Trigger Happy (Girls with Guns, #2) (12 page)

“What? He came over last night? Blake said he made you mad. Again! And then you stormed out of there without a backward glance. Tell me everything I missed! I need details and Blake can never give juicy details.”

“He showed up at my house. It was late. He apologized to me for making me cry and for badmouthing the whole competition. Then he kissed me and I’m pretty sure he wanted to untie my robe but then Gabbie’s voice popped into my head and I couldn’t get it out. So I sent him home. Oh, that was after he called me a tease by the way. A tease! Never have I ever, been accused of that in my life, Mar. Who does he think he is?”

“Hell has actually frozen over. You turned down the sexual advances of a man who looks like, like steel. He is a man who looks like steel, right?” Marilyn couldn’t think of a better way to explain Gage.

Amber laughed, “Yeah, you’re right. Steel. That is funny, Marilyn. I get exactly what you mean by that. The way he presents himself. How tough he is. The way he doesn’t seem to laugh and definitely the way he looks. Ha! His mother should have named him Steel.”

“That is so funny. Did I tell you I bought my dress from Brenda’s Bridal Boutique? I bought the very first one I tried on. It’s beautiful. But I have to hide it at the bookstore so Blake can’t peek at it. We reserved that banquet hall out on the lake, too. We don’t think it will be a huge wedding but we thought since it will be on Christmas Eve, we better find a place and we had better find a pastor who can marry us that day. Hopefully, they all won’t be in church services.”

Amber listened to Marilyn ramble on and on about the wedding and all of the details they had figured out thus far. She was getting further along in the planning than Amber had realized. A thought just dawned on Amber that she was going to have to throw her a bachelorette party. Oh, that will be fun! She loved parties!

“Marilyn! I have to throw you a bachelorette party! When do you want to have it? It will be so much fun! I can’t wait!”

Marilyn squealed, “I know. I don’t know when we will have it. Maybe the beginning of December? What are you going to plan? I’m telling you right now, Amber, nothing too crazy! No strippers! Are you listening to me, Amber? No strippers! I know how you are and no! N-O.”

“Oh, don't want to give Blake some competition do ya?”

“Competition? What? Wait, no please. He would beat any man out in body and looks. Need I remind you that he has the world’s sexiest forearms? And you already know what I’ve told you about his other parts!”

Amber laughed, “Yes, I remember. So I will see you later today when they make the announcement?”

“Amber, why don't you come help at the booth? I know you and I know you will make yourself crazy thinking about that and your parents all day long. What do you say?”

“I don't know Mar, I don't want be in the way.”

“Just come. We need the help if it’s anything like yesterday was. Please?”

She hesitated and on impulse, thought what the hell? “Okay. I will come. But I'm not sure what time exactly. I’ll text you when I'm on my way.”

“Okay. See you later.”

~

“G
lad my angel talked you into helping out again. Definitely would have been tough without you.” Blake told Amber as she filled a cup full of beer.

“No problem. I’ve had fun today. Just waiting and waiting for these last few performances to be done though. I feel like I’ve been on pins and needles all day.”

“I know,” he glanced at his watch, “the time has come. Get over there so when they announce your team you will be close to the stage.”

As Amber made her way out of the tent and toward the stage, she spotted Gage coming from the opposite direction. Her heart stopped. He was utterly handsome. Today he wore a grey hoodie with his ever-present denim jeans. Simple. Hot as ever. His gait was slow, assessing her movements. She put up her hand and gave him a meek wave. He saluted her and continued his way toward the tent.

She found all the girls huddled together near the stage. They were all hugging and kissing each other, praying that they would win the competition. Amber hugged the few girls closest to her and began to tell them how excited she was for them.

“You girls have come so far since we started this. Look at you now; you are some Classy Cats for sure! Even if we don't win, you guys have so much more going for you. You’ve met great friends, right?” All of the girls nodded their heads. “And you ladies sure know how to bust a move, right?” They all nodded again. “So even if we don't win, know that I am so unbelievably proud of you. All of you, okay?” Tears began welling up in her eyes.

