Kansas Heat Read online

  Several cars roaring to life suddenly caught her attention. The flashing strobe of red and white lights lit up the night as tires skipped and squealed over the gravel lot. Sheriff Tony Black’s Bronco led the charge into the road, then, almost within an instant, silence and darkness reigned again.

  Must be one hell of a party going on somewhere.

  “Your lipstick is all messed up.”

  “What?” Amanda blinked, turning back toward Cody. He’d brought them to a halt just under the yellow glow of the old style lantern. Inches away, the metal door vibrated with the beat of the music blaring inside.

  “Your lipstick. It looks like you’ve been doing what you’ve been doing.”

  “Oh.” Amanda considered the problem for a second before deciding not to worry over it. Instead, she delighted in being intentionally difficult. “Well, fix it.”

  “Excuse me?” His look was priceless. Amanda figured it out. Cody Reese had a prudish, if not outright proper, side.

  Only one thing to do with uptight people, mess with them. “Fix it.”

  Cody glared down at her. “I don’t know anything about lipstick.”

  “Well, you’re the one who snatched me out of the booth without my purse. So, I can’t see it.”

  “I could take you to my truck. You can use the mirror in the visor.”

  “Why?” Amanda shrugged, seeing no reason for her to put out the effort. “You’re the one who messed it up, or do you expect a woman to clean up after you?”

  She didn’t know what made her be so mouthy, but she loved the way his ears went red and his features all tightened down with annoyance. Cody Reese was even sexier when he was angry.

  “Don’t even start with that,” he growled, trying to intimidate her by looming over her. “This isn’t about me being lazy and unwilling to clean up after myself. This is about lipstick. Lipstick is a woman’s thing, and you are the woman.”

  “I see. My lips, my face, my problem, right?”

  “I didn’t…what are you doing?”

  Cody stumbled backward, trying to escape as Amanda went to her tiptoes. Before he could duck away, she rubbed a hard kiss into his neck. Amanda leaned back and admired the red smear along his neck. It stood out like a beacon against his tanned skin.

  It took Cody a second to get over his outrage, but soon enough he belted out a roar. “What the hell did you do that for?”

  “Now it’s on your neck,” Amanda smiled, “and your problem.”

  His eyes narrowed dangerously and she felt a strange thrill tickle up her back. “I’m going to remember this.”

  “Plotting your revenge?”

  “No, sweetheart. No need to plot. I already know how to tame a wild filly.”

  Let Cody say whatever he wanted, not even the threat in his slow spreading, shit-eating grin could intimidate her. Whatever twisted thoughts went through his head, Amanda knew one thing. They were perverted to make him smile like that.

  Damn if she didn’t want to know what thoughts swirled through his mind. Then again, maybe she didn’t. There was something dark and predatory about his expression. Perhaps the best thing would be to turn and run. Let him stand at her doorstep tomorrow looking like a fool. Amanda would count herself lucky to have escaped this encounter with her dignity intact.

  It would serve him right if she stood him up, but Amanda was tired of playing it safe. She’d played it safe for the past five years, and she had nothing worth anything to show for it. Well, if Mr. Cody Reese thought he could get the best on her, she’d make sure she came out the winner in his little game.

  “Fine then. Let’s go.”

  Chapter 3

  “It’s warm.” Jace Reese scrunched his lips. He glared at the pitcher as if it had offended him.

  Cody shrugged. “I got distracted.”

  He was still distracted, unable to take his eyes off Amanda. He left her at her table with a chaste kiss on the hands. An elegant move intended only to solidify his standing with Amanda’s blonde friend. Cody knew women well enough to know the blonde was giving Amanda hell right now. He could see it clear across the bar in the animated motions of their hands and the dramatic expressions on the women’s faces. They were arguing.

  Give her hell, Blondie.

  “Distracted?” Jace snorted. “It looked more like a dismissal from over here.”

  Cody cut his eyes toward his older brother, giving Jace a dirty look. “Maybe you need glasses.”

  “Really?” Jace smirked. “Nice shade of lipstick.”

