Page 2 of The Cowboy Contract
One was probably a bigger issue than the rest.
“That’s what I thought.” Leland reached out, catching a bit of her hair between his fingers and giving it a tug. “You always were sneaky.”
His teasing snapped her out of the stupor threatening her common sense. She pushed at his chest with a scoff. “I was sneaky because you were freaking fearless.” Putting her eyes on his badge, she angled a brow. “I wonder if the good people of Moss Creek know how many times you almost got caught toilet papering houses and stealing porch geese.”
Leland smirked. “They’d probably like me better if they did.”
A laugh broke free, tipping her head back and easing a little of her frustration at the evening. Leland was the best at redirecting her thoughts. Always had been. Whether it was during exam week in school or through her father’s illness after, her closest friend was always there to help break through the negativity fighting for her focus.
Lord knew she needed it. Especially today.
“Paige.” Delores, one of the bartenders she’d hired to help out on the weekends, rushed up. “The Bridge Bitches are here and they say you’re the only one who knows how to make their drinks right.”
Score one for the universe for getting her the heck away from Leland before she could do something stupid. Like mention the significance of the day that was almost over.
“Gotta go.” Paige thumbed over one shoulder as she started to back away. “Otherwise it’ll be anarchy.”
“Don’t want that to happen.” Leland gave her a wink. “I’ll hang around a while, just in case.”
A smile froze on her face, the expression a mix of happiness because he’d be there, and panic because…
He’d be there.
“Great.” Paige continued backing away, trying not to trip over her own feet as she retreated from a battle she’d never win. One she waged with herself every time Leland was around.
Ducking back behind the bar, she grabbed the tab no one else would touch, and went to work mixing up the collection of cocktails as varied as the women who ordered them. Once theywere all finished, she lined them onto a tray and went in search of Moss Creek’s most notorious girl gang.
As expected, they were dominating the largest high-top in the bar, glittering up the place with sequins, skinny jeans, and bedazzled canes. As if they had a sixth sense, every head in the group turned her way, eyes lighting up behind bifocal lenses at the sight of their first round.
“Ladies.” Paige slid the tray onto the table and started passing out glasses. “Nice to see you out and about this fine evening.”
The group came out on a relatively regular basis, but normally earlier in the evening, so when they hadn’t arrived by seven, she hadn’t expected to see their smiling faces.
“It is a fine evening, isn’t it?” Gertrude took her drink and sucked down a few long draws, swallowing the last one before smacking her lips. “I needed that after the day I had.”
“Stop bitching.” Betty rolled her eyes as she slurped down a gulp of her margarita. “It’s your own fault you had a bad day. Everyone told you not to try to do a headstand.”
Paige pressed her lips together, smothering out the smile attempting to work onto her face. “Trying to level up your yoga game?”
The Bridge Bitches had three hobbies—bridge, yoga, and keeping Moss Creek PD on their toes. The last one was the most concerning, but also the most entertaining. It turned out, women who no longer gave a shit what the world thought of them were capable of just about anything. And a lot of it was slightly illegal since they also had decades of bail money saved up and collecting interest they were hell-bent on using.
“I really thought I could do it.” Gertrude huffed out a breath, slouching down in her seat with a wince. “I’ve done way crazier positions than that one in my life.”
“No one wants to hear about your bathroom habits.” Muriel tossed back one of the tequila shots without a hint of a wince. “We all know you went through a hoe phase.”
“I wish I went through a hoe phase.” Betty’s thin lips twisted into a scowl. “Too late now. My kitty’s dry as the fucking Sahara.”
“And who wants to fuck old men?” Agnes scrunched her nose. “Their balls touch the toilet water.”
Paige grinned, wishing she could stay there and ignore all her responsibilities. “Who brought you ladies out tonight?”
“You mean, who’s in charge of babysitting us?” Gertrude accurately summed up the real question. “That would be Isla. Evelyn’s assistant.” Gertrude pointed toward the bathroom, her bony finger aimed right at a pretty young woman with long dark hair and fair skin on her way back from the facilities. “I think she’s already questioning moving to Moss Creek.”
“She’s for sure questioning agreeing to drive us around.” Betty leaned closer, lowering her voice as the other woman got closer. “You know she’s only got her learner’s permit? Almost twenty-five and never had a license.”
“You’re awfully judgmental for someone who’s almost eighty and never sucked a dick.” Gertrude delivered the burn with her signature dry tone.
Paige pulled in a slow breath, fighting to keep from laughing as Isla reached the table, her sweet smile and shy demeanor a stark contrast to the group around her.
