CHAPTER ELEVEN
All Tangled Up with Nowhere to Go…
The Circus was never like this!
Brea had been situated into a room of her own. A man came in and brought a lovely tray of food for her dinner. He introduced himself as Pedro. A rather tall, very good-looking Mexican man. His brown eyes danced at her like he wanted to say something, though he never said anything but what is name was.
She was a bit relived that it wasn’t Bert, because he didn’t smile and he made her nervous as hell. But he was security supposedly, and she had to admit, he could scare most anybody off the ranch if he needed to.
After she was done with her meal, Pedro came back in and drew her a bath in the overly large bathroom with the brass claw foot type of bathtub, sitting in the middle. “Mama Daisy said you were to get the star treatment.” He gave her a wink and set everything up. “She says you’re to get some sound sleep and be ready in the morning.”
“Ready?” Brea asked.
He nodded his dark head and left.
While she sat in the bath, she thought of the rose scented bath she’d drawn for Cole. She tried to keep her tears at bay while she thought of the way he looked at her and the way he’d touched her when they were in the cook’s cottage. His body had felt so warm. It was like being wrapped in a hot silken blanket of sleek skin and it did make it hard for her to think clearly at all.
She remembered his deep rumbling voice as he held her tight. “I wanted to just take your breath away, you know? Bring you here and strip you down. Then, I was going to get very fancy and eat fried chicken from your sweet, luscious body. But I want you so much that I just can’t wait.” He then wrapped his arms around her and plunged his hard cock into her very wet pussy.
Brea gasped with the hot memory. Tears rolled down her cheeks and slipped into the steaming bath water. She sat up and wiped them away. I will have that back! I didn’t turn my life and his upside down to just walk away! She got out, toweled off, dropping her nude body onto the canopied bed and immediately drifted to sleep.
*~*~*~*
The next morning, she awoke and stared up at the silk canopy. I need to get back to my apartment and pack up, then move into the cook’s cottage at the ranch. And I will follow Ma’s advice. I won’t quit the job and I won’t run away!
Before she could finish the thought, Daisy burst into the room. “You have breakfast comin’!” She stared at Brea. “And even though, I run a house of wicked repute?” She nodded her head at her. “You’d better not tempt Pedro. Him and all of my crew have a real weakness for us Plush type girls.”
Brea stared down at her naked breasts. “Oh!” She hastily pulled the sheet up.
Pedro came in just then and strolled over to the bed. He motioned his head at her.
“He wants ya to sit back,” her mama informed her.
Brea carefully scooted back to the headboard.
Pedro placed the tray over her lap. “Muy…baby!” he cooed in his thick accent.
“Pedro!” Daisy called. “She’s not clientele!”
He smiled down at Brea. “I would be her man for free, Mama Daisy. Just look at her. She is muy bonita!”
Clicking her tongue, Daisy grabbed his arm. “She’s got a man, Pedro.”
“Why she here then? He not a good man to let her go.”
Daisy steered him to the door. “Just go and make sure the rest of the ladies are fed, sí?”
After she ate and dressed, Daisy took her to the second floor, ushered her into a room and sat her down. “Now, I got people who are gonna come in here and they’re experts at what they do. I want you to sit like a porcelain doll and do whatever you’re told.”
Brea did just that. After about five minutes, she wondered why she was going along with this crazy idea in the first place. She stood up, headed to the door and it flung open.
A woman stood there, carrying a huge black bag. She was big, busty, dark, and she wore a colored scarf over her hair. “Hello, I’m Coco and you must be the woman who’s life is about to glitter!”
*~*~*~*
Cabin at Flat River
Wade swung her around and stared at the man who stood in the doorway. “I think I’m gonna ask you what the hell you’re doing in my cabin!”
Kanda’s eyes shot over to the door and then back up at him.
“You put my sister down!”
Her gaze shot back over to Cole. “Now Cole, don’t get all worked up.”
Cole was red in the face. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been riding five hundred acres for the last day looking for you!”
Kanda just grinned at him. “I’ve been—here.”
He shook his head. “I never would’ve believed it. You taking off like that!”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you!” Kanda blinked her eyes at him.
Wade seemed to relax and he set her down in the chair. “She was thrown from her horse and I was taking care of her.”
Cole’s gaze swung down to her long man shirt, barely covering her shapely thighs. “Yeah, I can see that.”
At his insulting sneer, Kanda felt her blood boil. “As you can see, I’m fine now.”
“This just isn’t like you. I mean, here alone with some strange man?”
Her heart was pounding in her ears. Yeah, it wasn’t like me at all. She was about to find out what it would be like to not be alone and unloved. “I think you have bigger problems to deal with Cole.”
“Like what?” He took his dusty hat off and stared at her.
