand in the middle of Ed's chest, stopping him before he could take a step. "Wrong."

"What do you mean wrong?" Ed heaved a ragged sigh.

"Cory's not the problem."

"Then who the hel is?" Ed raised both fists. "I'l kil him."

Lacey grinned. "You."

"Me?" His hands unclenched and jammed onto his waist.

"Yeah, big guy." Her hand fel to her side. "Why do you think Kendal was wil ing to let you teach her sex education lessons?"

"Because she trusts me?" Surely, that was the reason that made the most sense.

Lacey snorted and shook her head.

Ed's brows furrowed. "I couldn't let her go to Whitey Ross for lessons."

"Kendal needs lessons about sex like an alcoholic needs to learn how to drink. She gave up her virginity when she was eighteen."

His chest squeezed tight. "I'd like to punch the kid that took it."

"Why?"

"Because. She was just a kid."

"And why don't you want her to date Cory?"

Lacey nodded toward the blond pretty boy.

"Kendal 's not a kid anymore."

"I promised Connor I'd look out for her." But damn, the girl had grown into a beautiful woman.

"What if she loves Cory?"

"I'l kil him." Blood thundered in his ears.

"Why?" Lacey looked him directly in the eye.

"Because I love her." Ed gripped Lacey's arms.

"I love Kendal . Are you happy? I love my best friend's little sister."

Lacey's face split into a wide grin. "Honey, you'l have to get over that one, if you real y love her and want to be with her."

Ed glanced over at Cory. "What about the pretty face over there?"

"She's been teaching him how to dance. That's al ."

"To dance?" He stared from Cory back to Lacey, his head swimming with the possibility that he might have a chance with Kendal . "I thought she wanted the lessons to get a guy to notice her."

"It worked, didn't it?" Her lips spread into a wide grin. "You noticed her, didn't you?"

"You're kidding right? Al that sex education bul shit was to get my attention?" Ed shook his head.

He turned and walked a few steps away, oblivious to the draft on his backside, then spun and returned to Lacey. "Why didn't she just tel me?"

Lacey's cheeks reddened. "I kinda talked her into the whole Sex Ed plan."

"You?" Ed ran his hand through his hair.

"Yeah. I figured it would give her one more chance to get your attention."

"Before what?"

"Before she moved to Austin and started over."

Al the air whooshed out of Ed’s lungs. He had never considered Kendal might move away. If he was honest with himself, he suspected his reluctance toward building his own house had a lot to do with Kendal sharing the one he lived in. "She was right. I refused to look at her as anything other than Connor's sister."

Lacey’s brows rose, a smile quirking the edges of her lips. "Yeah, but you never brought women back to your apartment."

"I couldn’t." He laughed. "Bringing another woman into the same house didn't feel right."

"And you haven't married any of the women you've dated."

"Again, it just didn't feel right."

"Now that you've been with Kendal ?"

Ed grinned. "She feels right." He slapped his hat on his leg. "Damn it, it feels so right I want to tel her."

Lacey frowned. "Tel her what? That it feels right?" She shook her head. "It'l take more than that to win that girl over. The big question is, do you love her?"

Ed's grin grew even wider. "Yes, ma'am. More than anything."

"Even more than disappointing your friend?"

Ed sobered. "I need to talk to Connor before I do anything."

"The sooner, the better." A smile lit Lacey's face.

"You're going to marry her, aren't you?"

"Damn straight. Before she gets anymore cockamamie ideas about sex education."

Kendal pushed her way through the crowd, angling for the door to the dressing room backstage.

Ed's punishment with the other women had gone on quite long enough. If Ed had come to 'rescue' her from Cory, Kendal hoped he acted because he was jealous, not just doing his brotherly-duty. Perhaps the Cory baiting had done the trick and made him realize he had a little competition, and that he'd better speak up or shut up.

Her efforts to get to the dressing room became more forceful, until she soon shoved women out of the way. What if he'd been about to declare his love when Big Joe yanked Kendal off the stage?

