Free Boots and Lace by Myla Jackson Page A

flushed and her tank top twisted. “What can I get you boys?”
    Ed paid for Nick’s beer and the two men twisted on their stools to look out over the crowd, each nursing a frothy mug, dripping with condensation.
    “Can’t get over how lucky I am.” Ed shook his head.
    “How so?”
    “Kendall.”
    Well damn. As soon as he mentioned Kendall, the image of Kendall and Lacey naked in Lacey’s apartment popped into Nick’s mind. “Yeah, you’re lucky, all right.”
    “Hey, now, don’t go getting any ideas about her. I’ve staked my claim and she’s agreed. We’re getting married next spring.”
    Nick held up his hands. “I never said I wanted her.” His gaze slipped across the room to Lacey.
    “No, you haven’t. And you handled the situation well at lunch today.”
    “Just tell me to shut the fuck up if I’m being nosy, but is Lacey a permanent part of your relationship with Kendall?”
    “Lacey?” Ed laughed. “I think she likes to shock people. Her ex was a prick and apparently unimaginative when it came to sex. I think Lacey’s making up for lost time.”
    “Kendall doesn’t mind sharing you with Lacey?”
    “Lacey helped me open my eyes about Kendall. I owe her a lot and besides that, she adds a lot of spice to our sex life.” He grinned. “I guess I don’t have to tell you that.”
    Just the idea of discussing sex with the man who had been fornicating with his fiancée in the same apartment as Nick when he was having his way with Lacey had Nick all hot and bothered. He shifted on the stool and loosened the top button of his shirt. “How are you managing the ranch in this heat?”
    Ed laughed. “Got a creek on the ranch. Kendall and I go skinny-dipping a lot.”
    Nick was thankful the music started up again, conveniently covering his groan. He still hadn’t fixed the AC in their apartment and it promised to be another hot night. Even hotter knowing Lacey would be upstairs, probably sleeping naked. Damn the woman for starting something when Nick had been perfectly content to remain celibate. He downed the last swig of beer and slammed the bottle on the counter, his gaze going back to the barroom, picking up on the woman who’d made his life a new kind of hell.
    “Hey, big guy, you’re scaring the patrons.” Kendall tapped Nick’s shoulder, wedged herself between the two men and set her tray of empty mugs and bottles on the counter. She gave her order to Libby, the bartender, and let Ed pull her onto his lap. “Umm, that’s nice. My feet are killing me.”
    “I’ll rub them for you when you get home tonight.”
    “I hope you’ll rub more than that.” She wiggled her bottom over his crotch, then hopped up when Libby completed her order. “I’ll be counting the minutes.”
    After Kendall darted off between the tables, Nick stood. “Thanks for the beer.”
    “Thanks for sticking around at lunch. Lacey’s a lot of woman for just one man and Kendall more than satisfies any itch I might have.”
    “Don’t mention it.” Nick frowned. “Really, don’t mention it. I’m not sure what happened.”
    “That’s the beauty of life with Lacey. She likes doing the unpredictable. I kinda miss living in the building with her.” Ed stood and clapped a hand across Nick’s back. “But then you’ll get used to it. If she fancies you as much as I think she does, you’re in for a helluva ride.”
    Nick glanced once more at Lacey and left the bar, determined to go back to the apartment and bed. He had a lot of work at the shop and until his house was finished, he’d be better off steering clear of the woman in the apartment upstairs.
     
    Lacey breathed a sigh of relief when Nick left the bar. Now she could focus on her work, maybe even flirt with a few cowboys to get her mind off Nick. He’d been hot naked, hot in his coveralls and even hotter in his jeans and cowboy boots. How the hell was she supposed to get him out of her head when he kept popping up? She’d already spilled two