Marlenes Man

Praise for the writing of Beth Williamson

The Perfect Score 1: One Night Stand

Ms. Williamson really captured my attention and held on tight with this awesome tale of love and cultural differences. Anyone who enjoys a good contemporary story should run out and buy this book as soon as possible. -- Susan White, Coffee Time Romance The pacing kept my attention and the characters were all very engaging. The Perfect Score: One Night Stand was an unexpected romantic delight that I will read again! I highly recommend it. -- Patrice Storie, Just Erotic Romance Reviews Beth Williamson has created a story readers will want to read many times over. One Night Stand contains realistic characters, squabbling teammates, a huge bowling tournament, and one sexy as sin determined man… The friendship and understanding between Babs, Veronica, and Marlene is a key factor in this story and I can't wait to see what happens with Veronica and Marlene . -- Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies Once again Ms. Williamson shows her talent as a writer that I can depend on to give me an entertaining read. I can’t wait for the next installment of this series! -- Talia Ricci, Joyfully Reviewed

The Perfect Score 1: One Night Stand is now available from Loose Id.

THE PERFECT SCORE 3: MARLENE’S MAN

Beth Williamson

www.loose-id.com

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

***** This book contains explicit sexual content and graphic language.

The Perfect Score 3: Marlene’s Man Beth Williamson This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Loose Id LLC 1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-2924 Carson City NV 89701-1215 www.loose-id.com

Copyright © September 2006 by Beth Williamson All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 978-1-59632-292-9 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Lorri-Lynne Brown Cover Artist: Scott Carpenter

www.loose-id.com

Chapter One

Marlene stood on the approach with her Scorpion bowling ball resting in the palm of her right hand, fingers snugly in the holes. Her left hand hovered next to the ball, not quite touching. She could feel the weight of it, knew it as well as her own skin. She took a breath, then puffed it out over the ball. The smell of mint gum tickled her nose. She looked down and moved half a board over, then put her feet together. Her left heel came up as she readied herself to bowl. Her eyes stared hard at the third arrow from the right. That mark was a slippery sucker if she didn’t concentrate. It was time. Marlene made her approach as she had thousands of times before. Her arm swung back, then forward and she let the ball go in a perfect motion. It rolled down the lane, crossing the third arrow from the right, and curved gracefully to slam into the pocket. The pins scattered in a perfect sweep.

Strike. She rose from her crouch and thrust her fist in the air with a “Yes!” “You sure can bowl for a girl, Big Mac.”

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Marlene closed her eyes and cursed quietly. Terry Adams, one of the few boys in high school she had allowed herself to have sex with. A mistake that had followed her for the last ten years. He was great looking at eighteen; at twenty-eight, he was growing bald and he had a slight paunch. He still was an asshole. That hadn’t changed. Big Mac was a nickname that haunted Marlene McComb from the time some fool hung it on her in elementary school. She was big, had always been big, and would always be big. She hovered at a size eighteen, but had been higher. She did her damndest to stay at an eighteen and it wasn’t easy, even if she was tall enough at five foot eleven to carry more weight. Marlene hated the name Big Mac so much that she had never even eaten at McDonald’s. In fact, every time she drove past it, she flipped off the golden arches. To still hear that nickname twenty years later was like someone sticking bamboo shoots under her fingernails. “Go bother someone else.” Terry leaned against the seat by the score computer, smirk in place. His blond hair was still long and wavy, even if it was thinning on top. His blue eyes were half-hooded and his arms crossed. “Do you really think you’re going to get that three hundred game at the tournament?” Marlene’s dream was to bowl a perfect game. A three hundred, twelve strikes in a row. She’d made ten in one game, but never that magic twelve in a row. The Perfect Score bowling tournament was starting in two days at the Starlite Lanes in the tiny Texas town of Espejo. A gold star on a denim purse, but the owner Jesse did his damnedest to gussie the place up. Replaced lots of equipment, hired a company to put a spit and shine on the place like a Sunday dress on a sow, even bought glass ashtrays to replace the aluminum ones. Marlene was proud of what he had done and determined to make her dream come true.

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Terry, unfortunately, had bowled a three hundred game twice, a fact he never let her forget. He might be a dickhead, but he could bowl. “You never know what might happen.” “Yes, I do. You won’t hit three hundred.” He was such an ass. “Why don’t you go find a pair of boobs to ogle so I can practice?” Without turning around, Marlene knew Terry had left. She’d dealt with shit from people like him for so long; it was second nature to simply throw back what she received, in double force. It was really the only thing that kept her from crying as a kid. Now it was habit. She was surprised he hadn’t said anything about her haircut. She’d hacked off six inches a few days ago, and it still felt weird to just be at her shoulders. Marlene wanted to feel special, like there was something unique about her. Being the first woman to bowl a three hundred game at the Perfect Score Tournament was it. Her fifteen minutes of fame. She had three days until the tournament started, and she meant to get in as much practice as possible before it started. The ladies’ singles were her first event, followed by the team competition with her best friends Veronica and Babs, then mixed doubles with a blind partner. She hadn’t intended on bowling the doubles, but since she convinced Veronica to bowl the ladies’ doubles, she had to save face by saying she was going to bowl with a stranger too. That part worried her. A stranger. Someone who didn’t know her or anything about her. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? In Espejo, everyone knew everything about you, but there was also a feeling of community, of being able to say howdy to someone you knew in the store every time you walked in the door. Marlene readied herself for another frame by drying her hand over the air, then wiping her ball down meticulously with her towel. She wasn’t using her wrist brace, to see how well she could bowl without it. That had been the first strike she’d thrown in six frames. Not the

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norm for Marlene, and certainly not good. She might have to put the damn wrist brace on in another minute. As she stood and focused on her mark, she heard someone clear his throat behind her. “Ah, you’re missing a pin there, sweet cheeks.” Marlene saw red. Terry just couldn’t let up, could he? “Listen, asshole ...” she began as she turned around to tell him to stick it up his ass. The words froze in her throat. Standing at the end of the lane was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen in her life. He was big, no check that, he was huge. At least six and a half feet tall, with curly light brown hair, and a well used cowboy hat on his head. His shoulders seemed to fill her vision as they stretched out a black cotton t-shirt until the seams looked like they’d bust. His jeans were sinfully tight across a nicely bulging package. Holy ever-loving Christ. His eyebrows rose as his gaze traveled up and down her body. She broke out in goosebumps when he lingered on her overly large boobs. Her pussy felt plump and warm in her jeans, and hot damn, she was getting damp panties just looking at him. “I’m sorry; I thought you were someone else.” Marlene knew that sounded lame since she’d just called him an asshole, but it was the best her paralyzed tongue could come up with. “Gotcha. Somebody been bugging you?” He stepped down into the seating area, and Marlene felt her nipples twitch. “Just ... an old friend, I guess you could call him. He was just trying to get my goat, ya know. Um, is there something I can help you with? I mean, do you need help?” Oh, hell, she should just leave the building and stop making a fool of herself. He smiled and those pearly whites just about blinded her. Who the hell was he? “You can help me if you’re Marlene McComb.” “Me? You’re looking for me?”

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Not. Possible. Just not possible. Why would this Greek god be looking for her? He needed someone to polish his scepter? “If you’re Marlene, then I’m your partner for the tournament. Name’s Buck Miller.” Marlene wasn’t a religious woman, but when he announced that he was her partner, she could swear she heard angels singing up on high. He was her partner. Her partner. Well, halle-fucking-lujah! “Oh, right. In the mixed doubles. Yep, I’m Marlene. Nice to meet you.” She wanted to snort at her own inane comments. Nice to meet him. All she could think about was his name. Buck. Nice that it rhymed with fuck, because that’s all she could think about. He was big enough to ride. Big enough for her. As Marlene stepped forward to shake his hand, the air around her seemed to crackle. When their hands met, the jolt that went through her had nothing to do with static electricity and everything to do with pure chemistry. Buck’s smile got wider. He felt it too. “Would you like to practice with me?”

Would you like to jump in the sack with me? Marlene couldn’t contain her wayward thoughts. He was just so damn ... hot and sexy. She was totally in lust. It wasn’t the first time, but it was the most powerful. Holy cow. She could hardly form a coherent thought in the glare of those pearly whites. “Sure thing. Let me go get my stuff outta my truck.” He turned to walk out and Marlene’s knees went weak. That ass. His ass was absolutely perfect. Round, tight, and the perfect size to caress and squeeze. And bite. She sat down heavily in the scoring chair and tried to calm her racing heart before Buck came back. She didn’t want to look like an idiot, and no doubt, her pale complexion was as red as a tomato right about then. “Marlene, you okay?”

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Marlene turned and looked at her friend Jesse, the owner of the Starlite Lanes. He was a fifty-something bachelor with steel gray hair, a sweet disposition, and the largest collection of Hawaiian shirts in the state of Texas. “Yeah, I’m fine.” “You look like you’re about to pass out, honey. Do you need something from the snack bar?” He looked so concerned, she felt guilty. After all, she was flushed because she was horny, which he would never suspect, of course. “Maybe an ice water, Jesse. That’d be peachy.” He nodded and went off to the snack bar to get her the water. Marlene smacked her forehead with one hand and tried to think of icky things to calm herself down. Math class, old ladies with saggy boobs, toe cheese, rat droppings. “Lee?” Marlene’s head snapped up at Buck’s voice. “Huh?” “I’m sorry. I’m one of those fellas who likes to shorten names. If it’s okay, I thought I’d call you Lee instead of Marlene.” Oh hell. He did it again. She could feel the heat creeping back into her cheeks. No one had ever given her a nickname that didn’t suck. Until now. “That’s sweet of you. Sure, you can call me Lee.” “Perfect. Can I warm up before we bowl?” Marlene simply stared at him as he set his bowling bag down and leaned over to unzip it. That ass was going to send her into a coma if she kept looking at it. Warm up? Hell, if she got any warmer, she’d catch on fire. “Sure. Let me reset the scores and we can bowl on both lanes,” she managed to squeeze out.

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While she busied herself trying to remember what buttons to push to clear the scores, Buck took out his bowling balls and shoes. She peeked at his feet. He had biiiiig feet, really big feet. Didn’t that mean he had big ... other body parts? Just the thought sent shivers down her spine.

Buck hid a grin. Lee was staring at his ass. He could feel her eyes on him. Her incredible green eyes. She was a surprise, a big one. He had expected an older woman, not a young hottie with gorgeous tits and a beautiful smile. She was probably in her late twenties and no wedding ring. He was happy to see that. He had driven down from Wichita Falls the day before. It was a long drive, but he liked to play country music really loud and sing while he drove, so it hadn’t seemed tedious. Who cared if he sang like a busted bell? No one was there to hear him. There was never anyone. Oh, he had dates, but nothing long-term. He’d never found anyone he wanted to be have a permanent relationship with. He was a carpenter, and most hot women didn’t like a man with rough hands and the sweet scent of hard-earned sweat. Buck was a working man and wouldn’t settle for a woman who wanted to ride his back all the time. He wanted a woman as tough as he was, who liked the same things he did, and didn’t look down on him because of who and what he was. He’d been bowling as long as he could remember. Every year, he drove to The Perfect Score Tournament. Probably because it was the only Texas tournament and he was a proud born-and-bred Texan. He never won much of anything, and he hoped to one day actually bowl a three hundred game and snag that ten thousand dollar prize. His average hovered at around two hundred ten, but he’d bowled a three hundred. He just had to do it in the tournament and get that chunk of change so he could finish his house.

