Playing for Keeps (Honky Tonk Angels Book 5) (5 page)

Cade’s smile faded, to be replaced with a look that had her wanting things she knew she had to stay away from.

He leaned a little closer. “You want to fill me in on why acting on this interest would be a bad thing?”

“I already told you. Not as long as I work for you.” Roxie edged away a few inches, then mentally cursed herself for showing weakness. “I don’t mix business and pleasure.

“Yeah, I remember.”

“I guess I’ll get back to work.” She turned to leave, eager to escape the feelings his nearness inspired.

“Hold on.”

She paused.

“We’ve got a bit of a problem, Roxie.”

“With what?”

“This.”

He had her pressed against the door and his lips on hers before she could protest. She could have pushed him way. Should have. But damn he felt good, the long lean length of him pressed against her, the taste of him. She gave in and returned the kiss, grabbing his hips to pull him more firmly against her.

Then reason returned and with it, anger. Not at him. At herself. She pushed him away.

“It isn’t going to happen. I already told you.”

“Yeah, I know, not as long as you work for me.”

“Right.”

“Easy enough. You’re fired.”

“No!” She pressed both hands against his chest as he moved in on her. “No.”

Cade stopped, planting both hands on the door on either side of her and boxing her in. “Why? We both want it.”

“Sometimes that old saying is true, Mr. Beckett. The wanting is better than the having.”

“I’d be willing to bet that isn’t the case here, darlin’.”

“Maybe not, but I need a job more than an orgasm.”

He didn’t respond for several moments. “I disagree.”

“Then we’ll have to agree to disagree, won’t we?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. How ’bout we have ourselves a little wager?”

“What kind of wager?”

“That if you spend time with me outside of work, inside of three weeks you’ll change your mind and ask me to take you to bed.”

Roxie barked a laugh. “That’s so not going to happen.”

He smiled. “Put your money where your mouth is.”

“I have no money, as you well know.”

“Fine. If I win, you agree to stay for six months. Working for me and sharing my bed.”

“And if I win?”

“I pay you six month’s salary, fix your car, and wish you good luck as you leave Cotton Creek in your dust.”

Roxie considered it. “Six months regular bartender’s pay or six months at the same rate you pay me now?”

His mouth twitched as if he were fighting back a smile. “Your rate.”

“Define
spend time with
.”

“You know, sugar, dinner at my place, maybe some dancing on your nights off and necking on the couch.”

“Necking?” Damn, why did her pulse spike at the idea?

“Well hell, Roxie, are you scared you can’t resist me?”

“Not on your best day, Beckett.” God was going to get her if she didn’t quit lying, but she wasn’t about to let Beckett know that resisting him required effort.

“Then do we have a deal?”

Three weeks
. All she had to do was hold out three weeks. She could do that. Couldn’t she? She might need to find that sex toy store pretty quick, but she could do it. Only twenty-one days and then she could say
adios
to Cotton Creek and get on with her life.

“Deal.” She stuck out her right hand.

“I think we can do better than that.” He claimed her in a kiss that had her blood humming and her toes threatening to curl. When he pulled back, his smile was cocky. “You’re going down, Roxie.”

Roxie felt the gambler within rise to the challenge. She leaned in toward him, pressing her breasts against him as her right hand moved down to cup the erection that strained against the leg of his jeans. “You wish.”

Cade laughed and moved away. Yep, he was definitely going to win this bet. Roxie might not warm his bed tonight, but soon she would. He would bank on it.

Chapter Four

Roxie popped the caps from the beer as she pulled them from the refrigerator. One by one she put them on the counter, except for the last one. That one she lifted to her lips for a long drink.

“Woo damn, that hit the spot.” She moved out of the way to put the empty beer container in the trash as the others moved in to grab drinks.

She and Dini had been invited to Cody’s ranch to have a Sunday afternoon cookout and “single girls’ night out” as Hannah called it. Two other women, Pressley Pursell and Lily Matthews, had also joined them.

Roxie liked all of the women and was surprised how easy it was to fit in with them.

“So, Hannah tells me that you were a showgirl,” Lily said to Dini.

Dini smiled sweetly. “Guilty as charged.”

“Did you like it?”

“I did. It was fun—while it lasted.”

“Would it be too nosey for me to ask why you quit?”

Dini cut a look at Roxie and Roxie noticed that all the other women looked her way as well. An uncomfortable silence started to grow, so Roxie grinned at Dini. “Ready to give up your secrets girl, or do we need to get more in you than a beer?”

Her quip eased things and everyone laughed. Dini giggled. “Well you know me, Rox. One martini and I’m telling my life story.”

“You have fixings for a martini, Cody?” Pressley asked.

Cody laughed. “Come on ya’ll, give the girl a break. She’ll tell us what she wants us to know. Let’s go sit on the back porch and I’ll start the grill.”

Everyone headed outside. Lily fell in step beside Dini. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to interrogate you.”

