Hosed (Happy Cat #1)(37)
She shrugs, surprising me. “There are far worse things than having people think I’m such a sex goddess Happy Cat’s hottest fireman can’t resist me.”
“Well, you are a sex goddess. But you’d better tell me the name of this fireman so I can kick his ass.”
She laughs, and it’s better music than anything we’re getting here tonight. “Ms. Pac-Man just got eaten by a ghost. In level one. Thus far, you are failing to impress me with your video game skills, Mr. Hot Fireman.”
I dutifully put another quarter in the machine. “I’m better at Out Run than Ms. Pac-Man,” I confess.
She glances past me at the next arcade game down with its gas pedal and steering wheel. “Oh, the car racing game?”
“Yep.” I fiddle the knob on the console, steering Ms. Pac-Man away from a killer ghost and completely missing a turn in a process. “I can outdrive you any day of the week, pigtails.”
“Is that commentary on my handling of my bicycle?” She brushes her breast against me, I get distracted, and once again, Ms. Pac-Man is toast.
“Do I need to get behind you and show you how to handle that joystick?” she asks.
Did she just…
She did. She made a sex joke. I arch a brow in her direction. “Cassandra Sunderwell, have you been practicing your dirty talk?”
She lifts her chin, her cheeks that shade of pink that’s both adorable and a little heartbreaking. I wish there was something I could do to help make her more at ease with talking about sex and sex toys and all the rest of it.
“No,” she says, “but I’ve been doing…other things. Sexy type things…”
Forget the beers and the Ms. Pac-Man. We’re getting out of here and going to my place right now.
Before the sheriff arrests me for indecency.
I turn to tell her we’re leaving as Blake emerges from the back hallway. “Hey, there you two are. You get a beer yet, Ry? Gonna need it. You’re up next for karaoke.”
“No, we’re—” I start, but Cassie claps her hands.
“Oh, good! I love karaoke. Thanks, Blake. You’re officially my second-favorite O’Dell brother.”
“And you’re my first official favorite O’Dell brother girlfriend,” he replies.
Cassie doesn’t correct him.
Neither do I.
And five minutes later, we’re both being shuffled to the stage. “Are you sure you want to karaoke with me? I’m not great.”
“Good. That’s the trick,” she whispers. “You sing really badly, and then they don’t ever ask you to do it again. We’re doing Three Dog Night’s ‘Joy To The World.’ Do you know that one?”
“Jeremiah was a bullfrog? Of course.”
“Awesome. Follow my lead, and sing really, really bad.”
I laugh and I follow her lead.
And we sing really, really badly.
So badly, we get booed off the stage.
But it comes with a round of nachos on the house to thank us for shutting up, and then Ruthie May buys us a round, followed by Blake buying us another round, and before long, we’re both tipsy.
Laughing.
Telling stories about childhood.
Recreating our scenes from Romeo and Juliet without actually remembering any of our lines except the one that comes right before the kiss.
And for the first time in a long time, there’s nowhere else in the world I’d rather be. Even as it becomes clear that I’m not taking Cassie home while we’re both buzzed, I’m so damned happy I can’t stop smiling.
“Incoming!” A sudden shout from the front of the bar makes us all turn to face the entrance to see two teenage girls tossing dildos at a couple of Stetson-wearing boys at a front booth.
“Five points!” one shouts, high-fiving the other, who giggles as she points to the now pink-cheeked cowboys. “You should see your face! Three extra points our team for blushing on the sidelines.”
“Won’t be on the sidelines for long,” the blond boy says, grabbing the dildos from his chip basket and heading out the door, chasing the girls down the street with a grin.
The remaining boy thunks a palm against his forehead in mortification and everyone around us bursts into giggles. Including Cassie, but she also puts her hands to her cheeks. Even inebriated, the unexpected dildo assault makes her blush.
And suddenly, I know exactly what I have to do about that.
A plan takes shape in my head, and it’s so perfect, I can’t wait to start putting it into action.
And I will.
Just as soon as I’ve walked my tipsy girl home and tucked her safely into bed.
Nineteen
From the texts of Cassie Sunderwell and
Savannah Sunderwell
Cassie: I’m going to ask you three questions, and I need you to say yes to all of them.
* * *
Savannah: Yes.
* * *
Cassie: You have to hear them first!
* * *
Savannah: Why? If you need me to say yes, then I have to say yes, so why ask me the questions in the first place? And honestly, I’d rather not hear the questions if they have anything to do with Sunshine Toys.