Read Online Miss Firecracker by Lorelei James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lorelei James
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killed Big Kenny when Willow won the Miss Firecracker contest.”
“Why?”
“It proved that rough-around-the-edges Willow was also all woman. And trust me, the men in this town who wouldn’t have looked twice at Willow-the-toolbelt-wearing-carpenter? They started paying attention to Willow the beauty queen.”
Blake had the oddest urge to growl his displeasure at anyone paying attention to Willow but him. “Funny Willow didn’t mention that.”
“Can you blame her?”
“I guess not.”
Mr. D. tossed a five on the counter and stood. “Good luck, son, because I have a feeling you’re gonna need it.”
The joint was hopping by the time Mandy clocked in. Willow lagged behind with drink orders. A few of the guys who worked for her decided to come in. They ribbed her endlessly about her new “job” but she wouldn’t give them the lowdown. As breezy and sarcastic as her responses were, Blake knew by her jerky, tense movements the situation bothered her.
He wasn’t surprised by her curt conduct toward him. Bothered by it, yes, but surprised by it, no. No one in the bar would’ve guessed they’d spent a good portion of the day naked together. In fact, Blake wondered if he’d dreamt it.
Mandy dropped her tray on the counter. “I need a pitcher of Bud, four cups and four shots of Jack.”
“A boilermaker party, huh?”
“How anyone can drink that crap is beyond me.” Mandy shuddered. “You a Jack fan?”
“Nope. Hate the stuff.”
“Good.” She jerked her chin toward Willow’s table in the back. “Looks like Willow got herself a fan club.”
Blake harrumphed.
“But if the cold stares they’re sending your way mean anything…damn, they don’t appear to be fans of yours. Did you cut one of them off or something?”
“Not yet.”
“Hmm. They jealous you got it goin’ on with her?”
When Blake didn’t acknowledge her guess, Mandy sighed.
“Look. I’m not blind and neither is anyone else. You two threw sparks off each other from the moment she strolled in here the other night.
“So?”
“So, pretending to ignore her when your eyes follow her everywhere just makes what’s going on between you two more obvious.”
He leaned in. “FYI, Mandy. She’s the one who’s ignoring me. She’s the one who doesn’t want her male buddies, her employees, to know she’s knockin’ boots with a lowly bartender.”
“Interesting. I don’t think the issue is so much that you’re a bartender as these guys are surprised that Willow is knocking boots with any guy. She’s just playing it cool.” When Blake placed her order on the tray, Mandy leaned over and rubbed her cleavage into his forearm. She nuzzled his ear, then leisurely kissed his cheek. She pulled back and smirked at him. “That oughta get her hot under the collar.”
Blake couldn’t help it, he grinned.
Willow spent an hour imagining how crappy Mandy would look bald as a cue ball after she’d snatched every hair out of the man-stealing woman’s head.
As soon as Willow saw randy Mandy disappearing into the back, she followed her.
More like stomped after her.
She found Mandy smoking in the breakroom, her shoulders resting against the wall. She offered Willow a tired smile. “Hey, Will, how’s it going?”
“What are you doing?” Willow demanded.
“Taking a break.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Mandy lifted her eyebrows. “Maybe you oughta cue me in since I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about you flirting with Blake. Rubbing your boobs on him. Smiling. Whispering stuff. You even kissed him!”
“Does it bother you, sugar?”
Sugar . As if. Willow was about as sweet as vinegar right about now. “Yes, it bothers me! You know that Blake and I are…”
“Are what?”
She gritted her teeth.
“Are you with him?”
Willow glared at her.
“Lemme tell you something. Either you’re with him, or you’re not. You can’t have it both ways. Blake is way too nice a
“Why?”
“It proved that rough-around-the-edges Willow was also all woman. And trust me, the men in this town who wouldn’t have looked twice at Willow-the-toolbelt-wearing-carpenter? They started paying attention to Willow the beauty queen.”
Blake had the oddest urge to growl his displeasure at anyone paying attention to Willow but him. “Funny Willow didn’t mention that.”
“Can you blame her?”
“I guess not.”
Mr. D. tossed a five on the counter and stood. “Good luck, son, because I have a feeling you’re gonna need it.”
The joint was hopping by the time Mandy clocked in. Willow lagged behind with drink orders. A few of the guys who worked for her decided to come in. They ribbed her endlessly about her new “job” but she wouldn’t give them the lowdown. As breezy and sarcastic as her responses were, Blake knew by her jerky, tense movements the situation bothered her.
He wasn’t surprised by her curt conduct toward him. Bothered by it, yes, but surprised by it, no. No one in the bar would’ve guessed they’d spent a good portion of the day naked together. In fact, Blake wondered if he’d dreamt it.
Mandy dropped her tray on the counter. “I need a pitcher of Bud, four cups and four shots of Jack.”
“A boilermaker party, huh?”
“How anyone can drink that crap is beyond me.” Mandy shuddered. “You a Jack fan?”
“Nope. Hate the stuff.”
“Good.” She jerked her chin toward Willow’s table in the back. “Looks like Willow got herself a fan club.”
Blake harrumphed.
“But if the cold stares they’re sending your way mean anything…damn, they don’t appear to be fans of yours. Did you cut one of them off or something?”
“Not yet.”
“Hmm. They jealous you got it goin’ on with her?”
When Blake didn’t acknowledge her guess, Mandy sighed.
“Look. I’m not blind and neither is anyone else. You two threw sparks off each other from the moment she strolled in here the other night.
“So?”
“So, pretending to ignore her when your eyes follow her everywhere just makes what’s going on between you two more obvious.”
He leaned in. “FYI, Mandy. She’s the one who’s ignoring me. She’s the one who doesn’t want her male buddies, her employees, to know she’s knockin’ boots with a lowly bartender.”
“Interesting. I don’t think the issue is so much that you’re a bartender as these guys are surprised that Willow is knocking boots with any guy. She’s just playing it cool.” When Blake placed her order on the tray, Mandy leaned over and rubbed her cleavage into his forearm. She nuzzled his ear, then leisurely kissed his cheek. She pulled back and smirked at him. “That oughta get her hot under the collar.”
Blake couldn’t help it, he grinned.
Willow spent an hour imagining how crappy Mandy would look bald as a cue ball after she’d snatched every hair out of the man-stealing woman’s head.
As soon as Willow saw randy Mandy disappearing into the back, she followed her.
More like stomped after her.
She found Mandy smoking in the breakroom, her shoulders resting against the wall. She offered Willow a tired smile. “Hey, Will, how’s it going?”
“What are you doing?” Willow demanded.
“Taking a break.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
Mandy lifted her eyebrows. “Maybe you oughta cue me in since I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about you flirting with Blake. Rubbing your boobs on him. Smiling. Whispering stuff. You even kissed him!”
“Does it bother you, sugar?”
Sugar . As if. Willow was about as sweet as vinegar right about now. “Yes, it bothers me! You know that Blake and I are…”
“Are what?”
She gritted her teeth.
“Are you with him?”
Willow glared at her.
“Lemme tell you something. Either you’re with him, or you’re not. You can’t have it both ways. Blake is way too nice a
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