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It sat half-built with a huge blue tarp over the roof. As he got money, he added more onto it. Maybe by the time he was fifty, in twenty years, he would finish it, he thought sourly. That ten grand would be a sweet pot to bring home. Speaking of sweet pots, Lee was bending over the ball return and the view of her ass was sweet indeed. It looked pretty damn good in those jeans. An ass you could hang on to -not one that would break if you pulled too hard. Just the thought of having his hands wrapped around those hips made his cock twitch. He knew she was attracted to him. The second they made eye contact, her nipples waved hello. “Where are you from, Lee?” “What? Oh, right here in Espejo.” She waved one hand by her flushed cheeks and perched the other on one of those hips. “Local, eh? Y’all have anything fun to do on Friday night?” “There’s a few bars hereabouts. One karaoke. You interested in that?” She held her right hand over the forced air on the ball return, apparently trying to dry it out. He felt a little hot himself. “I can’t sing worth a damn, but that sounds like fun. Care to join me?” She froze like a deer in headlights. Her mouth opened slightly, and Buck noticed her lips were a nice deep shade of pink. He thought about nibbling on them and how sweet she’d probably taste. “You’re asking me?” “Yep, you.” He smiled at her flustered expression. “Oh, well, okay. Sure. Maybe we could get a bite to eat first after we practice?” Buck couldn’t be more pleased. Lee was a nice-looking woman. They’d rub along well together.

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Chapter Two

Marlene couldn’t believe it. Here she was having a burger and fries with the unbelievable Buck Miller, staring at him like an oversexed teenager no doubt. She couldn’t help it. He was not only good looking, he was funny and charming too. It was the first time she’d ever felt really comfortable with a man. Either her size intimidated most men, or they treated her as if she was beneath them. She hoped like hell that Buck wasn’t scamming her. She had no defense against that. “Have you ever bowled in this tournament before?” Buck sat back against the wall with his long legs stretched out on the bench. He was drinking a sweet tea and nibbling on the last of his French fries. “No, it’s never been close enough for me to come. I’ve always wanted to though.” He dipped a french fry in ketchup and swirled it around as he cocked his head at her. “Why did you always want to?” Marlene’s hunger welled inside her. She wanted that three hundred game so badly she could taste it. Literally. Her mouth watered with it. “The perfect score.”

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“The three hundred game? You shooting to win the prize?” His blue eyes sparkled with interest. “That’s the plan. Whether or not I hit it is another thing.” She took a long gulp of her diet soda to clear away the taste of the dream in her mouth. He nodded. “I think that’s a draw for a lot of folks. Me included. I was hoping to snatch that ten thousand myself.” Marlene’s stomach clenched. She’d seen him bowl for the last two hours and he was good. No, he was great. The first bowler to hit the three hundred game gets the prize. No doubt, Buck would be serious competition. “Good luck to you then. You’re really good, so I expect you might get it.” Buck grinned. “Your mama gave you some right nice manners, Lee. I know you want it, probably more than me. It isn’t just money for you, is it?” Heat rushed into her cheeks again. “No. I just ... want that perfect score. Those twelve strikes, whether pretty or ugly. I want to knock all ten pins down at once over and over again. I want to --” “Want to what?” Marlene had stopped herself from saying more. She sounded like a schoolgirl as it was. She didn’t want to sound like an idiot, too. “I guess I want that money, too. Espejo is a small town. Ten thousand would buy me a ticket to Dallas or Austin nicely. I could settle in a big city where nobody knows me.” Just the thought of never being called Big Mac again was fuel for the fire. She imagined living in a place where no one knew her. No one knew all the mistakes and goof-ups she’d made in her life. No one would judge her based on what she’d done in the eighth grade. It sounded like heaven. “I can understand that. I’m from a small town myself. The collar can ride a little tight.”

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She saw understanding in his expression, and her heart melted a bit. He did understand it. God knows what he needed to run from, but she had a hell of a lot herself. Perhaps he had problems as a teenager that haunted him, or maybe his family had a reputation that he couldn’t shake. She sure as hell wanted to ask, but bit her tongue and kept silent. No use spoiling their first “date” with nosy, personal questions that might offend him. After all, Marlene’s plan was to end up in bed with him as soon as possible. “That it does. So are you really up for karaoke tonight?” Marlene had never actually had the balls to get up on stage herself. Buck shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”

***** Buck wasn’t sure what he’d expected, since he’d never been in a karaoke joint before. It looked like a bar with a stage. He breathed an inner sigh of relief. He had hoped it wasn’t too elaborate, and it wasn’t. Espejo was a small town, after all. It was Friday night, so there was quite a crowd already. A young fella sat behind the sound equipment apparently tweaking the lighting and music as the folks went up to sing. Some blonde who thought she was Faith Hill was mangling one of the beauty’s songs. She was jiggling her tits pretty good, so at least it was a decent show. Marlene walked beside him and rolled her eyes. “Melissa. She thinks she’s a country singer. Even wanted to try out for that talent show on TV. Mostly she just plays tennis and judges other people.” A chuckle burst from his chest. Yep, that Melissa sure did look like the type. “Let’s get a drink and sit down for a while. You know, to, ah ... watch.” Marlene made a beeline for the bar and he followed, watching that ass sway. After they got a couple of beers, Marlene stopped at a table in a corner. When she sat down, she grinned at him a little sheepishly.

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“I need to ease into this. My steering wheel and my shower curtain have been my audience until now.” Her pink lips wrapped around that long neck and took a tug of beer. Buck almost swallowed his tongue. Just the thought of those lips wound around him made him half erect. She stuck her tongue in the bottle, and his half-erection got bigger and his jeans got very snug. “So, uh, you’ve never done this?” “Believe it or not.” She picked at the label on the beer. “I’m not usually shy.” Buck grinned. “I noticed.” She grinned back. “What are you going to sing?” Her eyes widened. “Me? You think I’m going to sing?” “Why not?” “Well, I ... I don’t know why not. Okay, Buck, get ready.” She took a deep breath and a long swig of beer, and marched toward the karaoke dj. She conferred with him briefly, and Buck saw her laugh. His gut clenched at her smile from across the bar. Marlene was a sexy woman. After the blonde Faith wannabe finished and stepped down from the stage, she must have said something to Marlene because her smile faded. Buck stood up immediately and walked toward her, a strange urge to protect thrumming through him. He caught the tail end of blondie’s comments. “Really, Big Mac, what will people think?”

Big Mac? Marlene’s jaw clenched and her hands fisted. “I don’t care what people think.” “That’s obvious.”

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“What’s going on here, ladies?” Buck walked up to them with his hands on his hips. “Miss Marlene was ’bout to sing for me, ma’am. Did you have something you needed first?” Melissa looked way, way up into Buck’s face and swallowed. “Why, no, I didn’t. Good luck, bi-- Marlene.” She flounced away and Buck smiled at Marlene. “Are you ready, darlin’?” She took a deep breath and nodded. “As I’ll ever be, I guess.” Buck leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be cheering for you from the front row.” He could swear she blushed as she turned away and walked toward the stage. She positioned herself in front of the microphone, looked down at her feet for a moment, then signaled the karaoke dj. Soon the music for the Dixie Chicks’ song Take me Away came pumping through the speakers. Marlene missed the first line, but then she started singing softly. She got louder as the song went on. That’s when Buck realized she had a nice voice. No, she had a great voice. She sang to her cowboy to take her away, to fly high into the blue, and set her free with a husky tone that sent shivers up and down his spine. She put her whole heart into it, of that he was certain. Her facial expressions matched the lyrics of the song. Marlene wanted someone to rescue her, to take her away into the wild blue. He felt it in her voice. When she finished and the last notes faded away, the bar was silent. Marlene opened her eyes and found everyone staring at her. Panic flashed through her eyes, then her gaze landed on him. He stood up and started clapping and whistling as loud as he could; soon there wasn’t a person in the room who wasn’t clapping and cheering for her. Buck stepped up to the stage and held out his hand. She put her clammy hand into his and stepped down. She looked around with something like amazement and did a curtsey. Folks just clapped louder. “You sing like an angel.” She shook her head and looked dubious. “I can carry a tune.”

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“Uh-uh. You can sing, girl. Kick-ass singing.” She didn’t believe him, but that was okay. He knew it was true and he’d get her to believe it before the week was out. “Are you going to sing?” The question hit Buck square in the chest. “Me?” “You said you’d try it.” Oh hell, he did say something like that. He was never one to go back on his word. “Okay, sure, I’ll give it a whirl.” He walked her to the front table and sat her down. After ordering her a fresh beer, he went to talk to the karaoke dj. He picked a song that was fresh in his head.

Marlene was shaking in her boots. She’d never, ever done anything like sing in front of a crowd before and certainly never had a room full of people cheering for her. Buck sounded like he meant it when he told her she could sing. She didn’t think she sang that well, but the feeling of being up there was amazing. She wanted to cry. Instead, she focused on the long, tall cowboy about to sing to her up on the stage. When he started singing, she recognized the song as Dierks Bentley’s song Come a Little

Closer. His voice was a bit raspy, kind of like Gary Allan. He would probably never get a recording contract, but damn that man was sexy up there singing. He nearly caressed the microphone as he looked her in the eyes and sang. Marlene grew wetter as he sang about laying her down. Holy cow. Her nipples popped and her arousal came back tenfold. She feasted on the sight of him, crooning to her as the other women in the room gazed at him.

Mine.

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She barely knew him, but she wanted to snarl and bark at them like a bitch in heat. He was hers. Damn straight. No way she was letting that delicious hunk of man out of her clutches tonight. Oh, yeah, he was going to lay her down all right. Her body hummed with excitement. She couldn’t wait to get him alone and sample the buffet of treats. Marlene nearly lost herself in his blue eyes as he sang. She didn’t hear anyone else or even the music. She focused on his lips, his eyes, and the words he sang to her. It was almost magical. The primal urge to grab him and hold on to him tight overwhelmed her. She wasn’t used to the intensity of the reaction she had to Buck. It was as if she had lost control of her own body. When he finished, a round of feminine applause greeted him. He tipped his hat and stepped down from the stage, making a beeline for her. A strange sense of pride whipped through her when he reached the table and sat down. “That was great!” “Nah, but it was fun. I’m not much of a singer, but I can at least carry a tune.” “I enjoyed it. Immensely.” Not to mention her panties were about sticking to her. She was surprised he didn’t smell her arousal ... or perhaps he did. “It was really hot.” Marlene pulled the collar of her t-shirt forward and blew down into her blouse. “Really hot.” Buck’s pupils dilated as his gaze dropped to her breasts. The ripe nipples stared him in the face beneath the blue cotton. “Are you ready to leave?” she asked as she let the t-shirt loose. He almost knocked the table down when he stood. Marlene was pleased to see the bulge in his jeans was just a bit tighter. Her palms itched to unwrap that particular package. “Yes, ma’am. I believe I am ready.” His deep voice reverberated through her like ripples in a pond.

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Ready. Absolutely.

***** Buck was about to get lightheaded from his jeans cutting off the circulation to his dick. Holy hell. Marlene was sending him enough smoke signals to light his ass on fire. As they walked toward his truck in the parking lot, she reached over and palmed him. He almost fell over in surprise. “Sorry, I just couldn’t wait any longer. I’m like a kid on Christmas with a shiny gift.” “It ain’t shiny yet, but keep that up and it won’t be long.” His voice wavered and he swallowed a groan that threatened to burst from his throat. He didn’t need Marlene knowing how deeply she affected him. Yet. She laughed and hooked her arm through his. Her ample breasts pushed against his arm, and he had all he could do not to reach up and grab on to one. It seemed that his truck was a hundred miles away. It took forever to get there. By the time he unlocked the door and opened it, he couldn’t wait any longer. He grabbed her by the shoulders and tucked her into the V made by the door and the truck, wrapped his arms around her and planted his lips on hers. Marlene immediately turned molten. She was so incredibly hot. Her mouth moved under his as their tongues danced and dueled. The hard points of her nipples rubbed against his chest as his dick slowly, deliciously made contact with her. She moaned deep in her throat, and he echoed her. Sweet Jesus, he never thought kissing would bring him to the brink of coming in his pants. He broke the kiss and leaned against the door, panting slightly. She took short quick breaths and gripped the seat beside her. “Holy shit.” The arousal was plain in her husky tone.

