Corralled (Blacktop Cowboys 1)

“Oh, my freakin’ God. Greedy, much?” Tanna demanded.

“What?”

“I might actually hate you.”

Lainie frowned. “Why?”

“Can I be blunt?”

“When have you ever not been blunt?” Lainie asked.

Tanna folded her arms on the table and leaned in. “You’re f**king not one hot man, but two. Individually, I was a little jealous. But now? After seeing the way those buff guys gazed upon you with utter adoration? And I know you’re doin’ both of them at the same time? I’m green with envy.”

“Yeah? Well, color me confused, Tanna. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

“What you’re doin’, right this freakin’ second, is telling me if it’s all that, bein’ between those cowboy beefcakes?”

Lainie tried not to grin like a lunatic, but it was pointless. “Absolutely. And this oughta stick in your craw: They’ve asked me to go on the road with them during Cowboy Christmas.”

“You’re considering it?”

“No, I’m doing it.”

Tanna’s gaze turned shrewd. “Weren’t you keeping quiet about banging Hank because it might damage your professional reputation? Ditto for Kyle on the other circuit? Now you’re jumping aboard the traveling sin wagon, letting your freak flag fly for all to see?”

“Yes, but it’s different now, because I won’t be on any of the circuits after my vacation. This has to stay between us, but Doc is switching me to a full-time office position at Lariat. I’ll have a normal Monday-through-Friday, nine-to-five job, and it’s about damn time.”

“So no more working on the CRA or EBS circuit?”

“Nope. No more traveling.” At Tanna’s dour look, Lainie said, “Hey, we’ll still see each other.”

“When?” Tanna demanded. “I live in Texas. I get to Colorado Springs once a year as I pass through for the Denver Stock Show. Over the next couple months we’ll lose touch. So maybe I just oughta say ‘good-bye and have a nice life’ to you right now.”

Stung, Lainie reared back. “Fine, if you really feel that way—”

“Dammit, Lainie, I’m sorry.” Tanna snatched her hands and squeezed. “I’m happy for you about the job, because you deserve it. But I’m a selfish bitch and I’m sad for me. You’re my best pal. We’ve had some great times and I’ll miss you something fierce.”

“I know. Me too.” Lainie’s thoughts tumbled a mile a minute. “Give it to me straight, Tanna. Will anyone notice I’m shacked up with both Hank and Kyle?”

“Yes. And no.”

“That’s helpful,” Lainie grumbled.

“Yes, some people will notice. The ‘Jesus cowboys’ will advise you of the error of your adulterous ways. The newly married women will give you the wink-wink-nudge-nudge, and act smug, like they’re not on the road to keep a close eye on their hubbies. The women with kids won’t notice you unless you’re on fire.

“The youngsters, rookies, whatever, will ask you the most inappropriate questions and get indignant when you don’t answer. A few older women will high-five you for getting it on with two hot-ties. The buckle bunnies will offer to do you in front of your men—and then demand you watch while your men do them. So it’ll run the gamut from ‘you slut!’ to ‘you go, girl!’ to ‘hey, baby, how about let’s you and me have a private party?’ ”

Lainie was positively goggle-eyed. “That much speculation?”

“No. Jesus. Lighten up. I was kiddin’. No one will notice this time of the year.”

“Would you do it if you were me?”

“Lainie, we’ve had this conversation and my answer hasn’t changed. Yes. Hell, yes.” Tanna smirked. “And, sugar, if you don’t do it? Well, I’m sitting in fourth right now in my circuit, so I can afford to take the next three weeks off. If you chicken out, I may offer myself up to them in your place.”

“Smarty. After last night, I think they’re awful determined to keep me.” Lainie smirked back.

“I really hate you.”

“Any chance we’ll cross paths on one of these circuits?”

Tanna’s long, glossy braid fell over her shoulder as she shook her head. “I’ll be in Texas. Lots of rodeos within two hundred miles. I need a dose of my mama’s cookin’. I need to be home for a while to regroup.”

Lainie wondered what that’d be like, the overwhelming need to reconnect with roots. Her mother and stepfather’s house in California wasn’t homey, but more of a showplace. Grandma Elsa’s cozy house had seemed like home, but it was gone now too.

“Come on. I’ll drop you at your hotel.”

Lainie packed her suitcase and loaded up. She’d called Doc and double-checked that he’d be at the rodeo grounds before she headed there. She drove past the horse trailers and campers, paying particular attention to the fifth wheels. Hank’s pickup was a Cummins 350-horsepower diesel quad cab with an extended bed, so maybe his camper wasn’t the claustrophobia-inducing box she feared.

She walked through the tamped-down weeds, dust kicking up with every bootstep. Kids and dogs ran everywhere. Tack of all shapes and sizes hung on horse trailers. Men and women stood in groups shooting the breeze. Lawn chairs were scattered between campers in semicircles. It resembled a minitown. Why hadn’t she noticed that before?