“Hey, you look tired,” Ava told Elise as she walked into the kitchen. It was early afternoon. Elise never came down for breakfast or lunch. She had an hour before she had to leave for work.
She shrugged her shoulders.
“I thought maybe you weren’t home and decided to go out with that sexy cowboy who rode the bull against you,” Ava stated.
Elise smiled and shook her head. “Not my type.”
“Tall, wealthy, and good-looking? Honey, that’s my type and most women’s out there.”
Elise just walked over toward the Keurig brewer and made herself a cup of coffee.
“Okay. What’s going on? Did something happen last night during Thanksgiving?”
Elise felt her cheeks warm. God, she hated being so young sometimes. It wasn’t like she wanted to rush her life away or anything. Hell, she wanted to enjoy every minute of it, but she felt so naïve and so confused.
She ran her fingertip over the rim of the cup.
“Who is he, or should I say they?” Ava asked as she crossed her arms and leaned her hip against the counter. Ava was gorgeous with platinum-blonde hair and big blue eyes, and she was filled with class and sophistication. She dyed her hair red a while back and looked just as gorgeous. But Elise had to admit that Elise as a platinum blonde suited her best. She was mature at twenty-seven and very business savvy. She was currently working on promotion merchandise as she helped with the business aspect of Dixie Chix with Susanna.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Elise responded then took a sip of coffee.
“Uhm, would this have anything to do with Vic and Tommy?”
Elise lifted her head so quickly that Ava must have immediately known she had been right. She smiled at Elise.
“Okay, spill the beans. They finally made a move?”
Elise’s mouth opened then closed. She swallowed hard.
“They really aren’t interested in me. They never have been. They just saw Tagart flirting and showing interest.”
“Honey, you have got to be blind. I guess ignoring all the signs that rough, rugged, ex-military men show when they’re interested in a woman can’t be seen by Dixie Chix. None of you ever realize, until your men push full force, how interested they really are.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Susanna, Paula, Juliet, Alexa, and even Sally. Their men showed all the signs, but none of them saw them, acknowledged them, or took them seriously. At least not until they pulled out the big guns. So what is it going to take for you to realize that Tommy and Vic Ollsen want you?”
She shook her head at Ava.
“Can’t happen. I’m not interested.”
“Not interested my ass. I’ve seen the way you watch them, especially while they’re riding the bull and the women are hanging all over them. You’re jealous and you get all quiet and nervous. I’ve also seen the way they watch you. They’re like hawks. It must be something in their heritage or backgrounds that makes them look so intense when they’re watching you. It’s eerie and sexy.”
Elise covered her face with her hands.
“It can’t happen. I have to ignore them and these feelings.”
“What happened last night?”
Elise began to explain about the text message and then about Tommy and Vic making moves on her in the bedroom together.
Ava began to fan herself.
“Hot damn, woman, you should be jumping at that opportunity. They are good-looking men and good men for that matter.”
“There are lots of good-looking and nice men at Dixie Chix.”
“Give me a break. I know there are, but have any of them made you feel this aroused and attracted to them? Have any other men made you think about them so much that you couldn’t sleep? When they were kissing you and they were touching you, were you lost in the emotions and connection you felt with them? How about turned on being intimately touch and kissed by two men at once?”