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“You can say that again.” “Holy shit.” Buck laughed and pulled her to him. His body screamed at him to stop torturing it. “Hell, girl, I didn’t expect that.” “I expected it, but not so much of it.” Her fingers clutched the back of his shirt. He could feel her trembling slightly. “Let’s get you in the truck.” After he helped her climb in, he walked around slowly to the driver’s side, trying to control his breathing, tell his dick to settle down, and make his heart stop pounding so damn hard. It didn’t work. He opened the driver’s door and climbed in. When he looked at her, he sucked in a breath at the naked arousal in her beautiful green eyes. “Your place or mine?” “Marlene, I don’t ... want to ruin this by moving too fast.” It was as if a stiff wind had gusted through the cab. The light went out of her eyes in a blink. “Oh, this is where you tell me you want to be my friend, right? Excuse me while I grab a taxi.” He grabbed her arm before she could open the door. “No, that’s not what I said. I like you Marlene. A lot. More than I thought possible for someone I’ve known for six hours. I don’t know what that means, but a quick fuck could ruin any chance of finding out.” “Who said it would be quick?” A chuckle burst from his chest. “Okay, maybe not quick, but definitely a fuck. I want to take our time with this. Test the waters before we dive on in. Do you think I’m a lunatic?” She was quiet for a moment before she sighed deeply and glanced out the window. “No, I don’t think you’re a lunatic. I think you’re a gentleman. I can respect that -- don’t have to like it, but I can respect it.”

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He reached out and took her hand. “That doesn’t meant we can’t get to know each other better.” “So you want to talk about our childhoods?” Buck laughed. “No. That’s not exactly what I was talking about.” He slid closer to her and nuzzled her neck. “I thought maybe we could get friendly without getting horizontal.” He could smell her arousal. He breathed deeply, inhaling the musky scent, letting the taste of it coat his tongue. His pants were excessively tight and getting tighter by the minute. When her hands settled on his button fly, he nearly groaned in relief. “I can play then?” “Oh, baby, you can play all you want.” Her nimble fingers had those buttons undone in a flash. When he sprang free, she made a coo of approval and her long fingers stroked him up and down. It felt so good. She grinned at him in the shadows of the truck and leaned forward to give him the deepest French kiss of his life. Slowly, sensually her mouth melded with his while her hands continued to stroke and caress him. His balls tightened as her other hand started lightly playing with the head. He was nearly mindless when she broke the kiss. She licked his lips, then grinned again. She headed for his lap and he closed his eyes. She started with little cat licks all over him. He almost melted into the seat. When her sweet lips closed over him and sucked, he thought he might come immediately. Through sheer willpower, he held it back and tried to float on a sea of pleasure. Marlene knew how to give head, that was for sure. She licked, nibbled, sucked, and deep throated him in a symphony of wetness. It was too dark to actually see her, but he imagined her behind his eyelids. Those dark pink lips and those white teeth. “Jesus, you’re gonna make me come, Lee. You can stop now.”

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Buck heard her chuckle, and she reached in to fondle his balls. That did it. He came like a goddamn freight train, bucking against her, trying not to hurt her while his entire body convulsed with ecstasy. Over and over, the waves broke until they ebbed slowly away. She licked him clean, then with one final swipe of her tongue, tucked his dick back into his drawers. “Holy shit.” She chuckled. “Thank you.” “I mean, damn, Lee, I didn’t mean it like that. I mean ... that was incredible.” He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the mouth. “But you didn’t get your share.” “I was hoping you’d say that.” Buck’s teeth were still tingling, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to walk straight, but Marlene deserved to go home with the same pleasure he’d just had. “Let me start with these beautiful babies.” He cupped her breasts, surprised to find the nipples still hard. Pulling up her t-shirt, he heard a quick snap and her bra was loose. “Thanks, darlin’. I never can get those dang things undone gracefully.” When she pulled up the cups of her bra, her alabaster skin glowed in the moonlight. The proudly erect nipples begged for his mouth. He rolled one between his fingers while his mouth landed on the other. She moaned and leaned back. Buck feasted like a starving man at an all you can eat buffet. He suckled her hard, then bit the nipple until she hissed. He let that one free, then did the same to the other. His hand reached down and unzipped her jeans. She was hot, hotter than fire. Her pussy was so wet, his fingers glided back and forth. Her breathing grew more rapid. He slid two fingers deep inside her and finger fucked her while the heel of his hand massaged her clit. Marlene clenched around him, and he knew she was close. He put a third finger inside her and pushed against her jeans for maximum thrust. She muffled a scream against her hand

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as she came, nearly crushing his fingers with her cunt. His cock twitched at the thought of having that muscle contract around it. Buck gentled his movements until her muscles relaxed. When he finally got this filly into bed, he doubted they’d get out of it for days. “You okay?” She grinned. “Oh, yeah, but I’m embarrassed to admit I forgot we’re in the parking lot. Probably gave some drunk cowboy a show.” Buck pinched her clit and she hissed. He withdrew his hand slowly, then licked his fingers. Sweet. “Too bad for them. They’ll never taste anything as sweet as you.” She chuckled as she reached behind her to fasten her bra. “You’ve got yourself a silver tongue.” “Maybe. You’ll find out how my tongue feels another time.” Marlene pulled her shirt down and cupped his cheek. “Are you sure I’m not on Candid Camera or something?” He kissed her palm. “I don’t think so, unless they’re tricking both of us.” “That would surely suck, so let’s assume this is real and have fun.” “Sounds perfect to me.”

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Chapter Three

Saturday morning dawned sunny and clear. Marlene woke up with a grin. She and Buck had hit it off like two peas in a pod. A hot, sexy pod. He was incredible. Too bad he hadn’t wanted to do more than jack each other off in the truck. She wanted to get him in a bed so badly, she was still horny. With a sigh, she got up and headed for the shower. She was practicing with Buck that afternoon. After a nice, long hot shower in which she fantasized about what she could do in the shower with her big cowboy, Marlene finally shut the water off. It was getting cold anyway. Her condo shared a water heater with the unit next door, and if she got up too late, there wasn’t any hot water left. At least on Saturday, her neighbor got up later than she did. By nine a.m., Marlene was on her way to Starbucks for a morning java. Nothing she enjoyed more than a big coffee and biscotti on a Saturday morning. After sitting down to eat, Veronica blew in like a tornado and Marlene spent the entire morning calming her friend down. She’d had an unusual sexual experience with a woman, then topped it off by fucking some guy in a bar. The world was certainly tilting in Espejo The two women went to the Starlite that afternoon to meet Buck and Veronica’s partner, Patrice. She was a cute little auburn-haired thing with sky-blue eyes. There was

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definitely something between Patrice and Veronica, and Marlene was glad to be there to help her friend. Oh, and to ogle Buck, too. Watch him as he bowled, revel in the sheer joy of seeing that incredible specimen of manhood whip a ball down the alley. God, he was beautiful. Marlene kept waiting for someone to pop out from behind a chair and say “Gotcha!” Like it was all a big joke, a setup to make her look stupid. She knew she was being paranoid, but she couldn’t help it. Marlene hadn’t had a gift like Buck before. Ever. She didn’t want to think it wasn’t real, but she sure as hell wouldn’t allow her heart to get involved. No siree. Ain’t gonna happen. She had no desire to be heartbroken over a cowboy that was only in town for a week. However, she was certainly not averse to using his body for a week. What a body it was. Like a big ice cream sundae waiting for her to dig in. “Marlene, are you listening to me?” Veronica’s voice burst through the sensual fog around Marlene’s ears. “I’m sorry. I was ... um, thinking.” One brown eyebrow went up and Veronica snorted. “Right. You weren’t staring at that man’s butt then, right?” “Well, it’s a really nice butt.” Veronica chuckled. “I agree with you there. I was asking about what happened last night between you two. I can almost see the electricity in the air.” Marlene cursed her fair complexion when she blushed. “We, ah, went to the karaoke joint.” “You sang?” “Yes.” With an enthusiastic hug, Veronica congratulated her on finally singing in front of people. She had long commented on Marlene’s voice and encouraged her to pursue singing.

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“I am so proud of you!” “I was embarrassed as hell.” Marlene took a big gulp of iced tea. “But they clapped for me.” “That’s so wonderful. Did it feel wonderful?” Marlene thought back to the night before and a warm buzz floated through her. “What felt wonderful was that big cowboy singing to me.” Veronica’s brown eyes widened. “He sang to you? What did he sing?” “He sure as hell did, made my panties wet singing a Dierks Bentley song. It was hot, Ronnie, really hot.” Just the memory made her squirm in her chair. “Nice, very nice. So did you end up sleeping together?” Buck caught Marlene’s eye and he winked. She winked back and blew a kiss. He laughed and put his hand over his heart, then bowed. “Ah, no, but we got to know each other better.” Veronica laughed and nodded. “Say no more. So you like him?” That surprised Marlene. It surprised her because she hadn’t thought about liking him. Well, she had, but not really. The scary thing was that yes, she did like him. More than she should. It was enough to almost send her into a panic. She didn’t want to like him. That meant heartbreak in a few days or even a few hours when he decided he didn’t want the fat girl from small town Podunk. “Sure, he’s okay.” Marlene stood up and headed for the lane. “I’ve got to get some more practice in.” After another hour, they all decided to go for ice cream. When they climbed into Buck’s truck, Marlene swore she could still smell the heat of their playing last night. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she glanced over at Buck, his gaze locked on her.

Mine.

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It wasn’t something she should be thinking at all, but the word bounced around in her brain. And in her heart. When they arrived at Dairy King, Veronica and Patrice went off to sit together, which left Marlene alone with Buck. “What’s your favorite flavor?” He reached for his wallet when they reached the counter. “Chocolate.” “Mmm, sounds delicious. I like ...” His gaze dropped down to her breasts then to her pussy, which pulsed against her pants. “... strawberry.” Oh, God, he sure didn’t play fair. Marlene loved a challenge. She leaned toward him and rubbed her breast on his arm. He licked his lips and cocked one light brown eyebrow. “I also like banana.” She grinned shamelessly. He laughed, then kissed her hard. “I knew that. I still need to have some strawberry.” “Anytime, cowboy, anytime.” They bought and paid for the ice cream, then sat on a bench next to each other, thighs touching. Marlene’s arousal was growing by the minute as she watched Buck lick and suck at his plastic spoon. She hadn’t gotten enough of him in the darkened cab the night before. She wanted more. A lot more. She wanted that damn tongue licking her. “How about a wager?” “A wager?” Marlene was suspicious, but never let it be said she wasn’t adventurous. “We’ll go back and bowl another game. Winner gets ... choice of prizes.” Pop! There went Marlene’s nipples in excitement. She didn’t want to seem too anxious. “Hmmm ... like what kind of prizes?”

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Buck leaned toward her and sucked her earlobe into his cold, cold mouth. The answering heat in her body was enough to ignite a pile of kindling. As he nibbled on her ear, he whispered, “Love slave.”

Love slave? “What does that mean?” He nuzzled her neck, and Marlene felt like a tornado had landed on her head. “Loser does whatever the winner tells them to do. All night long.” How could she pass that up? Marlene turned her head and licked his lips. “You’re on. Let’s hit the wood, cowboy. I need me a love slave.”

***** Buck was aroused. No, check that. He was more than aroused -- he was hungry and horny. Watching Marlene lick that ice cream off her spoon was sheer torture. He knew what that tongue could do, and how it felt on his dick. When they arrived back at the bowling alley, Veronica took off with her bowling partner and Buck and Marlene were alone. Well, not really, it was a bowling alley. They looked at each other with raised brows and big grins, then scrambled inside to get a lane. That old codger Jesse looked at them with a frown. “Y’all are acting like a couple of twelve year olds. What are you doing, Marlene?” Marlene burst out laughing. “I’m having fun, Jesse.” He shook his head and his frown grew deeper. “Just be careful, girl.” He leveled a don’t-you-hurt-her look at Buck. Buck saluted him and walked off following the swaying ass of his bowling partner. He almost stumbled on the step because he was mesmerized by the back and forth action of that jean clad behind. “Lane thirty-nine. Sorry, there is no lane sixty-nine.” She turned and winked at him.

