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eminate a cow.
In his peripheral vision, he tracked Natalie’s movements behind the bar. Her long hair swayed as she reached for a pint glass and set it beneath the taps. He wanted to wrap his hand around her long locks and make her beg for another kiss.
Never.
That one word she’d said echoed in his mind, his body ready and willing to accept that challenge and prove her wrong. Hell, most women followed him home without any effort on his part, and that was why he felt bored. But Natalie?
Never.
He was ready for a challenge. He was ready for Natalie.
“You can’t hit that,” Colton leered, kicking Jack under the table just like when they sat down to one of his mom’s home-cooked masterpieces at the Barnes ranch. Growing up, his brothers had taken every chance to land a hit.
Dante glanced at him, eyebrow raised. “Are you making a serious play for Natalie?”
“He’d never get her into bed,” Colton said. “I’m willing to put money on it. Mom said you were taking a few days off, without bothering to visit her—”
“Cade’s getting married,” Jack shot back. “I’m the best man in his wedding this weekend. I talked to Mom. She understood.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Natalie, who’d be playing the part of the maid of honor, carry the filled tray out from behind the bar. She headed in their direction but came to an abrupt stop ten paces away when a young blonde nearly tumbled out of her chair trying to get Natalie’s attention.
“I bet you can’t get the bartender into your bed by the time you ship out again,” his big brother said, pretending Jack hadn’t offered an explanation for skipping a trip home to see his parents while he had a few days leave.
“Fifty bucks,” Colton added. “Anyone else want in?”
Jack glanced at Natalie as the pack of Barnes brothers reached for their wallets. Her eyes widened, but she kept her smile in place while she talked to her customers. Had she heard Colton’s proposal? At Jack’s table, a chorus of “hell yeahs” filled their corner of the bar as money was slapped on the table.
Dante shook his head. “I won’t put money on it, but Jack, man, you don’t stand a chance. Natalie doesn’t even like you. Right, Cade? She’s your friend. You know her better than any of us.”
“Leave me out of this,” Cade said, stealing a quick glance at Natalie. His teammate could read Natalie better than anyone here. And judging from the way he shook his head, Cade knew the Bottom’s Up bartender was close to spitting fire even while she nodded at something the blonde said.
“Your guy here knows you can’t do it,” Colton said with a laugh. Then his brother turned to Ronan. “What about you? Are you in?”
Ronan’s blue eyes narrowed and his smile faded. It seemed his teammate had just realized that Jack wished his brothers had remained on the family ranch, dealing with the cow semen. “My money’s on Jack. I’ve never witnessed a situation he couldn’t handle.”
“You’re throwing away fifty bucks,” Dante murmured. “Jack’s the first person I want covering my six, watching my back, on a mission. But if Natalie wanted him, she’d have claimed him years ago.”
“Claimed him?” Colton kicked him under the table again as the rest of his family laughed. “Down in Texas, we go after our women. We don’t wait for them to come to us.”
Bullshit.
But there was a spark of truth buried in his big brother’s challenge. He’d wanted Natalie for six long years. And yeah, he’d spent a large part of that time deployed, but still, wasn’t it about time he went after the woman who filled his fantasies?
“What do you say, kid?” Colton prodded.
“I’m in,” Jack said, unwilling to walk away from his brother’s challenge. He didn’t lose. Not to Colton Barnes. Not anymore. And shit, after the way Natalie had kissed him, touched him—dammit, he wanted to turn her never into Yes, Jack. Give me more. “Before the bride walks down the aisle, I’ll have her in my bed.”
And she wouldn’t claim him. His jaw jumped and the tension rippled through his seemingly relaxed body. No, he’d make her his, take control, ignite the passion and need he’d tasted in her kiss—
Natalie set her filled tray on their table. “Jack Barnes, prepare to lose your money.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Because as much as I hate to side with Mr. Belt Buckle here,” she waved her hand at Colton, “nothing you say will talk me out of my clothes and into your bed. Pick someone else to seduce, sailor.”
Shit. Had she heard everything? Well, that would make this interesting.
“Nothing?” Jack fought the flush threatening to turn his cheeks fucking pink with embarrassment in front of his brothers. He stared into Natalie’s dark brown eyes and searched for a sign that he’d offended her by taking the bet. And thank you Jesus, he came up empty.
“Nothing. You know I hate bullies,” she said with a pointed look at Colton. “But you can’t win this one.”
“That sounds like a challenge,” Jack said. “And Natalie, I always play to win.”
