Wrangled and Tangled (39 page)

“Nope,” Celia answered.

“But I don’t drink whiskey.”

“You do when you’re with me.”

Tierney laughed. “And since we’re trading off rounds, that means I have to buy shots?”

“Yep.” Celia grinned. “We’re gonna have some fun tonight.”

Tierney managed to knock back the shot without coughing or gagging.

A couple of hot guys moseyed over and chatted with Celia, who flirted shamelessly. After they left, Celia said, “I hope we won’t be kicking ourselves for not taking them up on their offer.”

“Renner might frown on me sneaking off to a private hot tub party with two cowboys. Wouldn’t the guy you’re seeing have an issue with it?”

“Breck?” She shrugged. “Nah. We’re keeping it casual. That works best for us.”

“But didn’t this Breck guy whisk you off to an island getaway for Christmas?” Tierney had caught the end of a conversation between Harper, Lainie and Janie at the New Year’s party about why Celia hadn’t come home for Christmas.

“He took me to Jamaica for two glorious weeks. But Breck is loaded and he didn’t wanna go home for Christmas any more than I did.” Celia smiled tightly. “I’m sure that sounds horrible. Don’t get me wrong. I adore my brothers. But Hank and Lainie were spending their first Christmas in their new house. With Lainie bein’ pregnant and all, I didn’t want to impose, although both of them would’ve assured me it wasn’t an imposition. And Abe, well, he and Janie need to figure some stuff out. I’d just be in the way again. Harper and Bran have room for me in that huge freakin’ house, but it’s their first Christmas as a married couple and I’d be a third wheel. So it was better that I packed a half-dozen bikinis and spent my Christmas vacation lounging on the beach drinking mai tais.”

“I see your point.” The music was cranked a little louder. Trying to hold a conversation without yelling became tough so they drank and watched people pour into the bar.

Time came for Tierney to buy a round of shots. She held her glass to Celia’s. “To smooth whiskey and rough men.”

Celia tossed back her shot. “I’ll have to remember that one.”

Another round of beer meant a trip to the ladies’ room. When Tierney returned, she was surprised to see a familiar face from Muddy Gap. The man Celia had referred to as the bane of her existence. He’d shoved a barstool at the head of the elevated four-top table right next to Celia—not that she paid any attention to him.

When he noticed her, he stood. “You must be Tierney. I’m Kyle Gilchrist.”

“Good to meet you, Kyle.”

“Now that you’re back to save our table, I’m gonna pop over and say hi to some folks,” Celia announced.

“Celia,” Kyle said sharply, “you’re not listening. I said Breck is lookin’ for you.”

“And I said
so what
.” She drained her beer, signaling the waitress for another. “It’s not like it’s a secret where I am. I’m where I’ve been all fuckin’ week.”

Kyle glanced at Tierney. “How much has she been drinkin’?”

“
She
can answer for herself, and the answer is none of your goddamned business. I’m not drivin’, I’m not doin’ a striptease on the bar, so fuck off. I don’t want you here, Kyle, because you’re a buzzkill.”

“That right?” He invaded her space and whispered directly in her ear.

Tierney noticed that while Celia’s hand on the table curled into an angry fist, she also closed her eyes and went very still when Kyle’s mouth was so close.

“There you are, Kyle. Thanks for tracking her down for me.” The guy glanced at Tierney and smiled as he sat next to Celia. “You saved us seats.” He thrust his hand across the table. “Breck Christianson.”

“Tierney Pratt.”

“Tierney. A beautiful name.” His eyes swept her face and chest with frank male appreciation. “For a beautiful woman.”

Talk about good-looking. Breck had curly coal-black hair, which he wore longer than the short cut most cowboys preferred. His dark blue eyes were fringed with thick black eyelashes and his dimpled smile hinted at sinful devilry. Broad across the shoulders and chest, with heavily muscled arms, he resembled a comic book superhero more than a rodeo cowboy. “It’s nice to meet you, Breck.”

“I’m so very pleased to meet you, Tierney,” he drawled seductively.

