Page 34 of Revelry (Cowgirls Do It Better #2)

Tate

“Good morning, Harriet,” I announced as I entered the clinic.

Her gaze snapped away from her phone and she met my stare.

“Did you have a nice…” I floundered. “Evening?”

She chewed her gum once, my eyes flitting to it where it smacked in her mouth, fighting the compulsion to make her spit it out. But it didn’t irk me as much as normal.

“Hi Dr. Wilder! Uh, yah. Did…um, you?” she replied, eyeing me warily.

I tapped the counter. “Great. And yes, I did.”

“Is everything okay?” she asked, handing me a folder of paperwork to sign.

I looked around, thinking about it before answering, surprising myself with the answer.

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

I went into my office and tossed the portfolio on my desk, not bothering to tidy it when some of the papers slipped free from the folder.

I paused a moment to acknowledge what a big deal it was that I didn’t need to tidy the papers.

I’d been working hard to nail the first rung of the ERP hierarchy, and I was proud of myself for my efforts.

I’d noticed that recently I wasn’t as tightly wound or stressed, so when small things happened, they didn’t bother me as much as they used to.

As my computer warmed up, I started going through my schedule for the day, planning my journey out to the ranches this afternoon for follow-ups.

There was a knock on the door and then Harriet stuck her pink-haired head around the frame.

“There’s a woman here to see you, Dr. Wilder,” she said, cracking her gum again.

I narrowed my eyes at her, I knew she was doing it on purpose because I hadn’t made her spit it out earlier. Like she was making the most of chewing it and popping it obnoxiously but if it made her happy then I guess I could tolerate it.

But only every now and then.

My heart sped up when I realized what she’d said. Immediately my mind flooded with images of Gertrude. I hadn’t seen her since I’d tasted her on the pool table in officially the top sexual experience of my life.

I’d played it over and over again, her scent, her flavor, her moans and the way she shuddered as she orgasmed.

I thought about it while watching TV, I thought about it while shoeing horses, I thought about it in the shower, and I thought about it every time I jerked off. Which at the moment, was a lot.

Which is why I was pissed that she’d been avoiding me. After everything. She was avoiding me. Maybe I’d taken things too far, but I was sure she enjoyed our time together.

“Send her in,” I replied, trying to keep the eagerness from my tone. I smoothed a hand down my perfectly ironed shirt and straightened my already straight tie.

“Hello Dr. Wilder,” Daisy Cartwright called as she came in. I tried to ignore the way my heart plummeted in disappointment.

“Oh, hi Daisy.”

“Wow, you sound happy to see me,” she snorted, taking a seat across from me before I’d invited her to, glancing around the office with her sharp eyes.

I couldn’t deny the similarities between her and Gertrude, both of them did what they wanted, whenever they felt like it.

They had a confidence and a brashness that was endearing, and it made me miss Gertrude even more.

“Apologies, it’s always…nice to see you,” I said, still learning how to do pleasantries.

She snorted again before examining her cuticles. “I need your help.”

I sat up straighter. “Oh? Is everything okay?”

She hit me with her emerald stare. “No. I’m in trouble.”

“Daisy, you can tell me anything,” I murmured. “Is it Duke? Money? Is someone hurting you?”

“I need your body,” she whispered.

My brows dipped. “Excuse me?”

“I need your body, Tate. Desperately,” she winked.

I pushed away from my desk. “I don’t understand but Daisy, you should know, I’m not interested in you like that.”

She burst out laughing. “No, silly. I need your body. I need another member for Cowboylesque.”

I reared back. “For Cowboywhat?”

“Cow. Boy. Lesque.”

“I still don’t understand,” I said, taking my seat now I knew she wasn’t likely to throw herself at me. I was only interested in one woman.

“You know burlesque dancing?” she asked. I nodded. “Like that, but with cowboys instead. It’s really not that hard to fathom, Tate. Aren’t you a doctor?”

I shook my head. “And what makes you think I would want to do that?”

Daisy shrugged her shoulder, red hair falling down her back. “The fact that Gertie said you wouldn’t.”

I blinked. “You spoke to Gertrude about this?” Even just hearing her name was giving me joy.

“ Gertie. And yes, she said it wasn’t your thing at all.”

“It’s not,” I agreed. I was not a singing dancing stripping cowboy.

I did not like crowds, or dancing in public.

Except our Monster Mash Off, that was kind of fun, I liked the structured routine.

I remembered the look on Gertrude’s face when I learned the dance and how happy she was.

