Badass (16 page)

“Isaac, what do you want me to do with this portable PA system? It doesn’t go with the band’s stuff does it?” Trace, Lance’s right hand man was new, but he was working out well. He had been hired to take the place of Morton, who had been arrested for kidnapping the sheriff’s fiancé. This time, they had let Roscoe do a background check before hiring anyone. Trace was a keeper. Isaac was impressed with his willingness to pitch in and his easy-going personality.

“It goes up here on the main table. That’s where the toasts will be made. After you hook it up, just lay that microphone on the table. I’ll find the stand in a minute.” He signed a delivery receipt, handed it to the bored truck driver and gave Trace a hand as he helped a couple of teenagers set up the steam tables that would keep the food warm for the buffet. When he came back to the pavilion, there were centerpieces on some of the tables and up on the stage there was a figure – Isaac took a second look. What in the hell was going on? “Avery?” He couldn’t believe his eyes. “Hell, yeah! Things were looking up!”

****

There was a God, and he was mad at her. This, Avery knew to be fact. Why, o why, had she let Tricia talk her into delivering the flowers to Tebow? ‘Oh, you’ll be out of there long before Isaac shows up, I’m sure he sleeps late. It’ll be a breeze,’ she’d said. Tricia’s ass was grass. Hell, it was her own fault – she knew it. Isaac McCoy wasn’t helping matters either, that was for certain. At this very moment, she was so mad at him she could spit. But – unfortunately - her mouth was otherwise occupied.

Her tall, broad-shouldered bad-boy was laughing at her. “How did you get your lips stretched around that big old thang, darlin?” He looked at her with a twinkle in his sapphire blue eyes.

There was no way she could talk with the broad, round head in her mouth – so she glared at Isaac for all she was worth. He was having entirely too much fun at her expense. It wouldn’t be so bad, if she could just forget how they had parted. He had proposed and she had turned him down. Yes, she was certifiable. Great! They were beginning to attract an audience. Several of the ranch hands and deliverymen were gathering around to stare at her. That’s all she needed! Now her reputation was permanently in the toilet. Oh, yeah – that’s right – it had already been in the toilet. Everyone thought she was a loose woman. ‘Somebody flush, already!’

Good gravy, he was trying to help her. Avery felt her face flame. “Can you open your mouth any wider, baby? I can’t seem to pull it out.” A loud guffaw from behind him made Avery clamp her teeth down on the smooth surface instead of trying to let go. It was obvious that Isaac’s double entendres were not going unnoticed. “Now, don’t you bite down on my Peavey, sugar.” Titters of amusement floated across the stage and Avery growled, making Isaac laugh all the harder. “What kind of engagement party can we have if you swallow the microphone, dumpling-doll?”

That was it! Avery planned his demise as the man of her dreams had the audacity to chuff her under the chin and even kiss her on the nose! Sheesh! Any other time, she would have given her Elvis Presley record collection to feel his mouth on her skin. And the humiliation wasn’t over – oh, no. It just kept getting better. “You know, there are better things you could have between these lips. All you had to do was ask.”

A knowing look from him told her that he knew he was pissing her off, royally. Arrgghh! With a gasp of indignation, her jaws opened just wide enough for Isaac to pull the microphone free. “That’s my girl,” he praised her.

“Well, I never,” she sputtered, ready to make mince-meat out of the male chauvinist who looked like a million dollars in his tight black jeans and cowboy boots.

“Not exactly true, Miss Sinclair – if my memory serves me correctly. Something tells me, that if you play your cards right, you might just get the chance to please me again. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

Do it again? She could be persuaded to pleasure him again – that is, if she didn’t murder him first. His swagger was infuriating, his sexual prowess was legendary and her eyes were drawn to the speed bump in his jeans like a bee to pollen. “See anything you like, cupcake?”

Folding her arms over her chest, Avery sought to erect a barrier of protection between them. “Don’t be so egotistical, Isaac.” Today wasn’t working out anything like she had planned. All she had wanted to do was get in to the ranch, deliver the fresh flower arrangements, and make it out before anybody saw her or could ask about that blasted newspaper article. “I wasn’t looking at your groin.” She choked the last word out. “You have a cocklebur on your – uh – coc – uh – fly.” Hell, she needed to get out of here before she died from chronic mortification.

