Part 8 (2/2)

Maddox sucked in a deep breath. Locker room talk, that's all that was. The guy was a jerk, but Maddox could hear the voices of teammates rumbling through his brain saying the same types of things after practice as they plotted their evening's conquests.

Someone had fired up the jukebox while he was in the bathroom, and the place was thumping to some country song. It had a slight pop beat, wasn't too tw.a.n.gy. Maddox saw Lila on the floor line dancing with a handful of other ladies. A few couples whirled together. These people took their dancing seriously. No b.u.mping and grinding on the floor like at the city clubs.

Lila caught his eye as the song ended and crooked her finger. A slow song started, and she pulled him close as soon as she could reach him. She had an exotic, spicy fragrance, a contrast to Chanel's light and sweet scent, and her curves felt good under his hands. An unfamiliar sliver of doubt about going home with her niggled at him. Was it what the jerk in the bathroom had said? Of course not. He'd never cared about a girl's backlist before.

Maddox pulled Lila tighter against him, her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed against his chest. He tried to think about her shapely legs below the short denim skirt, but instead he saw Chanel's longer ones extending from her running shorts. That was two Chanel comparisons in about as many minutes. How had she managed to get in his head? Lila brought him back to her when she began trailing her fingers down his back and up again, giving him a s.h.i.+ver.

”How long do you want to hang out here?” Lila tilted her head back, so she could see his face.

Still undecided, Maddox said, ”You already done showing me off?”

”I think enough folks have seen us to start spreading the word about how I snagged the hot new guy,” Lila said with a throaty laugh. ”It'll circle 'round to me, and I can brag about how I'm seeing a future NFL player.”

Instead of being flattered, Maddox felt kind of bad for her. Did she realize what people said about her behind closed doors? Add that to the fact that there was a good chance he had no future NFL career.

This sudden bout of conscience irritated him. Determined to drive it and Chanel from his mind, Maddox lowered his lips to Lila's. She parted them eagerly, threading her fingers through his hair. It was enough to flip the switch to start thinking with a different part of his anatomy. Fisting his hands in those silky thick curls, he pulled back so he could see her face. Lila's porcelain skin was flushed, eyes burning up at him.

”Let's get out of here.” His voice was husky with desire.

They tumbled out of the Leaning Camel's bar entrance, Lila's hand already up Maddox's s.h.i.+rt. He pressed her up against the wall, deepening their kiss.

She moaned against his lips. ”d.a.m.n, I've never felt abs like that.”

Probably not around here, Maddox thought picturing the population of beer guts on the other side of that door. That image brought him back to himself, and he pulled back. Lila's lips were swollen from his kisses, her chest rising and falling heavily. Those b.r.e.a.s.t.s so much fuller than Chanel's.

”My place is three blocks that way.” She pointed to her right. Taking his hand, she pushed off the wall and began leading him down the street.

As they walked, Maddox could see Chanel's disapproving glare in his mind. She shook her head and turned away. So what if Chanel wouldn't approve. She only got to tell him what to do during work hours. His vigor renewed, Maddox scooped Lila into his arms and nuzzled her neck making her giggle.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a heated kiss. ”Hold on, baby, we're almost there.”

Maddox returned Lila to her feet, and she broke into a jog despite her tall sandals. He kept pace with her until they reached a little white house with a chain link fence. Lila opened the gate, and seconds later she was closing the front door behind them. Maddox pinned her against the wall in the entryway and lifted her skirt. Screw Chanel Eber. He'd do whatever the h.e.l.l he wanted.

Steam rose from the kitchen sink as the mound of soapy bubbles grew. Chanel submerged the rectangle gla.s.s pan she'd used the night before to bake tater tot ca.s.serole. It would need to soak for a bit. She gazed out the window over the sink, taking in the view of the barn, corrals, shop, and bunkhouses.

An unfamiliar sedan rolled across the cattle guard, breaking the midmorning silence. It came to a stop beside the bunkhouse lawn. Always wary of strangers poking around, Chanel squinted and leaned closer to the window. She recognized Lila Biggs emerging from the drivers' side. When Maddox opened the pa.s.senger door, Chanel recoiled from the window as if someone had slapped her. They kissed, Maddox pressing the woman against the car. Chanel's shock turned to fury in an instant. She reached for the phone and dialed Seth's number. No answer. Slamming it down, she plunged her hands into the scalding dishwater and yelped, jerking them back out again. Cursing, Chanel grabbed a towel and wiped them dry.

How could he be with Lila? Why did she care? Emotions running wild, Chanel picked up the phone again, and this time dialed Roberta.

”Hey there,” Roberta chirped when she answered.

”He picked up a woman last night,” Chanel yelled into the phone.

”Your dad?” Roberta sounded horrified.

”No! Maddox!” Chanel continued to watch the make out session, until Maddox pulled back and took Lila by the hand, leading her to his bunkhouse.

”So? You're not sleeping with him.”

”Dammit, Bert, he can't act like that in a small town.” Chanel sc.r.a.ped her fingers through her hair.

”Have s.e.x? Hate to tell you this, but it happens everywhere. Besides, why do you care who he's sleeping with? You don't even like him. The guy is ent.i.tled to a life, even out in the sticks.”

Chanel gritted her teeth, knowing Bert was right but hating it. She moved into the living room and curled into a ball on the couch. ”You're right. It shouldn't bother me.”

”You've been off from the moment he landed on your doorstep. You crus.h.i.+ng a little bit?”

”Oh my gosh, we aren't teenagers anymore, Roberta.” Chanel only used her friend's full name when she was extremely frustrated.

”Then stop acting like one.”

This was the second time in five minutes that Chanel felt like she'd been slapped. She wished Seth had answered his phone. He wouldn't have been so harsh. Well, maybe. He'd echoed Bert's thoughts about just giving in and sleeping with Maddox at the beginning just to get it out of the way.

”You can't tell me Maddox is the only man bringing women back to the bunkhouse.”

She was right. In the past, though not recently, Fritz had brought a string of ladies home. Jerry had a steady woman who from time to time spent the weekend. David hadn't brought Faith home for the night, but everyone knew he stayed at her place. Really, her dad was the only celibate man on the crew. Unless...while she was away at school...Chanel shuddered at the thought.

”No,” Chanel grumbled.

”There's a lot of summer left, Chel. You're gonna make yourself crazy if you keep obsessing over him. Make peace with the situation or do something to change it.” A deep murmur came from Bert's end of the line.

”Who's that?” Chanel asked.

”No one. Traffic,” Bert said quickly.

”You have someone over!” A smile took over Chanel's lips. She was ready to s.h.i.+ft the attention to her friend.

”No, I don't.”

Remembering Bert was on her cell phone, Chanel rephrased. ”You stayed at his place!”

”Well, maybe. I should probably go. He's out of the shower, and it's been a while since we've eaten.”

Chanel could picture Bert's wicked grin.

”Fine. You better call me with details later.”

”Of course, doll. Remember what I said.”

”I will.”

”Bye.” With that, Roberta was gone, and Chanel was alone on her couch. Mulling over their conversation, she chewed her thumbnail. It was time to make Maddox just one of the guys.

CHAPTER TEN.

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