Karaoke at the Tumbleweed (10 page)

By the time they arrived at the Smokin’ J, the parking lot was already packed. Tag had gotten lost, and of course refused to stop and ask for directions. He was in panic mode but Nicole wasn’t.

“I’m so sorry we’re late, angel. I thought I knew how to get here.” He found a spot on the edge of the lot and turned off the ignition. God, he felt bad. He knew Nicole wanted to relax and practice her song several times before the competition began. As it stood, they’d be lucky she hadn’t been disqualified.

“I told you, it’s okay. For some reason,” she gave Tag a wink, “it doesn’t mean as much to me as it did. Could have something to do with you, but I don’t want to actually say that out loud and give you a big head.”

“Too late,” he winked back and looked down at his lap.

Nicole ran her hand over the prominent bulge. “You’d better plan on a stop beside the road on our way home.”

“I can do better than that. I made us a hotel reservation. We’re spending the night.”

“What about the shop?”

“It’ll still be there when we get home. But this is your night. You deserve to do it up right.” Tag looked at his watch. “We gotta go, angel.”

Instead of getting out of the car, Nicole jumped into his arms and plastered red lipstick kisses all over his face. “You’re too good to me.”

“Nope, but I plan on spoiling you for quite some time.” He reluctantly opened the door and pulled her out and into his arms. “Let’s go show these people what an angel sounds like.”

With a standing-room only crowd, Tag leaned against the wall. Nicole’s back was fit snug against his front and his cock was literally throbbing with need for her. The little vixen knew and kept wiggling that sweet ass of hers against him as they listened to singer after singer. They’d come from a four-state area, all vying for the NASCAR weekend package and a chance to claim they were the best.

They’d barely made the cut-off time, and because of that, Nicole would sing last. It seemed to Tag, going last was the best position anyway.

He was brushing the sides of Nicole’s breasts and listening to yet another rendition of a Reba McIntire song when Lonnie stepped in front of Nicole. Without thought, Tag shifted Nicole behind him and looked at the man who’d wronged her. She’d confessed to Tag in the car that Lonnie had gone by her house. Nicole didn’t tell him exactly what had been said, but he got the feeling Lonnie had managed to hurt her once again.

“Slut,” Lonnie said in greeting.

Tag growled a warning. The announcer chose that moment to call Nicole to the stage. Tag felt her hand on his back silently questioning what to do. “You go ahead and sing your heart out, angel. I’ll take out the trash and be back before you start.”

The stupid fuck in front of him had the nerve to laugh. Tag just smiled back. He hadn’t spent the better part of his adult life in the military and not learned how to take care of the enemy.

Nicole reluctantly moved out from behind Tag. She flinched when Lonnie reached out to grab her, but Tag got to him first. A well-placed pinch to the area between Lonnie’s neck and shoulder had the man on his knees in no time. “Break a leg. I’ll take care of this.”

After kissing him on the cheek, Nicole quickly made her way to the stage. Tag reached down and grabbed Lonnie’s hand, bending it back. “Get up,” he commanded.

Still shaken, Lonnie managed to stand. “It’s cool, man. If you want a slut like that, you can have her.”

“Not an acceptable response,” Tag said as he led Lonnie toward the door.

Nicole heard the intro to her song, as she watched Tag practically drag Lonnie out of sight. Taking a deep breath, she momentarily closed her eyes and thought of Tag. She tried to channel all the love, laughter and hot sex they’d shared.

As the first words of Juice Newton’s ‘The Sweetest Thing’ fell over the murmuring crowd, all went silent. Nicole opened her eyes and Tag was right there, kneeling down at the front of the stage with a camera in hand.

Singing the song to him was even easier than singing it to the packed bar. Nicole stared into Tag’s deep blue eyes and poured her love out in song for everyone to witness. Even while singing it, she knew she’d never been so touched by lyrics in her life. Every phrase, every note was perfect. So perfect she even surprised herself.

By the time the song ended she wasn’t the only one in the crowd with tears in her eyes. Without thinking she rushed to the edge of the stage, intent on jumping into Tag’s waiting arms, when she tripped over the microphone cord. Nicole saw the room in slow motion as she fell forward only to land in the big strong arms of the man she loved.

Tag wiped the tears from his eyes as he started laughing. Nicole rolled her eyes and tried to pull her dress down to a respectable length. “Never a dull moment, angel,” Tag chuckled. “You’ll keep me on my toes, that’s for sure.”

He picked her up and walked toward the back of the room, with Nicole’s head resting on his chest. The rowdy crowd was going wild with applause. When Nicole realised the cheers were for her singing, she blushed.

“They loved you,” Tag said, looking around the room with Nicole still in his arms.

“People love, love. I think it was more the emotions that spilled out rather than the actual singing they’re applauding over.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Nicole. You could really go somewhere with that voice of yours.”

The room died down as the judges deliberated. Nicole turned her attention back to Tag. “I don’t want to go anywhere. I love singing while I make donuts. I don’t want to be famous. I like my life the way it is. I’m the singing baker of Ulrich, that’s enough.”

“Would you consider changing your life a little?” Tag asked. “I was thinking of maybe slipping the title wife and mother in there somewhere.”

Nicole’s eyes rounded as the words sunk in. “You want to marry me and make babies?”

“Better than a donut any day.”

“Oh I don’t know, I make damn good donuts,” she teased.

“But we’ll make even better babies,” he winked. “Please say you’ll marry me?”

A voice came over the speakers, calling her name. Nicole looked from the man she loved to the announcer. “Come on up here, pretty lady and get your grand prize.”

She’d won. Oh my God. She’d actually won. Tag wasted no time carrying her back toward the stage and lifting her up to accept her award. “Congratulations, angel.”

Nicole stood and accepted the small trophy and envelope containing details for her grand prize NASCAR weekend. She bowed to the crowd, but never took her eyes off Tag.

“Say something,” the announcer said in her ear.

Taking the microphone, Nicole tried to catch her breath. “Thank you all so much for coming. I’m not much on public speaking, but I want to dedicate this performance and win to my fiancé, Brian Taggert.”

Handing the microphone back to the announcer, Nicole launched herself off the stage and back into Tag’s arms. This time the fall was planned and she landed smoothly in his embrace.

“The grace of an angel,” Tag chuckled.

About the Author

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Email:
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Carol loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at
http://www.totalebound.com
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Also by Carol Lynne

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Cattle Valley: All Play & No Work

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