Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) (5 page)

Nash groaned. He was different from DJ. Nash wouldn’t fall for Em. He found her attractive, yes, but she wasn’t his type. They’d danced, laughed, and swam together, but that’s where it ended. They’d almost stolen a horse together and were engaged for a New York minute, but he didn’t like her that much—not much at all. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep in the bed of her truck, but when his clothes ended up at the bottom of the pond—

Well shit, that’s what happened to my things.

“Fuck!”

He’d lost his best boots.

This should teach him a valuable lesson. He’d never been much of a drinker. A beer or two on occasion, but last night he’d been celebrating and had a few too many. Obviously he and Em both were cheap drunks.

Stomping through the yard, barefoot and the blanket waving in the breeze, he heard a honk. He lifted his chin and found Harry, a ranch supervisor, sitting on the tractor smiling and waving. “Love the new look.” He winked.

Nash flipped Harry the bird and continued to the house. He finally made it to the back door, thankfully not spotted by any more hands. The fact that it was still early and on a Sunday meant most folks were at church, where Nash probably needed to be. He made it at least once a month.

He stepped into the kitchen and stopped dead in his tracks. His brother and the chick from last night—Rena, Rhonda, Renee, or whatever her name was, he couldn’t remember—were watching him attempting to sneak through.

“What the hell, bro!” Jobe snorted and laughed. “Is that the new fad?”

Nash’s jaw tightened. He had a feeling he’d never live this one down. “Shut it!”

“I have company.” Jobe winked as if in warning.

“I’m really sorry, ma’am.” Nash gave the brunette a quick nod and scooted backward toward the stairs.

“Uhh…I’m Ruby. We met last night.”

“Yes, I remember. Nice to meet you again.” Ruby Stone looked very similar to Em. They all had striking dark eyes and glistening dark hair with natural highlights. Yeah, he’d noticed Ruby. And he shouldn’t. “What is it with y’all and sparkly names?” Nash couldn’t help but ask.

Ruby laughed. “Sometimes it’s a family curse, and other times it’s a unique way to set us apart from everyone else. Believe it or not, there are more of us. Violet, Crystal, Sapphire are my younger sisters. They went back home with my parents early this morning.”

“Can’t say you’re a boring family,” Jobe said.

“That’s the truth.” Nash grabbed a cup from the cabinet. “Y’all don’t mind if I grab some brew, do you?”

“Help yourself,” Ruby said.

He poured a full cup and took the first step on the stairs. “I’ll leave you two to do whatever it was before I interrupted.”

Nash climbed the steps, two at a time and, once he was inside of his bedroom, his thoughts turned to Em and how much he wanted to toss her over his knee and spank her. He’d bet she’d like it …and no doubt he wouldn’t mind swatting that gorgeous, tight ass.

But it wasn’t going to happen.

He was one Walters that wouldn’t fall for a Stone sister. They were trouble—nothin’ but.

****

“What are you doing here?”

“Is that any way to greet a neighbor?” Em slipped her gaze over Nash’s blue striped button up that brought out the color of his eyes. His worn jeans had a hole in the knee.

“Neighbors are we?”

“I needed to see you.”

“Seeing you twice in one day is twice too many,” he grumbled.

She shrugged off his comment. “I can’t believe the changes around here. The R&R is looking good. I hear you’ve already started breaking ground for the new cabins.”

“Yes, but I’m sure you didn’t come here for small talk.”

Em swallowed, realizing she wouldn’t have any luck at drawing out Nash’s softer side. He wore a scowl and his gaze narrowed on her. Apparently he was still angry with her about this morning. She swept past him and into the house.

“I didn’t invite you in.” He stayed by the door.

“I brought you something…well, actually two somethings.”

His pale gaze dropped to the bag she held. “From that hoity, overly priced store? Not my kind of clothes. But thank you.” He opened the door wider.

