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And the dead-sexiest man on earth stepping out of it.
A little bullet of heat fires right into my belly and knocks me off-balance, the warmth spreading to…everywhere. My breathing sputters. He pulls his cowboy hat low over his eyes, blocking the setting midsummer sun.
I watch the towering, broad-backed cowboy stride to the front door, his heavy bootsteps crunching against the gravel with such…power. Now that is a man. He is sex on a stick in his worn jeans and a checkered shirt buttoned over a plain tee. They sure don’t make them like that in the city. Seriously who is thatguy? No one told me I had a brother?
Please oh please don’t be my brother.
I freshen up with more dedication than I was going to, put on some flannel, and then make my way back downstairs. I’m watching my steps so carefully that I almost crash right into a wall of muscle at the bottom of the stairs. Strong arms reach out to catch me and put me upright.
I peer up into soulful eyes and a face that sends more heat surging and swirling all through my body. I should go past him. I should say something. But I can’t move. Our gazes are fused hard as a current of energy dances between us.
“You must be Hazel,” his deep voice finally breaks the spell. Taking off his cowboy hat, he reaches his other hand to me, sporting a sinfully sexy lopsided smirk that makes me instantly needful. “I’m Chasen. I was just sent to come looking for you.”
“Oh, well, here I am. Hello.” I lay my hand in his and my already wild imagination runs off with warp speed. How that strong callused hand might feel curled around the back of my neck. Running down the length of my arm. The pads of his fingers. Sliding up between my legs…
Tingling heat pings my clit. And my panties? Yeah, they’re freaking flooded.
I pull back my hand. “Nice to meet you, Cha—”
“I see you’ve met Chasen!” Marjorie says gushingly. She snakes both of her arms around one of his, craning her neck back to look up at him with that motherly expression that looks so natural on her.
There is so much calm in that woman’s gaze. So much doting admiration. Such strength in her eyes. And the weirdest thing is they’re a mirror of mine.
“He’s one of our best farmhands!” Marjorie adds, towing the hunky slab of man away from the stairs and into the kitchen—but not before he glances back over his shoulder. Looking at me in a kind of way. Predatory, and reverent, at the same time. He drops his eyes and quickly yanks them back up to my face, his jaw muscles tensing like he’s having trouble maintaining control.
My thighs go trembly, squeezing together of their own volition.
We take our seats, they’re evidently assigned, with Chasen being stationed right next to me. As dinner is passed around I learn that he is more than a farmhand for Hank Hardin, he’s practically like the son they never had, and he’s Rosemary’s BFF.
In other words, all kinds of off-limits.
Doesn’t stop the goosebumps from popping up all over my arms and turning my nipples into points, just from sitting close to him. My head is spinning with his heady, hot masculine scent. It’s everything I can do not to collapse into a quivering heap of hormones right here at the table.
Well this is awkward. And here I was trying to make a good impression, maybe make friends, or at the very least appear normal. I’m so aware of myself that I feel like I’m floating outside of myself, looking into myself while I lose all control.
My only saving grace is the actual dinner. It’s a farm-to-table spread, every morsel made from scratch. It’s so delicious it rivals any meal from any fine-dining establishment I’ve ever been in.
“Mrs. Hardin, this dinner is amazing. Everything is!”
“I’m glad you like it, but Hazel, please. Call me Mom or Mama or Marjorie if that’s more comfortable. Anything but Mrs. Hardin, okay, sweetie?”
“O-okay.”
“Wow you really do look a lot like Mama,” Sophie says from her seat directly across from me, and Liz elbows her in the rib. Scolding her baby sis. My baby sis, too.
Blushing, I slide a quick look over at Marjorie, who flashes back a brilliant white smile. “That’s definitely a compliment,” I reply.
“So Hazel, we hear you’re studying to be a lawyer?” asks Liz.
“Yes. I want to go into environ—”
“Liz, seriously, she doesn’t want to talk about school.” Sophie rolls her eyes dramatically, her wavy blonde hair has a little bounce as she leans forward. “I have to know. Do you have like a boyfriend, Hazel? What’s he like?” Her eyes brighten as if I’ve already answered. “Seattle guy? I bet he’s gorgeous,” she gushes.
“No boyfriend,” I answer, laughing softly as Liz, and also Marjorie this time, quietly reprimand the younger girl. Beside me I can feel the reverberations of Chasen’s low, warm chuckle and it ties my stomach all in knots.
I risk a peek over at him. Dang, he is so male I can’t even think straight. His eyes are deep, dark, and they cut right through me. The crap’s gotten into me? I’m gnashing my teeth into my lip to keep from biting that mouth of his right off his hot face.
“How do you like Fatesville?” he casually asks.
