25. Clara #2
She spun away and jogged down the street with more pep in her step than I’d seen in years. Maybe I wouldn’t get my happily-ever-after, but I’d be damned if I’d sit back and watch my friend languishing in the shadows for any longer.
As for my own dear husband…
He had no idea the fight I was about to bring to his doorstep.
The door opened and I sauntered through, my red high-heeled shoes clicking across the hardwood floors of The Beaver and Boot. Everyone stopped to look at me, but that was the point.
Donning a slinky red dress with a slit up the thigh that rivaled Jessica Rabbit’s, I sauntered over to the bar, sliding onto one of the stools. With a flash of thigh, I crossed one leg over the other, giving everyone something to chew on.
But one man in particular.
I was showing way more cleavage than I ever had in my life, but Lizzy assured me that I looked hot.
I’d never looked hot in my life. Well, maybe when I was younger, but I never dressed even close to anything like this. I was always the homemaker, the good girl who waited at home for her husband.
But tonight?
Tonight, I was here to show my husband exactly what he was missing. He’d rue the day he winked at River Ainsley.
Lizzy strolled over, smirking at me as she grabbed a wine glass. “Hot, Momma.”
“No wine tonight. I need something more adventurous.”
“Okay, and what is adventurous to you?”
I had no idea. “Give me something that will attract every eye in the place.”
She snorted, grabbing a different glass. “And how many men were you planning on going home with tonight?”
“If I play this right, only one.”
Smiling, she mixed a drink for me while Maverick took the stool beside me.
“I should haul you in for disturbing the peace, Clara.”
“Maverick, do not flirt with me.”
A low chuckle left his lips as he held up a finger to JR. “Not flirting. Just letting you know it’s working.”
“And what would that be?”
“Clara, you know exactly what you’re doing, though I suspect your husband does not, based on the scowl on his face.”
“Well, he started it.”
“Did he?” Mav shook his head, snagging his beer from the bar top. “I don’t know about that one. Enjoy…whatever this is,” he laughed, walking away.
“He’s right,” Lizzy chuckled. “You really did start this.”
“In what way?”
“Well, you started going to the gym.”
“To make myself feel better.”
“And this is the result,” she nodded to me. “Momma, face it. You’re hot, and everyone’s noticing. Do you really think that isn’t driving Daddy wild? Do you think he’s just sitting back, not wondering at all why you’re suddenly doing this?”
“I would think that would be obvious.”
“To who?”
“Whom,” I corrected before I could stop myself. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. This isn’t about getting his attention. This is about showing him what he’s missing.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“It isn’t at all. Do you know he’s been flirting with River Ainsley?” I hissed.
She burst out laughing, quickly clapping a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. He was showing off his muscles for her.”
“First—Eww. I do not want to think about Daddy showing off anything. And second, how can you be so sure he was flirting with her?”
I rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of the statement. “Are you serious? Of course he was flirting with her. That’s what men do when they flex their muscles for women.”
“Momma—”
“I’m not stupid, Lizzy. I know when a man is flirting with someone else.”
She held up her hands and walked away, leaving me alone to sip whatever concoction she shoved in front of me.
After my last night out, I wasn’t so sure I should be here drinking at all.
I wasn’t exactly on friendly terms with alcohol, but a few sips should be fine. I just had to keep my wits about me.
I sat there for a good five minutes all by myself. No one approached, and I didn’t feel the heated gaze of my husband’s eyes on my back. I was beginning to think I’d worn this ridiculous dress for nothing.
And that’s when CPR Charlie walked over and took the stool beside me. “Clara Parker. You look damn fine this evening.”
“Charlie,” I winked, taking a sip of my drink.
“Is there a reason you’re dressed up like that?”
“I just wanted to get out and feel good about myself.”
“Well, you’re about to give half the men in here a heart attack. Don’t you know it’s dangerous for a man to see a woman as fine as you sitting at the bar?”
I appreciated the sentiment, but there was no one watching me. “Look at you, trying to make a woman feel wanted.”
A chuckle slipped from his lips as he took a drink. “Well, you keep thinking that.”
“Charlie, there is not a single man in this bar staring at me.”