“There’s no real secret,” Dini said with a smile. “I just—well, I just needed to leave after I caught my boyfriend cheating on me.”

“Rat bastard,” Pressley growled.

“No kidding,” Hannah agreed.

“My sentiments exactly,” Roxie added.

“So, you two just decided to leave?” Pressley asked.

“Pretty much,” Roxie answered.

“And how did you end up here?” Lily asked.

“A wrong turn on the way to Mexico and our car broke down,” Roxie said as she walked over to the porch rail and looked out over the land.

“And now that you’re here?” Lily’s next question had Roxie cutting a look over at Dini.

Dini smiled and took a seat in one of the wooden rockers. “Well, I don’t know about Rox, but I think Cotton Creek is a wonderful place. It’s full of friendly people and it seems like a safe place to live.”

“But no casinos,” Pressley pointed out. “And working in a diner can’t be nearly as interesting or exciting.”

Dini shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s interesting meeting all of the people and making friends.”

“But it can’t be as much fun as being a showgirl,” Hannah commented.

“Oh, you mean being trussed up in a costume that nearly cuts off your breath and leaves half your boobs hanging out, and shoes that have your feet screaming in two hours? Yep, that’s fun.”

“So you hated it?” Cody asked.

“No. At first I thought it was great, but then the newness wore off and it became what it was. Just a job and one where people never saw you for who you are, but what they thought you were.”

“Okay that part doesn’t sound good,” Cody replied.

“No, it wasn’t. For whatever reason a lot of people, especially men, look at dancers like we’re all for sale to the highest bidder.”

“Now that hits my piss off bone,” Cody said and looked over at Roxie. “But I’m glad that you broke down here—personally and professionally.”

“Thanks.” Roxie toasted Cody with her beer. “You’ve got a great place and I’m enjoying working there.”

“But it’s nothing like what you did in Vegas, is it?” Hannah asked.

“No, it’s not.”

“What did you do?” Pressley asked.

“Security.”

“As in bouncer?” Pressley asked.

Dini laughed. “She did that and let me tell you, she’s pretty much of a bad ass. But then she graduated.”

“To what?” Pressley looked at Roxie.

“To being an AP.”

“AP?” Pressley and Hannah both asked at the same time, making Dini giggle.

“Advantage player,” Roxie explained. “I worked high stakes games.”

“Oh, like that show I saw once,” Lily said excitedly. “The casino had this guy sitting in on a poker game and he would win every now and then and loose some, but stayed pretty even while everyone else was either winning or losing big and it turns out he was put in the game by the casino to spot cheats.”

“That was Roxie,” Dini crowed.

“So is it true that people like you aren’t allowed to actually play?” Lily asked.

“Yep.” Roxie finished her beer.

“Because you can spot cheats or know how?”

“Both, I guess.”

“Have you ever?” Pressley asked.

“Ever what?”

“Spotted a cheat.”

“Oh, yes.”

“And what happens to them?”

“They get banned from the casino.”

Pressley shook her head. “Man, I don’t know about gambling. I mean it’s okay to plunk some coins into a slot machine but to actually put my hard earned money on the line? That’s something I have a hard time with.”

“You wouldn’t if you knew you would win,” Roxie said.

“And do you?” Cody asked. “When you gamble, I mean. Do you know you’re going to win?”

“You mean straight up, no cheating?”

“Straight up.”

“Well, I know what to look for to tell me how to win.”

“Which is what?” Hannah asked.

“People’s tells. How they play, their patterns. Everyone has them. You spot them and you know whether they have the hand to win or not.”

“I’d be too nervous,” Hannah said. “I’m like Pressley. It’s one thing to give up twenty dollars, but to put hundreds or thousands of dollars on the line? Nope, that’s not for me at all.”

“Then you’re smart,” Roxie said and started gathering up empty bottles. “Anyone ready for another?”

A chorus of voices had her smiling and heading inside for another six pack. She was happy to have a moment to herself. Talking about Vegas and what she’d done there made her uncomfortable. She knew how it was when people were curious. Eventually they’d ask enough questions that you’d slip up and say something you shouldn’t.

And Roxie’s secrets had to remain secret. There was too much riding to take a chance on them being revealed.

*****

Cade parked beside the trailer and got out of his car. He’d never seen a drill site before and it was not the glamourous thing he’d imagined. In fact, there was nothing pretty or glamourous about it.

Before he’d made it to the door of the trailer, it opened and Jaxon Riggs stepped out. “Hey man.” Jaxon walked down the three wooden steps that had been built for access and held out his hand. “Long time.”

“Yes, it has been.” Cade took Jaxon’s hand, then gestured around. “So, from what I hear you drove a mean bargain with these oil people.”

Jaxon shrugged. “They stand to make a fortune—no, actually a lot more than that. They’ll be rich as Midas when this thing hits. What they’re paying me is a drop in the bucket in comparison.”

“But a healthy addition to your nest egg?”