  “Oh, that.” Cody scrubbed his neck with his cuff while keeping his glare on Jace. “It’s not what you think, pervert.”

  “You know what I think?” Knox straightened up and let his pool stick slide down his hands to thump the wooden floor with its rubber end. “I think you dragged the girl out back and molested her. I think she let you. I think any woman who would let you get to any base behind a bar is not the woman we’re looking for. What you think, Cody?”

  Cody shifted under the weight of the question. Technically, Knox had it right. If he agreed, Cody could kiss his date with Amanda goodbye. He wouldn’t risk it, Amanda and a hot, mind-blowing orgasm. The combination of the two was all Cody cared about right then.

  Knox and Jace could just continue going down the list of well-reasoned, perfectly suitable candidates. They wouldn’t find a wife there. They certainly hadn’t found her yet. They were at the very bottom of their second list.

  “Cody?”

  “Huh?” Cody turned toward Knox. His older brother wore an impatient scowl Cody knew too well.

  “I asked if you think she is going to turn out to be a suitable candidate.”

  “Might.” Cody shrugged in non-commitment.

  His relaxed response just irritated Knox even more, and Knox started around the pool table. “What the hell kind of answer is that?”

  “I don’t know, okay? I got a date with her tomorrow. I’ll see how it goes.”

  “Hopefully, it goes well,” Jace whispered.

  He spoke to himself, but Cody caught the comment. It gave Cody enough pause to glance up at Jace, but his brother didn’t spare the time to notice. He was focused on something else. Fascinated more like, causing Cody’s curiosity to track the direction of Jace’s gaze right to Amanda.

  “Stop that.” Cody shoved Jace’s arm, jarring him enough to get his brother’s attention.

  “Watch it, little bit. I’m still big enough to show you which one of us is the older brother.”

  Jace didn’t scare Cody. He did have a whole inch on Cody and about twenty pounds. Actually, both his older brothers tipped the scales when it came to muscles. Jace might be a little thicker, a little taller than Cody’s own six-foot frame, but Cody could hold his own.

  It didn’t matter. Knox stepped in, using his sizable bulk to divide his brothers. “Both of you stop it. Ain’t no need to be fighting over a woman, and if there is, then she ain’t the woman for us.”

  Cody rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

  “It isn’t whatever, Cody,” Knox snapped. “This is serious business here, and quite frankly I’m concerned. We don’t need the attention a woman like Amanda would draw in our direction.”

  God, Knox could be unbearable with his superior attitude and condescending ways. Before Cody could cut Knox down like the old man he was, Jace beat him to the punch.

  “And just what kind of woman is Amanda?” Turning fully into their older brother, Jace’s arms crossed over his chest and he held himself like a man insulted.

  Not one to back away from a fight, Knox met Jace chin to nose. “Amanda has already shown a temperamental nature given to causing public disturbances.”

  “Can’t you speak like a normal person?” Jace snapped. “If you want to call her a bitch, just say it.”

  Knox arched his brow. “Is that your assessment?”

  “Don’t try to twist my words.”

  “You’re the one who said it.”

  “I didn’t call
her a bitch.”

  “Well, then,” Knox leaned in to ask, “what is she?”

  Cody answered Knox’s loaded question before Jace could. “Sassy.”

  His instinctive response drew both his brothers’ gazes Cody’s way. Knox snickered. “Sassy is what you call a woman who pitches a fit and tells you she wants to play the whore in the middle of a packed dance floor?”

  Cody cringed. He should have known the details of Amanda’s loud tirade had made it back to his brother’s not-so-innocent ears. He couldn’t deny it, so Cody had no choice but to defend Amanda.

  “There isn’t nothing wrong with a woman who just likes to get to the fucking.”

  “That’s nice.” Knox snorted and shook his head with total disgust. “Tell me, Cody, you want to marry a whore?”

  “Well, I guess it depends on the negotiations. Given what we’re looking for, it might make for an honest trade,” Cody smarted back.