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Buck chuckled. Damn, he couldn’t remember the last time he laughed so much. He couldn’t think too hard about what the stakes were, or he would be hard the entire game. “One game? Winner take all?” she asked as she slipped her bowling shoes on. “Yep. Sound good to you?” Marlene tied her shoe, then stood and walked over to him as he stood there helplessly with his bowling ball in one hand and his towel in the other. She positioned herself between his arms, and her gorgeous breasts touched his chest. He sucked in a quick breath, and he swore he felt her nipples harden against him. “Oh, yeah, cowboy, sounds perfect.” Her gaze flicked down to his growing erection, and she licked her lips. Damn it all, he twitched. Her grin grew wider and she blew him a kiss as she walked back to retrieve her ball. Buck knew he was in trouble with this one, trouble all right with a capital T. Marlene was right -- it was perfect. She set up the scoring machine while he practiced. He swallowed back a snort. He was practicing all right, practicing how to fuck up his bowling. He was all over the damn place and it was her fault. He was leaving splits, missing easy pick-ups, and he almost dropped the goddamn ball on his foot. He should be angry with her tactics, but he wasn’t. He was more turned on than he ever remembered being. For the first time in his life, instead of thinking how to get a woman in bed to say goodbye, he was trying to figure out how to get Marlene in his bed and keep her there. That thought did make him drop the ball. Fortunately, he was standing at the ball return and it just landed with a thunk. “You okay, Buck?” “Yep, just fine. I gotta hit the restroom before we start. Be right back.”

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He was not running away. He was walking quickly.

Bullshit. Oh, he knew it was bullshit, but it was easy to lie to yourself when twenty-four hours after meeting a woman from the middle of nowhere, you were thinking of a permanent relationship. Buck ran cold water and splashed his face with it. He needed to get his dick back down to normal size and try to get control of his thoughts. They were wayward, not normal, and certainly not valid. He did not want a permanent relationship with Marlene McComb. No siree.

***** Marlene threw some practice balls while she waited for Buck to get back. He looked like the ice cream he just ate was going to reappear. He was pale as milk and ran for the bathroom. She hoped he was okay. Her game was off. She missed the second spare in a row and cursed aloud, then remembered to check to see if any kids were nearby. Fortunately, there weren’t. It wasn’t like her to be so off-kilter. She knew it was because of Buck. She hadn’t had her own man before, no boyfriends, even a temporary one, so she was flying blind. Blind as a bat and horny as a toad. Marlene chuckled and wiped her ball down. She knew the moment he was behind her because every hair on her body stood at attention. The heat pulsed through her as quickly as a lightning strike. “Hey, Big Mac. You still looking for that three hundred game?’ Ugh. Terry Adams again. Marlene wondered how much it would cost to pay him off to leave her alone. “What do you want, Terry?” She wasn’t in the mood to even pretend to be polite.

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He was dressed in his usual t-shirt and grubby jeans, with two days worth of whiskers on his cheeks. His smart-ass smirk was in place as well. “Just being neighborly.” “Bullshit.” He tut-tutted. “That’s not very nice, Big Mac. Once upon a time, you begged me to fuck you so you wouldn’t be a virgin any more.” Marlene took a deep breath and tried to will away the old pain conjured from his remark. “Who the hell are you?” Buck’s voice brought a welcome wave of relief through her. She wasn’t alone. “He’s leaving.” Terry took a good look at a frowning Buck and hightailed his ass out of there. Marlene grinned at Buck and he raised an eyebrow. She shook her head and waved her hand in dismissal. “Let’s forget that moron even exists.” “Fair enough. Are you ready to lose?” She looked at his grin and warned her knees not to turn to jelly. His blue eyes were heavy-lidded and sultry. “Bring it on.” He grinned and winked at her. “Love slave.” “Just call me mistress.” Buck stood in front of her and kissed her hard. “For luck.” Marlene’s cheeks flooded with color. Why the hell was she cursed with such pale, freckled skin? She took a deep breath and focused on winning the game. Either way, she’d spend the night naked with Buck Miller. She’d never had a man for a night before. Every

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sexual experience she’d had was in the back of a car, in someone’s basement, or in the bathroom. Certainly never an entire night of pleasure. Her entire body shuddered with longing. Marlene knew she was in trouble, but she chose to ignore it. She wanted to win. The first three frames for both of them sucked. All open, all easy pick-ups that neither should have missed. Marlene laughed nervously when she missed the five pin and glanced at Buck to find his gaze locked on her ass. Now that was unexpected, and perhaps she could use it to win the pitiful game. Marlene bent down to “fix” her shoe, giving him a full view of her butt, then wiggled a bit when she prepared for her next approach. She shot him a dazzling smile when she finally bowled a strike. When their hands met in a high five, a tingle raced down her arm to her nipples. They budded immediately. She was pleased to notice that Buck stared at the twin points. Oh, yeah, the game was so in the bag. The next time he turned around, she pretended to adjust her bra, which required her to touch her breasts. He swallowed so hard, she heard it. A gleeful demon inside her cackled and jumped up and down. By the start of tenth frame, Marlene was beating him by forty points. There was no way he could recover and beat her. She knew his game was way off, but this was only for fun. In the tournament, she wouldn’t sabotage him; after all, she wanted to win the couples’ competition. It was all about winning and she was winning -- both the game and the battle. “The game is yours, Lee. Damn, I totally sucked.” Buck sat down and spread his arms over the seats next to him, affording her a nice view of his t-shirt clad chest. Yum. “Well, I wouldn’t call a one sixty-five a banner game for me either.”

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“A one twenty-five? Hell, I bowled better than that when I was five years old.” He ran his hands through his hair, then his gaze locked with hers. “You deliberately distracted me.” Marlene tried to look innocent. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shook his head slowly. “You’re dangerous.” Now that was a hell of a compliment. Marlene wanted to puff out her chest. Her? Dangerous? Woohoo! “I’m glad you think so, love slave. Now ... what to do with you this evening.” Oh, the possibilities were endless. She wanted to savor every second of it.

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Chapter Four

Marlene decided they should start with a nice dinner. She was embarrassed to tell Buck that she’d never been on an official date before. She never even went to her high school prom. Odd as it was, at the age of twenty-seven, Marlene was going on her first date. She suggested they go out of Espejo to a nice Italian restaurant about twenty miles away. On the ride over, they talked about themselves. Marlene wasn’t surprised to find out that Buck was a carpenter. He had great hands -- big, callused, and strong. Exactly the way she liked them. The thought of them on her nipples made her forget what she was talking about. She told him that she worked days at the county building as a secretary. She’d taken the week off for the bowling tournament so she could focus on it. She also worked part-time in the snack bar at the Starlite. Extra money helped her buy the better bowling supplies she wanted. Marlene felt like she was chasing her dream to be a perfect bowler, even if she was moving toward it as slowly as a turtle. “So you can get me free treats, right?” Marlene leaned toward him and whispered, “I’ve got plenty of treats in store for you.”

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Buck threw his head back and laughed. He had a booming laugh as big as he was. Other diners turned to look at them, and Marlene grinned widely. She didn’t care. Her first date was turning into something to talk about. She wasn’t normally flirty, but this wasn’t an ordinary time for her. “You are a naughty vixen, aren’t you?” Marlene raised one eyebrow. “Me? A vixen? You’re the first to accuse me of that.” “I find that hard to believe, but if that’s your story, I reckon it’s true.” It was true. Marlene was a nice girl, albeit a bit outspoken at times, but she wasn’t any kind of sexual dynamo. Well, until she met Buck anyway. He seemed to turn her into a sexcrazed lunatic who flirted, teased, and taunted. Wonders never cease. Or perhaps this one was a miracle. “Thank you, Buck. Now eat your lasagna so we can go have some dessert.” Marlene’s heart fluttered. The anticipation of having Buck for dessert was going to make her squirm on her seat. That would be embarrassing. She’d rather squirm on him. It seemed that her appetite deserted her. Normally, chicken parmesan was one of her favorites, but Marlene just picked at it. Buck frowned at her plate. “It doesn’t taste good?” “No, it tastes fine. I’m just hungry for something else.” Buck’s eyes were like twin flames of blue fire. “Girl, you’re gonna make me shock all these people.” Marlene laughed. “We can’t let that happen, can we? Are you finished?” “I haven’t even started yet.” Holy cow. Marlene signaled to the waiter to bring the check. It was time to go.

*****

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Buck was like an oversexed teenager. He just could not keep his dick down. Every time he tried, Marlene would do something that was like a stroke on his balls and the flagpole stood up again. After paying for dinner, they hustled out of the restaurant and ended up making out in the cab of his truck again. She was all soft and hot and so incredibly sexy, Buck’s hands could not stop touching her. They had to get back to somewhere and get busy, or he was going to come in his pants. He pulled his lips away and sat back. “We need to find a bed.” “We need supplies.” Buck looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “Supplies?” “Have you got rubbers?” Oh hell, he’d about forgotten about protection. At least Marlene didn’t have blood loss to the brain as he did. “Good point. Lead the way, Lee.” They broke every posted speed limit on the way back to Espejo. She asked to go to Buck’s motel room rather than her condo. He didn’t ask why, but he figured she didn’t want the neighbors to think badly of her for bringing a man home. Buck just wanted to get her naked and in a bed. The where wasn’t important. He pulled into the drugstore with a screech of tires. He kissed her quickly and hopped out. The cool night air helped him calm down a little bit before he went inside. A young fella behind the counter said hello, and Buck went right to him. “Which aisle are the condoms in?” The boy grinned and pointed the way. When Buck arrived in aisle ten at the extensive condom display, he heard two women talking on the other side.

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“Did you see her? It was like a nightmare performance. Do you honestly think she was good?” the first one asked. “I don’t care about the singing. I heard she was practically humping that guy right there in the bar,” the second one chimed in. Buck stopped browsing and listened. Carefully. “Well, we all knew Big Mac had no class. She’s always been outspoken and bitchy. Why, just last month she embarrassed me with that awful Babs Loomis,” said number one.

Big Mac. They were talking about Marlene. He’d heard that blonde bitch call her Big Mac at the karaoke joint. “Yuck. Don’t even get me started on Babs.” Number two sounded like she was tasting bad cheese. “Between those two and that weird Veronica, they’re like the three witches of Espejo,” number one announced as if she’d discovered something. A titter of nasty laughter followed. “That’s funny!” Number two snorted. “I shouldn’t say that, but you’re right, it is funny.” Number one lowered her voice. “Mark my words, that woman is bound for shame. She can’t control herself, and now she’s throwing herself on some strange man. Desperation. That’s what it is. She’s desperate for a man, and she probably gives good blowjobs. No wonder her lips are so red.” Buck’s fists were so hard, his knuckles cracked. No wonder Marlene talked about leaving town. Folks talked trash about her and tore her into little bits when she couldn’t defend herself. It wasn’t his business. He had to tell himself that five times so he didn’t go over and give the two little bitches a piece of his mind. He liked Marlene. She was not a desperate witch. She was a funny, smart, talented woman who touched something in him he didn’t know existed.

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Buck grabbed two boxes of condoms and a bottle of personal massage oil. As he stalked up to the counter, he stopped twice to pick up a couple of other items for the night’s pleasures. He wasn’t about to let two small-minded women ruin his night. Buck was going to be a love slave, and he was going to enjoy every second of it.

