Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(53)

“She’s gonna get us kicked out of here!” I heard Maegan yell. Alex walked in front of me and stopped me.

“Lauren, get it together woman! Put your shirt back on. I can see the bellhop’s hard-on from over here.”

Stopping, I looked around, then looked down. Thank God I had my pretty beige lace bra on. Quickly shaking out my T-shirt, Alex handed it to me as I pulled it on and covered myself. “Damn it! It hurts already.”

Grace laughed. “Well, yeah it hurts. Your damn adrenaline pumped that shit through your body in record time.”

“Grace!” Libby said as she gave Grace a push.

“Okay, well I’m going to start getting your luggage now,” the bellhop said as he walked to the back of the Tahoe.

Maegan followed him as she batted her eyes. He was probably close to our age and for sure easy on the eyes. “Bet you didn’t wake up this morning expecting to see a free show today, did you?”

The bellhop started laughing and said, “No, ma’am, I didn’t.”

“She’s taken, so stow away the woody,” Grace said over her shoulder as she walked with me into the lobby.

Dropping my mouth open, I glared at Grace. “Do you have no filter, Grace Johnson?”

Looking at me like I was the one who was insane, Grace smiled and gave me a wink. “Yes. I’m just picky about when I use it.”

Rolling my eyes, I followed Grace into the hotel. While Libby checked us in, someone brought me out some ice, Advil, and Benadryl.

“Okay, y’all, huddle up. Pick a number from the bag.”

After we each picked a number, we were teamed up. Grace and Libby were in one room, Alex and Meg in another and Taylor and I in the last room. Taylor and I high-fived each other and did a chest bump.

“All right, calm down. Let’s get settled, then go get something to eat.” Turning to me, Libby pressed her lips together. “Lauren, can we trust that you’ll keep your shirt on?”

Snarling my lip at Libby, I raised my middle finger and mouthed f*ck you.



WALKING INTO THE Salon Bar, I glanced around. “Grace, Taylor and I aren’t twenty-one.”

Waving me off, she headed to a table. “Just sit, drink Coke and no one will say anything.”

Worrying my lower lip, I did what she said. We spent most of our first evening in Durango in that little saloon bar. We danced, laughed, danced some more and just had fun. Taylor and I were currently attempting to ignore the two guys who would not go away. If this guy tells me one more time how pretty my eyes are, I’m gonna junk-punch his ass.

Libby, Alex and Meg were all dancing together and Grace was cutting a rug with a very good-looking cowboy who sure did know how to move. It was nice to see Grace smiling and enjoying herself. When a slow song came on, I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Grace and the cowboy. He lifted his hand and placed it on the side of her face and leaned in to kiss her. Leaning my own body closer, I noticed Taylor was doing the same thing. “Oh my gosh. Is she gonna kiss him?” Taylor gasped.

Shaking my head, I said, “No! She’s in love with Noah. She can’t.”

Making a grunting sound, Taylor said, “Please. He’s married. There is no Noah.”

Taylor and I both leaned forward more. One of the guys started talking and we both said, “Shh!”

They finally got the hint and got up and left. “She’s moving in. She is moving in!” Taylor said.

“What are y’all doing?” Maegan asked.

“Hush, we’re watching Grace. I say she’s not going to kiss the cowboy, but Tay says she is.”

Everyone sat down and all eyes were on Grace. “I’m with Lauren. I say she isn’t,” Libby said.

“Bullshit. Look at the way she is looking at him. She’s got that cowboy wrapped around her finger. I say she kisses him,” Maegan said with a chuckle.

Alex said, “I’m with, Meg and Tay. I’m going with lips touching.”

Libby and I looked at each other. Glancing back over to Grace I quickly said, “A hundred bucks, she doesn’t.”

“Deal!” Alex, Maegan, and Taylor all shouted.

Holding my breath I watched the slick cowboy slide his hand down to Grace’s waist. “He’s pulling her in! He’s pulling her in,” I said with panic laced in my voice. “Don’t do it, Grace. Resist the hot, muscled-up, tattooed cowboy!”

“Fuck that, she needs to get with that shit!” Maegan said as Alex and Taylor started laughing.

“Meg! She’s not going to screw some random guy she just met,” I said as I glared at Maegan.

Raising her eyebrow, she smirked. “I’ll add another hundred that she not only kisses him, but she ends up in his bed before this little vacation is over.”

Libby leaned in close to my ear. “She’s looking weak, Lauren. I have a feeling Grace is about to break her silent vow of chastity.”

Whipping my head around, I looked back out on the dance floor. No. Oh no. Don’t do it, Grace. Stay strong! “Don’t do it, Grace! Noah is the cream to your coffee.”

Maegan let out a gruff laugh. “No, he’s the cream to someone else’s coffee now, Lauren.”

Flashing Maegan a dirty look, I glanced back to Grace. Throwing her head back and laughing, she dropped her hands and took a step back. Leaning in, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and walked to us. I had to admit, I felt bad for the cowboy. He couldn’t pull his eyes from Grace as he watched her walk away from him. Smiling, I turned to Maegan and said, “I do believe you bitches owe some money.”