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“Absolutely.” I plucked at my shirt, trying to cool down. The bar was crowded and the dancing made me hot. “Did you get a date?”
He grinned, and even in the dim lighting, I could tell he was blushing. Just after we’d arrived, he’d spotted a woman who he was sweet on—his words, not mine—and had gone over to her.
“Tomorrow night. Ready for a beer?”
I nodded and he poured me a glass from the plastic pitcher in the middle of the table as he told me about her. He was definitely into her. Patrick, Shamus and the other guys were all really nice. And they weren’t too bad on the eyes either. No one from Steele Ranch was anything less than handsome. There must be something in the water out here. Or maybe it was the rugged ranch work that tanned their skin and built up their muscles to bulging. But it wasn’t any of them whom I thought of. Or their gorgeous physiques. They were fine and all, but more like brothers than guys I’d date…or sleep with. It was Jamison and Boone who melted my butter.
Yes, Jamison and Boone.
I’d found the letter from Riley Townsend, the estate lawyer, about my inheritance after my return from Iceland. It had been at the post office with the huge pile of other mail I’d put on hold. For months. Riley had been the one I told of my plans to come to Montana, but hadn’t given a definite date or time. I’d driven across the country from North Carolina solo and at that time, had no idea how long it would take. When I finally pulled up to the main house on the ranch, I’d been met by a whole slew of guys. They must have heard me approach or seen the dust kicked up behind my car on the long, dirt driveway. Whatever the reason, my first thought when they walked up was that they were doing a cowboy calendar photo shoot because they were all denim-clad, snap-shirt wearing, Stetson-hatted hotties. One after the other after the other.
But two specifically had caught my eye and stopped my heart. Jamison and Boone. Yes, they were beyond handsome, but the way they looked at me, all steely-eyed intensity as if they could see how nervous I was, how tired, excited, hopeful, they seemed to be able to see me.
The others had seemed like young, eager puppies in comparison. Jamison was the Steele Ranch foreman, the man in charge. Boone had said he didn’t live on the ranch like the others, was there to check on one of the men recovering from a concussion.
I’d felt small beside them. Being petite, practically everyone over the age of twelve was taller than me, but Jamison had to have an extra foot on me, Boone a little bit more. I should have felt nervous; they could easily overpower or hurt me. I didn’t feel that way. No, I felt…protected. And a little stunned because they turned me on. A lot. I felt aroused by shaking their hand, being under their close scrutiny. My panties got wet by just a quick introduction, the way their gazes had raked over every inch of me. And I’d thought of nothing but them since. Two older, experienced cowboys who no doubt knew exactly what to do with their hands and…every other big part of themselves.
“Sorry Kady couldn’t make it,” Shamus said, his voice raised over the music. He was an undergrad at the state college studying animal science and would head back for his senior year in a few weeks. “Cord and Riley took her back east. Some kind of going away party. I know she’s excited to meet you.”
I took a sip of my cold beer, trying to imagine Kady. I knew next to nothing about her, only that she was a teacher and she was in a serious relationship with the lawyer, Riley, and another man. A ménage relationship. I should be surprised, and maybe I was, but only because I had the hots for two guys, too. I’d only met them for all of ten minutes, but still. I was…drawn to Jamison and Boone. Crazy? Yes.
I wanted to see them again, to find out if this feeling was a fluke, or more. Jamison didn’t seem to hang out with the other guys—since he wasn’t here—maybe because he was older, or he didn’t like to line dance. I guessed he was closer to forty than thirty. Same with Boone. That didn’t bother me, that they were so much older. Nothing I knew—or saw—bothered me one bit.
As for Kady, if she could make a relationship with two guys work and no one seemed to care, perhaps I could as well. God, I was thinking relationship and I’d barely had a conversation with either Jamison or Boone. I was being ridiculous. The fact that I hadn’t seen them since I’d arrived only proved they most likely didn’t even think of me. They’d only been gentlemen in welcoming me. Nothing more.
I took a big gulp of my beer.
“It’s fine. She’ll be back soon and I’m not going anywhere.”
I wasn’t. I intended to stay in Barlow. I just had to deal with my mother. Sometime. Just not right now. I was ha
ving too much fun. Montana definitely agreed with me.
“Do you have other brothers and sisters?” he asked when there was a lull between songs.
“Besides Kady, I’ve been told I have three other half-sisters I haven’t met. Then I have three steps. One sister and two brothers. All older.” They were my father’s—no, stepfather’s—from a previous marriage and we weren’t close, to say the least. Turns out, we weren’t even related. No blood shared between us. Being half-sisters, I hoped Kady and I could at least be friendly.
“It’s nice of you to ask me to come along,” I said, changing the subject. “Line dancing’s fun.”
When I asked them what someone wore to such an activity, they’d just looked down at themselves in their jeans and shirts, then told me about the western clothing store in town. Betty, the store owner, had been a big help in finding things that would make me fit in, including the cowboy boots and cute jean skirt.
“Never done it before?” Patrick asked, settling into one of the high stools and grabbing the pitcher to top off his glass.
I shook my head. “Nope. It’s not something I did in college and since then, I’ve been in Iceland.” As if that explained it all. It didn’t. I’d rushed the same sorority as my mother and line dancing definitely didn’t fit that crowd. She wouldn’t have liked Iceland either—too wild—but it was where I needed to go to do my research for my degree, so it was acceptable. I tried to picture my mother at a country bar and it made me smile. Then thoughts of her getting Aiden Steele in bed returned. Gah. I put my pint glass down, tucked my hair behind my ear. “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room. Be right back.”
They nodded before I headed off, cutting through the thick crowd to the hallway at the back. I’d have to stop by the store and thank Betty for her help. I blended in perfectly and the boots were fun and completely not me. No, maybe they were the new me.
A guy stepped into my way, put his hand on my waist. “Hey there,” he said. He was mid-twenties, big. But his smile wasn’t kind and his touch was rough. I flinched away, but his fingers dug in.
“Hi,” I said, not meeting his eyes. “Headed for the bathroom.”
I stepped to my right trying to veer around him. He stuck his arm out, planted his hand on the wall, blocking me.
“I saw you out there dancing. I like your moves.” His hot breath fanned over my neck and I cringed.
“Thanks. Look, I have to pee.” I quickly ducked under his arm—a perk for being so short—and dashed into the bathroom. Exhaled. I stayed longer than I should, for once thankful for a line, hoping he’d give up or find someone else to chat up. Someone who was interested. I certainly wasn’t.
But when I came out, he was still there, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “Took you long enough.”