“Stop dripping testosterone all over her,” Celia snapped. “You’re a man’s man who loves the ladies. We get it.”

Breck laughed and curled his hand around Celia’s neck, bringing her in for a thorough kiss. “I love it when you get all mouthy on me, sugar pie.”

Tierney looked elsewhere and expected her discomfort to be mirrored in Kyle’s eyes, but Kyle’s entire posture was closed off. His face was a blank mask.

Chairs scraped and the table wobbled.

“Tierney, meet my buddies, Skeeter, Davy and Michael,” Breck said. The men dragged over extra chairs and joined them.

She murmured hello and half feared she’d revert to her former wallflower persona. But she’d come a long way in the last few months and there was no awkwardness at all. She found herself engaged in conversation with the guys as Breck and Celia argued in low tones and Kyle drank.

Listening to their rodeo exploits had her laughing so hard she had to rest her forehead on Skeeter’s shoulder to catch her breath. Somehow his palm ended up on her lower back.

“Maybe y’all better let me in on the joke, ’cause it looks awful damn funny.”

Tierney jumped at hearing Renner’s voice. How long had he been standing behind them? “Hey. I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Obviously.” Renner looked pointedly at Skeeter. “Mind getting your hand off her?”

“What?”

“Your hand. Get it off her ass. Now.”

“Oh. Oh! Sure. No problem, man.” Skeeter pushed away from Tierney, making room for Renner.

Everyone already knew Renner. The conversation turned to rodeo stock, competition, and droned on. After a half hour of mind numbing shoptalk, Celia mouthed “bathroom” and they slipped away.

Once they were in line, Celia said, “I need a cigarette. Stupid goddamn no-smoking laws.”

“Maybe you should track down one of those smokeless tobacco girls to sate your nic fit.”

“Ha ha. Smart-ass. Wish I never woulda started smokin’.” She let her head fall against the wall. “Look. I’m sorry. For the record, I didn’t tell Breck my plans because I wanted this to be girl time. I get so sick of his entourage. The man cannot go anywhere without his cowboy posse.”

“Renner’s been off doing his thing all day too.” She frowned. “I didn’t tell him my plans. How did he track me down?”

“Fuckin’ spies everywhere, that’s how. Did you notice the second they parked their Wrangler butts at
our
table it was all about them?”

“I’m used to it. When Renner walks into a room of rodeo contestants, he’s swarmed and forgets I’m even there.”

“Does it piss you off?”

“Now that I think about it . . . maybe. A little. And what was up with his,
get your hand off her ass now
show of testosterone? And then he ignores me completely?”

“Men suck.”

They moved a couple of feet in line and she glanced up to see Celia studying her. “What?”

“I’m thinkin’ a little payback is in order.” She smiled cheekily. “You up for some fun and games?”

“What kind of fun and games?”

Celia’s eyes gleamed. “The kind of fun that’ll get us noticed. The kind of games that’ll make them sweat and make them hard.”

An odd tingle prickled in her belly. The idea of showing Renner she made her own fun . . . really tripped her trigger. “I’m in. What do you have in mind?”

“A little girl-on-girl action.” Celia laughed. “You oughta see your expression. We’ll get friendly, but ain’t like I’m gonna stick my hand down your pants or nothin’.”

The lady in line behind them harrumphed and stomped off.

Tierney fought the urge to grin and to cringe—at the same time.

“Just follow my lead. It’ll just be a dirtier type of dancin’ and drinkin’.”

And dirtier said it all.

After fortifying themselves with another shot, Celia dragged Tierney onto the dance floor for Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s duet “Telephone” and taught her more sexy moves—shaking her booty, rolling her hips, swaying her upper torso to the beat—than any of the classes she’d taken.

The DJ kept playing sexy dance tunes. When “Honky Tonk Badonka-donk” came on, Celia playfully slapped her ass. Tierney snatched Celia’s long braid, wrapping it around her hand, pulling Celia against her body in a dominant move that caused Celia’s eyes to widen . . . just for a second.