***** Buck came out of the pharmacy with a larger bag than Marlene expected to see. He obviously bought more than a box of condoms. A yip of excitement jumped around inside her. Thank God it was dark, or he’d likely see a wet spot from her pussy on the seat and her nipples so damn tight they hurt. “Did you get everything you needed?” Marlene was more than curious. “And then some.” His jaw was tight, and she wondered what had happened in the store. His playful mood wasn’t gone, but something had definitely dampened it. “Anything wrong?” Instead of answering her, he threw the bag in the backseat, and grabbed the back of her head. The kiss was like a branding. Hot, hard, and full of fire. He opened his mouth and Marlene moaned low and deep.

Not here, not here. She pulled her mouth away with effort. “Let’s get going before we get arrested.” Buck’s breath was coming in spurts. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go.” He left the parking lot as quickly as he’d pulled in, and within ten minutes, they were at the motel. In the gloom of the parking lot, Buck’s face was a study in shadows. “Are you ready?”

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He wasn’t asking her if she was ready to get out of the truck. He was asking her if she was ready for everything. For a night of naked sex and whatever else they wanted to do. The freedom to simply be and do without restraint or apologies. “I’m more than ready. Let’s go, cowboy.” They made it into the motel room without touching. That was a miracle. Marlene stuck her hands on her pockets to keep them from touching his perfect ass when he was unlocking the door. She brushed past him through the doorway, and he groaned just a little. The plastic bag shook in his hand. He flicked the switch, and a small lamp in the corner of the room came on, lending a golden glow to the room. It had one king bed, a TV, dresser, nightstand, and a guitar. Marlene’s eyes widened at the guitar, but when she turned to look at him and ask, she changed her mind. He closed and locked the door without looking. His gaze locked on hers. “Your wish, mistress?” His voice sent shivers up and down her spine. She eyed the bag in his hand. “Show me what you bought.” He opened the bag, took out a box of ribbed condoms, and tossed it on the bed. Then he pulled out another box of different condoms and, with a wicked grin, tossed them on the bed, too. Next was a bottle of massage oil and a heated look at her breasts. Marlene couldn’t stop the tingles of excitement. Last, he pulled out a can of whipped cream and bottle of chocolate syrup. A huge throb of arousal thumped through her. The thought of licking anything off him, or him licking her, was enough to make her very wet. Her pussy howled with hunger. “Anything else in your magic bag?” He shook his head. “No, but I do have something else to show you. Whenever you’re ready.”

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Marlene had to hold herself back. They had all night. No reason to rush. “Okay, first thing I’d like is for you to strip.” Without another word, Buck started taking his clothes off. Marlene was more than astonished, she was amazed. She wasn’t sure Buck would want to go through with the whole love slave thing, yet here he was, doing as she asked. Light sandy-brown whorls of hair, a few scars, and nicely defined muscles graced his tanned chest. Yes, Buck was definitely a working man. His shoulders looked like they could hold the world. The nice trail of hair led from his belly button down. His boots came off with a little effort, then he unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down his hips. His marvelous erection strained against the black boxers he wore. Marlene hadn’t forgotten the nice size of his package. She couldn’t help but stare and drool. Buck was incredible-looking. Before she could say another word, his boxers were off and he stood there deliciously naked, like a flesh feast laid out for Marlene’s consumption. “Holy shit.” It popped out of her mouth before she could stop it. Buck grinned. “I’m glad you approve.” “Jesus, Buck, I don’t approve. I applaud and bow at your feet.” Marlene stepped toward him, and he held up one hand to stop her. “Now remember, I am your love slave. I live to serve you. Tell me what to do, mistress.” Her heart was pounding, her blood was flowing, and she itched to touch him, but he was right. He agreed to be her love slave, and Marlene wanted to live out every fantasy she’d ever had. Even if it took days. “Undress me.” “Thank God.” He intoned as his large hands reached for her. Gently, he pulled up her shirt, kissing each inch of skin he revealed. He licked and nibbled his way up to her breasts, and as her shirt stuck over her face, he bit her nipple. Hard.

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“Ouch!” “Couldn’t help myself.” He kissed the abused nipple, then pulled her shirt all the way off. Buck’s chest lightly touched hers as he reached behind her to unfasten her bra. His hair tickled her skin, prompting her shivers to have shivers. He slid the straps off her shoulders slowly, licking his way down until he reached her nipples. One little lick for each, and then he stepped back with a grin. “Delicious.” Marlene ached so badly she needed more. “Suck them.” Buck dropped to his knees and proceeded to give her the tongue bath of her life. His talented mouth licked, suckled, and nibbled each nipple in turn. Marlene was amazed to feel herself close to having an orgasm. She touched his hair, surprised to find it so soft and silky. “Okay, now take off the rest of my clothes.” When she said it, it nearly hurt, but she needed more. He unsnapped her pants, then slid them and her panties down to her knees. He stuck his nose between her legs and licked her inner thighs. “Mmmm ... you smell good. Hot and musky.” Yep, she sure was. Hornier than she’d ever been in her life. After pulling off her jeans and panties, he led her over to the bed and sat her down to remove her shoes and pull everything completely off. Then he knelt in front of her. “I want to taste you.”

Oh God, oh God. “Far be it from me to make you unhappy. You may taste me.” It sounded stupid, but it also sounded ... right.

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Buck moved closer and spread her knees. Marlene felt exposed and resisted his touch without even realizing it. “It’s okay, Lee. I won’t hurt you.” Buck’s eyes were full of honesty even as his pupils were wide with desire. Marlene relaxed her muscles and allowed herself to let go. Since this would be the most sensual night of her life, she wanted to enjoy it to its fullest. Buck ran his hands up and down her thighs, and the sensation was exactly what she imagined it to be. Rough against soft. He bent down and blew into her curls. The heated flesh shivered against the cool breath. His thumbs parted her pussy lips and he licked her slowly from side to side, then top to bottom, leaving no inch of flesh untouched. “Oh, baby, I was right. Sweet.” Marlene lay back on the bed and her hands crept to her breasts, where she started pinching her nipples to Buck’s tongue laps. Lick. Pinch. Lick. Pinch. Oh, God, it was incredible. The sensations shooting through her were enough to feed her fantasies for years. For the first time in her life, a man licked Marlene’s pussy, and she loved it. “Pinch them for me, baby. Pretend I’m biting them.” Buck’s husky commands notched up her arousal to dangerous heights. As his tongue taught her what it meant to be laved, Marlene floated on clouds. He put two fingers up inside her, finger-fucking her while he suckled her clit. “Jesus, that feels so good.” She almost didn’t recognize her voice. He added a third finger and bit her, then licked and nibbled at her until her orgasm slammed into her like a freight train. She bucked against him, squeezing his head with her thighs, and shouting like a crazed woman. He never let go, never stopped laving her until after the last tremor passed. “Oh, my God.” “Mmmm ... nope, just your love slave.”

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While Marlene tried to land on Earth, she heard him open a box. He tore the package open and the snap of rubber echoed around the room. He nudged her open and thrust into her hard and fast. She gasped as her entire body clenched and tingled. “That feel good, mistress?” “Keep going. I’ll let you know.” He chuckled and started moving within her as his mouth descended on her nipples. Buck was not only big, he was talented. He knew exactly how deep to go, how to move, how to push his pelvic bone against her over-sensitive clit. He seemed to know everything. Amazingly enough, she felt an orgasm building after only a few minutes. Marlene didn’t think it was possible. “Buck, that feels ...” “I know, baby, I know.” He pulled her legs up and held them open like a V. She was completely vulnerable and open. He was deep, so deep; she was lost in the ecstasy. “I’m close.” Gazing up at him, eyes shut tightly and veins standing out on his neck, Marlene had never seen anything more beautiful than Buck Miller between her legs. She felt the wave rolling in and wanted to ride it. “Let’s go then. I’m ready when you are.” He groaned and thrust home repeatedly. Her orgasm spilled over her. She clutched the bedspread and nearly screamed herself hoarse. Buck shouted her name as he touched her womb and spilled his seed. Marlene felt like a thousand points of light were exploding all over her skin. Sweet Jesus and all the saints. The fumbling experiences she’d had with sex were bad nightmares. This ... this was heaven wrapped in a hard male body named Buck.

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Chapter Five

Marlene woke up Sunday morning with one big hairy leg thrown over hers. She grinned and mentally hugged herself. God, that felt so good, so amazing! Waking up with a man was something she’d always wanted to do. She was also quite sore and sticky. After she extricated herself from beneath his leg, she climbed from the bed and glanced back at him. Lips parted and breathing slow and even, his face seemed softer in sleep. She grinned, picked up her clothes, and headed for the bathroom.

***** Buck heard water running. He cracked on eye and realized he was alone in the bed. He grabbed the pillow beside him and breathed in her scent. In all his thirty years, and couple dozen -- okay maybe four dozen -- women he’d had sex with, the pleasure had never been so intense. He had nearly blacked out from it. He never believed in that love shit. That mindless stuff in greeting cards and country songs. He never thought that someone could simply find their “one and only” and recognize him or her immediately. It never felt real. Until now. Until Marlene.

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Buck was falling in love. He recognized it for what it was and it scared the hell out of him. He’d only known her two days, but already he could sense this was different. Very different. He wanted to spend the day with her. Hell, he wanted to spend the week with her. He figured he was in trouble. No, he knew it. He was in it up to his eyeballs. With a groan of the inevitable bursting from his throat, he threw the covers back. Naked, he padded to the bathroom to find her. He wanted to tell Marlene what he was thinking and find out if she felt the same way. Certainly, Buck was never one to run away from anything. Best to face it like a man. Just to be cautious, or perhaps hopeful, Buck brought a condom with him. Perhaps early morning pleasure is just what they needed. He knew he needed it. Steam swirled around the bathroom and coated his face like a visible shroud. He left the bathroom door open a crack to let the steam out. He wanted to able to see her, not just a blurry image. “Dang, Lee, you sure do like a hot shower.” A giggle came from behind the white shower curtain. “It’s my weakness. I share a hot water heater with my neighbor, so I don’t always get the hottest shower.” “Want to make it hotter?” The curtain opened and a wet hand beckoned him. “Come on in, cowboy. The water’s fine.” Buck opened the curtain wide enough to step in. It was a world of heat, steam, and woman. Her hot body leaned into his and she started caressing him. His dick stood at attention beneath her lovely hands. “Mmmm ... that’s a nice wake-up.” Her wet hair trailed down her back and drops of water hung on her long eyelashes. She looked so young and sweet. Then she grinned wickedly and cupped his balls. “You can say that again. Did you bring me breakfast?”

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Buck’s knees went a little weak as her hand continued to stroke him up and down. “I sure did, baby girl. You want a lollipop?” She snickered. “Oh, that’s an old one.” He groped for something else. “Cream cheese on your bagel?” Marlene laughed and kissed him quickly. “That’s original.” Before he could say anything, she had her lips wrapped around him. As her magical mouth reminded him just how amazing it was, her lithe hands continued to fondle his balls. One finger reached back and caressed his asshole. It wasn’t as shocking after he realized it felt good. Really good. He leaned back against the plastic shower wall and closed his eyes. She bit the base of his cock and he groaned. “Keep it up and it’ll be over too quick.” Her mouth left his dick and went in search of his balls. She suckled them into her mouth while her meandering finger crept inside him. He rocked with her rhythm, floating in a sea of pleasure. He didn’t want to come in her mouth again. “Lee, I need to fuck you.” She started sucking him again and finger fucking him at the same time. He held onto his sanity by a thread. “Please, baby, please.” Marlene stopped and looked up at him. “I can’t ... I need ... please.” He sounded like a babbling idiot holding up the condom, but she apparently understood. Marlene turned her back to him, lifted one foot onto the side of the tub, and braced her hands on the wall. “Fuck me, cowboy.” Buck stepped toward her and thanked God she was tall enough to ride like this. His urgency was overwhelming. After tearing open the condom with shaking hands, he readied

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himself, then slipped into her, amazed to find her so ready for him. He hadn’t done a thing to get her ready, but she was anyway. Slick, hot, and tight. He stopped moving only when deeply buried inside her. She clenched around him and he bit her shoulder. She clenched again, and he had to start moving or risk spilling his load two seconds after entering her. He reached around and rolled a nipple between his fingers while his other hand started rubbing her clit. He thrust in a slow rhythm, allowing their bodies to move as one. She grew tighter and tighter around him. “Faster.” He ignored her command and kept his slow pace. He wanted to savor it. “Goddammit, faster!” Marlene thrust against him, and his balls tightened up so fast, he couldn’t stop himself. He grabbed her hips and pumped into her so hard, she almost hit the wall. Instead of squawking at him, she met his force with her own. Together they fucked like bunnies, grunting and moaning until the world shattered around them. His hoarse shout drowned out Marlene’s cry. He came and came until his ears rang and his teeth vibrated. She squeezed him so hard, it milked him even further. Panting, he laid his head against hers. She was shaking and breathing as hard as he was. Buck’s mouth ran faster than his brain. “Hell, baby, I think I just might be falling in love with you.”

