Page 40 of Cowboys at Coconuts

“Actually, grades and classes are the least of my worries.” Making his way to the kitchen, he opened and closed a cabinet door but returned to the couch empty-handed. Lowering his voice, he said, “Why now? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Suppressing any glee about having the house to themselves, Suzy said, “I’ll support any decision you make.” Yawning, she said, “Why don’t you finish your drink and try to relax? I’ll clean the dishes.” Donning pink plastic gloves, she squirted dish soap into the sink. Her phone on the counter beeped indicating a text from Jon. Glancing at the screen, her heart melted when she saw a new photo of a smiling Violet Grace.My beautiful redheaded granddaughter.Suzy smiled when she noticed two teeth emerging on Violet’s bottom gum line.Jon always seems to know when I need him.

Chapter 37

Turning toward the husky female voice, Cheri narrowed her eyes when she recognized the gorgeous women she almost beat at pool. Never taking her eyes off Cheri, Jade put the kickstand down on her motorcycle, removed her helmet, and shook her mane of shiny, black hair.

Soon transfixed on Cole, Jade asked, “How ya been, honey? Long time no see.” She shot Cheri a glance. “Not since our infamous pool game where I won.”

“I wouldn’t call that a win,” Cheri muttered. Cole stood guard by the swimming pool as if he wanted to avoid a cat fight on one hand but wanted to intervene on the other.

Breaking the tense silence, one of the ball cap-wearing guys held a beer in one hand and splashed Cole with the other. “Are you waitin’ for it to warm up, pansy?”

Jade eyed Cole from his head to his toes and back again. “I see you haven’t lost your figure, honey.” She plucked a cigarette out of her black leather pants, never taking her eyes off him. “Anybody got a light?”

Three of the men standing around the galvanized beer tub ran to her side. All had lighters flicked.

“Settle down, boys. I only need one.” Jade threw her head back and laughed.

Cheri narrowed her eyes.Why does this woman always appear and ruin my dates with Cole?She noticed Cole avoided eye contact with both of them.

Motorcycle woman shrugged off her cropped leather jacket, exposing a corset-style, low-cut black leather vest. Her voluptuous, tanned breasts spilled over the top. She unzipped and shimmied out of her black leather pants in slow motion, obviously ready to give the guys a show. Beneath her long pants was a tiny red bikini. She draped her clothes across her bike with an excruciating deliberateness. It was as if the party had stopped. Hell, it was as if the earth had stopped rotating. All eyes were on Cole’s ex-girlfriend, and she reveled in it.

Ignoring Jade’s antics, who left Cole standing with his mouth agape, Cheri climbed into the pool, clothes be damned. She wasn’t about to leave the area and change now. Shivering, she said, “Brr.”

“Ain’t you ever been in a backyard pool before, city slicker?” one of the beer drinkers asked.

“Her name is Cheri,” Cole said.

So he can speak.Cheri did her best to ignore the stares.

Motorcycle woman sauntered over, stood too close to Cole, and blew smoke in Cheri’s direction.

Bristling, Cheri wasn’t about to take the bait. Determined to ignore Jade, she locked eyes with Cole. “Getting in?”

He eased one leg in and then the other. “Shit. It’s cold.”

“Pussy,” the moonshine guy yelled. Others laughed while motorcycle woman blew smoke rings in Cole’s face.

“Trust me. Cole is no pussy,” Jade said.

Cheri caught the attention of Moonshine Man. “Got any more of that dandelion wine?”

One of the guys hopped out and returned with a large, red plastic cup filled to the brim with the nasty moonshine. Cheri didn’t care. She needed it.

Cole eyed her as she drank half the concoction in one gulp. “Whoa. That stuff is stronger than normal wine. Better slow down.”

Motorcycle woman threw her head back and laughed. “That shit’s not strong. Where’s my whiskey, boys?”

A skinny guy with a hairless chest wearing only red suspenders and knee-length shorts splashed everyone as he jumped out, in an obvious attempt to be the first to get Jade’s drink. “Coming right up.”

Narrowing her eyes, Cheri shook her head. “Are you helpless? Can’t you get it yourself, Jaaaade?”

Cole’s eyes widened. He whispered, “You don’t want her as an enemy.”

Narrowing her eyes, Cheri said, “If I can handle New Yorkers, I can handleJade.”

Motorcycle woman took a long drag of her cigarette. The ashes grew and dangled precariously over the pool. Blowing out a puff, Jade cupped her mouth, and yelled, “Having fun with our country boys, New York?”

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