Country Love

Chapter Ten

"Have I told you yet how incredible you look tonight?" Bradley said as they pulled into Russell's already jam packed gravel parking lot. Isabelle blushed and nodded.

"You've mentioned it." she replied. She was very happy that she had borrowed these tight dark denim jeans from Trisha and even happier that she had borrowed the dark red satin tank top from Chelsea. The shirt had a low neckline and it hugged her tiny chest and showed off her small waist. She had left her shoulder length auburn hair down and even added some curl to it after Trisha had threatened to murder her in her sleep if she tried to wear it up in her usual ponytail. She had borrowed some black kitten heeled shoes from Chelsea and hoop earrings from Trisha to finish off the look. They had even let her borrow make-up since she had lost all of hers in the fire.

All in all she was very happy with the way she looked tonight. It had been a long time since she'd worried about looking good for a man but she had wanted to look good for Bradley… And judging by the way his jaw had dropped when she'd stepped out of the bathroom he had definitely thought she looked good.

"You really do look great." he said as he put the truck in park and looked over at her. He gave her a goofy grin that made his crooked nose look more crooked and instead of taking away from his handsomeness it made him look even more boyishly charming.

"Thank you." she said with a laugh. "You look pretty good yourself." she said though that was an understatement. He was wearing his usual jeans, flannel shirt with rolled up sleeves, boots and baseball cap and she was glad for that. She couldn't help but think that he would look ridiculous any more dressed up than that. It just wouldn't have been him.

Bradley got out of the truck and walked around and opened her door. She was beginning to get used to his gentlemanly gestures like these, though at first they had come as a big shock. She had not known that men who opened doors, held umbrellas, and listened when women spoke, still existed. She watched him reach into the backseat and pull out his guitar case and then he wrapped his free arm tight around her waist and led her into the crowded, smoke filled honky tonk.

"Here he is! The man of the hour!" A man shouted as he walked over to them. He was tall and he was nearly as big as his voice as he slapped Bradley on the back. He had a thick black beard and mustache and dark eyes and Isabelle couldn't help but be a little intimidated.

"Hey Russell." Bradley said. "This is Isabelle. Isabelle, this is Russell. He owns this shit hole." Russell laughed and it was just as loud and booming as his voice was.

"Nice to meet you, Isabelle." he said holding out a large roughly calloused hand. Isabelle laid her much smaller hand in his and he shook her arm with so much enthusiasm she was afraid it might pop off at her shoulder.

"Alright Russell, give the woman back her arm." Bradley said with just a hint of jealousy in his voice. The jealousy surprised him. He had never been the type to be jealous but for some reason he didn't like the way Russell, and every other man in this place, were looking Isabelle up and down.

He wrapped his arm tighter around her waist giving her a possessive squeeze that even she understood meant 'mine'. Russell chuckled and let go of her hand.

"I don't believe I've ever seen you bring a lady friend in here before." Russell said matter of factly. He had been shocked as hell actually to see Bradley, the man who claimed there wasn't a woman in the world that could make him give up his freedom, come walking in here with his arm wrapped around this beautiful auburn haired woman.

"That's because I haven't ever brought one in here." Bradley replied. "Now if you'll excuse us I think you got some drunks wanting something to drink and I'd like to get Isabelle settled in with Trisha and Chelsea before I start my gig."