Page 20 of Forever Endeavor

Smiles came much easier to them now. “So, you haven’t been the least bit tempted to wade back into the dating pool?” she asked.

“The dating pool is pretty shallow in this town. Besides, whoever said you can’t buy happiness clearly never paid for a divorce.”

“Or a round of beer.” Billie hoisted her drink. “Here’s to breaking free.”

“To breaking free.” Their glasses clinked.

“Although…” she said, “I must admit, I do miss sex.”

He grinned. “Sex?”

“Yeah, you know. The thrill of skin-on-skin contact. Touching and exploring. Filling and being filled.” She wriggled on her seat, prickles of heat tickling the back of her neck, trailing like a line of fire down her spine and engulfing her fancy bits. “Two bodies moving together, the tension building, until one delicate movement shatters them both into a million beautiful pieces.”

“Damn, girl, you do have a way with words,” he said, their glasses clinking once more. When he put his down, she took notice of the length of his dark lashes, his strong manly chin, and the soft contours of his mouth. Oh, that mouth. Framed by that mustache that drew her in to his succulent lips like stage curtains parted for its star. It’d been so long since she felt the urge to kiss and be kissed, but now tunnel vision prevented her from imagining anything but climbing over the table and planting a long, slow, deep, wet one on Sonny. Kissing him, tasting him, being surrounded by those muscled arms, feeling his skilled hands all over her body, and wrapping hers around his big, thick—

Whew.Pulsing with a newfound lust, Billie swiped a finger across her top lip todiscreetly wipe away the sheen of sweat. “Would you excuse me a moment? Just going to powder my nose before dinner.”

She escaped to the restroom to catch her breath. Grasping the sink, she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her cheeks enflamed with heat to match the smoldering fire burning down below.Down girl, down.Okay, maybe he’s the first guy who’s paid any real attention to you in years. Doesn’t mean he’s into you. Then again, a man doesn’t look at you that way unless he’s undressing you with his eyes. And you got a sneak peek of what he’s packing so you already know what he brings to the party. Sex could really be delicious. Hell, any sex would hit the spot. So what if he’s the first gentleman caller Miss Kitty’s entertained in the downstairs saloon since the west was won? If he’s as thirsty as you are, a few cobwebs won’t matter. You deserve to break the seal, have your engine flushed, and who knows? It might even unblock the rest of your clogs. Maybe Sonny Hayes is just the mustache ride, er…man for the job tonight.

Sonny

Never had he seen a woman attack a rack of ribs with such a lusty appetite. Half an hour earlier, he would’ve bet the family farm that Billie would cut them daintily with a knife and fork, pinkies properly poised in the air. And how wrong he’d have been. Instead, she picked them up with her hands and went to town on that meat, licking one bone clean before chowing down on the next. It wasn’t only impressive; it was fucking hot.

“Amazing,” she cooed, licking the saucy goodness from her fingertips. “I haven’t had ribs perfectly cooked like that in, oh, maybe forever.”

“Yeah, they definitely know how to do ‘em right here.” Sonny pushed away his plate, empty except for a pile of Bones. Billie proceeded to suck off her sticky fingers as he watched, admittedly a little envious. “Although I’m enjoying the show, maybe you’d prefer one of these?” He tore open a scented hand wipe and passed it to her before opening a second packet for himself. She giggled as she watched him. “What’s so funny? Do I have sauce on my face?”

“No, your face is fine,” she said. “Just thinking of something. Maybe it’s crossed your mind too.”

“I’d tell you if I was, but I can’t since I don’t know what it is.”

Her lovely lips curled into a smile. “Like it or not, it appears I’ll be sticking around town for a few days. And even though we’re not exactly each other’s cup of tea, we do seem to be able to stand one another in small doses.”

He leaned forward. “I’m listening.”

“Since we’re both single and neither one of us has anyone in the picture at the moment…I mean, circumstances have thrown us together anyway, so maybe we could, I don’t know, come to a mutually-beneficial arrangement.”

Sonny gulped.Play your cards right, boy, just play your cards right. Don’t let her call your bluff, just see if she folds first.“What kind of arrangement?”

Her green eyes narrowed. “You know what I’m talking about.”

Hot damn, he sure did, but wanted more than anything to hear her say it. “Sorry, I’m not certain I do.”

“Scratching each other’s itch,” she drawled. “Purely physical, of course.”

Stay calm, jackass.He leaned back, pretending to play it cool while shifting to accommodate the sudden lack of room in his ever-tightening jeans. “Ah, so we’d not only be friends, but friends with benefits?”

She bit the corner of her plush bottom lip, a seduction tactic surely meant to entice. “It’s crazy, but it’s also kinda perfect. No commitment, no obligation. Nothing but pure, unadulterated sex. Best of all, I’ll be leaving town before you know it, so we’ll be able to sidestep any of the messy awkwardness.”

He smirked. “Ya don’t need to sell me on a no strings attached deal, princess. I’m just waiting to see if you’ve got the receipts to back it up.”

Their verbal foreplay was interrupted as Yvette began clearing the table. “Show’s about to start. You’re up second tonight, Sonny, so be ready to go on in fifteen,” she said, placing dishes and utensils on her tray. “Can I bring you two another round of beer? Coffee?”

Billie batted her lashes at him before answering. “Just the check please, Yvette.”

“Yeah, we won’t be sticking around long,” he added, unable to keep from grinning like a damn fool.

The Pelican had filled up and the crowd was now at standing room-only capacity. Funny thing, with Billie in his line of sight, Sonny hadn’t noticed a single soul filtering in.

---