  Under normal circumstances those words would be worth a fight, but Knox always controlled himself in public because appearances were so important to him.

  “We’ll talk about this at home.” Translated, it meant they’d throw down. Cody could accept the fight coming. A night with Amanda was worth it. Besides, it probably would leave him just as bruised.

  Then again, Cody might not get his fight. Jace stepped in front of Knox, blocking their older brother’s way to lay down his own threat. “We’ll be talking about you calling Amanda a whore then, too.”

  Jace’s glare promised more violence than Knox’s had. Cody didn’t consider himself to be particularly intuitive, but he could see the obvious. Knox apparently couldn’t, which just went to show who the real dumbass in the family was.

  “This beer is warm.”

  Cody took the hint, wanting Jace to save all his energy for Knox. “Fine, I’ll go get another round.”

  Cody took off, needing the break from his brothers. They drove him insane sometimes. This whole thing had them all on edge, and for what? They’d never find a woman like Sharon, so what did it really matter?

  Sharon. For a while there, he’d forgotten about her. For a while, the ache had disappeared and Cody hadn’t noticed. Now he felt like crap for it. How could I forget the woman I love?

  The love he’d killed. When she had died, a piece of Cody’s soul had been cut clean from him. He’d sworn on her grave he would never forget, never let go, not until he’d passed and they were reunited in Heaven.

  Such a noble stance, but the grim truth was a body had needs and a life to live. That didn’t erase his guilt, only added to it. Worse, he had his brothers to consider. If it had just been Cody, he might have retreated, sure in the knowledge his pain would never be punishment enough for what he’d done to the woman he’d loved.

  His brothers, though, had a right to happiness. They wouldn’t find their peace unless Cody at least pretended to find his. It had been an easy charade so far. Cody accepted he couldn’t be physically loyal to Sharon, but he could be emotionally.

  The only solace Cody had for his guilty conscience was this thing with Amanda would be going nowhere. Knox had it right. Amanda wasn’t the type of woman they were looking for. She’d made the list, and only the bottom of it because Jace had insisted on adding her. All Knox or Cody had known about her was a short brunette who worked for the city and could stand to lose a few pounds.

  Apparently Jace had known more—like how soft she’d be. So soft. Amanda might be a little thicker than the women at the top of their list, but damn she felt better than any of them had. The way she rubbed into him, all soft and sexy, just the memory had him going hard. He wanted to feel her do that skin to skin.

  I will feel it once I have her down on her knees begging for me. His victory and his reward would be the hot, tight heaven buried between her legs. He would lie to God if that’s what it took to get a chance to seduce Amanda Johnson. He certainly didn’t intend to let his brothers get in the way of his fun.

  Hell, he might even brainwash one or two of them into joining him. The first thing he intended to do once he had Amanda completely under his control was share her with one or more of his brothers.

  * * * *

  Knox flinched from the warm, bitter taste of his beer and smacked his glass back onto the table. Fricken Cody. His dumbass of a brother did more than screw up getting the beer. Cody had screwed up this whole damn evening. Him and that girl.

  Knox’s eyes found Amanda. It didn’t take any looking. He’d been tracking the little brunette’s movements since Cody escorted her onto the dance floor. Knox didn’t care what Cody said. The dance had been a disaster.

  Cody might wish it otherwise, but Knox already got an earful of the dirty details of Amanda’s tantrum. Too many people had already stopped by to add to the pile of gossip. Not that Knox cared much about what anybody thought. Hell, he’d have shrugged off the entire incident if Cody didn’t seem so intent on the girl.

  Cody might turn out to be the least of his problems. Knox cut a glare at Jace, but his brother had gone back to staring at Amanda. It worried Knox, this fascination Jace had with her. He’d held his tongue when Jace insisted on putting her on the list.

  Knox had buried her name at the bottom, hoping some woman would distract Jace before they got to Amanda. It hadn’t happened. Worse, now something appeared to be going on between Cody and Amanda.

