At the saloon...
"I'm telling you Kian you have it all wrong about Kimberly. There is
nothing icy about her in the least, God help me." Mark said biting his lip.
"And just when did you become an expert on Miss Mahaffey?" Shane asked crossing his arms across his chest.
"Let's put it this way lad, once I had seen her almost naked and she seeing me in the alltogether you come to know a person."
The look of utter horror on Shane's face made Kian almost fall off his seat in tears. "You have got to be taking the piss outta us mate. You and the Princess?"
"Mark, you're going to get us both fired. What are you doing?"
He held up both hands, "Trust me Shane, I've got it all under control. Just like I can say without a doubt you'll meet the woman of your dreams here tonight."
"Really."
"In about 15 minutes."
True to his word 15 minutes later the curtain came up on the stage, "Aw Mark, not Sweet Pea. She had a lovely voice but..."
"Turn your arse around in that seat and look ya deutz."
Shane did and couldn't believe his eyes, that was not the same woman as last week. Kimmy sat on a chaise lounge in a satin green dress tastefully cut to mid thigh and her natural red highlights shone in the spotlight. Smoky brown eyes met Mark's enthusiastic thumbs up and she growled the first notes to her song.
"Oh shit, that's class." Shane said holding his chest melodramatically.
"Bullseye!" Mark said shimmying in his seat, he knew that Sweet Pea was just what Shane was looking for. After her first set Shane ran for the stage for a chance to talk with Kimmy.
"Hi there. I was just wondering Pea.. um Kim. Would you like to get together and talk after your show?"
She giggled and smiled prettily, "I'd really like that...um Shane."
Back at the table Sherry sat down on Mark's knee, "You wouldn't have anything to do with me losing my best customer would you?"
Mark grinned cheekily, "I know nothing. You won't be lonely too long I'd imagine."
She walked over to Kian from behind, sliding her arms down his chest. "Did you have any plans blondie?" He looked at Mark and back to her considerable charms. "Not really." and let himself be led away.
"You're a bad man Egan." Mark chided but had a self satisfied smirk on his face. Aw damn, nobody in this room was going to get the sight of Kimberly out of his head. The hair, the eyes, the silky night gown hugging her curves. "I've got to see her now." he said and headed back to the ranch.