“Like the fact of Brea Plush being heartbroken over you.”
He looked like she’d punched him in the gut and then he cleared his expression. “What do you know about that?”
“I know she was desperate for some reason. She was looking for you and she was upset when she left town.”
He looked sort of pale all of the sudden. “Left…?”
“She was cryin’ and going on about how she messed up and lost ya.”
He jerked his head back.
Kanda knew she was elaborating a bit, but she really liked that he looked panicked at the news.
“Do you know—um…?”
“Do I know where she went?” Kanda finished for him.
He nodded and stepped closer, his hat clenched in his hands.
Kanda suddenly felt sorry for her brother. For the first time in her life, she felt sympathy for him. He’s clearly hurting. Why—he loves her! Kanda felt bad for misleading him; she knew Brea was coming back. But at the same time…she thought she might just be feeling different now about some things and she was gonna break her own steadfast rule. She was going to interfere. “She went to Victoria, to a ranch just off the 70 at mile marker 30.”
He stood for a long, tense moment. Then, he gazed over at Wade.
“I’ll make sure Kandy gets back to the Triple K, mate.”
Cole’s eyes widened at the rarely used nickname.
Kanda shook her head at him with a stern warning in her eyes.
Still standing in the doorway, Cole looked unsure.
“I’m a big girl, Cole. I can take care of myself.”
“I’ll tell Mom that you’re okay.”
Kanda grinned at him. “Oh yes. I’m sure she’s gonna be thrilled to pieces about this.”
Cole laughed for the first time since he busted in. “And you can bet I’m gonna glorify it as much as possible.” He winked at her. “Seeing as to how we Kincades seem to be real good at elaboratin’.” He turned and left.
Wade sighed and walked over to where she stood. “Well, I suppose we should get going.”
Kanda looked at him. She took in that strong jawline and stared at those yummy lips, her eyes boldly straying lower to his wide chest, which she knew, was hard as stone.
“Hello?” he called to her.
Her eyes shot up to his face.
“You seemed lost there for a minute. I said I’d better return you to your ranch.”
Nodding her head, she knew she had been lost. It all had been like a dream and she’d gotten close to having her trip to the moon. Here he was, the very man who could be the astronaut. Then, her brother had to go and mess it all up!
She also knew she wanted to be with this man. What would another type of girl do when in this situation? How can I tell him that I want to—want to be with him? She couldn’t believe she was gonna do something like this. Releasing a huge sigh, her eyes rolled in her head and her knees buckled.
He caught her in his arms and she met with that hard chest. “Are you okay?”
The warmth from his body felt so good and she didn’t answer.
Wade scooped her up with ease and swung her around. He then placed her gently onto the bed
Kanda had never fainted, not in her whole life. She hadn’t now either, but she knew that she just crossed a line she never believed herself capable of. She’d used the oldest female trick in the book to get what she wanted. No—none of this was like her at all. And as she smelled the fresh scent of his neck? She was God damned glad about it!
*~*~*~*
The Ruby Red Suite at the Plush Rooster Ranch
“You’s got to sit still, dolly!” Coco reprimanded her for the tenth time in the last hour.
“I just never wore much makeup and I’m afraid I’m gonna look like a clown!” Brea defended.
Coco set her blush brush down. “You are now officially insultin’ me, princess.” She squared her shoulders. “I ain’t no hack working for a circus, you know. I’m just bringing out your best features is all.”
“I don’t think I have any.”
Coco gasped and set her hands on her hips. “What?”
Brea shrugged. “It will be like puttin’ lipstick on a—”
Coco spun her chair around to the mirror.
Brea simply gaped at the image in front of her. There in the reflection was a woman—with gleaming red hair, huge green eyes, lightly blushed cheeks and her face almost glowed.
“As you can see, I ain’t used no lipstick…Miss Piggy!” She crossed her arms over her chest with a huff.
Brea sat very still. “That can’t be me.”
“Well, who in the hell do you think it is then?”
She shook her head as shock fell over her in waves.
“You is beauuutiful girlie!” Coco laughed.
“I am. I really am!” She tilted her head. “It’s awesome!”
Coco nodded with pride. “I’m the best this side of the Pecos.”
Brea was still amazed. “You must be!”
Coco turned her chair back around. “Now, I’m gonna add a color tint to your lips and if you don’t shush? I’m gonna make pork chops outta ya!”
Giggling, Brea tilted her face up “Do me, Miss Channel!”
“Well, it’s about time!” Coco chuckled and reached over to her bag which was laid out like a tool kit.
Brea snickered. Tools for beauty and they were magical too.
Coco grabbed her chin and layered her wand over Brea’s lips.
A pounding sounded on the door and Coco sneered. “There’s art going on in here!”
