Hot Cowboy Nights (Lucky Penny Ranch #2)(25)

“Ready to sit one out?” Toby asked when the singer started singing a Blake Shelton song that called for a country waltz.

“Not yet. I like this song. Who are you when I’m not lookin’, Toby Dawson?” She asked the same question that the song title did. “What secrets are you hiding?”

“I believe you know me pretty damn well.” Toby kissed her on the top of her head. “Who are you when I’m not lookin’, Lizzy Logan?”

“Well, I paint my toenails in the summer because I wear sandals. I don’t throw things, but I do carry a grudge for a long time. I fight with my sisters, but I’ll tear into anyone who says a bad word about either of them. I like my work and I do slide down the hall in my socks, like the song says. Sometimes I cuss, especially when I’m mad. Other than that, I expect you know me about as well as anyone,” she said.

“I know the hotter’n hell Lizzy in the bedroom, but I’ve got a feeling that if we are friends for fifty years, there will be some secrets I never find out,” he said.

“I hope so.” She laid her head back on his chest and followed his smooth steps.



“Oh. My. God.” Lizzy leaned her head back. “Toby, why did you let me drink so much? I’m floating like an angel. I think I’m having an out of body experience.”

“You, darlin’, are drunk.”

The idea of being drunk was so funny that she giggled. “I can’t be drunk. I only had half a bottle of Jack and we danced it out of my system. I’m not wasted.”

The dash clock had to be wrong. There was no way it was two o’clock in the morning. Lizzy had never stayed out that late in her life, not even when it was a girls’ night out with her sisters.

“Hey, Toby, do you reckon God uses Christmas tree hangers to keep those stars up there in the sky?” In her head the words were spoken clear as a sunny day, but her ears heard several of them slur.

“That would explain it for sure,” he said with a chuckle.

“I liked drinkin’ and dancin’. Can we do it again? Why don’t you stop right here in the church parking lot and we can finish off the evening with some scalding-hot sex? That backseat looks every bit as big as the bed in the back of Mama’s store.”

“I’d better get you on home tonight, darlin’. Remember, we decided that part of our business was over,” he said.

“Well, shit!” Her eyes fluttered shut and she dreamed of Toby lying on the beach with sand on his chest. Like in the Billy Currington video, he was curled around her, his finger tracing the outline of her belly button.



Sunlight poured into her bedroom window when she awoke on Sunday morning. Disoriented, with the radio playing loudly right beside her head, she couldn’t figure out where she was or how she got there. Then it all came back in a rush and she shoved a pillow over her aching head. Holding it down with one hand, she let the other one travel from her shirt to her jeans.

At least she was dressed even if her boots had been kicked off, but how in the hell had she gotten home? She remembered something about God and the stars and then nothing except…

“Sweet Jesus!”

“Yes, he is sweet,” Allie said from the doorway.

She peeked out from the edge of the pillow with one eye. “Toby brought me up the stairs slung over his shoulder like a bag of chicken feed. I thought it was funny because…” She clamped her mouth shut.

“Because that put your lips right on his cute little ass? I’m here with the hangover cure. Sit up. At least you got to dance and have a good time. I was in Granny’s closet with nothing but memories,” Allie said.

Lizzy eased to a sitting position without opening her eyes. “God, my head hurts. What is this hangover cure? I’m never doin’ this again.”

“First, a tablespoon of honey. Then Mama is bringing up two scrambled eggs and a piece of toast. After that you get a cup of hot black coffee, followed by a banana and a shower,” Allie said. “Open your mouth. Honey is coming your way.”

“I hate honey and I feel like I licked the bottom of an ash tray,” she said.

The spoon touched her lips and instinctively her mouth opened. “I’m never getting drunk again. One shot or one beer and then it will be club soda or plain water. I can’t eat eggs, Allie. I can’t. I’m not going to church, either. Tell Mama that I’m sick.”

“Mama knows you’ve got a hangover and you are definitely going to church. Are you going to let Dora June get ahead of you and are you going to let Lucy down? You will eat the eggs. Believe me, sister, it’s not as tough as the banana to get down.”

“Who died and made you a damn doctor?” Lizzy fussed.

“Blake taught me that this works. And I declared I’d never get drunk again, too. Remember when I wrecked my truck and spent the night over at the Lucky Penny because I was so damn drunk on whiskey and tequila? Us Logan girls were not made for hangovers. At least you are waking up fully dressed.” Allie sat down on the edge of the bed.

Lizzy’s hand covered her mouth. “Don’t wiggle the bed. I’ll upchuck the honey if you do. Did you really wake up naked?”

“I don’t kiss and tell.” Allie laughed. “But darlin’, everything those old hens tossed me out of the ladies’ club for doing? Well, I did them and enjoyed the hell out of every minute.”