Page 3 of A Show of Love (The Cowboy Gangster)

Get out now!Clint looked back at the exit, then at Cochise. “I think we just walked into a trap.”

The Egyptian nodded.

“Wait!” Axel grabbed Clint by the arm when the two men tried to make a break for it.

Kane caught Cochise before he took more than a step or two.

“Relax.”Axel laughed. “This isn’t a trap… per se.”

“So, itis?”Clint muttered.

“Okay…” Axel shrugged sheepishly. “Maybe it is… a little.”

“There is nolittle,”Clint growled. “Either it is, or it isn’t.” Whatever the little shit had planned, Clint knew he wanted no part of it if he had to betrickedinto coming there.

“Well, we kind of had to, or you wouldn’t have come with us.”

“And what does that tell you?”

“Um…” Axel chewed his lower lip thoughtfully. “… that you’re stubborn? And if I want your cooperation, I have to use trickery?” He squinted and smiled sweetly.

Clint shook his head, knowing full well that Axel was playing on Clint’s inability to resist him. “What is thesurprise?”

“This.” Axel gestured to the stage.

Clint frowned. “What…” he started, when two club boys walked out on stage, shirtless and wearing skin-tight black leather pants. Turning slowly to Axel, Clint snarled, “What…is this?”

Cochise stared at the strippers with the samesavageryas pumped through the cowboy’s veins just now.

“Well… it’s like this…” Axel sidled up to Clint and playfully plucked at the front of his shirt. “I thought it might be a good idea to, um…” He cast a quick look at Kane. “…practicefor our bachelor party.”

The two gangsters exchanged a look of mild alarm. “Practice?”

Cochise craned his head at Kane. “Practicewhat?”

Axel and Kane glanced at the stage where the two club boys passed the time dancing together, swaying and gyrating against one another.

He’s joking—he has to be.Clint watched the dancers for a tense moment.He can’t be fucking serious.

“It’s time to go,” Clint insisted, his tone brittle. “This…”He gestured vehemently at the stage. “… is not happening.” He turned on his boot heel and headed for the exit. Cochise’s heavy footsteps weren’t far behind.

“Wait.Wait.”Axel caught up to him and grabbed his hand, halting the cowboy before he passed into the entryway. “Okay. I’m sorry for being sneaky. But it was the only way we could get you guys here. And weneedto do this.”

Clint exhaled hard. “Why?”

“Because…” Axel sighed and smiled small. “… youknowthat Cole and Gabe and the others willinsistwe dance on stage, like they did at their bachelor party. They won’t let us leave until we do. And…” Axel inched closer, pressing his hips to Clint’s crotch. “… I want toblow them away. They won’t be expecting you and Cochise to provide much of a show. How shocked—and delighted—would they be if wedidgive them a show? A hell of ahotshow.”

Clint grunted. “There’s very little I wouldn’t do for you,” he muttered. “But this…” he shook his head. “Sorry. Ain’t nothin’ getting me on that stage. Gabriel and his boys have anotherthinkcoming if they think they’re getting us up there.”

The Egyptian nodded his agreement.

Axel gazed into Clint’s eyes for a moment, then sighed and stepped back, hanging his head as he cast Kane a defeated look and a shrug. “You were right,” he mumbled, genuine disappointment etched across his face. “We should’ve known they’d never go for it.”

Kane smiled weakly. “We tried.”

Walking to the edge of the stage, Axel spoke to the dancers. “Sorry, guys. It’s a no-go. Thanks, anyway.”

“What?” The taller of the two—Ricky, Clint thought was his name—hopped off the stage. “Seriously? But this would’ve been so much fun.”

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