The Trouble with Texas Cowboys (Burnt Boot, Texas #2)(35)

Chapter 10


“I can’t believe they hadn’t heard about Kinsey. The whole town knew when I arrived and when you moved into the bunkhouse,” Jill said.

“I didn’t know, and you didn’t know I was living in the bunkhouse. Maybe rumor-spreading is selective.” He grinned. “Which reminds me, you owe me a kiss.”

She picked up a bar rag and cleaned the area around the beer machine. “Want to collect it now?”

“No, ma’am. I want it later.”

“But what if I decide to give you a peck on the cheek instead of a wild, passionate kiss? What difference would it make if it was now or later?”

“I want to have a while to enjoy the anticipation, no matter where I get the kiss,” he said.

The words were barely out of his mouth when her phone rang.

She answered it. “Hello, Aunt Polly.” And then there was a long pause before she said, “The doors are open, but nobody is here.”

Sawyer walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. When she tried to wiggle free, he said, “Don’t get all hyper. I want to hear what Polly is saying. I caught something about Kinsey Brennan.”

“Aunt Polly, I’m putting it on speakerphone until and unless someone comes in.” Jill laid the phone on the counter, but Sawyer did not remove his arms.

“Y’all are in deep shit. Kinsey is telling everyone that Gladys is going to fire Sawyer,” Polly said.

“Why?” Jill asked.

“For sleeping with you. She says that y’all were totally inappropriate in public, carryin’ on like a couple of teenagers all gaga over each other on the street and in the little café. And she says that you slobbered in her ice cream, and that you threatened her. They tried to get a restraining order on you, but Quaid pitched a fit and said that he was going to marry you and how could he even date you if there was a restraining order and besides all that, the sheriff said they didn’t have enough evidence for one. It would just be her word against yours.”

“Well, dammit! I wish the sheriff would let the whole family have their restraining order. You reckon they’ll bring the feud to the bar?”

“Think, Jill!” Sawyer said.

“What?” She whipped around to face him.

“If they did, it would halve the business in the bar. It’s all hot air, Polly, because she made the first threat, and Jill stood up to her. Evidently the Brennans don’t take rejection too well.”

“There’s a sawed-off shotgun under the beer machine. Just open up the doors, and you’ll see it, along with a box of shells. Get it out if it starts to look rowdy,” Polly said. “Friday nights are usually hopping, and that’s before Kinsey got her damned feelin’s hurt. Everyone loves a good fight, gossip, and cold beer. You know what old Billy Currington says: ‘Beer is good. God is great, and people are crazy,’ or something like that.”

“Give me that phone,” Gladys said.

“Aunt Gladys, are you two fighting over the phone?”

“Damn straight, we are. She gets testy when it’s almost time for a pain pill. If things get too rowdy down there, you call me. Don’t call the sheriff. He’s afraid of the Brennans and the Gallaghers. Okay, okay, I’ll get your pill, Polly.”

“Bye, Aunt Gladys,” Jill said.

“I’ll call you later when she falls asleep.”

“I want a swallow of whiskey to take that pill,” Polly yelled. “Damn things get stuck when you make me take them with water.”

“Bye, Jill.” Gladys sighed.

The phone went silent, and Jill pressed the “end” button. She turned around slowly and put her arms around Sawyer’s neck, lacing her fingers together. “Looks like it’s me and you against the world, partner.”

He grinned. “I’m glad that we banded together. They would have dragged us into this kickin’ and screamin’, whether we wanted to join the pig war or not.”

His eyes fluttered shut, leaving thick lashes fanned out on his cheekbones, just before his lips found hers. It was every bit as hot as the first kiss and twice as passionate. No, sir, that first one was not a fluke and had nothing to do with her frustration at having to spend time with the Gallaghers and the Brennans.

She swayed slightly when she opened her eyes.

He drew her close to his chest and held her tightly. “Whoa, get your balance there, sweetheart. Your kisses make my knees go all rubbery, but tough as you are, I didn’t think mine had the same effect on you.”

“It’s the lighting in here. Trying to focus when I opened my eyes made me dizzy,” she said.

He scooped her up, settled her on a bar stool, and sat down beside her. “I kissed you, Jill Cleary. You kissed me back, but you didn’t instigate the kiss, so you still owe me one later.”

Tyrell Gallagher slung open the door and waited a second for his eyes to adjust to the dim light before he removed his hat and hung it on the row of nails along the wall. He pulled up a stool right beside her, propped his elbows on the bar, and put his chin in his hands. “Jill Cleary, darlin’, let me look at your beautiful face so I can get out of this foul mood.”

Quaid Brennan pushed his way into the bar, with Kinsey right behind him. He passed behind Tyrell on his way to the other end of the bar, and muttered, “Oink, oink,” on the way.