With a wicked, sexy grin, he removed the prickly little seedpod from the front of his pants. “I’ve been out playing in the bushes. Shucks baby, I thought you were checking out my package.” He winked at her, making her blood pressure spike to new levels. “Just for my peace of mind, precious, explain to me how the microphone got in your mouth in the first place.”

Lord Have Mercy! Would the humiliation ever end? Avery couldn’t think of a believable lie, so she stuck with the unbelievable truth. “Before I came over, Tricia had teased me about how big my mouth was. She said I couldn’t keep my mouth shut to save my life.” What she wouldn’t tell him was the secret Tricia warned her to keep – about her erotic romance writing. Maybe if she didn’t dwell on it, nothing else bad would happen to her. When Isaac’s amusement brought his beautiful dimples into view, she almost lost her train of thought. Now – where was she? “And when I put the flowers on the head table, that microphone was just lying there and I got to wondering. . . . .” her words trailed off. Why wouldn’t the floor open up and swallow her when she needed it to?

Much to Avery’s surprise, Isaac pushed a bit of her hair behind one ear. God, if he started to touch her, she would probably jump him. “Let me guess,” Isaac offered dryly, “and you wondered if your mouth was big enough to manage the handheld?” His fingers traced down her face, caressing her cheek and tugging at her lower lip. Avery trembled. “Did you get those pretty little white teeth hung behind the guard band?” He picked up the mic and rubbed his finger on the rim. “Do you have any idea how sexy that was, seeing those plump pink lips in that provocative position?”

He was turning her on. It was time to leave before she did something she’d regret later. Enough. “Thanks for making me mad, Isaac. If you hadn’t baited me like that, I might still be wired to the sound system. Excuse me,” she turned to leave.

“Uh – no way,” Isaac grabbed her by the wrist. “Stay. You just saved me a trip. I was about to come looking for you. I want you to be my date for the party.”

Avery stared up at him. If he had wanted her to be his date, why hadn’t he asked her before? Nope, not gonna happen. She had made up her mind to leave him alone, and being near him now was just sweet torture. “Thank you, but no. I have some more deliveries to make.” With a small smile, Avery pulled her hand from his and fled like the devil himself was after her.

Well, hell! Isaac watched the adorable doll take off like a ruptured redbug. At least he knew she was still in town. He was sorry to see her go, but he sure enjoyed watching her leave. Damn she had a fine ass! Isaac didn’t do much business in a flower shop, but he guessed he would start. The women he used to keep company with weren’t interested in him for the posies he could purchase – they were more into the pleasure he could provide.

****

“Isaac!” Lance motioned him to join a few of the men at the bar. “It’s too early to drink. How about some coffee?”

“I think I’ll pass,” Isaac held up a hand in greeting. “I just got a better offer.” Pushing his hat down on his head, he took off to follow Avery. He remembered the name on the van - Heart Strings. Yep, he knew right where that little shop was located – right across from the Fire Department. And the delivery van had been red, so it should be easy to spot. Isaac kept his eye out for it as he headed down the road toward town. God, he had been relieved to see her.

The drive into Kerrville only took about fifteen minutes. First, he drove past the florist shop, but there were no vans parked there. Hoping to get lucky, he made a few blocks and let out a breath of relief as he saw her pull into the Baptist church parking lot and walk to the back of the van. She was dressed all in pink – pink jeans, a pink camisole top, pink tennis shoes and a pink sparkly ribbon braided into her hair. Avery looked like cotton candy, and he couldn’t wait to have another sweet taste. Pulling in beside her, he arrived at the rear of her vehicle about the time she pulled out a red and white basket of roses. “Are these for me?” When she turned, he had to catch the basket as she tossed it up in the air with fright.

“Land sakes! Isaac, what are you doing here?” He got transfixed watching her tits rise and fall as she panted. Avery didn’t miss his ogling, and threw his earlier comment back at him. “See something you like, stud-muffin?”

Her tart little retort tickled him to death. “Yes, mam, I certainly do.” God, he was going to enjoy being married to her. Just a few days ago, this thought would have shocked him – but now, it seemed to be the most natural thing in the world.

“Why are you following me?” She huffed the sweetest little protest, retrieved the flowers from his grasp and edged around him. “Did you forget to buy flowers for your latest flame? You know, just because we slept together yesterday, doesn’t mean you can’t buy flowers for your girlfriends. Do you want me to run back to the shop and get you a dozen or so roses?” Not giving him a chance to respond, she set out toward the side door of the sanctuary and slipped into the house of God.

