dropped her hands on the edge of the bar, doing standing pushups to get rid of excess energy. They watched the sleek muscles flex in her low back and stomach, “I hear ye’re rodeo men. That ye can ride the bull, the only men who can?” They nodded with a smile. “I’d like to see that. I mean, ye got to watch me tits bounce on it. Humor me.”
They were off the bar, arms around her waist, one on either side. Heading in the direction of the bull. Luke said, “Such a small request from the hottest woman I think I may have ever seen. I couldn’t be happier to show off.”
He left her with Maddox and Riley, bounding up on the bull in one jump, landing squarely in the saddle. He signaled to Riley and rode the bull hard for twenty seconds. When it was done, he hopped down and nodded at her with a wide grin. Maddox did a duplicate performance and the clapping that had started when both men approached the ring erupted into yells and applause.
At the crowd’s urging, and the brothers telling people in both directions that her name was Katie, they started chanting her name. She was laughing but she was game. “I don’ know I can jump on without buildin’ up through the lower levels.”
Maddox laughed and said suggestively, “Oh, believe me, Katie, everyone enjoys the buildup.”
Katie winked and slipped off her bolero jacket, the tiny half tank top leaving the beautiful Celtic knot tattoo between her shoulder blades exposed. Luke and Maddox shared a look of pure pleasure. She stretched back touching the bend in her knees, then forward, grabbing her ankles, shook herself out and bounded up on the bull. They took her through the paces again, the crowd chanting her name, until they got her to level five and then everyone was screaming and counting off the eight seconds.
As the bull came to a full stop, she pulled off her hat, ran her fingers through her hair, and put it back on. The movement was unintentionally sexual, and the men in the crowd were calling out phone numbers and marriage proposals. She dropped to the mat without using her hands, looked at the brothers, and put her hands on her hips.
“We need to keep this one, bro,” Maddox said. Luke was in complete agreement.
They danced with her, taking turns with her around the floor. They’d been impressed watching her but holding her while she moved was a totally new experience. She seemed to love all music, all dancing, and was happy to see the brothers were game to stay on the floor with her. She stole a scorching kiss from each, both tasting of whiskey which turned her on. Their kisses curled her toes inside her boots. An hour later, she ordered another Jamison then dragged them back out to dance. “Have you eaten, Katie?” Luke asked her, his face pressed to her hair during a slow song.
“Nope, I’m the world’s worst cook, by the way. So if ye’re expectin’ breakfast at any point, look forward to frozen waffles or cereal.” Having her refer to them being with one of them in the morning told him she’d already made her decision. Luke felt his heart rate speed up.
“Maddox can cook. I only know how to grill. Let us order you something, you’ve put out a lot of energy,” he let her know as they joined Maddox.
She chuckled, “Luke, are ye tellin’ me I need to keep me strength up?” Not giving him a chance to answer, Katie said, “I’ll have a burger and a salad. Is there anywhere we can sit that isn’ quite so loud?” They led her to the second floor and entered one of the private banquette rooms. “I don’ think I mentioned, this is a beautiful place. We have a couple places in Longview half the size…not so many…recreational possibilities.” She dropped into a seat and watched them as they sat opposite her.
She took off her hat and set it on the seat beside her, then pulled her hair into a lovely chaotic bun on top of her head, little curls escaping left and right. “So…I was filled in on your reputations, as ye intended, I appreciate the heads’ up, but it wasn’t necessary. I’d already scoped ye after the bull, thought I’d have to choose…that would have proven difficult, naturally. But I’m curious. Why me? Ye could have the pick of any o’ those cute little things downstairs.”
Maddox gave her a smile that was all teeth, “Oh, Katie, that’s exactly why. We spotted you when you came in, from our office. Immediately attracted, but we decided to watch you. You kept buying rounds for your friends, tipping the servers well, laughing constantly. You were drinking a lot, not even getting tipsy. Your friends love you, look to you for direction, shows a woman who knows her own mind and is confident in that fact.”
