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Refusing to look for her vehicle, he forced himself to reach for the door. No more than he stepped inside the dim entrance, one of the wranglers from Highlands Ranch almost bumped into him. His murmured, “Excuse me,” was met with a scowl before the guy shoved outside.
Joel turned to watch him go, searching his memory for a name. Kelly Stevens. Work
ed at a neighboring ranch last summer. Nothing else on his background check stood out.
The door closed, so he turned back toward the bar, then lost a step as laughter erupted from a table to his left. Though her back was to him where she sat at a table with her friends, he easily recognized those long, blond curls.
Casey lifted a hand in greeting, causing most of the table to turn and look his way, including Randy, and Brittany.
Her gaze met his for a moment, then bounced away as she spun back around. Randy leaned in and said something to her, causing those curls to sway as she shook her head. When he glimpsed the smile she flashed at the ranger, his annoyance at having wasted an entire day waiting on her surged forward. He switched direction and headed their way.
Casey’s gaze clearly met hers across the table, then lifted back to Joel. She stiffened in her chair as he stopped directly behind her.
“Hey, man, what happened to you last night?”
“I had to get going. Didn’t Brittany tell you?” He shifted to the side of her chair so he could at least see her profile.
“Britt didn’t—”
“I went home,” she stated. She twisted in her seat and hooked an arm on the back of her chair to glare up at Joel. “You knew I wasn’t planning to go over to the bar, so you should’ve relayed your own message.”
Was she upset about last night’s kiss? Hm, he hadn’t considered that. “I figured once I left, your reason for not going would be gone as well.”
Rising color in her face said he’d hit the bulls-eye, but she was quick to deny it in front of her friends. “I had decided not to go because I was tired.”
He braced one hand on the back of her chair and leaned closer. She inched back, eyes wide on his, but all he did was reach to grab a French fry off her plate and straighten again. Aware of everyone listening to their exchange, especially Randy, he asked, “So you weren’t avoiding me? Last night, or today at the ranger station?”
“I didn’t go to the station today.”
“Exactly.” He popped the fry in his mouth.
“What possible reason would I have to avoid you?”
While he chewed and swallowed, her flashing eyes dared him to say exactly what he was thinking. He considered giving everyone a demonstration instead. His gaze dropped to her mouth and his suddenly erratic pulse changed the response on the tip of his tongue as he met her eyes once more. “You tell me.”
“There isn’t one,” she insisted. Then she indicated an open chair on the other side of the table between Casey and some preppy looking guy he’d never seen before. “In fact, why don’t you join us now? Have a beer. Order some of your own food.”
Casey nodded with a grin. “Definitely. Come on, have a seat.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” He reached back, grabbed a chair behind him, and plunked it down between Brittany and the cute brunette on his left. “Excuse me, do you mind sliding over just a bit?”
She gave him a polite smile, shot a glance at Brittany, then scooted over.
“Thanks. I’m Joel Morgan, by the way.”
“Gina Allen.” She accepted his quick handshake.
He flagged the passing waitress, ordered a beer and a burger, then relaxed back in his chair while letting his knee brush against Brittany’s beneath the table. She shifted just enough to break contact. He caught her glance from the corner of his eye, allowed a small, triumphant smile, then felt her leg bump against his again, and stay.
She’d risen to the challenge. In the next moment, her body heat transferred through the material of both their jeans and memories of warm, soft curves pressed tight against his chest began to mess with his head.
Shoulda thought that move through better.
Casey provided a distraction by introducing his wife, Jayne, and Gina’s boyfriend, Jackson. Joel murmured a thanks to the waitress when she brought his beer, and took note of the guy’s brief smile that morphed back into a bored expression as he lifted his wine glass for a drink. He was pretty sure the sweater was cashmere, and the glass looked as out of place in the relaxed country bar as the guy did.
Brittany, on the other hand, fit in perfectly in her snug V-neck black sweater, jeans, wide brown belt and scuffed brown cowboy boots. All around girl-next-door appeal with a heady dose of sexiness in the emerald pendant resting just above the tease of cleavage revealed by her top.
He and Randy exchanged greetings, then Casey drew the ranger into a conversation that turned him away from Britt. Joel sipped his beer, tilted his head toward her, and pitched his voice low. “You didn’t come by for your card.”
