All Smoke No Fire by Randi Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

road below them whizzing by at the speed of light. “Is this legal?”
    “I don’t know.” She laid her head back on his chest and traced his ribs with her fingertips. “But I love to watch the world go by when I’m lying here.”
    “Yeah, this is great.” They lay for a while, just looking out the small porthole.
    “Dax?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Why do you call me kitten?”
    “You’ve got those gorgeous eyes, mysterious like a cat’s.” He ran his hand through her hair. “All this silky hair. Then, of course, there’s that sweet little pussy of yours.”
    “There is that.” She sighed and he almost expected her to start purring. Instead, she lifted her head. “I’m gonna take a shower. Not sure if there’s room for two, but we could try.”
    “Trying will be the most interesting part.”
    ****
    After the shower, they dried each other and jumped back into her bed for a hot reverse-cowgirl ride. The bus stopped at a gas station with a sandwich shop and they picked up supplies and ate in the bedroom, reclining and watching television. They grabbed the can of whipped cream and made creative use of it. As the sun set, Marilou started yawning. The man pure wore her out. She wanted to drag Dax back into her bed just to sleep with him, but she didn’t want to put him on the spot, force him to snuggle if he wasn’t that type of guy.
    “You tired, kitten?” He stood and hauled their trash into the other room, then came back and held his hand out to her. “Ready for bed?”
    She nodded. “We can get in a few hours before we hit New Orleans.” They shared the sink to brush their teeth, then shut off all but the nightlight in the bathroom. Waiting for him to choose the sleeping arrangements, she tugged at the hem of her shirt.
    “Pajamas?” He pulled off his T-shirt.
    “What?”
    “You gonna change into your pajamas, or are we sleeping naked?” He dropped his shirt on the floor, then proceeded to take off his jeans.
    She smiled. He wasn’t going anywhere but into her bed.
    They woke when the bus pulled to a stop, and Marilou slid open her little window. Lights lit the familiar intersection. “We’re in the city. We’d best hurry.”
    He wrapped his arm around her, kissing her neck. “I’m looking forward to the next few days alone with you.” Dax jumped out of bed and dressed, packing his things in his duffle bag as Marilou stuffed her clothes in her own suitcase.
    “I’ve never been here before.” He hauled his guitar and bag to the front of the bus and stood looking out the window. “Aw, man, is that the Superdome?”
    She would truly enjoy showing him around, introducing him to local specialties and sights. Wandering out of the bedroom, she sat next to where he stood. Beth drove, expertly maneuvering the tight turns.
    “Different than where you come from?”
    “Yeah. Small town in South Dakota.”
    “How did you get a job working oil?” They drove south on Canal Street toward the river.
    “My friends, Shaw, Huck, and Pete, and I, we all decided to go up and work for enough years to make a fortune.”
    “A fortune? Really?”
    He glanced down at her. “Yep. It’s been big income. Shaw owns a ranch in Lemmon. That’s the town we come from.” He went back to watching the tall buildings on the edge of the French Quarter. “He’s buying a herd of cattle with his money. Pete wants to buy out his parents and run their ranch.” Dax grinned. “If he can convince them to retire. And Huck, heck, he’s got some side stuff going on, but he’ll probably buy an equine operation someday. He’s got a likin’ for horses.”
    “And you? Are you going to buy a ranch, too?”
    With a sigh, he shook his head. “No. I’m a townie. My parents sold the acreage when…when I was just out of high school, and moved to town. I’ve got no interest in ranching.”
    There was more to his story, but she wouldn’t push him. “It’s gotta be nice to have money stashed away, have options.”
    He shrugged.