Playing for Keeps (Honky Tonk Angels Book 5) (15 page)

That appealed to him. But then so did the planning of the con.

*****

Roxie laughed out loud when Cade laid out his plan. “You want me and Dini to be Cooper’s
play for pay girls?
”

“I want you to pretend to be.”

“I’m glad you clarified.” She gave Dini a wink and then looked at Cooper. “’Cuz no offense, but me and Dini all at once would kill you.”

Everyone burst out laughing, even Cooper. Cade grinned. No truer words had ever been spoken. Roxie was a firecracker and he got the feeling that Dini had a whole lot of heat behind that sweet smile and blonde hair.

“So, we pretend to be his
hos
and chummy up with this Devina lady,” Dini said. “Get her drunk and try to get her to admit that she’s either not pregnant or that it’s not Cooper’s. Right?”

“Right.” Cade looked around at everyone. “And you suggest that if she’s looking for a big score she’ll want to look at Cooper’s father, Lucas. Cotton Creek Energy is small potatoes next to Quinlan Energy and the new company Quinlan started with Pursell. If she were looking to get pregnant, the smart move would be to make Lucas the baby daddy.”

“I still say there’s a chance she’s working with him,” Cooper said. “My father would think of something like this, pointing Devina at me just to create a diversion and complications.”

“Then you need to find that out,” Cade said to Dini and Roxie.

“That’s going to take more than an evening of drinking, Beckett,” Roxie argued.

“She has a point,” Cody agreed. “She didn’t impress me as someone who’s going to let the cat out of the bag too easily.”

“Well, maybe we’re going at this the wrong way,” Roxie said.

“Oh?” Cade looked at her.

“Maybe we need to attack on two fronts instead of just one.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning while we’re working on Devina, someone needs to be working on Cooper’s dad.”

“Like who?”

“The pissed new girlfriend.”

Everyone looked at Hannah and Dini clapped her hands. “Yes, that’s perfect. It’s already all over town that Hannah threw Cooper out of bed in San Antonio and won’t speak with him because he didn’t tell her he has a pregnant fiancée.”

“Yep.” Roxie smiled and turned her attention to Cooper. “I’d be willing to bet that your father would expect Hannah to be as interested in revenge as Devina, right?”

“He always expects the worst of people.”

“So, let’s give him what he wants. Maybe he’ll slip up and tell Hannah something he shouldn’t and we’ll catch both birds.”

“No,” Cooper barked. “I don’t want Hannah anywhere near my father.”

“Well, it’s not your decision is it?” Hannah asked in a testy tone.

“I think I should have a say.”

“Why?”

“Because…” He looked around at everyone, then back at Hannah. “Can we speak? In private?”

Hannah crossed her arms and stared at him for a moment, then blew out her breath. “Fine. The office.”

Cade and everyone else watched them leave. Cody got up to refill the pitcher with beer. When she returned to the table to fill the glasses, she cut a look over her shoulder before speaking.

“We may not have to set this plan in motion.”

“Why?” Roxie asked.

“Because of the look on Hannah’s face when Cade explained about you and Dini being all up close and personal with Cooper. Hannah didn’t like it.”

“She didn’t say anything,” Dini pointed out.

“She didn’t have to. I saw it on her face.”

“Ahhh,” Roxie said and grinned. “I get it. She might not be convinced that Miss Devina doesn’t have a bun in the oven but does believe that Cooper isn’t interested in Devina. And the idea of watching him carry on with me and Dini doesn’t exactly give her a case of the warm and fuzzies.”

“Can you blame her?” Cody asked.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Roxie said. “So what now?”

“We wait and see what happens with Hannah and Cooper,” Cody said. “And get ready to open this place.”

“On it.” Roxie got to her feet.

“I’ll help,” Dini offered.

“Only if you’re on the clock,” Cody said. “No working for free.”

“Works for me, but I don’t have a shirt.”

“I can take care of that,” Cade said. “We have a stack in the office.”

