Page 17 of Revelry (Cowgirls Do It Better #2)

“No, it’s not silly but it is exquisite. It’s so intricately done, it’s amazing!” she enthused.

My cheeks flushed and I scrubbed the back of my neck. “I, uh, thanks. I mean, I need to have a delicate touch for all those tiny stitches I do. So I guess I lost, huh?”

She fixed me with a hard stare as she removed her apron. “Tate, did you have fun?”

I thought about it for a moment and realized I actually had, after the messy part was taken care of.

She hung up her apron and came over to me, looking me directly in the eyes as she reached around me and pulled my strings loose.

I could feel her breasts pushing against my stomach.

I wanted to cup her jaw and stroke my thumbs over the apples of her cheeks.

“I did,” I replied, my voice hoarse.

“Then that’s all that counts. Besides, you’ve bought us a couple of drinks so it’s my turn anyway.

” She pulled away and I lifted the apron over my head before she hung it up for me.

“And when I get back, we can practice that Monster Mash Off you were so dang excited about.” She winked at me like she knew I was dreading it, and I shook my head, almost smiling again.

While she was getting drinks, I took a picture of our pumpkins side by side and stared at the image on my phone, making it my screensaver.

“Do we leave them here?” I asked when she returned.

She nodded. “I’ve asked Daisy to keep them safe for us. Now, let’s Mash!”

With another thud of dread from my heart, I followed her over to the stage where the band announced they would be starting the Monster Mash Off in a few minutes.

Gertrude turned to me, her expression serious. “Now, we need a strategy. We can’t go too big too soon or we’ll lose our audience. So I suggest we start small and simple and build up, agreed?”

I held up my hands. “I have no clue what you mean.”

“This is a competition and I play to win, Tate, so listen up and listen good!”

My third whiskey was giving me a warm, pleasant feeling and I wanted to boop her nose, she seemed so serious right now. “You need to smile more,” I said.

She blinked at me and then burst out laughing, but I wasn’t sure what I’d said that was so dang funny.

“How many drinks have you had?”

“Three.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Do you drink much?”

“Not really.”

She placed her hands on her Betty Boop hips. “Ah, I see. So Tate’s tipsy, is that it?”

“I don’t think so. I think I’m very sober.”

“Good because I need you sober for this. I can’t cope with sloppy dancing or we won’t win.

Now I think less is more, so maybe this to start…

” She went into a slow version of the twist and I watched as her hips swayed, my mouth drying.

“Then maybe this?” She did the mashed potato.

“Then go into this?” She swung one arm over her head, sticking her perfect ass out, then swapped her arms over.

My tongue grew heavy. “Looks real good to me.”

She snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Can you handle it, Tipsy Tate?”

I was saved from replying by the band announcing it would begin. Couples started lining up in front of each other. When I looked up we were faced with Maddy and Leo dressed as Daphne and Fred from Scooby Doo.

“You’re going down, cowboy,” Leo shouted. “Me and Daphne are pros.”

“Is that the best trash talk you got?” I scoffed. Leo threw back his head and laughed.

“Don’t play games, Tate, that’s how they get in your head!” Gertrude shouted and did the I’m watching you gesture to Maddy who blew her a kiss.

The Monster Mash began playing and I watched Gertrude because I’d already forgotten our little routine.

I stumbled at first, and nearly headbutted Leo, not that I minded, he was staring at Gertrude too much for my liking.

I eventually got the hang of it, enjoying the choreographed structure of the dance.

I thought when the song ended, we were done but it looped around again and Gertrude shouted, “keep going!”

Eventually couples got exhausted with their high energy dance routines and bowed out. My OCD loved that they went in two’s, a nice even number.

Gertrude had been right, we started slow and worked our way up and we were barely worn out while the other couples dropped like flies. Then it was just me and Gertrude facing off with Maddy and Leo.

“Keep it going, Tate, don’t stop now!” Gertrude shouted encouragement, her cheeks red and eyes shining bright with excitement.

“The man’s got stamina, Flirty, that can only mean good things!” Maddy yelled, winking at me. I knew she was being friendly but apparently Leo didn’t appreciate it. He immediately stopped dancing and his glare flicked between me and Maddy.

“And we have a winning couple, the cowboy and Betty Boop!” the lead singer of the band announced.

“Yes!” Gertrude shrieked and leapt at me.

I reacted quickly and caught her, her legs winding around my waist. “I knew we could do it! Tate and Gertie, the new dream team!” she cried and pressed a kiss to my cheek, her berries and cream scent making my mouth water for a real kiss.

She slowly slid down my front, our eyes locked together.

It would take nothing to close the distance and have her.

The crowd returned to the dancefloor, distracting us and breaking the tension.

We stayed for a song or two before we went over to talk to Kat and Jack. Gertrude was so skilled at making conversation and pulling each of us into a discussion. She made sure we were all included, and I actually had a great chat with Jack about carpentry and horses.

“I think it’s time we left before we turn into pumpkins,” Gertrude said, nudging me.

I glanced at my watch. “It’s only ten, are you sure you want to leave so early?”

She nodded, a slow smile lifting her lips. “Always leave wanting more. That’s when you know you’ve hit the sweet spot of having a good time.”

I decided she was right. My social battery, which had never been this stretched before, felt drained. We said goodbye and then I was cramming my big body into her little Beetle, listening to her singing as we drove home.

There were Trick-or-Treaters still out and knocking on doors and I even spotted some on our little cul-de-sac. “I’ve never been trick-or-treating,” I said absently, the words slipping out.

“You haven’t?” Gertrude’s stare switched to me as she pulled onto the driveway.

“Nope.”

“Next time,” she promised.

She grinned at me and I stared back at her, eyes roving her face, wondering if she would even be here this time next year.

“I had a great time tonight,” I said, amazed that I actually had.

“I’m glad. So did I, Tate. For someone with a stick up their ass, you can be fun too.”

I barked out a laugh and then covered my mouth, shaking my head.

Her head tilted back against the headrest, exposing the column of her throat.

“You have a beautiful smile,” she whispered.

Tension filled the cramped car and I struggled to breathe in it.

It wouldn’t take much to reach over and unsnap her belt, pull her into my lap and devour her.

The whiskey had lowered my defenses and I decided to experiment with a different kind of fun.

I wanted to see if her lips tasted like berries after all.

I unclipped my seat belt and leaned across the space between us, eager for a taste.

“Who’s that?” she mumbled, looking through the windshield.

“Huh?” I asked, confused.

She pointed through the window, and I followed her gaze to see a man with two children standing on my front step. As I took in their faces, everything in me went cold.