Vic lay back down on bed and pulled the covers up to his chest. He placed his arm over his eyes.
“It seemed so real.”
“It always does.”
Vic tried to close his eyes, but he just kept feeling the barrel of the gun at his head.
“Try to rest. I’ve got your back, brother. I’m staying here. I’m on guard. Nothing will get to you.”
Vic heard his brother’s words and tried to focus on them and clear his head. He was a fucking wuss that needed his brother to babysit him while he slept.
But it worked, and five hours later, he woke up with the sun blazing through the shades and his brother, Tommy, sitting uncomfortably on the lounge chair in the corner of the room.
* * * *
They were standing by the main bar and Sally was up onstage singing up a storm, doing her last number before the first round of the bull-riding contest started. Elise was in the back room with a makeup artist and wardrobe person. Tagart had sent in a crew of five people including photographer and assistants. She stared at Susanna and Ava with her eyes wide as they all complimented the outfit.
Granted, it was sparkly and very Hollywood-like, but it was also revealing. The top, if she could even call it one, was a half red-, white-, and blue-sequined blouse that tied right underneath her bustline. There were only two buttons, and considering that the top was two sizes too small, Elise’s mouth dropped as her large breasts nearly poured from the front of her barely there bra. The Daisy-Duke shorts and fancy red cowgirl boots topped off the ridiculous outfit. As she stared at herself and the way her hip bones showed from the shorts being too small, her belly ring was replaced with one that had three hanging rhinestones, and boy, could you see a lot of her tattoo.
“Incredible!” someone stated, but she was feeling a bit annoyed right now.
“Not for nothing, people, don’t get me wrong, I think you do fabulous work and all, but how the hell am I supposed to ride the electric bull in this?”
“Hot damn, woman, you are something else,” Tagart stated as he and Carver entered the room.
“I can’t do this. I can’t get onto a bull wearing this.”
Tagart made his way to her and trailed his hand along her waist before making his way back in front of her. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and he looked pleased as punch.
“You will, baby. If anyone can pull this off, it’s you. Now, we’re going to start with some shots around the bar, by the bull, and then on the bull. I also have the video crew setting things up so we can record the riders and your performance for the boss. In a few hours, you’ll be sitting back relaxing and missing all the excitement.”
“You don’t know me well at all, Tagart. This is not me.” Elise smoothed her hand down the shorts. Her fingers hit skin immediately, reminding her about how little she was wearing. She also felt a bit uneasy in her stomach from the way Tagart spoke about his boss wanting to see pictures. She wondered who his boss was, since he said he came from Tennessee. Also, it made her think about Cobbs and his operation. Sure Tagart was a conceited jerk and businessman, but could he know Cobbs? What if this situation was a scam? She felt her belly tighten and then fear gripped her momentarily. She absorbed the activity going on around her and all the professional employees from Tagart’s company. It didn’t make any sense that Tagart was doing something wrong. Her nightmares about Devlon, the way Vic and Tommy were actively pursuing her, and all her fears from Tennessee were making her paranoid. She was going to have to face her fears and her paranoia. She took a deep breath and cleared her mind best she could until she heard Tagart’s voice.
“Let’s go do this. The photographer will tell you where he wants you and what to do.” Tagart pointed toward the doorway, and a very good-looking man entered the room. His eyes widened as he looked at her.
“She is precious. Where the hell did you find her, Tagart?”
“Francisco, meet Elise.”
The man touched her cheek, tilted her chin up, and then pointed her face to one side then the next.
“Gorgeous bone structure, great, sexy lips. Maybe a little more gloss please,” he stated, and the makeup artist turned Elise’s face toward her and added the gloss. She then turned her face back to the photographer, Francisco.
“Gorgeous. Let’s move.”
They all headed out of the room and Elise grabbed Ava’s hand and Susanna’s hand. “You two owe me so big for this.”
“We’re going to owe you even more,” Ava stated, and Elise crunched her eyebrows up.
“Tommy and Vic just showed up and the guys are telling them about this whole thing right now,” Ava whispered. Elise felt her belly tighten and fear hit her hard. They were not going to be okay with this situation. They didn’t even like Tagart.
“Go try to calm them down and explain that this was your idea.”
“No worries, Susanna already did. They’re right in front of the main area where the photographer and video guys will be shooting the event,” Ava stated.
“Oh God.” Elise held her hand over her belly.
“Hey, get into your role, sweetheart. Even though we’re breaking here and there for specific shots, I need you to be exactly like you were the other night when you did your sexy cowgirl routine,” Francisco said.
“How do you know about that?”
“Tagart sent me pictures and Carver sent me a video from his cell phone.”
“Oh Lord.”
* * * *
“If one more fucking guy tries to touch her as she’s posing around the dance hall, I’m going to lose it, Tommy.” Vic took a slug of beer.
“What the hell is she wearing anyway?”
Just then Vic noticed Tagart placing his arm around Elise’s waist as the photographer lowered his fancy camera. Before either Tommy or himself stood up, Elise unwrapped herself from Tagart and began walking their way. Vic stared at her gorgeous legs, her exposed belly, and of course her breasts. There was no way to avoid looking and why should he? Those were his, too.
She glanced around. Then her eyes met his and she paused in her steps just a moment. She looked worried, but then she headed straight toward him and Tommy.
“Hi,” she stated as she stopped inches in front of him. He looked over her shoulder and watched as Tagart glared in anger. He’d show him anger if he wanted to see it.
“Hey, yourself. You look great. What’s this all about?” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her between him and Tommy. He could see the other guys trying to get a better look at her body.