Roxie burst out laughing and everyone looked at her. “Sorry,” she said, stilling chucking. “I was just imagining the look on the faces of the dudes tonight when they get an eyeful of Dini in cut-off jeans and a Honky Tonk Angels shirt.”

“Oh girl, we’ve already christened that ship and let me just say…woo!” Cody said and grinned.

“Damn Skippy,” Roxie added and then pointed a finger at Cade. “And you. You watch where your eyes go mister. I know ways to turn a man from a rooster to a chicken in under ten seconds.”

Cade laughed, along with everyone else. “Yes, ma’am.”

Roxie smiled at him and he saw love shining in her eyes. It filled him with a warmth unlike anything he’d ever known, making him eager to get on with their own plans.

Namely getting her a divorce and making her his.

Chapter Twelve

Roxie rolled over, fumbling for the clock as the shrill, persistent beep shattered the silence. The past few days had been a whirlwind. She and Cade had returned last night and, despite the lateness of the hour, had spent most of the night making love.

“What time is it?” Cade asked as she rolled back over next to him.

“Five thirty,” she said with a yawn.

“Five thirty? God, who gets up that early?”

“Me.” She snuggled over closer to him. “I normally run, but this morning I think I’ll skip it. After an hour’s sleep I don’t think I have the energy for running.”

Cade yawned and ran his arm beneath her. “I don’t have the energy for anything.”

“Nothing?” She raised her head and looked at him with a suggestive smile as she ran her hand down his body.

“Well, maybe that,” he agreed and rolled over with her beneath him.

“Ummm,” she purred as his hands moved over her body. “That feels delicious.”

“You are delicious,” he murmured as he moved his lips down her neck.

Roxie sighed in pleasure, forgetting about the lack of sleep. All time slipped away as they explored each other with their hands.

Cade gently awakened her body with his touch. Roxie reveled in the sensations, riding the waves of pleasure his hands and mouth created. Her body was his to manipulate, his to explore. For the first time in her life, she had no fear of what surrendering control would bring. Love had changed all that. It changed the quality of a touch from mere physical pleasure to the pleasure that comes from an emotional connection.

His mouth moved from her nipple to the underside of her breast, causing her to arch toward him as she sighed. He ran his tongue up her cleavage to the base of her neck. There he feasted, fueling both their passions.

She grew wetter but he kept the movement of his hands slow and rhythmic. When his body moved up hers, she could feel his hardness against her hip. Her hand traveled down his hard chest and stomach. She stretched her fingers in the tight hair that surrounded the base of his shaft. She stroked his length with her fingertips, circling the pulsing head. Her rhythm matched his, touch for touch, stroke for stroke. As their mouths met and connected, they pleasured each other with their hands, lovingly fondling one another.

Soon it wasn’t enough. Roxie needed that ultimate connection. She needed him inside her.

“I need you…in me,” she whispered in his ear after her tongue traced his lobe. Her hand guided him into her as he positioned himself between her legs. Her body quivered as he entered her.

Hours later, the ring of the phone pulled her from a sound sleep. Untangling herself from Cade’s arms, she reached for the phone, seeing the lighted display of the clock on the nightstand announcing that it was after ten.

“Hello? Hey, Jasper. Yeah, it’s Roxie. You want to talk to Cade? Oh, okay. Yeah, tell her I’ll call her in a few minutes.” Hanging up the phone, she sat up and brushed her hair back over her shoulders. “Sorry. I didn’t even think before I answered. Anyway, that was Jasper. Dini was looking for me. I really need to talk to her and fill her in on everything.”

Cade pushed himself into a sitting position. “Are you nervous?

“Only that her feelings will be hurt that I didn’t tell them before now.”

“She’s your friend, honey. She’ll understand.”

“You’re right. I just don’t want her to be hurt. I’ll tell her—but not today. I need to make sure I do it at the right time.”

“It’ll be fine, baby. Oh hell, what time is it?”

“After ten.”