***** Marlene drove like a madwoman. She wasn’t even paying attention to where she was going. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she had gotten her ass out of that motel room.

I think I just might be falling in love with you.

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After the best sex of her life, that damn cowboy had to go and say something like that. She panicked and ran like a chickenshit. Marlene was not looking for love in a quick fling. Hell, she wasn’t even looking for a man. Not really anyway. She didn’t want any declarations of love. They wouldn’t last past Friday when the couples’ competition finished. Marlene did not want her heart broken and kept it locked up for safe keeping. No way Buck was going to break into that secure area. No damn way. She arrived home without realizing she was there. She stumbled up the steps and gratefully went inside. Locking the door behind her, Marlene felt the sting of tears. Why the hell was she crying? Over some cowboy telling her he had feelings for her? What she needed was some alone time. Thank God she hadn’t given Buck her address. She had a feeling he wouldn’t let this one rest, and she needed time to regain control of herself. After making some microwave popcorn and getting a Diet Coke, she plopped herself in front of the TV to watch Steel Magnolias for the umpteenth time. Marlene needed to veg out.

***** Buck spent the afternoon at the Starlite practicing. He hoped Marlene might show up, but when four o’clock rolled around without seeing her, he gave up hope. Shit. He’d scared her away by opening his big mouth. It wasn’t as if he intended on blurting that out, but the look on her face told him volumes. Not to mention the way she took off, practically still wet from the shower. There must have been enough honesty in that comment that she believed him. Then she ran as if her ass was on fire.

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He was cleaning his ball when he sensed someone behind him. Whirling around, he was disappointed to find the owner, Jesse. The man seemed to have an endless supply of Hawaiian shirts and overalls. Every day it was the same outfit only different. His steel gray eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Well, sit on down a spell and tell me what’s on your mind. Ain’t doing you any good being stuck in your craw.” Buck figured he might as well. Jesse came around and sat beside him. Buck continued to polish his ball and tried not to let on exactly what was going on. He didn’t need a lecture from Marlene’s self-appointed guardian. “Marlene is a good girl. Her mama was a bit flighty, still is, and her daddy run off when she was a little bit of a thing.” Jesse shifted in the seat and leaned forward to rest his forearms on his knees. “I’ve been sorta like a uncle to her for a while. Back in the day, she called me Uncle Jesse, like that TV show about them boys in Georgia. Cute as a button with her freckled nose and wide smile. I knew Marlene was something special.”

Here it comes. “I don’t know what your intentions are, young man, but I gotta look out for her. She wouldn’t miss practice for the world, so I’m figuring since you left with her last night, you must be responsible for her not being here.” Jesse turned his hard gaze on Buck. “Did you hurt her?” Buck outweighed the man by probably seventy pounds and was a good twenty-five years younger. Yet he felt a twinge of fear at the retribution he saw swimming in the other man’s eyes. “I told her I was falling in love with her,” Buck blurted, damning his wayward tongue.

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It was apparently the right thing to say, though, because Jesse broke out in a huge grin. “You don’t say! Don’t that beat all? So where is she, down at the bridal salon?” The thought of a wedding wasn’t exactly in his plans, and Buck took a mental step backward. “No, not even close, Jesse. She took off like a cat that had her tail stepped on.” Jesse frowned. “She ran?” “Oh, yeah, she ran.” “Well, we’re going to have to change her mind then. Are you sure you didn’t hurt her?” Jesse still looked suspicious. “I swear, Jesse. All I did was say what was in my heart. She didn’t want to hear it.” Jesse nodded. “Yeah, she’s always been the kind to bite first, then ask questions later. Sounds like what she’d do.” He leaned toward Buck conspiratorially, and Buck had no choice, but to listen. “Here’s what we’re going to do ...”

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Chapter Six

Monday brought reality back with a slap to Marlene. She was due to work at the snack bar at the Starlite at nine, and it was eight-thirty before she dragged herself out of her selfinduced coma. She felt like shit. She was sure she looked like shit. She’d put her hair up in a ponytail and wasn’t wearing any makeup. It didn’t matter though. Marlene was nothing if not loyal. She’d promised Jesse she’d work the snack bar and the tournament started that day. Babs was working the registration desk, and Veronica was behind the front desk. They were all helping out. Marlene was no exception. She had also committed herself to throwing a party Friday night after the tournament ended. Whether or not she bowled that perfect score, she was going to have a party, come hell or high water. There was so much she had to do to get ready, and she was busy mooning about Buck. After a splash of cold water on her face, Marlene stumbled out the door and drove to the alley. She was later than she wanted to be, but put on a happy face and went inside. Babs wasn’t there yet, neither was Veronica, but Jesse was. He was hopping around like oil on a hot skillet.

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“There you are! I started the coffee, but I need you to get the biscuits going. Shake a leg, Marlene.” He herded her to the snack bar. “I’m sorry, Jesse. I don’t have any excuse. Let me go get started.” Marlene hurried to the snack bar and fired up the small toaster oven. After popping in half a dozen biscuits, she spotted Babs heading for the registration desk and went to say hello. By the time she got back, the first batch of biscuits were ready. She poured herself a huge coffee and started munching on biscuit. She told herself that she wasn’t searching for Buck, but she was. He was taller than everyone in the bowling alley, so he wouldn’t be hard to spot.

Stop looking for him. She couldn’t seem to stop. It was as if she could still feel his wavy brown hair between her fingers. “Good morning, Lee.” Buck’s voice washed over her, and Marlene closed her eyes against the rush. “I missed you yesterday,” he continued. Marlene took a big gulp of scalding coffee before turning to look at him. Sweet heavens, he looked as good as she remembered. He wore a light green shirt tucked in another pair of nicely stonewashed jeans. He had one hand tucked into his pocket and the other held a large Starbucks coffee. She shrugged. “I had some things I needed to get done at home yesterday.” “Liar.” Marlene felt the word like a poke in the stomach. “Excuse me?” “You were hiding. From me.” “I was not hiding from you!”

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Oh, she really was lying through her teeth. She cursed her cheeks that flooded with color. Again. He leaned toward her, and she forced herself not to shrink bank. She was not afraid of him, and she wasn’t going to hide from him. No matter how big he was or how much her body craved him. “Yes, you were, and that’s okay. That means you were afraid of what I said. If you didn’t care about me, you wouldn’t be scared. So I have a chance.” With a quick, hard kiss, he took her biscuit and walked away, sipping his coffee. Marlene stood there and watched, stunned. Her plan to stay away from him was failing miserably. Not only did she turn into a blithering idiot the first time she saw him again, but he blew her out of the water. Did he have a chance? A chance at what?

***** It was after five in the afternoon by the time Marlene was able to leave the snack bar. Her feet hurt, her back ached, and she was exhausted. She saw Babs down at the bar having a drink and watching the game. She waved and headed out the door. As she approached her truck, something red caught her eye. There was a red ribbon tied to the door handle. Dangling from the red ribbon was a small black box. Heart pounding, Marlene approached the box and opened it. She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t a charm bracelet with a silver bowling ball and pins. It was not only sweet, but it was thoughtful and ... it was perfect. Marlene’s heart melted into a puddle. Marlene opened the small card inside the box. In masculine script, it read To my favorite beautiful bowler. Yours, Buck. He really was a sweet man. She put the bracelet on with shaking hands, cursing the fact that she really, really liked him. She hadn’t expected that. Most gorgeous men treated her

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like shit, like someone to either fuck and leave, or ignore. Not only did he not ignore her, he treated her like a queen. Buck was a dream come true. One that Marlene didn’t want to reach for with both hands because she didn’t want her heart broken. Buck was going to leave in five days, but she could enjoy what time they had together, without risking her heart. If only she could believe it. “Do you like it?” Buck’s voice from behind her made her jump a country mile. “Jesus! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Marlene snapped. “Sorry, Lee. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The setting sun painted his face in oranges, pinks and reds. Like a painting, only this one was real. “It’s okay. Um, thanks for the bracelet.” He grinned when he saw she was wearing it. “Think of it as an early birthday present.” “How do you know when my birthday is?” Buck leaned toward her and nibbled her earlobe. “I’ve got friends in low places.” With a final suck to her ear, he stepped back. “I’ll be there tomorrow for your individual competition.” Then he was gone. Marlene’s body thrummed with confusion, arousal, and frustration. Her body reacted to just being near Buck and his tongue on her ear. Holy hell, she was wet! And he was gone. Damn. Maybe he did have a chance.

***** Marlene was nervous. Her palms were damp and her stomach felt like it had a million butterflies in it. It was nearly time for the individual ladies’ competition to start, and Buck was nowhere around.

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Not that she was looking for him, but still, he said he’d be there. But he wasn’t. Marlene leaned over the air flow on the ball return and tried to cool her overheated face down. Marlene knew she looked flushed. The woman bowling next to her was about as friendly as a cactus. Babs and Veronica were behind the lane, cheering for her, but she still felt alone. Damn it to hell, she missed Buck. How was that even possible? Practice had just ended and she’d bowled like shit. Hadn’t even thrown one strike. That three hundred game wasn’t just going to fall in her lap; she needed to get her game face on, wherever it was hiding. “Pssst.” Marlene turned to see Buck standing with a big cup in his hand and a wide smile on his gorgeous face. “I brought you a Diet Coke, baby.” Her heart did a flip and landed somewhere near her feet. She walked over to him and took the drink. Before she could even register what he was doing, he leaned down and gave her a long, sensual kiss that made her toes curl. Marlene moaned as his lips moved over hers, flipping on her arousal like high beams. “Looks like Big Mac got herself a man.” Melissa’s caustic voice sliced through the fog of pleasure surrounding Marlene. She opened her eyes as Buck did. She saw anger in his, but she also saw caring. He cared about her! With one last kiss, he pulled away. “Knock ’em dead, Lee. I’ll be rooting for ya.” Buck turned and leveled his gaze at the blonde-headed bitch, and she disappeared like a bunny in the woods. Ha! That’ll teach her. Strangely enough, instead of feeling frustrated, Marlene felt calmer, more in control. Apparently, Buck was what she needed to get through this competition. For an hour and a

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half, she bowled as well as she could. Each game when a strike didn’t happen, her three hundred game slipped away. In the third game, she had six frames of strikes before she left a spare. The disappointment was like a bitter pill on her tongue. Marlene finished bowling without pitching a fit or giving up. After the games were complete, Veronica and Babs congratulated her on her seven hundred series, then they both skedaddled when they saw Buck heading toward her. He opened his arms, and Marlene immediately took the comfort he offered. He felt good, solid, and he smelled wonderful. “You did great. I know you wanted that three hundred game, but damn, girl, you kicked ass out there,” he murmured against her hair. “I’m proud of you.” Marlene’s throat closed up and tears threatened. She was not a crier and she refused to start. Buck had found the exact words she needed to accept her disappointment. “Thanks. I ... I needed that.” He kissed her forehead and grinned. “Let’s go celebrate that seven hundred series with some Mexican food. What’s that place you like?” “The Sugar Shack.” “Yeah, let’s go there and stuff ourselves.” He pulled her over to the seating area. “Now get your stuff packed up so we can go.” He got her ball, wiped it down and put it in her bowling bag. Then he retrieved all the rest of her gear and put it away neatly. Marlene changed her shoes and within minutes, they were ready to go. Buck ushered her out the door with a wave to Jesse who waved back with a huge shiteating grin on his face. What the hell was that all about? “Why don’t you drive your truck over and I’ll follow you? That way we won’t have to worry about getting you back here.”

