Playing for Keeps (Honky Tonk Angels Book 5) (4 page)

Cody smiled when Callie looked at her. Callie gave her a wink, then grinned at Jayce. “Well damn, Jayce, how can a girl say no to that?”

“I’m hoping you can’t.”

“You know I can’t. I love you.”

“So are you going to marry me, Callie?”

“Oh, yes I am. I most definitely am.” Callie went into his arms and Cody grinned at the sight.

Cody was thrilled for Callie. Callie had become not just a dependable employee, but a good friend. “Then this calls for a celebration,” Cody said when Callie turned to look at her.

“Indeed it does,” Callie agreed and smiled at Jayce.

“Hannah!” Cody yelled and looked around.

Hannah was at the bar and looked around at Cody’s shout. “What do you need?”

Cody motioned for Hannah and when Hannah joined her, Cody grabbed her hand and led her to the stage, telling her about Callie and Jayce on the way.

They stepped onto the stage and up to the microphone. “Hey, ya’ll,” Cody said.

The people in the bar quieted and looked at the stage. “Happy Friday,” Hannah said. “We’re sure glad to see everyone and hope this is the start of a good weekend for all of you.”

There was a bit of cheering and hooting for a few moments. Cody waited until it died down. “We’d like you all to join us in congratulating our gal, Callie Williams and Jayce Weathers. Seems like they decided to tie the knot. Callie and Jayce? Congratulations and a lifetime of happiness.”

“Congratulations,” Hannah added. “We love you guys.”

“The next round is on the house,” Cody added.

The people in the bar cheered and clapped and by the time Cody and Hannah stepped down from the stage, Callie and Jayce were surrounded by people wishing them well.

“I need to check on some things in the kitchen,” Hannah said. “You have the bar covered.”

“That I do.”

Cody made her way for the bar as Hannah headed for the kitchen. As she drew near, she saw him. Jaxon Riggs. Leaning on the end of the bar. She walked behind the bar and stopped to look at him.

“What can I get’cha?”

The smile that came on his face spoke of a lot of things—things she hadn’t thought about in a long time. “Beer.”

“Draft, bottle, domestic or import?”

“You choose.”

“What makes you think I’d know what you’d like?”

“Oh, I’m betting you know what I want.”

Fuck me.
Cody wasn’t someone given to cursing and rarely dropped the F-bomb, but damn if this didn’t call for it. The look he gave her was powerful all on its own and his voice had the capacity to turn a woman’s thoughts to all kinds of delicious ways to sin. Combine the two and it was enough to have her wanting to drag him into the office and commence putting those naughty thoughts into practice.

She turned, went to the cooler and selected a beer. After pouring it into a mug, she poured a shot of liquor. He was waiting when she placed both glasses on the bar in front of him. Jaxon looked at what she’d brought.

“So what do we have here?”

“Old school. PBR and Jim Beam.”

Jaxon grinned, picked up the shot glass and dropped it neatly into the mug. He then lifted the mug and, with his gaze locked, on hers, downed half of it. When he pulled the glass away from his mouth, he blew out a breath. “That does it.”

“You want anything else?”

“Oh, I do, but I have to get back to the table and talk to the boss.”

Cody heard the message and saw it in his eyes. She nodded and smiled at him. “Then you best get a move on.”

“Be seeing you, Cody Sweet.”

“Yep.”

She watched him make his way back to the table. Someone at the end of the bar yelled and she turned her attention back to her customers. She told herself she wasn’t going to pay Riggs any more attention. She’d chat with her customers and go about her normal routine as if he were not even there.

That was what she told herself. It was not what happened. She couldn’t keep from glancing his way every few minutes.

*****

Riggs shook hands with Wes Pursell and watched as Wes left. He and his partner, Cooper Quinlan had offered way too sweet a deal to turn down. Riggs found it interesting that Herbert Pursell’s and Lucas Quinlan’s sons had partnered up in an energy venture.

Having worked for both men, Riggs could speak from experience and say that he was willing to bet that both fathers were about as happy as sore tail cats and hoping like hell their sons failed.

Riggs didn’t think that was going to happen. He’d been on the phone with Wes and Cooper quite a few times, as well as with Bronson Weathers, who he’d known a long time. They were sitting on what could be the biggest strike in the continental United States.

And they were offering him five times what he normally made to take the job. The sticking point for him had been the clause they threw into the contract about him guaranteeing them one year.

A year went by quickly, but Riggs didn’t like making that kind of commitment. He’d had them reword the contract so that if things went south, he had a way out. When they agreed and then offered him a huge bonus if he made the entire year, he couldn’t find a reason to say no.

They’d had a trailer brought in and set up at the main drill site, so he didn’t have to worry about housing, or having to drive far to get to work. While some people didn’t cotton to the idea of living at the drill site, it didn’t bother Riggs. It wasn’t like it was permanent.

But then, that was the way everything in life was, in his way of thinking. Nothing was ever permanent. Everything changed.

This job definitely had its perks and one of them was the way-too-fine brunette bar owner, Cody Sweet. Riggs would be the first to admit that she was probably too young for him. Chances were, he was old enough to be her father.

Age awareness, however, did nothing to dampen the attraction. She was one fine looking female, with a smoking hot body and something in her eyes that promised things that made a man unable to think about much else except getting her naked.

“Earth to Jaxon.” Callie’s voice had him turning his attention and his gaze to her.

“I wanted to know if you’d like to come to dinner on Sunday at Jayce’s family’s ranch.”

“Sure.”

“Great. It’s usually ready to go on the table at one.”

“I’ll be there, thanks. Want me to bring something? I’m no cook but I pick up a mean six pack.”