Then Celia gyrated her hips with her arms in the air, rolling her shoulders and chest as she used Tierney’s body as her personal stripper pole. “Whip My Hair” started, and Celia bent Tierney over and used her braid as a whip on Tierney’s butt. After the dance ended, they formed a train with Celia in front and Tierney holding on to Celia’s hips. Tierney murmured, “Look at their faces,” and Celia let out a throaty laugh.

Skeeter stood up and clapped when they reached the table.

Davy wolf whistled.

Michael toasted them with his beer.

But Renner?

Not so amused.

Kyle?

Not so amused.

Breck? Highly amused. He drawled, “Ladies, you gotta be parched after such a fine display of dancin’. Any drink you want is on me.”

Tierney leaned her elbows on the table, zeroing in on Celia’s cleavage. “How about a . . . Slippery Nipple?”

“Jesus, Tierney, how much have you been drinkin’?” Renner hissed.

She gave him the cold shoulder.

Celia took the end of her braid and slowly outlined the skin bared by Tierney’s sweetheart neckline. “Oh. I don’t know. I was thinkin’ something more sweet and tangy.”

“And a little sticky?” Tierney asked silkily. “I know exactly what you want.”

“Because it’s what all women want. A long tongue licking that moist section of skin. A greedy-sounding gulp as the thick liquid warms the throat. And finally,” she breathed, “a firm bite on the tender flesh until it erupts in sweet juice that flows down your mouth and chin.”

None of the guys said a word. Tierney was pretty sure they’d stopped breathing.

“Any of you fellas wanna take a guess on what that is?” Celia asked huskily.

More silence.

Tierney and Celia exchanged a haughty look and simultaneously said, “Tequila shooters!”

Male groans sounded.

Davy piped up, “That’s not fair. That’s not what you—”

“Shut it,” Kyle snapped.

Celia blinked innocently. “What did you guys think I was describing? We were talking about
drinks
, right?”

Tierney swore she heard Renner growl.

Breck waved the waitress over. “Two shots of Patron, limes and salt.”

Then Celia and Tierney ignored the men completely. Celia straightened the laces on Tierney’s blouse, letting the heels of her hands brush Tierney’s nipples. “This is so cute. It’s tight enough you could wear it without a bra.”

“I considered it until I stepped into a cold room.”

Celia laughed. Then she said, “Hang on, you’ve got something on your face.” Celia’s finger wiped the corner of Tierney’s mouth.

Tierney fought a smile at seeing Celia’s smug grin. She knew from the way Celia bent her head it looked as if they were kissing. She casually swept a strand of hair behind Celia’s ear. She fingered the long blond plait, wrapped her palm around it and slid her closed hand up and down the length. “Don’t ever cut your hair. It’s gorgeous. So long. And thick.” She stroked a couple more times and squeezed the girth. “So smooth.”

Celia said, “You should feel it when it’s wet.”

“I’ll bet it feels amazing.”

“It does. Sometimes when I’m alone, I find myself fingering it because it’s so soft and damp.”

More male groans filled the air.

The waitress dropped off the shots and the accoutrements. Celia placed her mouth on Tierney’s ear. “Don’t chicken out now. This is the payoff. And for the record? The thing with Renner is not one-sided. He can’t keep his eyes off you.” Celia eased far enough back that every man at the table could see exactly what she was doing. She picked up a lime. “Open those pretty lips, darlin’.”

Tierney held the lime between her teeth, letting her tongue trace the bitter rind.

Celia dipped her index finger into the tequila, painting a line down the side of Tierney’s neck. She murmured, “Tilt your head,” and sprinkled salt over the wet streak. Celia’s hair tickled Tierney’s jaw when she put her tongue on Tierney’s neck and slowly, oh so very, very slowly, licked away the salt. Celia held up the shot glass and knocked back the booze. As she swallowed, she pressed her lips to Tierney’s, sucking the lime from her mouth.

Before Tierney could feel embarrassed, Celia said, “Your turn,” switching places with her.

What if she did this wrong? What if she didn’t look sexy and free, but awkward and uptight?