“Don't cry,” one of the girls told her, “we will all cry.”

“And we can't mess up our make-up!” another one squealed.

She tried hard not to let them fall. “No, we definitely can't have that! Come here you guys.”

As best as they could, they embraced each other. They watched the final three performances before intermission, giving the judges time to tally up the scores. It was the longest wait of Amber’s life. Brandi and Gabbie came and sat beside her the minute they arrived. She squeezed both of their hands, “thank you guys.”

“Are you kidding? We wouldn't miss it for the world! We know you are going to win.”

“Where’s Mar?”

“Probably at the beer garden helping her lover boy.” Amber rolled her eyes.

They all laughed.

Marilyn strolled up seconds later with not only Blake, but also Gage in tow. “Look who I found wandering around.”

“Hey, Amber. Good luck.”

Before she had a chance to respond, the emcee came over the loudspeaker. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you have all enjoyed the lovely performances over the past two days.” In response, the crowd began clapping and hollering. “I am thankful I am not a judge folks because I will tell you something, we had some great dancers up here. Do you all agree?” More cheers from the crowd. “And I have learned a secret: there was almost a tie for first place. That's how amazing all of the teams performed!”

For a second Amber’s brain felt foggy. She was listening to the emcee, understood everything he was saying but suddenly she felt a little lightheaded. Through her sensitized ears she could hear the sounds of the toddler Ferris wheel that had been set up on the south side of the stage and beer garden. The screams from the tiny kids overrode the loudspeaker and every echo that came from it.

“Amber? Reina, you okay? Can you hear me?” Gage’s deep voice brought here out of her reverie. What? She found her hand folded into his. The smell of his skin permeated the air around her. She looked up into his grey eyes. “You with me? He just got the envelope.”

She turned from Gage to the stage and saw that the emcee was indeed getting ready to tear open the envelope. “Yes, I'm with you,” she told him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, coming in at third place are the Tango-ed Out Tutus.” The troupe made their way on stage and accepted their prize amongst the screams from the crowd. “Great job ladies. Great job!”

Once the team was off the stage, he continued. “For second place, we have the Smokin’ Soul Sisters.”

Oh dear God, Amber thought. Couldn't he just get on with it? Announce the winners please! The suspense was killing her. Gage gave her hand a comfort squeeze. She looked up at him and he smiled at her. Smiled! Ohmigosh, Gage Alexander, CEO just smiled at her? Really? It wasn't a clown smile by any means. It was a slow, melt-your-socks-off little grin that she really didn't know he possessed. She found herself smiling back without any hesitation.

“Now, who here wants to know who won this thing? Anybody?” More screams. “Would you look at that? Times up, I have to go home.” The man began walking off stage while the crowd went crazy.  “Okay, okay. Now in all seriousness. This team beat out the Smokin’ Soul Sisters by only a quarter of a point! Can you believe that? I tell you folks: Ah-maze-ing girls this year. Just amazing!” He finally opened the envelope. “And coming in at first place, the winners of this year’s Fall Festival Competition is, drumroll please.”

Amber held her breath.

“The Classy Cats from Windsor, Colorado!”

The crowd went wild. She could hear the screams and squeals from all the girls but fresh tears blinded her eyes. The upward momentum of Gage’s arms lifting her off her feet made her scream in delight. She was crying and screaming and had ahold of Gage like nothing else mattered in the world. He twirled her around and around before setting her back down – his warm breath and lips brushed against her ear whispering, “I knew you would win.”

“Go girl, you gotta get up there!” Marilyn pushed her toward the stage.

The girls all made their way to the emcee. “Congratulations ladies! Here is your trophy. Folks, these girls here are looking at a busy season ahead of them. Beginning next Sunday, they will get to perform during half time for Colorado’s very own football team. How does that sound ladies and gentlemen? Did these girls deserve this or what?”

The crowd stood on their feet clapping and cheering for the girls. Marilyn, Brandi and Gabbie amongst the loudest. Standing on the stage watching the girls, she felt better than she had in a long time. She glanced up into the clear blue sky searching for two people she knew she wouldn't see for a very long time. She felt her body let go of a breath that it had been holding for far too long.

