Page 276 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs
Before she could escape, Gertrude caught her arm. “You can’t get distracted tonight. This is too important. We’ve got to find Brooke and make sure she doesn’t do something crazy.”
“I think we may be a little late for that,” Gracie said.
They watched as Brooke downed a glass of beer and stood. She wobbled like she was trying to balance on a tight wire. The lowlife sitting next to her put a meaty hand on her arm, but she laughed and jerked out of his grasp.
“What is she doing?” Gracie whispered.
“For goodness sakes, Gracie, you don’t have to whisper. No one can hear us,” Gertrude said.
“Oh, yeah … I forgot!” Gracie yelled loud enough to make Gertrude wince.
Brooke made her way over to the mechanical bull. She leaned against the padded barrier and started cheering for the man who was riding.
“Look at her,” Gracie said, disgusted. “She’s practically throwing herself at that man.”
“Yep, and the other man she was with at the bar doesn’t look too happy about it.”
Gracie looked at the bushy-browed man with the large muscles and tattoos. He was fixated, watching Brooke’s every move. “I guess Meat Head over there thought he’d gotten his hooks into Brooke, and he’s not going to let her get away from him that easily.”
A waitress wearing a skimpy bikini and chaps said something to Brooke who laughed and retrieved a credit card from her pocket. She handed it to the waitress.
Gracie made a face. “Surely she’s not having another drink!” Someone needed to go over and knock some sense into Brooke. Things were fast spiraling out of control.
“It looks like it.” Gertrude shook her head. “She’s already having problems standing up.”
Watching Brooke shamelessly flirt with the men gathered around the mechanical bull was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. The overhead lights reflected off her blonde hair, casting streaks of gold. Her tight jeans were molded to her long legs, and she was wearing high-heeled, leather boots. She was like a gullible goose, thrown into the middle of hungry wolves, pawing at her, each trying to get their piece. She turned to Gertrude. “What can we do to stop this?”
“Unfortunately, nothing.” There was a note of sadness in her voice.
The band starting playingBoot Scootin’ Boogie. They watched, in horror, as Brooke slurped down another beer and strutted over to the band. When the song ended, she pushed her way onto the stage and to the microphone.
“Hello,” she said to the lead singer. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to make a little announcement.”
“Be my guest,” he said, making a point of appreciatively looking her up and down.
“Thanks, sugar,” she drawled, leaning over and kissing him full on the mouth.
This brought hoots and catcalls from the crowd as the man nervously cleared his throat and stepped back.
Brooke leaned into the microphone and pointed to the mechanical bull. “My mother tells me that I have a thing for cowboys—bull rider’s in particular. Anyway, in honor of my mother, I’d like to make you fellas a deal. Whichever one of you cowboys tames that bull tonight gets to spend some time with yours truly!” She smiled, pointing to herself.
A roar went through the crowd while several guys lined up to ride the bull.
She giggled and then belched as she got down from the stage and stumbled over to the bar. “Another beer!” she demanded.
The bartender shook his head. “I believe you’ve had enough.”
“Party Pooper!” Brooke turned to the tattooed man and slapped him on the back. “Hey, Ted, wanna ride the bull?”
Before he could answer, she went over to the bullpen and climbed on top of a nearby table. She began swaying her hips to the music. “Ride ‘em cowboy!” she hollered at the man on the bull.
When all of the riders were finished, the one who’d stayed on the longest approached the table. He wore a victorious grin.
“Now, that’s what I call a Texas-size smile,” Brooke drawled. “What’s your name, cowboy?”
“Cody.” He held out his hand. When she placed her hand in his, he encircled her waist and lifted her down from the table. “If I had my rope, I’d lasso you, little lady.” Roughly, he jerked her body against his. “What do you want to do tonight?”
Brooke threw back her head and laughed. “Get married!”