“Oh, the bag is from a purchase I made for myself. What’s inside is yours. I think you’ll be very pleased. I made a special trip into San Antonio.” She held up the bag and shook it. “You know you want to see what it is.”

He hesitated and then finally slammed the door with his foot. “Why do I feel this is a set up?”

“Of course it isn’t. I brought goodies. You shouldn’t be so sour.”

“I’m going to go out on a limb here… are you attempting to bribe me?” His questioning gaze met hers.

“You and your imagination.” Em set the bag on the couch. “Come look. And just so you know, this wasn’t easy to retrieve.” She reached into the bag and pulled out two items, holding them up proudly.

“My boots! Where’d you find them?”

She smiled. “A cowboy just isn’t a cowboy without his boots.” He took them and checked them over, then dropped them to the wooden floor with a loud thud. “They were tossed in the shadow of a tree.” She was glad to see his happiness.

“I don’t know how I missed them.” He shifted on his bare feet. “Those would have been good to have eight hours and a foot fungus ago.”

“Foot fungus?” She dropped her gaze over his shirt. A few buttons were open, showing off his smooth chest. Over a wide silver belt buckle and down his faded jeans to the tips of his long toes. Even that part of him was nice.

“Who knows what’s on the floor of the county jail.” He wrinkled his nose.

“Well, the fun doesn’t stop with boots.” She grabbed the last item and the empty bag fell to the floor. “You’ll like this.” She stuck out the thin box for him to take.

“I’m a little afraid of what you’ve brought me.”

She shoved the box into his chest. He caught it. “I felt you deserved it after all of the trouble I caused.”

He dropped the box onto the coffee table and the lid popped off. “You brought me a shirt?” He lifted it, examining the fine material.

“DJ said you two wear the same size, so it made it easy for me. I hope you like it. I’m pretty sure it looks a lot like the one you wore at the wedding.”

“You noticed?” He lifted a thick brow.

“Of course, although you didn’t have it on the entire night.” She laughed. “I’m just glad I found your boots. I knew they were your favorites because they were pretty scuffed up. You’ll have a fancy shirt to wear for special occasions since the other is gone.” She plopped down onto the couch and sighed happily. So far, so good. He hadn’t thrown her out yet and seemed especially pleased with the boots.

He strolled around the coffee table and took a seat at the other end of the couch. He stretched his long legs, relaxed them on table, and hooked them at the ankles. Em’s gaze naturally fell to his bare feet. He had nice long toes, nothing like she’d expect from a man who worked outdoors all day long. Dragging her gaze back to his face, she found that he was watching her, one corner of his mouth lifted.

“Okay, so what’s the catch?” he asked.

“I’m offended. Why does there have to be a catch? I found the boots and I wanted to make things right.” She moistened her lips.

“Em, you forced me into helping you steal a horse, almost got me arrested, and then lied to your dad telling him that we’re engaged. Nothing is ever plain and simple with you.” His jaw tightened.

“Okay.” She tugged a tendril of hair behind her ear. “While we’re on the subject, I could use your help…again.” If the long drawn out sigh was an indication of how this would go, she knew her luck had run out.

“You should go, Em.” He pointed at the door.

“Before you even hear what I have to say?”

“There’s no need. I’m sure I won’t agree.” He stood and hooked his thumbs into the front pockets of his jeans, tugging the band down to show his obliques. She found it difficult not to notice how nice they were.

“At least hear me out.” She laid her head back on one shoulder so she could look up at him. “I know it wasn’t fair that I dragged you into this mess—”

“And you didn’t even ask.”

“Yes, I know. But my father believes we are a couple, and I need him to keep believing that at least for a period of time.” She nibbled the corner of her lips.

“Because you want the money.” He sighed.

“Yes, of course. And I like seeing him happy.”

“And why would you need me? He already agreed to give you the money. I heard him say so.” He took a step and leaned against the edge of the cherry antique desk. “Did you run into a snag?”