“God, I’m late,” he grumbled. “Got food and beer deliveries this morning. I need to call Cody and tell her I’m running late.”

Okay.” She stood and padded naked to the bathroom. “I’ve got to shower but there’s plenty of room if you want to join me.”

“As soon as I make this call.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Cade watched her firm ass as she crossed the room and blew out a breath. Damn if the woman wasn’t too tempting for his own good. And he couldn’t be happier.

*****

Hannah opened the front door and smiled at Cody. “Seriously? You brought coffee?”

“Well yeah.” Cody stepped inside the house. “What’s so weird about that?”

“Nothing except that I do have a coffee pot and know how to make coffee.”

“I didn’t know if the kitchen was completely set up yet.” Cody followed Hannah through the front room. “But this room looks great.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” Hannah paused and turned around to look over the room. “I just love it.”

“Me too. You and Pressley did good. And you really seem happy about renting the place.”

“Oh god, I am. You hungry?”

“No, I ate. What else have you done to the place?”

“Well, take a look.” Hannah led the way. “We’ve gotten the kitchen all set up, except we need a little curtain for the window over the sink.”

Cody looked around and nodded. Leave it to Hannah to make a place look like something out of a magazine. It was cozy and country but with a definite touch of class. Kind of like Hannah.

“It’s really pretty.” She put the two take-off coffee cups on the counter.

“Isn’t it? Oh, look what we did to the little den.” She headed across the hall.

Cody admired the new framed prints on the wall, the new drapes, and noted the pair of men’s shoes under the coffee table in front of the couch. She turned to Hannah with a smile. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve done new in the bedroom.”

“No!” Hannah sprang in front of her as she started for the door. Cody laughed.

“I guess those size twelves belong to Coop?” She indicated the shoes under the coffee table.

Hannah blushed but smiled. “Don’t you dare tell Mama.”

“Tell her what? That Coop spends five nights out of seven here?” She laughed at the surprised look on Hannah’s face. “Girl, ever since Cade came up with that plan to get Devina to fess up, you completely forgot to be mad at him.”

“I did not. I just—”

“Don’t want Roxie and Dini all over him. Girl, I get it.”

Hannah smiled and headed back for the kitchen. “I do believe him, you know.”

“So do I.”

“You do?” Hannah picked up one of the to-go coffees and sampled it.

“I do.”

“So, you think Devina is in cahoots with his father?”

Cody shrugged. “Could be. But it doesn’t matter. If she can’t cause Coop trouble, then she might as well leave.”

“I wish she would.”

“No reason for her to stay.”

“Unless she sets her sights on Cooper’s father.”

Cody shrugged. “Whatever. I saw him the other day.”

“You did? What does he look like?”

“Well, Coop favors him and honestly he’s not bad looking for his age. Has that air about him that rich folks have, that look down your nose at the common folks thing.”

“I wish he and Mr. Pursell hadn’t gone into business together. It really makes Cooper unhappy. Pressley and Wes, too.”

“But they did, so we deal. And you know they had to do it. Had to prove to Wes and Coop that they could do better.”

Hannah took a seat at the table. “Don’t you find that strange? I mean, Mama and Daddy always said they wanted us to do better than they did. Cooper and Wes’ fathers seem threatened by the idea that their sons could succeed on their own.”

“They probably are. I mean, if Wes and Cooper are just as successful, then what power do their dads have left over them?”

Hannah sighed. “I just don’t see why they need power.”

“Because it’s all they have. Me and you had it good. We have parents who love us and all they want in return is love. Wes and Coop—well, their family life was different. I don’t imagine their dads rolled around on the floor with them, or had water gun fights, or tea parties in the tree house, or any of the things we had.”

“That’s what I want.” Hannah sipped her coffee and smiled. “I want children I can give the same things we had as children.”

“You’d be a great mom.”

“You think?”

“I do.” Cody looked toward the door at the sound of feet in the hallway. A second later, Cooper walked in, sporting a pair of loose boxers and no shirt.

“Oh shit. Sorry.” He started to back out of the room.