  Knox certainly couldn’t understand how one disastrous dance could lead to anything, but it obviously had. Cody was leading with his dick or his heart again, hopefully not both. The last time he went with both, we ended up with Sharon.

  Sharon hadn’t been so bad. In most ways, she’d been ideal and actually the standard which Knox used to define the list of attributes they needed in a wife. They needed a woman who remained calm, cool, collected. One who knew proper etiquette and had manners. After all, she would be raising their children, and Knox certainly didn’t want to end up with daughters who cursed or dressed like they were streetwalkers.

  No. Their mother would set the example of what it meant to be a proper, disciplined young lady. She couldn’t do it if she was too busy at the bar throwing tantrums and making out with men she’d just met. No, sir.

  Knox’s eyes narrowed on Amanda. Not appropriate at all.

  Chapter 4

  Saturday, June 21st

  “So, you forgive me?” Will McKinney twirled the phone cord around his finger and relaxed against his couch. On the other end, Amanda sighed and, he imagined, rolled her eyes.

  “There isn’t anything to forgive. Who you screw is your bad decision to make.”

  Will smiled at that insult. He screwed whoever paid him, but he couldn’t very well tell Amanda any of those details. She might have been his only friend, but some things were always better left private. “Older women have more experiences, more tricks in their bags.”

  “That’s sick,” Amanda shot back immediately. “You’ll do me one favor. If you insist on putting the zippy in the mayor’s wife’s do-da, don’t share the details.”

  “I’m just saying, you could learn—”

  “Enough, Will.”

  She made him laugh with her serious tone. His little puppy had teeth like a tiger, and he couldn’t help but to tease her into growling. Right now, though, she couldn’t possibly be in as a good mood as him. He firmed his lips and made a serious face in some attempt to be respectful.

  “So you going to tell me what happened with Nick?”

  “No.”

  “Come on, Amanda.”

  “No.”

  Will sighed and stretched, reaching for the beer on the coffee table. He knew this game too. Punishment with silence, she’d dig her heels in more if he pressed. He could always annoy her into talking.

  “So, I guess I’ll figure it out on my own. Let’s see, you two broke up. That’s obvious.”

  There came that annoyed sigh again. “I don’t have time for this, Will. I got to get ready for my date.”

  “Date?” Will perked
up at her comment. “With who? Certainly not Nick.”

  “No.” There was a strange hesitation in her tone. “I’m going to the rodeo with Cody, Cody Reese.”

  Will about choked on his beer. “You’re shitting me.”

  “Ah crap.” Her voice faded slightly, as if she’d moved the phone away from her mouth.

  “What?” Will perked up.

  “Cindy is coming up the path with Rosy and Kathy in tow.”

  “You really do have a date then.” Will couldn’t wrap his head around it. Cody was a big fish for his little Amanda to catch. Rich, handsome, the man had it all, which made Amanda’s dour tone all the more humorous.

  “Yeah and I got to get.”

  Will had to hear how this story ended. “Lunch, Monday.”

  “You’re paying.”

  She hung up, leaving Will shaking his head as he lowered the receiver back into its cradle. Classic Amanda, grumpy in the face of good news.

  Even she had to admit Cody Reese was a step up from the slimy dentist. Will would place some money Amanda had either discovered Nick with another woman or some sick sexual addiction. Nick just had the feel of a creep about him. Will knew all the signs thanks to his professional experience.

  Despite his profession, Will considered himself to be quite normal sexually. He enjoyed it, but he wasn’t addicted. No, he had other addictions. Other problems, too.

  Thumping a cigarette out of its pack, Will lit it as he dropped his feet from the edge of the coffee table. As his boots fell they revealed the money, stacks and stacks of worn, soft bills all neatly laid out. That was his current problem. Where it all came from Will wasn’t completely sure, but he had a bad feeling in his gut. Who wouldn’t?

  Waking up with a shot gun by his side, a canvas bag full of pills and duffle bag full of money tended to spook a man. Bits and fragments of the previous night lay scattered through his mind like so many puzzle pieces on a table. He just couldn’t figure out what the picture was to put them all together.