I wanted to be the one who put that expression on her face always.

Imagine how shocked she would be if she saw me doing this.

“I guess if you don’t like helping out charities that raise money for disadvantaged children at Christmas then fine but—”

“I’ll do it.” The words shot from me before I could stop them. All because I wanted to see Gertrude’s face.

And the kids, of course. I wanted to help the kids…

“You will?” Daisy gasped.

I pointed a finger at her. “But you tell no one.”

Daisy rolled her eyes. “I’ll need to tell the guys. They’ll come by your place later to get the last item for their costumes.”

“Excuse me?”

“Chaps.” She grinned wide. “Those sweet, sweet leather chaps you insist on wearing. I’ve seen you in a few of them. How many pairs have you got?”

“Five, but Daisy—”

“Perfect!” she clapped her hands. “You’ll see Max, Jack and Leo later then.”

“Daisy,” I warned. “I don’t like people in my space.” Clicking my fingers three times trying to calm my rising anxiety over the thought of the guys coming around.

“Then you’d better hand them over quickly so they leave. Also, rehearsals will take place in Jack’s cabin.”

“Rehearsals?” I gulped.

“Yeah, for the dance. Max will sing and you other boys can stand and look pretty. Pretty and muscley. Don’t forget the body oil.” She slapped her hands to her thighs before standing.

“Body oil? Daisy wait, maybe I was too quick—”

“Nuh uh! You said you’d do it. No takebacks,” she whined, but there was fire in her eyes.

For charity, gah.

“Fine. Remember, you don’t tell anyone except the guys and make them swear not to tell or I won’t do it,” I said.

“That’s fair, I mean, you’re keeping my secret, right?” She arched a brow, referring to when I saw her in the French maid’s outfit at Raleigh’s Spa Ranch.

“Exactly,” I nodded.

“Then you got yourself a done deal, cowboy!”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a cowboy.”

“Then you’d better get practicing for Cowboylesque.” She winked and then with a finger-wave, she was gone.

I sank back in my chair, wondering what the hell I’d signed myself up for, and then Gertrude’s face popped into my mind again.

I smiled, imagining her wide eyes, round lips open in surprise when she saw me.

Saw I was doing something reckless and fun.

Well, reckless by my standards anyway. I was going to appear shirtless in public. That was well out of my comfort zone.

“My therapist would be so proud that I’m pushing myself,” I muttered, sighing and turning to my computer to Google Cowboylesque. I was halfway through a video when Harriet came in.

“Uh, Dr. Wilder?”

I quickly closed the window, cheeks heating. “Yah? I mean, yes?”

“The Farbers are here with their Chihuahua,” she said, her eyes darting from the computer to me and back again.

“Great,” I said, getting to my feet and coming out to see them.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Harriet whispered when I walked past her.

“Yes, Harriet, thank you,” I replied, my cheeks still tinged as I went to put a stop to this Chihuahua humping everything.

*

The day passed quickly and I was eager to get home to try and see if Gertrude was around.

I’d been getting home late this week, and her lights were always out.

I tried knocking the other night but there was no answer.

She left early for the ranch but even when I swung by to check up on one of the horses, she made herself scarce.

When I turned into our little cul-de-sac, I spotted her lights on and felt like a kid at Christmas. I pulled into the driveway, anxious to get round and see her before I realized I probably smelled like damp livestock.

I had the fastest shower in history. Showers which weren’t as fun without her in them; she must have had hers fixed now. I missed our bathroom chats.

Throwing a sweatshirt over my head, I finger combed my damp hair as I ran down the stairs and swung open the front door only to find three men standing on the other side.

“About fucking time,” Max grumbled, shivering as he brushed past me.

“Hey buddy,” Jack said, following him and Leo winked before coming inside.

“Yes, please come in,” I grouched, shutting the door. My dreams of catching Gertrude long gone now these three were here.

“We brought presents,” Leo said, lifting his arms, a six pack of beer in each hand.

“Where are these chaps then?” Max asked, glancing around. Jack disappeared into the kitchen.

“Well, they ain’t in there,” I called after him, mentally trying to count back from ten and calm myself. “Follow me.”

They clomped up the stairs behind me and I went into my room, opening my closet and pointing to them. “There, take a pair each. And if you ruin them, I’ll send you a bill because they’re not cheap.”

Max sat down on the edge of my bed. Jack sat beside him while Leo snapped the top off some beers and passed them around. My stomach cramped as I realized they were settling in and not going anytime soon.