G
age arrived at work earlier than usual. He didn't like the stressful feeling he got when the auditors were around. He just wanted them to do their job efficiently, quietly and then to get the hell out. Quietly meaning there wouldn't be much of anything for them to raise a ruckus about. The credit union hired them once a year to come in and audit all of the departments. This meant they took over the boardroom and helped themselves to anything and everything they could get their hands on.

Their job was to verify loan balances, deposit balances and to make sure there was dual control within the credit union. In short, they were hired to make sure there wasn't anything fraudulent happening. The auditors would be here for a week and they would check to make sure all of the credit union’s accounting books matched that of the member’s books. Did so and so's loan balance match what the credit union had on file? Who signed the checks? Who checked to make sure the accounting department wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary? What procedures did Gage have in place for things like that? Were they effective procedures? It was an endless process of checks and balances to get the credit union in line for when the state and federal examiners came.

So that is what Gage was going to be dealing with today and for the rest of the week. And of course, he had the ever-present Amber on his brain so this was going to be a great week, he thought sarcastically. At exactly eight a.m., the barrage began. He had people in his office most of the day. There were mini-crises that had to be dealt with and that was in addition to the auditors. Most of the things the auditors wanted or had questions about, they would ask his management team. There were a few times he popped his head in on something and had to set the auditors straight. But for the most part, he was able to avoid them.

“Everything checks out with her paperwork, all of the funding is in place. Her closing is on Friday.”

“Are you going?” he asked his Chief Lending Officer.

“You know I usually do. Do you want to take my place?”

“And close her loan?” Gage asked in disbelief. He could imagine the reaction he would get from Amber the minute he walked through the door and not Lisa – the woman he sent her to in the first place. No, actually he couldn't imagine her reaction because the stark reality was he had no clue what that woman was thinking. Although she had accepted his comfort and congratulatory response yesterday, she had still sent him out on his ass with the biggest blue balls in ten counties. Oh, but how he would love to see her though and whatever reaction she might have for him. Anything to pay her back for teasing him the night before!

“That's what I said. It's at nine. Let me know if you absolutely cannot do it.” Lisa told him as she turned to walk out of his office.

“Fine. I will check my schedule but I cannot make any promises.”

“Okay. Whatever. Let me know.” Lisa tried hard to suppress the laughter that was choking her as she made her way from his office. She knew he had it bad for Amber Prescott. And she knew she would win the bet she made with Nate. Most men were dense when it came to matters of the heart, so she wouldn't be surprised if Gage hadn't yet realized how bad he had it for Amber Prescott. But Lisa could tell. The three times Ms. Prescott came into the credit union, somehow Gage always found a reason to come into her office or ‘bump’ into Amber when she was on her way out. She had to find Nate and harass him about their bet. She knew she was right!

Gage shook his head to no one as he sat at his desk. Did Lisa now dislike Amber? Why wouldn't she want to go to the closing? Especially since she was the one who had handled everything from the beginning. He found that odd even though it gave him another chance to see her. Maybe if the timing was right he could change her mind about this whole friends thing. He knew he could change her mind. He’d done it before.

“Just put it in your mouth. There's nothing to be ashamed about. People do it all the time.” Okay that last part was a fib. He didn't know from personal experience – at least not in the five years he’d spent with his ex-wife. She never did this to him. Not even one time, just to try. But people did do it; he just wasn't special enough to have it done to him.

“It's not that. It's just, well, what if I’m not very good at it? What if you think it's horrible?”

His laughter rumbled in his chest, “I can promise you that isn't going to happen. You can start slow. Just lick the top a little bit and then you can put it in your mouth.”

“I'm scared. I want it to be good for you, but I’ve never done this before so I’m afraid it's not going to feel good.”

Seriously? She was a blowjob virgin? How had he gotten the short end of that stick? When he began interviewing for this place and paying the fees, it had never occurred to him that he would get stuck with a female that had never performed this sexual act. So much so that he hadn't even considered to specifically ask about it. Was she kidding?