Page 2 of Cowboy of Convenience
Agnes wiggled her way out of her seat. "I'm gonna go get us another round." She sashayed her way toward the bar, rocking her skinny jeans and sequin-covered shirt better than most women half her age.
After escaping to Moss Creek a year ago in a last-ditch effort to avoid her fate, Evelyn had been shocked at how easy it was to make friends. How much more genuine everyone seemed. How real they all were. It led to her being more genuine. More real.
Right down to her unwaxed lady basement and self-polished fingernails.
It was amazing.
"Have you been busy at the studio?" Gertrude leaned forward to peer at the assortment of appetizers lined down the center of the table. She chose a stuffed potato skin and took a big bite out of the cheesy, bacony goodness. "I peek in the window every time I pass and it always looks packed."
Evelyn relaxed a little as the conversation turned to safer waters. "I wasn't sure how well a yoga studio would do around here, but it’s going pretty well." She leaned back in her seat, feeling a little bit more comfortable now that the girls seemed to be abandoning their quest to get her as shit faced as they would be. "Even the cowboys have started coming in. I think they realized flexibility can really come in handy."
Betty wiggled her brows. "It sure can. Did I tell you about how—"
“Shut it, Betty. No one wants to hear about your sexcapades.” Gertrude popped the rest of her potato skin into her mouth. "Speaking of flexibility—" She leaned toward Evelyn with a sly grin. "Is anyone testing your flexibility these days?"
"No." The answer came out of her mouth a little too quickly and sounded a little too clipped. "I'm not really looking for that right now. I'm just enjoying my life the way it is." Probably for the first time in her life.
"I bet you'd enjoy it a lot more if you were getting some good—" Gertrude clammed up before dropping what would surely be an indecent word. She leaned to one side, staring at the spot just over Evelyn's shoulder. “Well, would ya take a look at that." She let out a low whistle, shaking her head. "These men really make me wish I was forty years younger."
Agnes twisted in her chair, craning her neck to look across the bar. "If you were forty years younger you'd still be too old for them."
“Would not.” Gertrude tossed a fry at Agnes. “Haven’t you heard about cougars?” She peeled her eyes away from whatever group of Wrangler-clad men just walked into the bar and focused on Evelyn. "Are you sure you don't need a good dicking, because lots of opportunity just walked in."
"I'm positive." Sex had never gotten her anywhere in life, no matter how hard she tried. If anything, it only brought her more problems than she already had.
That didn't mean she wasn't curious about exactly what the view on the other side of the bar might be.
Picking up her glass, she sipped at the straw as she angled herself in the seat, glancing at the group of cowboys she'd accurately predicted. Sure, they were nice to look at. Probably said panty-melting things like ‘yes, ma'am’ and ‘would you like it a little harder, ma’am.’
And maybe even an appropriately timed ‘good girl’ or two.
And while that might have sounded like a perfectly fantastic opportunity to her a year ago, lately she'd been struggling to work up any sort of real interest in the opposite sex.
With one glaring exception.
She turned back to the table and shoved in a chicken strip, chewing through the crispy breaded meat before sucking down some of the water she really wished was wine.
Or vodka.
“I bet those are the boys from the rodeo Maryann Pace brought in to put on a show out at The Inn.” Gertrude’s eyes went back to the cowboys milling around the bar. “I shoulda got tickets.”
“I could probably hook you up.” Muriel sucked down half her mixed drink through a straw. “Maryann wants Amelie to paint her some pictures, so I’ve got leverage.”
“I’m not taking you guys so you’ll have to find another ride.” Evelyn knew exactly how unruly this group could be, and the last place she wanted to be responsible for wrangling them was at an outdoor event with bulls and horses and uneven ground.
All three were equally likely to take one of them out.
“I bet I know who we can hitch a ride with.” Muriel’s thin lips smirked as she pursed them around her straw and sucked down another long gulp. “Seems like Officer Grady’s popular with the buckle bunnies.” She tipped her head to one side thoughtfully. “Or would they be badge bunnies if they’re rubbing themselves all over him while he’s in uniform?”
Evelyn took a slow breath and tried to keep her reaction in check. She didn’t care who rubbed themselves all over Grady. She didn’t.
At all.
Not even a little bit.
It was only curiosity that spun her in her seat and had her eyes narrowing at the pretty blonde trying to wear the man she couldn’t keep out of her head like a second skin.
Muriel leaned close. “Want a shot now?”