The door burst open and a small man stood there. “You had your hour, Miss Coco!”
The artist didn’t even look up. “That’s okay, this is just the finishin’ touch. So, keep your tiny britches on.”
The little man huffed and stalked into the room.
Pedro was right behind him, pushing a clothing rack.
Coco dropped her hands away and stepped back. “I did it again! She is lovely, yes?”
Pedro strolled over and his brows rose. “Sí! Just looking at her makes me hard all over.”
“Out! Out with you…you Latin hound!” yelled the little man.
Pedro ignored him and knelt down with a dramatic flair while taking Brea’s hand into his. “Mi Contessa, por amor.”
Brea felt her cheeks flame as she stared into his burning brown eyes.
Coco snickered. “He’s smitten for sure!”
“He needs to get his tight, troublemaking buns outta here!” shouted the little man.
Coco shook her head as she was packing up her magic bag. “You’s best scoot, chico.”
Pedro acted as though he never heard her. He kissed Brea’s knuckles with a fevered passion.
The little man released a heavy breath. “I would whip that tan ass of his, but I’m afraid he’d like it too much!” he tisked loudly.
Coco was still laughing as she snapped her case shut. “Yes, Mr. Morty, he would!” She looked over at Brea’s stunned expression. “I hope that when you do get to the circus? You find that lion tamer, your ma was tellin’ me about.” She gave her a wink and sauntered with a curvy stride to the door. “Pedro?” she called as she went through the doorway.
Pedro rose up slowly. “If your cowboy can’t see what a beauty he has? I’ll be waiting.” He bowed with a flourish and went to the doorway.
Brea had been holding her breath and now released it.
“Shut the door!” Mister Morty yelled at the tall Latin man.
Pedro gave her a flirtatious wink and did as he was told.
Brea swung her gaze over to the strange little man who’d been shouting orders since he came through the door.
“Now, stand up and let me get a look at ya,” he commanded.
She felt like a puppet as she stood immediately.
“Hmmm…” he muttered as he strolled a circle around her. “Yes…Contessa, indeed.” He walked over to the clothing rack on wheels, reaching into the many outfits like he was channeling them and brought one out with a dramatic flair. “And here it is!”
Brea’s eyes widened.
*~*~*~*
Kanda’s lids fluttered and she gazed up at Wade.
He sat next to her on the bed, grinning at her.
“Okay, so I faked it,” she admitted.
He shook his head with seeming humor.
“I’m sorry. I know what you said earlier about females playing games, and then what do I do?”
He threw his head back and laughed.
Startled, she sat up and stared at him.
Swiping a tear of laughter away, he gazed back at her. “I’m flattered.”
Kanda got defensive. “Well hell, you should be!”
His smile dropped away and he gave her a questioning look.
“I ain’t ever pulled a stunt like that before!”
Reaching out, he grabbed her arms.
Gasping, the rest of her defensive speech drifted away.
“You didn’t have to start now either,” he whispered. “Just tell me the truth. I prefer that, anytime.” He chuckled low. “Although, I was entertained for a few minutes there.”
Another first for her, a total loss of her footing. She’d never experienced any of this before in her life and she just didn’t know what to do or how to do it.
Wade pulled her close to where his lips were just touching hers.
She shook all over as she took a great big gulp of air.
“Tell me.” The words were nearly said right into her mouth.
“I—I…” she stuttered like a child.
He swiped her lip with his warm tongue. “I don’t bite.”
Flustered, she was getting angry at herself. His mouth being so close made hers water and other parts of her were watering badly. Another new experience. She was wet as hell! Look what a chicken shit you are! For all your life you’ve been braving things no woman ever dared and yet…? Look at you, shaking like a schoolgirl and feeling like a child. “I just wanted to stick around for a while longer.” Her voice was small and barely audible, though she’d meant it to be firm and strong.
“All you have to do is tell me whatever it is you want and I will do it.”
A lump formed in her throat.” What—what if…?” She tried again. “What if I don’t know?”
“I think you know, I think you know exactly.”
She didn’t know how to tell him; she’d never admitted it to anyone. “I really don’t know.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’ve never…”
Wade’s expression changed and he sat up straight. “What?”
She looked away. “I have been kissed, fondled and such, but I never…”
“You mean never—like…?” It seemed to be his turn at being at a loss for words.
Her heart pounded heavily in her chest and in her ears. “I’m a 27-year-old virgin.” The words said out loud seemed to be a weight lifting from her chest and she released a huge breath.
Wade bit at his lip. “I didn’t realize—I mean…” He scooted back and stood up.
Her heart seemed to sink in her chest at the stunned expression he wore. “So, now if I tell you exactly what I want?”
His piercing blue-eyed gaze bored into hers.
“Will you do it?”