Tommy placed his hands on her shoulders and she looked up at him.
“You look hot, baby, but we’re not liking this.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I know. Believe me, I’m not liking it either, but we’re almost done. I just have to dance my way into the room and put on a little sexy dance as a preshow to the event.”
Vic pressed his hand against her back.
“Say that again?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Don’t worry. It’s just a repeat of the other night really. No big deal. Then I can change out of this ridiculous outfit.”
“That’s the best news you’ve shared so far. Maybe we can help you get out of this outfit.” Tommy leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“This outfit isn’t her,” Vic stated firmly, and Elise nibbled her bottom lip. He gently took her chin in his hand and rubbed his thumb so she would stop nibbling.
“Don’t do that or you’ll mess up your lipstick. One of these people will come out and plaster more crap on your face.”
“You don’t think I look good with makeup on?” she asked him.
He held her gaze with his and gave her a firm expression.
“Hell no, baby, you are gorgeous with or without it on, but this is too much.”
“It’s for the cameras and video. It helps her perfect features show more clearly,” Tommy stated and both she and Vic looked at him then chuckled.
She looked back at Vic and scrunched her eyes a little before she placed the palm of her hand against his cheek.
“Hey, are you okay? You look tired.” He’d hoped she hadn’t noticed.
“Bad night and little sleep, but I’ll be fine. Do you have to stay all night?”
“I do. I’m kind of in charge of the event, too. But at least once the riders start competing, I can go change. Will you stick around?”
“Stick around? Definitely. We have to keep an eye on our woman,” Vic stated.
“That’s right,” Tommy added.
“I never accepted this whole ‘woman’ thing, you know. You two are making assumptions again.”
“Like hell we are,” Tommy said then placed the palm of his hand against her cheek and gave her a soft kiss on her mouth.
“Okay. Cool it now, you two. You made your point,” Ava stated as she interrupted them. “Honey, you need to get ready for your entrance.”
“Okay. I’m good and then I’m changing out of this.”
“That’s fine. Let’s go.”
“Bye, guys. I’ll see you in a bit,” Elise told them, and they watched her walk away.
“Hot damn, brother, we got ourselves one sexy woman,” Tommy stated.
“Sure do. But I’ll tell you something, Tommy. I sure don’t like that Tagart guy or his friend Carver.” Vic stared at Tagart who just happened to be watching Elise like a hawk.
“Me either.”
* * * *
Carver leaned over to whisper into Tagart’s ear, but Tagart was too busy fantasizing about Elise. She was super sexy as she did her dance, revved up the crowd, and rode the bull in short shorts and a sexy top. He wasn’t the only guy staring in awe, and as he looked across the room toward the bar, he caught sight of the two deputies that suddenly seemed to be her bodyguards. Tagart thought she was single, but the two Indian cops thought she belonged to them.
“I guess you’re going to change your plans for the Dixie Chix, huh?” Carver asked.
“Why would I do that?” Tagart replied while he continued to watch Elise as Gus helped her off the bull. Even he took an opportunity to squeeze Elise to him. She noticed and shook her head and gave Gus a kiss on his cheek that made the man blush before she wiggled her way off the mat. “The video guy Kurt is in position, right?”
“Yes, Tagart. He knows what to do. He’ll get all the riders and we’ll take it from there.”
“In that case, I’m going to congratulate my little cowgirl. I’ll be right back.”
“You’d better watch yourself. Those deputies seem really attached to her.”
“Not a problem.”
Tagart caught up with Elise on the other side of the bar after she exited the main riding area. There was a huge crowd of spectators as the first rider took a seat and began the first round of competition.
“Hey,” he called to Elise, grabbing her hand as she entered the hallway.
“Oh, hi, Tagart. I’m all done right? I can change now?” she asked as she looked up at him.
He looked her over up close now and licked his lips in appreciation of her.
“You did real good, darling. You want some help back there? That top looks kind of complicated.” He moved closer to her and placed his hand on her hip. She stepped back against the wall and he moved again.
“No need to worry. Everyone’s watching the bull riders. Why don’t we head into the room for some privacy.”
“I’m really not interested, Tagart. I’m kind of involved right now.”
He reached up and pressed his hand over her shoulder, blocking her in so she couldn’t move.
“With who? Those two Indians out there? They’ll eat you alive and spit you out.”
“It’s really none of your business. I think you should leave me alone now. I want to change out of this ridiculous outfit and take off some of this makeup.”
He couldn’t help but touch her. He liked the way her skin felt under his fingertips. He inched higher, and she tightened up until he nearly touched the underside of her breast.
She pushed her hands against him.
“Quit it.”
“Come on, baby, just a little kiss.”
“She said no, asshole.”
Tagart didn’t have to look up to know it was one or both of the deputies. They had been watching her all night, and he had taken too long to make his move. He should have shoved her into the back room, bent her over the table, and told her how it was going to be. He clenched his teeth as he looked at them over his arm.
“I’m having a private conversation.”
“Get away from her,” the one named Vic stated.
Tagart looked back at and caressed her cheek as he pulled his hand away from the wall. He looked her body over and smiled at her.
“We’ll talk later, when the savages ain’t around.”
“Savages?” Vic repeated in a low, menacing tone. As Tagart went to walk by them, Vic took a challenging step toward him.
“Don’t, Vic. He’s not worth it,” Elise stated, and Tagart smiled as he walked away.
* * * *
Vic was pissed off as he closed his eyes and tried to calm his temper.
“Is he okay?” Elise whispered to Tommy.