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Marlene blinked and she was in her truck, watching Buck walk over to his. He hopped in, and she heard the engine turn over. Well, that was interesting. He wanted her to drive her own truck. Humph. The drive over to the Sugar Shack only took five minutes, and Buck was right behind her the whole way. He pulled in next to her, then hopped out and jogged over to her truck. When he opened her door, he cupped her face in his big hands and kissed her senseless. His tongue licked her lips and teeth, and explored every inch of her mouth. Her nipples pebbled and ached beneath her shirt, and her pussy wept with arousal. He pulled away, and his blue eyes were twinkling. “Marlene’s got a man.” She was in a daze when he helped her out of the truck and walked into the little restaurant. After a dinner of enchiladas and Coronas, plenty of laughter and stories, Marlene was feeling great, relaxed, and still very horny. She didn’t know what would happen after dinner, but if that kiss was any indication, it was going to be hot. She could hardly wait.

***** Buck paid for dinner at the cash register, watching Marlene from the corner of his eye. She stood at the door, looking out at the twilight-covered parking lot. Grabbing two peppermints, Buck saluted the pretty cashier, then walked to the woman he really wanted to flirt with. When he stepped up behind her, he pressed himself to her backside, and the pleasure was enough to make his dick slam up against his zipper. “Mmmm, hello there,” she whispered. “Hello there yourself. Let’s go.” He opened the door and was thankful the deepening darkness hid his tight trousers. They headed for Marlene’s truck while Buck wrestled with himself.

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His head wanted to follow the plan. His smaller head wanted to say fuck the plan, let’s get laid. It was a fierce battle that waged inside him during the fifty feet they walked. In the end, his larger head triumphed. When they arrived at her truck, he opened the door, then turned her and tucked her into the V between the door and the frame. His favorite make-out spot apparently. He could smell her arousal, and it made his that much more painful. God, he wanted to get this woman in a bed again, but he wanted her heart engaged before he did that.

Stick to the plan. It didn’t mean he couldn’t play. He kissed her slowly, teasing her lips open little by little. She chuckled against his lips when he finally made it in her hot mouth. Their tongues danced slowly as he pressed his hardness into her softness and made tiny circles. One hand landed on her breast and tweaked a nipple into amazing hardness. He wanted to bite it. He rested his forehead against hers and took a deep breath. “Good thing we both had Mexican food.” She laughed and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Good night, Lee.” He kissed her quickly once more, then gave her a hand into the truck and closed the door. His erection slammed against his jeans, making him grit his teeth to keep the smile in place. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the team competition.” When Buck left, the image of Marlene’s flushed face, wide pupils, deliciously hard nipples, along with her raspberry colored lips burned in his thoughts. That was probably the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life. His dick might never forgive him.

***** Marlene sat there in the parking lot of the Sugar Shack for at least half an hour, trying to get her pulse to slow down, to make her head wrap around the fact that Buck left her there. Left her there. He kissed her, caressed her, aroused her to a frenzy, then left.

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Son of a bitch! What was that all about? She wouldn’t respond to his lovey dovey stuff, so he didn’t want to bed her anymore? That was just not possible. He wouldn’t do that, would he? Her experience with men was so limited, she had no idea how to answer that question. She supposed it was possible, and that pissed her off. She arrived home grumpy and horny. Her favorite vibrator got a workout, but even after bringing herself to orgasm twice, she wasn’t satisfied. She needed Buck and he wasn’t there. That night, she slept badly, waking every few hours and reaching for someone who wasn’t there. What really fueled her anger was that she’d only slept with him once, yet she was already missing him next to her.

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Chapter Seven

True to his word, Buck was there for the team competition with another soda for her and a mind-numbing kiss. Babs and Veronica were blessedly silent, but it seemed they had their own issues they were working on. Marlene felt energized. This was another chance to get that perfect score. The only problem was, half her mind was stuck on the big cowboy that stood behind the lane, watching her, cheering for her, and at the same time, distracting her. Her body was hungry, her heart was confused, and her mind was whirling. Was this what love was all about? Being a mess? It didn’t seem like much fun at all. Of course, having hot monkey sex was more than fun; unfortunately, he hadn’t put out. The thought made her laugh out loud. Now she knew how guys felt when a cocktease left them high and dry, or high and wet in Marlene’s case. She wasn’t going to let Buck get away from her again. Even if she had to sit on him. The Ballbusters team, made up of Marlene, Babs, and Veronica, usually scored well in league competition. The tournament started a bit shakily for them, but in the second game, they all seemed to hit their stride. Marlene had a feeling she wasn’t going to come close to a three hundred game, but she still bowled as best she could.

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In the end, she bowled better than the individual competition, but hadn’t achieved her dream score. Yet. The couples’ competition was two days away and she was determined that would be her ultimate triumph. After the competition, it was between lunch and dinner, too late for one and too early for the other. Babs and Veronica went off with their respective partners, and that left Buck, waiting for Marlene again. She could get used to that. Every woman in the Starlite looked at him. They couldn’t help but look at him. He was six and a half feet of solid man, with an incredible ass and an amazing grin. Marlene winked at him and he winked back, then headed down into the seating area. “You did great!” He gave her a quick hug and stepped back to look at her. “Everything okay?” “Yeah, everything is okay. I didn’t get my perfect score. Again.” He kissed her lightly. “But there is our competition on Friday. Maybe we’ll both get that perfect score.” Marlene hadn’t considered that. What if they both got a three hundred in the same game? Would they split the ten thousand, or would whoever bowled first get the entire pot? The man usually bowled anchor in couples’ competition, which meant Marlene would actually achieve the perfect score first. The whole thought made her head hurt, so she decided to focus on something she could control. Getting Buck into her bed.

***** Buck couldn’t hold out much longer. As he sat and talked with Marlene after the team competition, he couldn’t help but remember how incredible it was to have her in his arms. Naked.

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He stood abruptly in the middle of her sentence, and her gaze immediately locked on his bulging erection. One slim dark eyebrow went up. “Something wrong, cowboy?” “I gotta go. I’ll catch you later.” He was not running out of the bowling alley. He was walking quickly. When he got to his truck, he realized his hands were trembling. He fumbled with the damn key fob. When her hands touched his shoulders, he knew it was too late. Buck gave up the battle and took her in his arms. She was all warmth and sensuality. Her body fit so perfectly against his that his skin sighed in relief. “Where are you going in such a hurry?” Her hands traveled up and down his back. “I, ah, had to do something.” Now that sounded lame. “Um hm. Okay, what?” Buck wasn’t a very good liar. “Oh, hell, I was trying not to bed you.” She laughed into his shoulder. “Really? I was thinking of how to get you in my bed.” He shuddered against her touch. “I’m trying to seduce you into more than a tussle in bed.” “Seducing is definitely working.” She sucked on his neck, and he closed his eyes against the pleasure. “Same here.” Buck couldn’t think anymore, he could only follow his instincts. Without a word, he opened the door and tucked her inside the truck, then climbed in after her. He knew he shouldn’t look at her or they’d never make it out of the parking lot. He drove like a madman to his motel, wondering if the circulation being cut off to his crotch might cause brain damage. He turned to look at Lee, and the raw desire in her eyes was enough to feed his dreams for years. He’d never met a woman who matched him in the bedroom like Marlene did.

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What completely made up his mind was the fact that she was wearing the bracelet. The bracelet he’d given her. He’d never given a woman jewelry before. To see it on her freckled wrist was a high. “Let’s go, cowboy.” Buck scrambled out of the truck and ran around to her side like a kid on his first date, tripping over his own feet no less. They finally made it into the motel room, and there was no slow seduction. Not a chance. He barely remembered to lock the door before they started pulling clothes off and kissing like two halves of a whole. They were naked in seconds and landed on the bed in a twisted pile of limbs and hot flesh. Marlene flipped Buck on his back and straddled him. The heat from her pussy was a mere inch away from his throbbing erection. “I can’t take any teasing, baby. Please put me out of my misery.” She smiled and offered him a plump nipple. He latched on and suckled her while she rubbed her wetness up and down his shaft. He groaned and thought about begging some more. “Mmmm, you are as hard as an oak. I like that.” She reached for him with her agile hands and within moments, he buried himself inside her deep, hot core. He grabbed her hips to keep her from moving. If she moved, even an inch, he’d come his brains out. He let her nipple loose and sucked in a breath. “Wait ...” he whispered. Marlene clenched around him, but she didn’t move. After a minute, Buck took a deep breath and let it out. He could feel her impatience, her hunger, but she waited -- for him. “Can I ride now?” Marlene whispered against his lips as her tongue slowly swiped back and forth. “Yeah, baby, I’m ready.”

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Marlene must have ridden horses in her time, because the woman rode like a pro. She pulled nearly to the tip of his dick, then brought herself back down until he was deep, deep inside her. She did it repeatedly, squeezing him with her inner muscles, bringing him intense pleasure. “God, that feels good.” “Yessssss,” he barely hissed out between breaths. She sat up and reached around to fondle his balls while her other hand landed on her clit. Buck squeezed and pinched her nipples. It was an entire rodeo of pleasure. His orgasm started in his toes and worked its way up to his head, exploding through him like a bomb. He shouted and bucked her while she clenched around him. He pulsed and pulsed until he thought he’d never be able to come again. She collapsed on him, her breasts pushing against his chest. Buck could feel her heart beating against his. “Wow.” He chuckled. “I agree. That was definitely wow.” She rolled off him and snuggled into the crook of his shoulder. Buck hooked his arm around her and let the amazing feeling of being with Marlene wash over him. This was what he wanted.

***** Marlene snuck out of Buck’s motel room sometime in the middle of the night. Her bleary eyes focused on the clock in her car. It was three twenty-one and all was quiet in the town of Espejo. She knew she was being a coward. A huge stinking coward, but she didn’t want to wake up in Buck’s arms. It felt too damn good just to be in his arms period, much less wake up in them again. Buck was mighty dangerous, and as much as her body wanted him, her heart was running scared.

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They were supposed to meet at the alley at nine to practice for Friday’s competition, then she was working the snack bar again. They only had an hour to practice so it was important to be there on time. Marlene knew it was her last chance to get that perfect score. Buck was a distraction, an incredible distraction, but she didn’t want that to keep her from her goal. She needed, she wanted that three hundred game. It wasn’t the money. It was being perfect. Something Marlene felt she had never achieved in her life. Marlene arrived home, a little numb and a lot confused. When she pulled into the bowling alley just before nine, she was still feeling the same. Buck was already there bowling. She stopped and watched him for a few minutes, remembering just how amazing Buck made her feel. She pasted on a bright smile and kept her focus, or at least tried to. Her brain was having trouble focusing. “Good morning.” Buck smiled at her. “Hey there, beautiful. I bought some coffee and muffins.” He pointed to the table. The coffee cups and muffins sat waiting for them. Marlene was always the one to bring things to other people. But Buck had brought something for her every day that week. He was thoughtful and considerate. Damn. He needed to stop being so perfect.

