Dead of Winter (Battle of the Bulls #2) - T. S. Joyce Page 0,44
of?”
“Oh, no. I don’t really know anything about these kinds of boots.”
“Why?” Dead asked. “Whatcha got?”
The sales lady, Linda, her nametag read, got a conspiratorial grin. “I have a pair of Lucchese boots saved for the last couple of weeks, but I won’t be able to come up with the money for them. They happen to be size sevens like you’re looking at.”
Dead lifted his chin and cocked an eyebrow. “What are they made out of?”
Linda’s grin grew bigger. “Python.”
“Oooooh,” Dead drawled. “Yeah, she needs to see those bad boys.”
“But I feel bad,” Raven said. “If I like them, I’ll be taking the boots you wanted.”
The woman waved her off. “I have nineteen pairs of boots. I won’t starve for them.”
She was gone and back in a jiffy with a box. Linda and Dead stood there with an air of anticipation as Raven pulled back the thin tissue paper printed with the boot logo.
Whoa. She pulled one out of the box in awe.
They were tall but fitted at the ankle, jet black like her cow, and had a good heel.
She looked at Dead.
“They feel important to me, too,” he murmured. “Put them on.”
In a rush, she pulled off her motorcycle boot and pulled on the other. It fit like a glove. But when she took the second out of the wrapping, she caught a glimpse of the price tag.
“Dead, these are way too expensive!”
He looked at the price tag but didn’t seem surprised in the slightest. “Every good woman deserves a good pair of boots.”
“But—but—”
“Try the other on and let me see you catwalk them.”
“Okay,” she uttered on a breath. She pulled the other one on and stood. They were comfortable and hugged her ankles and calves just right.
The look on Dead’s face drew her up short. The smile had slipped from his lips, and his eyes were full of intensity as he dragged his gaze up and down her body, to the boots and back up to her eyes. “Go look in the mirror,” he said low.
She made her way to the full-length and gasped. She turned to the side and propped one up on the toe. The heels on these and the shape of them made her legs look long and slender. She was wearing ripped-up black shorts, another ripped-up tank top Dead had made, and her hair was hanging down in dark waves. She’d never thought in a hundred years she would ever be caught dead in a pair of cowboy boots, but these were so badass.
But…
“They’re so much, though.”
“Will you wear them?” Dead asked softly.
“For this much money? I’ll wear the freaking soles off them.”
He chuckled a deep, rich, warm sound. “Then those are the ones.”
When she turned around, he was taking a picture of her. “I’m sending this to the herd.”
“Okay, wait, let me pose!” She grabbed a black cowgirl hat off the display near her and put her hand on her hip and smiled big.
Dead took a picture and then told Linda, “I think she needs a hat, too. That one’s loose. Do you have more of those in a smaller size?”
“The hat?” Raven asked. She removed it from her head and studied it. The felt hat was pure black with a black braided piece of leather and a black feather. “Is this a raven’s feather?” she asked Linda.
“It sure is. And I think we have a couple more. Let me check the sizes on them.” She bustled away toward the wall of hats.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever had a boner in a western shop,” he admitted in a whisper.
She looked down and, yep, he sure did.
She laughed and handed him her hat. “Want to cover it?”
“I just have to think of something unsexy. Definitely not you in short shorts, boots, and a hat.”
“How about hugging Quickdraw.”
“Oh, yeah. Yep. Yeah, that’s working.”
“I have a six and three quarter. Let’s see if this one fits,” Linda said, handing her a raven-feather hat.
Raven slid it over her head. It was snug, but not too tight, just firm enough not to fly off easily in a stiff wind. “Wait, let me check the price—”
“No!” Dead said. “You’re ruining the game. This is a shopping spree.”
“Well, you haven’t gotten anything yet.”
“Girl, don’t test me. I will buy three belt buckles with longhorns on them before you can take a piddle.”
“Can I pick stuff out for you?” she asked.
“Hell, yes. Dress me sexy!”
Linda laughed and told them they were funny. Raven spent the next twenty