Isaac was right behind her. The church might fall to the ground; he hadn’t made a practice of attending too many worship services. “No, prissy pants. Not unless you’re hankering for some roses. I’ll be glad to buy you some. There is no other girlfriend – single or plural. You and I are practically engaged. Why would I want to buy presents for some other girl?”

At the word engaged, she whirled around – “I don’t want any roses. I’m not your girlfriend and we aren’t practically engaged. We are in a church, Isaac. Aren’t you afraid of getting struck by lightning for telling a lie?”

Chapter Five

‘Me thinks the lady is protesting too much’, or at least that’s what he hoped. His Avery was something; he even liked to watch her fuss. She had the most beautiful face. He didn’t know which feature he liked best – those high cheek bones, soft violet eyes, dark long lashes or plump pink lips. No, he knew – his favorite part was her nose that tilted up the tiniest bit. There were so many places he wanted to trail kisses, beginning with the soft skin on her neck and following the line of her graceful sloping shoulders. Avery was a soft, curvy woman that was shaped the way God intended a woman to be shaped. And he knew several things he wanted to do with that braid – wrap it around his fist while he fucked her came to mind. His intense cataloging of her assets seemed to unnerve her. She dropped her gaze and turned to straighten the bottom of the lace runner. As she stooped over, he was sorely tempted to run his palms over that heart-shaped rump. God, he would love to hold those cheeks apart and ram home. “No baby, the Lord knows I ain’t tellin no fibs. If he’s omnipotent, he can hear my every thought – and what I’m thinking right now is what a lovely job he did creating your sweet little tush.”

“We are in a holy place, Isaac,” she turned and shushed him like they were in a library. “Have some respect!” Her hands on her hips; brought his attention to the narrowness of her waist. Yea, he couldn’t wait to tug her close, again.

“Yes, we are in a holy place.” Isaac licked his lips. “If I remember my Sunday school lessons, correctly, didn’t God tell Moses to take off his shoes on that holy ground? Why don’t we show more respect and take off that little pink top you have on? I swear, baby, you look good enough to eat. I don’t know if I ever told you – but you have the most beautiful body. I can promise you one thing; I am going to give you a honeymoon you will never forget. And it don’t matter where we go, cause I ain’t gonna let you get out of the bed.”

Avery closed her eyes, wishing he would just disappear. “Why are you being this way? Are you determined to break my heart?”

The pain in her voice got his attention, damned quick. He totally changed his tone. “Avery, look at me. Now.”

Almost reluctantly she met his gaze. “Do I need to remind you that just a couple of days ago; you couldn’t wait to see the last of me? Do you think I’m stupid? It doesn’t take a genius to know the only reason you want to marry me is because you feel guilty.”

Seeing the hurt on her face, he whispered a word that shouldn’t be repeated in church. Damn! What a fiasco! Making a grab for her, she frustrated him by stepping quickly out of his clasp. Her lack of self-confidence tore at his heart. Walking to the table in front of the pulpit, he placed his hand on the Bible. “This is just one, but I’d swear on a stack of Bibles that I did not lie to you. I’m not ready to give up on us. I want to be with you, more than you’ll ever know. Let me explain. Hear me out, that’s all I ask. Please?”

Avery looked at his face. It was confusing, he sounded so sincere. She dug her fingernails in her palm as a reminder to stay strong. Because he was sincere – sincerely trying to do the right thing. There was no way she could be rude to him. Belonging to Isaac was her fondest dream. Just because it was slipping through her fingers didn’t give her the right to be mean. “Okay, we can talk. I’m not agreeing to anything – but I have always enjoyed spending time with you. Now, is no different.”

Not exactly the level of enthusiasm he was hoping for, but that was okay. All he wanted was a chance to change her mind. “Is that your last delivery?”

“Yes, but I rode to work with Tricia. I spent the night at her house last night. So, I don’t have my motorcycle.”

“Remind me to speak to you about your ride,” he emphasized the last word. “I knew you didn’t go home, or to the motel. I went looking for you.” He was staring at her with such heat that she had to look away. “Come on, let’s go. I’ll follow you to the shop. Then, I want you to spend the rest of the day with me at the ranch. Joseph and Cady’s party is tonight, and I want you to go with me. We have some serious talking to do.”