“Honey, every man in the bar is taking a turn to gawk at you, but that’s in between your husband giving them the stink eye.”
I discreetly glanced over my shoulder in my husband’s direction, but he wasn’t looking at me at all. Nope, he was talking with Sam and Deke without a care in the world.
“Sure, Charlie.”
He was a sweet man, married to his job for the last twenty-five years. Working for the ambulance service and fire department was his life, and no woman had tempted him yet.
“Why don’t you make a woman feel good and put some music on the jukebox.”
A sly grin crossed his lips. “So, you want me to spin you around the dance floor to make your husband jealous.”
“What I want is to have some fun.”
Chuckling, he held out his hand to me. “Clara Parker, you do love playing with fire.”
I took his hand and slid from the stool as he guided me over to the dance floor. He tossed a quarter to Buck, who sat by the jukebox as if it was his sole job in life to man the thing.
“That was a nice trick.”
“Yeah? Did you like that?” he asked as he pulled me into his arms. “You should see what else I have up my sleeve. I’ll make you wish you never married Ben.”
Chuckling, I let him twirl me around the dance floor, trying to keep up when I wore heels that were made for a younger, more coordinated version of myself.
“I’m going to fall if you keep tossing me around!”
“Should have gone with cowboy boots. Don’t you know that’s all Ben likes to see you in?”
“Apparently, he’s got a wandering eye.”
“Ben?” He frowned, glancing over my shoulder. “Nah. Haven’t seen him look at anybody but you since I’ve known the man.”
That’s what people kept telling me, but I’d seen the way he looked at River. He’d shown off for her, and that was something he hadn’t done for me in years.
“Well, maybe I’m just out to have a good time and remind myself what it’s like to feel young.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place.”
And for the next half hour, he made me laugh, flung me around, and made me work up a sweat so bad that I had to stop before I ruined this beautiful dress.
“No more,” I laughed.
“Fine, but I’m coming back to claim you after another drink.”
I headed back to the bar for a glass of water, smiling so big at the way I felt inside. Desired. I hadn’t had so much fun in years, but the moment I sat down, I glanced over in the corner, only to find Ben’s table vacated.
The joy in my chest instantly deflated, and my night out no longer held the same appeal. After tossing money down, I slipped out, not even offering a goodbye to Charlie.
The moment I walked through the door to the house, I kicked off my heels and tossed my purse on the entry table. My feet were exhausted, and my good mood had vanished, along with my husband.
“You looked like you were having fun out there.”
I gasped as Ben’s voice caught me off guard, scaring the crap out of me. Marching forward, I flipped on the light in the living room, glaring at my husband who sat amongst the construction with a glass of whiskey in his hand.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just making sure you came home tonight,” he bit out. “Wasn’t sure when you showed up at the bar in that…dress.”
The word was laced with disgust, but his eyes roaming over my body told a different story.
“You’re one to talk,” I said, tossing down my keys before striding into the room, grabbing my own whiskey.
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, please. Like you don’t know?”
Ice clinked in the glass, giving me only the slightest reprieve from the intensity of his stare. Whiskey slid down my throat, the burn taking away the sting of rejection I still felt.
My whole body stiffened as he stepped behind me, his chest brushing against my back as his hands found my hips, his fingers digging into my dress. His intoxicating scent wrapped around me as his nose skimmed my neck, and I inadvertently tilted my head, giving him the access I craved.
Just one touch of his lips made me shiver.
The softest kiss against my skin unraveled me.
One rough hand slid across my belly, pulling me tightly against him. My hand slid up, my fingers knifing through his hair as my eyes slipped shut. I didn’t want to think about him flirting with River or the way he glared at me at the bar. I only wanted this moment.
To feel his body against mine.
To be reminded of what we once had.
“Fuck, Clara, why the hell did you wear this?”
Heat pooled between my legs as he trailed his hand over my thigh to the slit in my dress. The pads of his fingers skimmed over my flesh at the slit, then drew the material higher until he bunched it in his fist at my hip.
All it took was a single look—the tilt of my head—my lips brushing against his.
My dress was torn from my body, leaving me in nothing but my bra and panties. I hadn’t been this naked in front of him in years.