Perfect. The word rang in her head, making her thoughts whirl madly. “You okay?” She nodded and stepped down to the seating area to practice. “I’m just tired, that’s all. Let’s get some practice in.” Like old friends, they worked together to spot kinks and tweaks they could make in their game. The hour passed quickly, too quickly. The tournament was beginning and they

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had to give up the lanes. The doubles competition was on that day, and Marlene needed to get to the snack bar. “You working today?” “Yep, until tonight.” Marlene tucked her bowling shoes into her bag and zipped it up. “I’ll see you later.” Buck let her go without calling her back. She hoped he’d come by later, but she didn’t ask. She was still afraid that he’d say no. Rejection was not her strong suit.

***** After lunch, Buck came by the snack bar to see Marlene. She looked tired and frazzled. He pulled her out from behind the counter against her protests and simply hugged her. “I missed you, so I thought I’d come by and say hey.” She pushed against him. “I’ve got to work, you big galoot.” “Mmm, you can take a two minute break.” After a moment or two, she stopped struggling and relaxed against him. “That’s better.” “You smell good.” Marlene sniffed his shirt. “I took a shower this morning, although it was a lonely shower.” He wished she’d been there when he’d woken up, but he’d known she wouldn’t be. Marlene was like a scared rabbit, and if he wanted to tame her, he needed to let her run free. It was about the hardest thing he’d done. Waiting for her to come to her senses was going to kill him or save him. “Oh, that was a low blow.” He pulled back to look at her. “Nope, no blowing involved.” She smacked his shoulder and laughed. “Let me get back to work.”

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“Okay, but I warn you, I don’t scare easy.” He winked and lightly slapped her ass when she went back behind the counter. He was determined to keep her company that day, help her see how nicely they rubbed along together. They spent the afternoon talking while Marlene worked. It was the first time he’d spent time with a woman and felt comfortable just being himself, without wearing a mask or pretending to be something he wasn’t just to figure out if she was worth being around. Her friend Veronica came by, and Buck chatted with her partner Patrice about the best restaurants in San Antonio. He couldn’t help but notice the differences among the three women. Marlene seemed like she was made for him. She was different. So different. He only had one day left to convince her that he wanted a relationship with her. Hell, he’d just discovered that’s what he wanted. It was more of whatever it was they had together, even if it meant driving all the way the hell down here to Espejo from Wichita Falls and wasting a ton of gas. Marlene was worth it. Now to convince her of that.

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Chapter Eight

Friday morning dawned sunny and hot, a hint of the summer that was just around the corner. Marlene arrived at the alley two hours before the competition started. She felt like a soldier getting ready for battle. This was going to be the day. The day that either allowed her to achieve her dream or flattened it like a pancake. As Marlene put her hair up in a ponytail, she sensed Buck nearby. Her body recognized his presence, his scent, or something like that. The familiarity after a week was as if he was an old friend, someone she’d known forever. “You ready for today?” she asked without turning around. “I hope so.” He set his bowling bag down with a thump. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Oh, not now! “Later, please, Buck.” Marlene turned to look at him, hoping, praying he’d listen to her. “I need to focus.” He nodded tightly. “I can respect that; don’t have to like it, but all right. You are not getting away today without talking to me though.” “Agreed. Now let’s get some practice in.”

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Their movements were stiff at first, and their usual banter seemingly gone. It was uncomfortable and their bowling suffered. Marlene gave up after an hour and stalked off alone. Buck was pressuring her without pressuring her, but she felt it nonetheless. Everything just seemed wrong. When the mixed tournament began, their first game sucked. Gutter balls, missed spares, and even a foul or two. Neither one of them even bowled a two hundred, painfully below their averages. Marlene was itchy and antsy and felt like fighting. She only had two more chances now, and the distraction of Buck was getting in the way of her dream. After she snapped at him for touching her towel between games, he dragged her off the lanes and found a corner. “What the hell is wrong with you?” “Me? What’s wrong with me? You are destroying my chances for the perfect score. Why can’t you leave me alone?” Marlene felt desperate. Buck reared back with hurt in his blue eyes. “Is that what you want?” Is that what she wanted? To have him leave her alone? “I ... don’t know.” He huffed out an impatient breath. “Well, let me tell you what I wanted to tell you earlier. I like you, Lee. A lot. More than I should after only a week. I want to have something with you after this. I don’t want it to end here.” Marlene’s entire body clenched. “You what?” Buck slapped the wall beside her. “I want us to be together, baby. I want to come see you whenever I can.” He cupped her face. “I like you.” He kissed her. “I like you.” He kissed her again. “I like you.” “You don’t love me?” Marlene squeaked. It was the only thing she could get out. Her throat decided to close up like a vice. Her heart thundered so loud it drowned out the rest of the bowling alley. She could only hear Buck. She could only see Buck.

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He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s love. Yet.”

Yet. “Y’all got to bowl now,” Jesse said from behind them. “We got a schedule to keep.” Buck kissed her hard, then stepped away. “Let’s kick some ass, baby.” Marlene took a deep breath and nodded. They walked back to the lanes together and although things weren’t settled between them, she felt better. More in control. Less antsy. Strange how a little tiff with Buck actually made her feel better instead of worse. The second game was better, but neither of them was able to hit the three hundred mark. Marlene’s stomach was jumping like crazy and she was nervous as hell. When the third game came up on the scoring computer, she felt like crying. This was it. Her one and only chance. Buck wiped down his ball and watched her try to dry her damp hands. Her wrist brace dangled from her hand while the bowling charm bracelet graced the other wrist. He must have sensed how tense and frustrated she was. He stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders. His big hands soothed the knotted muscles while he spoke in her ear “Don’t try to throw that perfect game, just bowl. It’s like singing. If you focus on the music too much, you lose the melody.” Buck’s quiet words hit her between the eyes. He was right. She was so busy trying to bowl a three hundred game that she was forgetting to bowl. He turned her around and kissed her again. Marlene finally smiled. This is what a partner meant. She could get used to that so easily. “You ready?” For the first time in the tournament, she was ready. “As I’ll ever be. Let’s win us some money.” With a big grin, and another toe curling kiss for luck, Buck and Marlene got busy trying to bowl. After the fourth frame with both of them throwing strikes, a crowd began to

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gather behind them. Marlene concentrated on Buck and just throwing the ball the best she could. If she thought about not throwing a strike, she would. By the start of the ninth frame, they both had eight strikes. Marlene felt like nothing could stop her. Her confidence was flying as high as her heart. This was it. Her perfect moment.

Perfect. That was it. She had described Buck as the perfect man. That’s what she was missing or perhaps refused to recognize. It meant taking a chance not only on him, but trusting him not to break her heart. Marlene made her approach, trying to ignore the two hundred people watching her. One pin almost didn’t fall, but at the last second, it toppled.

Strike! “Go, Marlene!” “Yeah, Big Mac!” Marlene turned to Buck and grinned. He gave her a high five and went to make his ninth strike. It was going to happen. They were both going to achieve that three hundred game. Together. Buck threw the ball and it hit the pins too head on. The five and seven pins stood solidly on the lane. A collective groan rose from the crowd behind her. Marlene felt like a horse had kicked her. He stood there hanging his head with his hands on his hips. She approached him and touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry, sweetie.” “It’s okay. There’s always next year.” Buck turned and took her hand. “You can still do it. I believe in you.” The honesty in his blue eyes finally broke through her armor. “Buck, I --”

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“Not now, baby. You’ve got a game to win.” He kissed her quickly and turned her back to the ball return. Buck picked up the spare easily, and then it was her turn. Marlene thought her confidence would desert her after he blew his three hundred game, but strangely enough, it didn’t. He believed in her and she believed in herself. As easily as she’d done thousands of times, Marlene bowled her ninth strike. The crowd was getting louder behind them. Buck cheered and kissed her. He finished out his tenth frame with a strike and a spare. Then it was Marlene’s turn. Tenth frame. Her three hundred game was three balls away. The time was now. Her time was now. Marlene bowled a messy strike, but all ten pins fell. The noise from the crowd reached a crescendo. Buck stood up and frowned at all of them, holding up his hands. “Let her concentrate, y’all. This ain’t a rodeo! Especially you.” He pointed a finger at Terry Adams, and Marlene actually chuckled. The noise settled down to a reasonable level, and Buck nodded at her. The confidence in his gaze was what she needed. Marlene stood on the approach and closed her eyes. She balanced the ball in her right hand and focused on throwing the ball across her mark. Amazingly, when she opened her eyes and threw the ball, it was a strike. The pressure was like an anvil on her head. It was completely self-induced and she knew it. She could do it. She knew she could do it. When the ball rolled back into the ball return, she picked it up. No use putting it off. The moment had arrived. The hush behind her was almost as disconcerting as the noise. She ignored it all in favor of staring at the little arrow on the lane, the arrow that guaranteed her a strike. Her mark. Her blessed mark. Marlene didn’t realize she was holding her breath until the ball hit the pins and they scattered.

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Marlene sucked in a breath and watched the pins seemingly fall in slow motion. When the tenth pin fell, the crowd erupted behind her. Buck picked her up and twirled her around. It was unreal! She realized she’d done it. She’d done it! The elation poured through her and her tears fell. Buck set her down and wiped her cheeks. “There’s no reason to cry, baby. You did it!” “I know. I don’t know why I’m crying. I’m so happy, I feel like singing!” Through all the congratulations and the dozens of folks who wished her well, Buck stood by her side. Always there for her, sharing in her joy.

***** At the party Friday night, Marlene smiled so much her face hurt. She’d never expected her entire life to change in a week. It was like a lifetime of changes. She’d found a man, a measure of true self-confidence, achieved her dream of a three hundred game, and earned ten thousand dollars. That meant she needed to think about where her life was going after this. More than one person at the party jokingly asked her about borrowing some of her winnings. Marlene knew it would take some careful planning to decide how and what she’d spend that money on. The party was winding down and the last of the drunks were making their way to taxis or rides home with friends. Marlene stood at the door and watched them go, blissfully tired and happy. Veronica and Patrice were just gathering their things. They looked so cute together. Marlene hoped they had a chance of success at whatever they decided to do.

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“Good night, Marlene. It was a great party. I am so proud of you.” Veronica’s brown eyes were brimming with unshed tears as she hugged Marlene. They’d never been the huggy type of friends, but again, so much had changed. “It was nice of you to invite me. I had fun.” Patrice’s soft smile assured her that Veronica was safe. Next came Babs and her new man, Jimmy. He was the most polite, well-mannered man she’d ever met. Babs was different around him, more relaxed and less caustic. Marlene was glad to see that after ten years, they’d finally found each other. “Great party, Marlene,” Babs said as she reached the door. “Jimmy and I plan on having one soon. You’re both invited.” She grinned like the Cheshire cat. Jimmy shook his head, his raven hair gleaming in the glow from the front porch light. “Aijin, you had too many vodkas. Let’s go home.” Babs laughed and kissed him. “You’re right. Let’s go so we can have wild sex.” Marlene’s laughter followed them out the door as two strong arms came up behind her and squeezed her tight. “Buck.” “Hmmm?” “I like you, too.” She wanted to say so much more, but that was a start. A beginning to what her life could be. Buck turned her around. He kissed her hard. “So you ready to go to Wichita Falls for the weekend?” She took a deep breath and smiled. “Yes, I’m ready. I think I’m finally ready.” Marlene finally had herself a man.

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Beth Williamson Beth Williamson lives just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in New York, she holds a B.F.A. in writing from New York University. Beth has worked as a newspaper reporter, a poet, a novelist, and a technical writer. Beth loves cowboys (long, hard, and packing), and anything from the Old West. She writes historical as well as contemporary erotic romance and romance. Look for strong women who know their minds and are not afraid to show it. No wimpy, whining, weeping heroines within a thousand miles! She professes a weakness, however, for alpha men and their controlling personalities. You can learn more about her work on her website at http://www.bethwilliamson.com.