The woman grinned, got out of her seat and walked toward them. “Ah. Judd the Stud. Cleo mentioned you,” she added before she stuck out her hand for him to shake. “I’m Daisy Gunderson.” She seemed ready to add something else, but then her eyes landed on his badge. “I own the Angry Angus, but Cleo runs the place.”

Judd looked at Cleo for her to clarify that “stud” mention, or why she’d told him three months ago that she’d bought the bar, but before Cleo could say anything, one of the oiled cowboys waved his arms around, trying to get their attention. It was the one who’d lost his crotch stuffing.

“Uh, hate to interrupt,” oiled guy said, “but I’ve got to get to work. You need to see any more dance moves? I can do another squat hip grind if you want. It’s my signature move.”

“No,” Cleo answered, glancing at each of the stage trio. “You’ve all got the job. Only because no one else auditioned,” she added under her breath to Judd and then raised her voice when she continued with the cowboys. “Just make sure everything stays tucked away beneath the G-strings.”

Cleo turned to Daisy. “Could you do the contracts and give them the time and date they’ll be needed for the Wainwright bachelorette party?”

“Sure. And I put copies of that catering order on your desk.” Daisy seemed to have another clam-up moment, and she glanced at the badge again. “I’ll sign it after you’ve had a look at it.”

When Daisy walked away to chat with the cowboys, Cleo motioned for Judd to follow her into a hall that threaded off the party room. She also dodged his gaze.

“This is an interesting place,” he commented.

“I’m going to pretend you mean that as a compliment.” There was amusement in her voice. “Yes, it’s cheesy, but there are some fresh plans in the works. A new name, new decor. Less trendy, more intimate. In the meantime, bachelorette parties with cowboy strippers pay the bills.”

“Why'd you decide to manage a bar?” he asked.

Cleo shrugged. “I'd been looking at other possibilities. A coffee shop. Maybe even a bookstore with a wine bar. But this was such a good deal that I couldn’t pass it up.”

All of this sounded like a reasonable explanation, but there was something in her voice that made Judd believe she was having second thoughts about whether or not she should have passed it up.

“Are you going to add a Shit Women Say board?” he added.

Cleo threw him a glance and a smile from over her shoulder. “There’s one in the men’s bathroom. But, yes, I’m considering moving it out front. The customers seem to like venting with chalk.”