She shook her head. “He’s giving me the money. I’ve already called John Nazarene and told him I’d have the money for Sea Breeze in his hand by tomorrow evening.” She could barely keep the smile out of her tone.

“Here’s a question. Why Nazarene?” Nash swept a hand down his cheek.

“What do you mean?” She crossed her arms over her stomach.

“He’s lived a few years longer than you and I just can’t see the attraction. Was it his bank account?” His pale eyes seemed to grow to the intensity of a laser.

She thought over her words before answering. “No, it wasn’t about the money.”

“Then what?”

“Why does it matter?”

“It does.”

“Not to me.”

“Do you want my help?” He looked so calm and collected, and every nerve ending in her body awakened.

“He was the first man to listen, really listen, to everything I said. He didn’t care what I looked like.” She swallowed against the constriction in her throat.

“Oh, sweetheart, he cared about your looks, trust me.” Nash chuckled.

Anger made her spine tingle. “How would you know?” she snapped.

“I’m a man. We always care how a woman looks. Now, it doesn’t mean it always takes precedence, but yes, we always notice a nice set of—” he held her gaze, “—eyes.”

She dropped her hands to her sides. “Well then I guess all men are the same. If you can’t trust one, you can’t trust them all.”

“So that’s the excuse for not wanting to ever get married? Can’t trust any man?” He sniffed. “Women can be hard to trust too. You did lie to your dad.”

“No, well, yes, maybe I did.” Her cheeks warmed. “Regarding marriage, I like being independent. I don’t want to lose that.”

“Like your sisters have?” One brow slipped up.

“That’s not what I’m saying…”

“Yes it is.” He challenged her.

“Don’t put words in my mouth. Jewels and Pearl found the right men—they found their best friends.” She smoothed her hands down her skirt.  Suddenly the temperature had risen by ten degrees.

“Okay, then what you’re saying is, if you find your best friend, or soul mate, you’d then want to get married?” There was that grin again that did funny things at the apex of her thighs.

“You like doing this don’t you?”

“Doing what?”

“Challenging me?”

His eyes twinkled. “You do look awfully cute when someone stands up to you. I bet not many men do.”

Her mouth dropped open and she quickly closed it. “Back on track, shall we? Are you in or out of the plan?” If he said no, she’d have to move to Plan B, whatever that would be.

“For how long will my services be needed?”

“A short period of time.”

“A short period of time is very vague.”

“Just until we can break up.” Her hands were shaking and she clasped them to hide the fact from him.

“And tell me, what would I get from this arrangement, sweetheart?” He watched her with warm eyes.

“What do you want?” Her bottom lip trembled. She didn’t like how nervous he made her.

His gaze slowly roved down her body and she quivered. He brought his gaze back to hers, one corner of his mouth lifting. “What do
you
have in mind?”

“Definitely not what you’re thinking. But I do believe I have something that might interest you.” Some of the trembling had left her bones and she felt stronger. “I hear you have a crush on a certain hot blonde that works at the coffee shop on the corner of Mill and Piatt Streets.”

He remained poker faced, but there was a slight narrowing of his gaze. “Who told you?”

“Doesn’t matter. But it’s the truth, isn’t it?” She tested him. She had the upper hand again and she liked it.

“I won’t admit or deny that I have a crush, but I did notice her once or twice.”

“And she could care less about you.” Em smiled triumphantly.

“I wouldn’t go that far. She just got over a thing with some guy and isn’t ready to start dating again.” His jaw wasn’t as loose as it was when he had the upper hand.

“I can get her to see that she’s very ready to date…you.” She wagged her brows.

“How can you do that? Especially when you’re trying to get me to marry you.” He shook his head.

“First, I’m not trying to get you to marry me. I’m only trying to get you to play a role with me. Secondly, I’m a woman and know how a feminine mind works. I can make you look like a good catch, not just to the pretty barista, but to many women. By the time you and I fake breaking up, you’ll have a whole string of women wanting to date you.”