“Then you started dancing and we were amazed you never danced with the same man twice. You laughed with each, kept them decent. Only chose men taller than you…bigger alpha male types. Usually cowboys. Didn’t give any of them your number or accept their drink offers. You line danced with your friends, could teach a damn class, you’re that good. Talked them thru the steps so they wouldn’t be too lost.” Luke was watching her intently.
“You stood watching the bull for a long time, shaking your head at every man who hit the mat,” Maddox continued, leaning toward her, “Outright laughed at any that hit the mat before level three.” His gaze got hungry, “Then you rode the bull and both of us went rock hard. Saw you talking to Riley, the operator, then you looked up and we knew you’d wanted to know if there were any men in the place who could match you.”
“When Bibi started blushing, we had a moment of worry but you smiled, laughed, finished your beer, and came to us…dancing your way through the crowd. Put the man straight who grabbed your ass but did it without humiliating him, just letting him know you’re picky and he hadn’t passed inspection.” Luke glanced at the door as the server entered with their food. When she was gone, they dug into the food and continued talking.
“So, what would have happened if I’d only wanted one of ye?” she asked and saw her candor shocked them.
Maddox laughed, “You have got to be the most interesting woman we’ve ever met. If that happened, and it has before, we’d have competed for you until you picked. The loser would have found another choice and that would have been that. Wouldn’t have been as good for you, but one of us would have been very happy anyway.”
“Tell us about you, Katie,” Luke implored. “How is it you came to Texas?”
She laughed, “Is there anywhere else in the US? Me Da and brothers, and all me kin before, are ranchers. That’s what they do. Two of my brothers still run the big place in Ireland with their wives. Da decided he wanted to branch out. Brought the semen of our best bulls here, bought the best females he could find, and had them impregnated. Came here when I was eighteen and went to college. I met Bibi there, she was my roommate for four years. I got married and had it annulled, to a man me Da thought was perfect for me and I outmanned in every way. Had it after six weeks and got me own place. I run a company online, workin’ from home, that sells authentic Irish products I import in via me sisters-in-law. Americans eat that shit up. I’ll be twenty-five in a couple o’ months, have everything I need, most things I want, good family and friends, an active lifestyle I spend most o’ in bars.
“If I meet a man who can’ match me, I’m turned off almost immediately, don’ care how rich, good-lookin’, or well-endowed they happen to be. I’m a strong personality, I require a strong man…or, men, as the case appears to be. I can rope, ride, fix me own truck, and do just about everything a man can do. Better at most ‘man’ things than ‘woman’ things actually. I’m a terrible cook, hate housework, and couldn’ sew on a damn button to save me life… me poor mum had such high hopes for her only daughter. I have me own money and plenty to occupy me sweet feminine brain. Because I’m picky, I’ve not had sex since me marriage three years ago, which was completely unspectacular to begin with. Rather, anticlimactic, if ye get me meanin’. I know there’s better and I’m particularly interested in findin’ it. I’m here for three days while Bibi gets married but I’m only forty-five minutes away.”
The brothers looked at one another and Maddox said, “I told you I wanted to keep her.”
Luke nodded, “We’re the only boys in our family, have three little sisters. Our parents are still alive and live not too far from here, on the cattle ranch we grew up on. We bought a huge piece of land across the road and had a house built that we share. We went to college on football scholarships and made our first big money on the rodeo circuit. Wise investments, including this bar, have made us plenty. We’ve dated women separately and together, but find that having a woman together gives her so much pleasure that it automatically increases our own. Did it the first time when we met a girl in a bar who had a fantasy about being with twins. We were nineteen, been addicted ever since. Hard to find sweet country girls willing to indulge more than once. As you’ve heard, we have a reputation for it, so that isn’t always good, but no one knows anything about our previous partners.” Luke wanted to reassure her.
“Oh, I could care less. I’m so wild anyway, no one expects any less than all-out from me.” She wiped her lips and set the food aside, most of the salad and half the burger gone. Both men had devoured their food. “So how long do ye have to stay? Do ye close the bar?”
“We do…what would you like to do until we can get out of here?” Maddox asked her, wishing the time by