“You got it, brother. Wanna come in and have a beer?”

“Hell yeah.”

They went inside the trailer and Jaxon gestured toward the living area. “Take a load off.”

As Cade took a seat, Jaxon headed for the kitchen. “Gotta say I never expected to see you in Cotton Creek, and for sure not working at the Honky Tonk,” Jaxon said over his shoulder. “Sorry we didn’t have a chance to talk the other night. I was there with Quinlan and Pursell and it was just business.”

“Figured as much and no problem.”

“So, the last time I saw you was in Atlantic City. What happened?”

“Sold out.”

“Why?” Jaxon returned with two beers, handed one to Cade, then took a seat.

“Got tired of it. Wanted a change.”

“To what?”

“Hell if I know.”

“So you came here? Long way from Atlantic City, brother, even if it is family. You said Stella Sweet is your aunt?”

“Yep. Mom’s sister.”

“So how you like the Honky Tonk?”

“It’s okay. Real busy place.”

“Kinda the only game in town if you know what I mean,” Jaxon remarked. “And with the boom it’s liable to get a whole lot busier.”

“That’s what I hear. Can an oil boom really make that much difference to a place?”

“Brother, it can turn a one-horse town into a metropolis or a mess; just depends on whether the place can provide and keep up with growth. It’s a shame gambling is illegal. You could clean up in a place like this.”

“Tell me about it,” Cade agreed. “So, I hear you and Cody were shooting sparks at one another?”

Jaxon chuckled. “She’s a fireball, that one. Damn hot little bundle but I get the feeling she’s not one to mess with.”

“I tend to agree and not just because she’s family. From what I hear, she hasn’t been involved with anyone in several years. Seems she got her heart broken and swore off men. Not that she hasn’t had chances, she just doesn’t take anyone up on an offer.”

“Interesting.”

“Yeah, I can see those wheels turning, but in the spirit of friendship, I’ll let you know that you don’t want to start up something with her that you can’t finish. She might be rough around the edges, stubborn and headstrong, but she’s Cotton Creek’s darling. People here love her and if you hurt her, trust me, they’ll rain hell down on you.”

“Oh? Well, good to know. And who said I was going to start anything with her? I’m probably old enough to be her father.”

Cade laughed. “Yeah, right. Whatever. Just don’t say you weren’t warned. I hear you were the white knight for another of Cotton Creek’s damsels. Callie?”

“Callie Williams? Nice lady. Her little girl is cute as hell. Callie got a real raw deal from a guy who wrangled his way out of prison. We were just there to make sure he didn’t give her any grief at the hearing.”

“It turned out to be a lot more than a hearing.”

“Yeah, it did. Bad times, brother. A police officer died.”

“Sorry to hear that, but it’s good you all were there to help Callie.”

“We were happy to do it. Speaking of Callie. She mentioned that you and the new gal at the bar are pretty chummy and damn man, that girl is smokin’ hot.”

“Roxie?” Cade blew out a breath. “Yes lord she is. And prickly as a rose bush.”

“So your normal charms aren’t working on her?”

“Let’s just say, I think there’s a lot more to her than meets the eye.”

“And what meets the eye is mighty fine.” Riggs raised his bottle in a toast.

“Amen to that.”

“And I imagine you’ve got feelers out to get the hidden details?”

“What makes you say that?”

Jaxon laughed. “Cause you’re a gambler who never plays unless you’ve got an Ace up your sleeve and I get a feeling you’re playing something with Roxie.”

“Like you’re not playing something with Cousin Cody?”

Jaxon grinned. “Nope. Not yet.”

Cade smiled. “Well, at the least it will be interesting to watch.”

“What, no bets on the outcome?”

“Not yet. I still don’t have enough data to lay the odds on who will come out on top.”

“Either way works for me. But let’s get back to you and foxy Roxie. What you have planned on that front?”

Cade polished off his beer. “Let’s just say that I’ve presented a challenge.”

“Oh, this is going to be good. Let me grab another couple of beers.”

As Jaxon got up to fetch more beer, Cade thought about Roxie. He was going to have to make damn sure he made it hard as hell for her to say no to him.

No, he was going to have to make it impossible. So the first order of business was to find out what flipped her sexual switch and to make sure he lit that thing up like the fourth of July.

*****

Roxie’s pulse did a quick two-step when Cade opened the front door of his house. Dressed in soft, faded jeans and a white dress shirt open at the neck, his sleeves rolled up his forearms, he looked good enough to eat.

“I see you found the place.” His smile had her temperature kicking up a couple of degrees.

“Thanks for the loan of your truck.”

“My pleasure, darlin’.”

She almost rolled her eyes. He was laying on the Texas accent a bit thick and she knew he’d had his truck left in town for her to drive because it suited him to do so. Roxie had been around gamblers all her life and recognized when someone was setting her up to take a fall.

Not that she intended to fall for Cade Beckett. She was just here, on her day off, because it was part of the bet.