Page 4 of A Show of Love (The Cowboy Gangster)

“I agree,” Axel murmured and shrugged again. “But this isn’t their thing. We shouldn’t have even tried.”

The boy’s defeated expression niggled at Clint’s heart.

No—not this time. He’s just going to have to deal with the disappointment.

Kane stood beside Cochise, hands clamped weakly on his hips, eyes down, his earlier excitement drained away. Clint shifted his focus to the Egyptian who stared at his fiancé, face taut and brow pinched firm.

Stay strong, brother.

“Guys…” Ricky the stripper sauntered toward the men, hands splayed. “… come on. You’ll have a blast. And it’s just us. Nothing to be afraid of.”

His face twitching, Clint wasn’t keen on admitting he wasscaredto try somethingthisnew. Cochise stared at the stripper in silence, eyes narrowed to slits.

“Have you ever danced on stage?” Ricky asked Kane.

Kane laughed nervously. “No, of course not.”

“But you’re willing to do this—for your man?”

Kane swallowed and nodded. “Absolutely. I’m sure I’ll make a fool of myself,” he chuckled anxiously. “But I’d rather get through the awkward stuff now, when no one is watching, than later… at our bachelor party.”

“Exactly.” Ricky winked.

“It doesn’t matter,” Cochise growled. “No one is getting me on stage at the bachelor party.”

Ricky and his partner—Levi?—cackled loudly. “You don’t know the Phoenix boys as well as you think you do, then. Cole, Gabe, and Dane, especially, willhaulyou onstage, if necessary. They arerelentless.”

Clint remained steadfast. “Let ‘em try.”

“Forget it,” Axel said quietly to the boys. “It’s over. They’re not doing this. Thanks for coming down here.”

“Seriously?” Levi whined. “I was all pumped up for these lessons.”

Axel gave him a feeble smile. “Me, too. But it wasn’t fair for us to trick them into coming here.”

The cowboy grumbled inwardly and turned away from Axel as his heart began to hollow out.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Axel returned to Clint and took his hand. “Let’s go home,” he whispered and headed for the exit.

God dammit.

Clint halted and yanked Axel to an abrupt stop. He let out a stiff breath. “Wait.”

“What?” Axel stared at him.

Clint shot Cochise a tense look. The Egyptian’s face twitched and he slowly,reluctantlynodded.

“Clint?”

“Uuh,”Clint groaned and rubbed his face. “Okay. We’ll… do it.”

“You’ll…” Axel was stunned, and he glanced at Kane who exhibited equal shock. Sighing, Axel shook his head. “You don’t have to,” he murmured. “I was wrong to do this, and I don’t expect you to—”

“Stop arguing with me, boy,” the cowboy muttered, “before I change my mind.”

Axel smiled uncertainly. “But why…?”

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