“Kinky.”
“Jack… give it up. We can’t do anything tonight, and that’s that.”
“I’m not the kind of guy who gives up easily. I’ll just hang around a little longer and see what develops.”
“You’re wasting your time.”
“We’ll see about that.”
She paused to give him a bemused smile. “Gabe’s right. I never quite realized how stubborn you are. Apparently I never told you no.”
“Why would you? We had a good thing going on.”
“We did, but now that I think about it, I went along with whatever you wanted. I never denied you a single thing.”
He leaned closer, breathing her in. “And I like that in a woman.”
“I’ll bet.” She speared an onion and an olive with a plastic toothpick and plopped them into a martini glass. “But you’ll come away empty tonight, Jack, so you might as well face defeat and head back to the ranch.”
Jack turned back to the dance floor. “Your brother has worn himself out trying to learn the two-step, not to mention the mental exhaustion of going to that interview. I predict he’ll sleep like a rock.”
“Go home, Jack.”
“Not yet, Josie.” He knew, even if she didn’t, that persistence usually paid off. Everyone might want to label him stubborn, but he considered himself a master of persistence. The only person he’d never been able to outlast had been his father, who’d been the grand master of persistence.
His mother, from what little he knew of her, hadn’t understood the concept at all. She’d given up at the first sign that ranch life would be hard and might require some sacrifices, or so his father had told him. Jack had no respect for that.
The band finished their last number and began packing up their instruments. Customers drifted out the door, and a few came over to thank him for the spoon-dangling lessons. That crazy stunt had brought back memories of his father, too. Jonathan Chance had loved to give people something to talk about.
Jack smiled as he remembered the annual prank involving the life-sized plaster horse standing on the porch roof of the feed store. Every fall Jonathan and Jack would sneak into town with a ladder and a can of blue paint. When they left, the horse’s privates would be blue. No one ever caught them, but everyone in town knew the culprit.
Alex came over to the bar. “I’ve had it.” He stuck out his hand. “But I wanted to say thanks for a very interesting evening.”
“You inspired me to get back in training.” Jack met Alex’s gaze as he shook his hand. “I’m thinking of lobbying to make spoon-dangling an Olympic event.”
“You draw up the petition and I’ll sign it.” Alex paused. “So I guess you’ll be shoving off now, right?”
“Soon.”
Alex glanced over at Josie. “Need any help closing up?”
“I’ll be fine. You go on to bed.”
“I’ll help if she needs it,” Jack said.
Alex hesitated. “On second thought, I think I’ll stay down here and stack the chairs.”
Josie reached across the bar and grabbed his arm. “Seriously, Alex, it’s under control.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. Don’t act like a chaperone. I can take care of myself.”
Alex looked back at Jack as if he had doubts. “If you say so. I really am beat. See you later, Jack.”
“You bet.” Jack raised a hand in farewell. Yes. He started moving around the room stacking chairs on top of tables while Josie got out the industrial-sized broom. They’d done this together a hundred times. More than a hundred.
Jack went to fetch the long-handled dustpan. “Feels nice, doing this again.”
“Just so you don’t expect a reward after we’re done.” Josie swept the debris into a pile so Jack could load it into the dustpan and dump it in the trash.
“I’ll settle for a kiss.” Or at least he’d start there.
She put the broom away. “You’re pushing it, Jack.”
“One kiss. That doesn’t seem like too much to ask.” He dumped the dustpan and put it in the closet, which happened to be near the main light switch. He killed the lights, figuring semi-darkness could hide a multitude of sins, or a multitude of pleasures.
Her voice sounded hollow in the now-empty room. “I know those moves of yours, and I’m not going along with your evil plan.”
“It’s not evil.” His eyes adjusted and he walked over to where she was standing by the bar. “Surely you can spare me one little kiss.” He could feel her heat even before he reached her. Her breathing was shallow and quick. She wanted his touch as much as he wanted hers.
“I don’t think we’re capable of one little kiss, Jack.”
“Then two big ones. And then I’ll go home.” He gathered her into his arms and groaned. “God, you feel good.”
“This is such a bad idea.” But she cupped the back of his head and pulled his head down.
“Yeah, just terrible.” He met her halfway and groaned again as he tasted her sweet, sweet mouth. No kiss had ever been so long anticipated or so thoroughly enjoyed. At first he used his tongue only to explore and caress, but primitive urges soon had him thrusting with his tongue and reaching for the snaps on her shirt.
She broke away, gasping. “Jack, we really shouldn’t.”
“I know. But I’m dying, here.”
“Me, too.” She caught his hand and drew him away from the bar. “My office. We’ll lock the door.”
He managed to swallow a shout of triumph. Thank God she needed him as much as he needed her.
The office was even darker than the main room of the bar, and once she closed and locked the door, he couldn’t see much of anything. But he could feel, and once he located her, he had no trouble finding the eager mouth she lifted to his, or the buckle to her belt and the metal button and zipper on her jeans.
She helped by toeing off one boot so that he could get her out of half her jeans. That was really all he needed.
“Your chair,” he said between frantic kisses. “Let’s use that.”
Her reply was breathless. “Okay.” She helped him search in the darkness for her desk chair. “Here it is.” She guided him to it.
As he sat down, he was already unbuckling his belt and unzipping his pants. The armless chair squeaked as he leaned back and fished in his jeans pocket for the condom he’d brought in hopes he’d get to use it. Ripping it open, he shoved the wrapper back in his pocket. He wasn’t leaving any evidence behind.
“Now?” Her voice quivered with eagerness.
“Almost.” He rolled on the condom and reached for her. “Where are you?”
“Here.” She took his hand and placed it between her spread thighs.
He sucked in a breath as he caressed her, sliding his fingers up and in. “You’re so wet.”
“I’ve been like this all night.”
“If I’d known that…”
“You know it now. And now that you do, could you please do something about it?”
“Be glad to.” Cupping her bottom with his free hand, he guided her into position so that she straddled him on the chair. Then he slowly withdrew his fingers so that he could replace them with his cock.