“No worries. I was just leaving.” Cody stood and gave Hannah a smile. “Enjoy your day off.”

“I will. See you tomorrow.”

“Yes’um.” Cody gave Cooper a smile as she headed out. “See ya, Coop.”

Once outside, she got into her truck. For a moment she sat there, looking at the house. She was glad Hannah and Cooper had worked things out and they didn’t have to cook up some elaborate plan to try and get the truth from Devina.

She was glad Hannah was happy and hoped it continued.

Cody pushed back the niggle of envy. Okay, so she hadn’t found anyone. Well, she had, but the one she wanted didn’t appear to want her. That didn’t mean she’d always be alone.

At least she prayed it didn’t. And she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Cade and Roxie had taken some time off and left last night for parts unknown. Thankfully, Dini and Callie had both volunteered to pitch in, and Cody’s dad had offered to help as well.

Cody looked forward to the nights her dad worked the bar. He brought happiness and laughter to the place with his stories, easy laugh and ready smile. It made Cody smile just to think about it and that reminded her that she had a lot to be grateful for.

So rather than wallow in misery over what she didn’t have, she was going to swim in the water of gratitude for all she did have. Like a bar to run that was making her money hand-over-fist, so much that by year’s end, she could pay off the rest of the ranch and her folks’ place in town.

And that, she decided, was something worth being happy about.

Chapter Thirteen

Cody was walking down the sidewalk toward her truck when she saw Wes and Cooper haul ass out of their office.

“Hey!” she yelled as she broke into a run.

Wes slowed to allow her to catch up. “Where are ya’ll off to like scalded dogs?” she asked when she reached him.

“There’s been an accident.”

Cody felt a big ball of tightness form in her gut. An accident at an oil drilling site was no joking matter. One that had both Wes and Cooper pale faced and running for their cars had to be major.

“What happened?” She ran alongside him as he followed Cooper.

“A rig collapsed.”

They reached Cooper’s car. Cooper was already inside the car, waiting for Wes. “I have to go,” Wes said as he opened the passenger side door.

“I’m going with you,” Cody announced.

“No. It’s best—”

“I’m going with you.”

Wes shrugged and opened the back passenger side door for her. As soon as she was in the car, she started asking questions. “What happened to make the rig collapse? Was anyone hurt? Have you called for ambulances? What about the fire department? Has anyone—”

“Cody, we have it covered,” Wes answered, then looked back at her to add, “A couple of men were hurt, but not seriously. One is trapped under the rig. He saved two other men.”

“Oh god. Who?” As horrible as it was, she hoped it was not anyone she knew.

“Riggs.”

Shocked speechless, Cody sat back and stared out the window. This couldn’t be real. She didn’t want it to be real. “Is he…?” She couldn’t form the rest of the words, couldn’t ask the question because the answer scared her.

“He’s alive.” Cooper cut a look over his shoulder at her. “But we’ve got to get him out.

Cody nodded and remained silent the rest of the drive. She felt sick. Physically sick. Sure, she hadn’t known the man long, but what she’d told Riley was the truth. She believed Riggs was the man for her, the one she was supposed to meet.

Now he could die.

Angrily, she swiped at the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She would not cry. She wouldn’t give in to that possibility. They were going to rescue him. He was going to be okay. He had to be.

The moment Cooper stopped the car and they got out, it was bedlam. Cody could see the overturned rig. Men were clustered all around it. Wes and Cooper shouldered their way through the crowd and she followed.

When they reached the rig, she saw Bronson and Jasper Weathers. “What’ve we got?” Wes asked.

“Riggs is under there,” Bronson answered. “He’s answering but he’s trapped. We don’t know if or how bad he’s hurt. We’re moving cranes in to right the rig, but we need to get someone under there to set some bracing and to be prepared with a med kit once we start to raise the rig. Just in case—”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Cooper asked. “How long until the cranes are here?”

“Five minutes,” Jasper said.

“So let’s get someone under there with Riggs.”