Laredo's Sassy Sweetheart by Tina Leonard Page B

clean about the lie. She’s working on two tiers, is what I think.”
    “What else could she be doing?” Katy asked.
    “Trying to throw me off track. Exactly what was it they did with the last cowboy?”
    Hannah shuffled the card deck on her knees. “They lured him.”
    “Okay. I’m not the kind of guy who can be lured.”
    Both women stared at him incredulously. Then Katy shrugged, opening the truck door. “Come on. Let’s spread out in the truck bed where we can think this through better.”
    “A beer will definitely help my thinking process,” Laredo agreed cheerfully. He pulled downthe truck gate and they piled in, each grabbing a blanket to sit on. They pulled beers from the cooler, and then the cooler became a table for the cards.
    “This night sky is gorgeous,” Hannah said. “And that will help my thinking process. Don’t take your shoes off, Katy. You need them for the game.”
    “No, no,” Laredo disagreed. “Remember, she wants the practice of being a mantrap. I’m willing to let her practice on me, and she can start by being near naked.”
    “That’s assuming you win,” Katy said frostily, “and I don’t intend for that to happen. You eliminated yourself from practicing with me when you discussed me with Cissy.”
    “Picky, picky,” he said. “Take your shoes off if you want.”
    “I’ll keep them on. All night, more than likely.” She gave him a level stare, but Laredo grinned at her.
    “All right, back to the plan,” Hannah said, dealing hands. “You’re not the kind of guy who can be lured, you say. But sex is their great weapon, and hey, we all know a guy can’t pass that up.”
    Laredo cleared his throat as Katy’s gaze stayed on him. “Well, it is a lot to ask, but sacrifices are necessary at times. And the Lonely Hearts ladies did a lot for my family last month. I can refuse luring.”
    Hannah put down one card, while Laredo and Katy asked for three.
    “If you’re the dealer, aren’t you supposed to go last?” Laredo asked.
    “This is just a friendly game of poker,” Hannah said. “Just something to help me concentrate.” They all turned up their cards, drawing a smirk from Hannah. “Choose your article of clothing, cowboy.”
    Good-naturedly, he pulled off a boot and tossed it over the edge of the truck. “Opening-round bad luck.”
    Katy raised her brows. “If Laredo continues to resist Cissy, they’ll try another tack.”
    “Right.” Hannah nodded as she dealt another hand. “And you’ve got the if handled?”
    Laredo nodded. “The if is not even a problem. I’m pretty certain that sex with Cissy would be one of those trips into the phantasmagoric wonderland of excess a man tries diligently to avoid.”
    The women stared at him.
    “Right,” Hannah said, her brows raised. “Then we have to be prepared for sabotage, I suppose.”
    “Sabotage!” Katy dropped another three cards. “You don’t mean our bull?”
    “It’s possible,” Hannah said. “It’s either our stud or our bull. That’s sort of how Marvella thinks.”
    “Hey!” Laredo exclaimed.
    “Her steely mind adds up our weapons. But I still think Marvella would never believe that Cissy couldn’t pull off enticing Laredo,” Hannah continued blithely.
    He finished a beer and tossed the empty into the cooler. “You girls make it sound like I’m so easy,”he complained, grabbing another beer. “I’m not like other guys.”
    They turned over their cards.
    “I lost again,” Laredo said, disbelieving. “Are you cheating, Katy?”
    “Me?” She shook her head. “But speaking of cheating, who is the Never Lonely Cut-N-Gurls cowboy? Does anybody know?”
    “That might help us, if we knew that in advance,” Hannah said.
    “Would you steal him?” Laredo asked. “Isn’t that a lying, cheating combination? And copying the enemy’s game plan?”
    “Shh,” Hannah told him. “I’m going to call Cissy and ask, since she’s such a blabbermouth these days.” Pulling out a cell