Ed might real y be in love with her and she wanted to know now.

When she reached the dressing room, she waited until the security guard left his post for a moment to answer a question of one of the bar patrons.

Kendal ran, grabbed the door knob and jerked it open. Once inside, she slammed the door closed behind her. Another song started, and the crowd of women screamed so loud, no amount of wal insulation could muffle the cries. Several of the men had changed costumes and were headed back to the stage. One by one, the crowd of men in the dressing area thinned until Kendal final y spotted Ed on the opposite end of the room.

He had his back to her, stil wearing the chaps that exposed his real y fine ass in the G-string.

Kendal 's steps picked up and she almost laughed out loud. She couldn't wait until she could pinch him. She had a smart-ass remark poised on her lips, ready for when he spotted her.

Ed turned to the side, his body in silhouette even more powerful and beautiful in Kendal 's eyes. He smiled and laughed at someone standing in the shadows.

Then a slim pair of arms wrapped around his neck and a woman with auburn hair flung herself at him, kissing him ful on the lips.

Lacey.

Kendal 's feet ground to a halt and she backed behind a stage prop, her little bubble of happiness exploding deep in her chest. How could she have been so wrong? Ed looked so happy, like a man in love. In love with Lacey, not her.

Cory passed in front of her, stopped and returned. "Kendal ? You're not supposed to be in here."

"It's okay, I'm leaving." Kendal spoke softly. She didn't want Ed and Lacey to find her there. If they said anything to her right then, she was likely to fal completely apart. "I just wanted to congratulate you on a great performance." She turned away from the sight of Ed and Lacey hugging and kissing, her heart so heavy she could barely breathe.

"Thanks, Kendal . I made enough in tips to pay for three months’ rent on my apartment. If you hadn't taught me how to dance, I don't know how I'd have managed. Those women are crazy." He laughed and hugged her. "I better get back out there. There's more money to be made while it lasts."

"You go. I'm headed out the back door."

"Are you okay?" Cory stared into her face, a frown pul ing his brows low.

"I'm fine." She waved a hand in front of her neck.

"I just need air. Crowds, you know."

"Yeah, I know. Especial y this one." He grinned.

"Thanks again." He disappeared through the curtain, leaving Kendal to find her way out without alerting Lacey and Ed to her presence.

One of the dancers carried a large Mexican sombrero to the props shelf.

Kendal ducked behind the hat and walked with him until she could peel off and head for the rear door. Without looking back, she pushed through the door. As soon as the cool night air hit her burning cheeks, the tears fel .

Had that been Lacey's plan al along? Had she insinuated herself into the Sex Ed lessons because Ed was getting too close to Kendal and she wanted Ed for herself?

A lead weight settled in Kendal 's gut. Maybe Ed had been playing her al along. Maybe he'd always loved Lacey and Kendal hadn't seen it. Had the two of them been in cahoots al along, waiting for Kendal to give up and move on?

Kendal 's feet carried her through the parking lot, one slow, heavy step at a time.

A cop car cruised through, moving just as slowly.

Kendal dodged his cruiser and hit the highway, her pace increasing.

The cop pul ed alongside. "Lady, you need a ride home?"

Kendal kept her head averted, not one to cry in front of strangers. "No." She needed to walk out her frustrations or at least until her tears dried. Given what she'd just witnessed, that might be a very long walk.

"It's supposed to start raining," the cop said. "I don't feel right leaving you out here walking alone."

"I don't need a ride." She sniffed and scrubbed a hand across her face.

"Suit yourself." He slowed his police vehicle to a stop.

Kendal kept walking toward town. Five miles.

The distance was only five miles from the saloon to the house. She could jog that in her sleep.

A fat drop of rain landed square between her eyes and dripped down over her nose. Another fel , then another, mixing with the tears. Soon the heavens opened and dumped on Kendal . She couldn't see to walk and every step landed in another dark rut fil ed with water. "Why?" she yel ed to the sky. "Why?"