Jayce chuckled. “Beer is always welcome.”

“Bronson tells me you’ve got a big family.”

“My dad and us five brothers and our kids and wives.”

“All living in the same place?”

“On the same land. Everyone has their own house. We like each other but not
that
much.”

“I heard that.”

“Well, we need to get home and get Lily in bed,” Callie said and leaned over to give Riggs a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks again for coming to my rescue. It’s nice to have a new friend.”

“Yes, it is and no thanks needed. Drive safe.”

“Yep.” Jayce shook Riggs’ hand and then they left. Riggs watched them, noticing how many people stopped them on their way. Either they were a popular couple or this was one friendly place.

“Well, damn, I was starting to think we weren’t going to get you here.”

Riggs turned at the sound of Bronson Weathers’ voice. “Hey, Bronson. Take a load off.”

Bronson took a seat. “So, you and Wes got the details worked out?”

“We did. I left my stuff at the trailer before I headed over here.”

“It’s going to be okay there?”

“Yep. Place to sleep, shower and eat. Works for me. Want a beer?”

“Sounds good. I’ll go and—or not.” Bronson smiled at Cody, who’d just walked over to their table. “Hey Cody.”

“Hey yourself. What can I get’cha?”

“Draft is good.”

“All righty then.” She looked at Riggs. “Anything for you?”

“I’m good.”

“That remains to be seen.” She arched one eyebrow then turned and sashayed away.

“Oooookay.” Bronson watched her walk away, then looked at Riggs. “Something going on here?”

Riggs shrugged and grinned. “Just meeting the locals.”

*****

Roxie watched what was happening with Cody and the long cool drink of water that had entered the bar with Callie and Jayce. Obvious the guy tripped Cody’s switch. As Cody returned to the bar, Roxie sidled over next to her.

“Girl.”

Cody looked at Roxie and a second later they both grinned. Roxie had developed an almost immediate affinity with Cody upon their initial meeting. Sometimes all it took was one word and a look to convey a message.

“No shit,” Cody agreed.

“I’m seeing
property of Cody Sweet
already tattooed on that fine ass.”

“Yes ma’am. You don’t wanna wrestle me for him, do ya?” Cody drew two drafts as they talked.

Roxie laughed. “God knows we could make bank on that but no. Fine as he is, he’s not for me.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“He’s got the look of a gypsy.”

“And you want someone who wants to settle down?”

“Oh hell no, got too much gypsy in me, but I’m pretty sure his wanderlust and mine would mix like oil and water and I’m definitely not into complications. You, on the other hand…” She pointed at Cody. “I think you just might be itching for a little complication.”

“I think you just might be right.”

“Then go for it, hot stuff.”

“Oh you know it.” Cody gave her a wink and headed back toward Riggs’ table with the beer.

Roxie smiled, drew a draft for a new customer and then grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter. She could feel Cade’s eyes on her. It wasn’t an altogether unpleasant sensation. In fact, quite the opposite. But she was determined to ignore it. She had ignored it for almost two weeks and it was starting to wear her down.

The damn man was keeping her awake at night, imagining his hands on her and hers on him. She either needed to get laid or find a damn sex toy store because she was close to a meltdown.

When Cody returned to the bar, she filled Roxie in on the people who’d arrived with Riggs. Roxie was interested to meet Callie and filed away the information on everyone in her mental contact list. She had a near photographic memory so the chance of forgetting any of the people was slim to none.

By nine o’clock, the place was packed and she’d popped so many beer tops she’d resolved to scout out the local stores tomorrow and find a nice thick silver ring for her thumb. That was a trick she’d learned long ago. Wearing a thumb ring helped you pop a beer top without an opener and saved you from blisters.

“Hon, why don’t you take a break,” Cody said as Roxie rang up another sale. “Slip on back to the office and put your feet up for a few.”

“Thanks.” Roxie gave her a smile. She grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and headed through the kitchen behind the bar to the office. The moment she closed the door, the din of noise dampened. She took a long drink of water and leaned back.

“How’s it going?”

The sound of Cade’s voice had her springing away from the door. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude. Cody told me it was okay to take a break in here.”

“Fine by me. That’s what I’m doing.”

“What?”

“Taking a break.”

“From?”

He chuckled and ignored the question. “You seem to have caught on to things. Cody says you’re raking in the tips.”

“It’s not rocket science,” she replied, stemming the urge to back away as he rose from his seat at the desk and approached.

“No it’s not.”

She waited for him to say more but he simply leaned one shoulder against the wall and regarded her with that slow sexy smile. “Customers like you.”

“Or the beer.” She wasn’t stupid. She’d been hit on and flirted with before tonight. And knew how to give just enough flirt in return to ensure a good tip but not leave the impression that she was available.

Cade’s smile widened. “Honey, they can get that beer all they want. You, on the other hand—you’re a temptation they haven’t tasted.”

“And aren’t likely to.” She met his eyes to show him she was not kidding.

“I wouldn’t fire you for it, sugar.”

“It wouldn’t matter—if I saw anything I was interested in.”

He moved a little closer. “So you haven’t seen anything that interests you?”

She knew what he was asking. And knew she should meet his eyes and lie through her teeth. But her brain didn’t seem to be working at the moment. The close proximity of his lean muscular body had her hormones spiking. She could smell the clean scent of soap and man; feel the heat coming off him.

“Nothing I’m going to act on.”

“Oh? And just for the sake of argument, if you were inclined to act, just what would be the subject of your interest?”

“I think we both know the answer to that.” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she knew it was a mistake. First rule of gambling—never give your opponent anything to use against you.