Indulgence (306 page)

“I don’t do these sort of things, Joel.”

“It’s okay. Nobody even noticed.”

She lifted her face from his chest and caught the dirty
looks from the women as well as the thumbs up from several of the men
surrounding them.

“Okay. So a few noticed.”

“A few? If looks could kill, I’d be dead from the dirty
looks the women are giving me, especially Brandy.”

“Don’t worry about it. Come on. Let’s dance.” He led her out
onto the dance floor, put her hand on his shoulder, and took her other hand in
his. “Now, relax. The step is called a two-step. You step once, shuffle twice
and step again.”

She took a deep breath, trying to concentrate on his words
as he slowly led her around the dance floor.

“You’re doin’ great.” He touched a finger under her chin to
make her lift her gaze to his. “See? It's not so hard.”

She stepped on his toe. “God, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s happened before. You aren’t the first lady
to step on my toes.”

“I’m not supposed to, though. You’re such a patient
teacher.” His gaze pulled her in as the music faded out of her conscious
thought. She’d never seen eyes the color of his. Blue like a glacier, or maybe
a swimming pool. She could so drown in his stare. The five o’clock shadow of a
beard on his face made him sexier. Rugged. So fucking hot.

The music changed to something slow. A song she recognized.
Dustin Lynch’s
Cowboys and Angels
.
Damn. This is my favorite song.
Why does Joel have to be so gorgeous? Why can’t he be some scraggly old codger
who would be willing to tell her all his cowboy secrets over a cup of coffee?
And
holy hell, there are three of him! Fuckin’ A.

“You slow dance well,” he whispered, nuzzling her ear.

“There isn’t much to it, really. You just shuffle back and
forth. I probably won’t bruise your toes on this one.”

“We could always try a faster song. I can swing dance, too.”
He laughed at the shocked look on her face.

“Oh, hell no. I got your feet with the simple two-step. I’d
probably break something swing dancing.”

“I like this better anyway. I can hold you closer.”

“You were holding me pretty close with the two-step.”

“Not close enough.” He pulled her in tighter. Her breasts
brushed against the front of his western shirt, making them peak like
mountaintops reaching for the warmth of the sky.
Damn, traitorous nipples
.
“Are you excited, Mesa?”

“Excited?”

“Are your panties wet?” he whispered, brushing those full
lips over her ear.

“A bit bold, aren’t you?”

“I know when a woman is excited.”

“Not this woman.”

“Really?” he asked with a raised eyebrow over those damn
sexy eyes. “Your nipples are poking me in the chest. Cold?”

“Why yes, I am.”

“Liar.” His lips brush her neck.

Her eyes drifted closed as goose bumps danced down her arms.
His hands settled on her hips, slowly dragging her into the warmth of his
embrace.
God, the man was sex on a stick
. Did he think she was some
loser in the bedroom that he could drag into his web with eyes blue enough to
drown in, lips full enough to lose her mind, and a body to stop traffic at a
green light?

Of course he did.

She stepped out of his embrace. “I need a drink.” She blew
the hair off her forehead with a frustrated breath.

“I thought you were cold?” he asked with a smirk.

“Smartass.”

“But yours is cute enough to eat whipped cream off of.”

Fuck!
She was so screwed
. If he wants to get me
into the sack, he’s doing a damn good job of it, even if I want it too.
“I
thought you weren’t supposed to seduce the guests?”

“Seduce? Who me?” He grinned as he wrapped his arm around
her waist to escort her to the bar. “Beer?”

“Sure.”

“Two Buds in the bottle please,” he said, signaling the
bartender who responded with a nod.

“Someone you know?”

“I know everyone in here, pretty much. We also know the
judge, the sheriff, the lawyers, the schoolteachers, the principal, and
everyone else. Most all of those you see in here now are guys and gals I went
to high school with.” He reached up to wave to someone nearby.

“I don’t know what it’s like to be surrounded by people I’ve
grown up with.”

“No?”

“Nope. I went to a high school where my graduating class had
three thousand kids in it.”

“Holy shit! Mine had one hundred fifty and I thought it was
huge. It took three hours to read all the names off.”

He paid the bartender before he handed her the bottle, then
tipped his to his sensuous lips.
Lordy, the man could kiss.
The slow
glide of his mouth over hers earlier in the dark, had been enough to curl her
toes, but the lip smacking, tongue tangling kiss he’d laid on her after her
bull ride still had her panting for air. She tentatively sipped at her beer,
hoping it would wash away the taste of the kiss. No luck. She could still feel
his mouth on hers. The slide of his tongue.
Damn
.

“Mine had to be split into two days. A through L one day and
M through Z the next day. It sucks living in such a large place sometimes. I
like having things to do all the time like shopping and stuff, but it’s crazy
not knowing who your neighbors are.”

“I don’t think I could live somewhere like that. I’m so used
to living here. I couldn’t be comfortable in a place where I didn’t know the
guy living above me. Concrete jungle comes to mind.”

“Yeah. Now that you mention it, I don’t care for it much
either.”

“Why do you stay then?”

“Because it’s home. My parents are there. My siblings are
nearby. I’ve lived in the same neighborhood for five years. I know where
everything is.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist to tuck her in close to
his side. “Haven’t you ever wanted to move to a place you didn’t know anyone?
Learn a new town, a new city?”

“You’re one to talk, Joel. You’ve lived in Bandera all your
life.”

“True and I love it here. I love the area. I love my
neighbors. I love working the ranch with my brothers and I hope someday the
woman I marry with learn to love it like I do.”

“Tall order.”

“Not really.”

“I guess not if you plan to marry someone who is already
from here. They’d fit right in.” He bent down and kissed her. “What was that
for?” she asked, bewildered by his behavior.

“Just to let you know I’m thinking of you right at the
moment. Not someone else.”

“Thanks…I think.” She wrinkled her nose. He laughed.

“It’s a compliment, Mesa. You’re a beautiful woman. I’m glad
I’m here with you.”

“You confuse me, Joel.”

“Why?”

“Because one minute you kiss me and tell me I’m beautiful.
The next I’m not sure if you’re talking about me or someone else you’ve been
with recently.”

His mouth pulled down at the corners when he frowned. “What
gave you the idea I was talking about anyone but you?”

“Just…oh never mind.”

“I’m with you tonight. I think it’s rude to talk about other
women when you’re with one.”

She shrugged. “But we aren’t together. We're here as
friends.”

“Still.”

“Let’s just have a good time. Forget about the rest for
now.”

“Sounds good to me. Are you finished with your beer? I want
to dance with you again.”

“And have me stepping on your feet more?”

“You’re so cute when you’re joking,” he said, tweaking her
nose, and then brushing his mouth against hers.

What the hell was she going to do about these feelings? She
wanted to jump him and ride his hips into tomorrow like some rodeo bronc rider,
but on the other hand, getting involved with a guy like him in a situation like
this was a sure way to feel like shit when she went back to L.A.

He swept her up in his arms the minute they hit the dance
floor again, doing a quick two-step. The dance brought her close enough to
smell him. She wanted to taste him. Find out if his skin tasted salty under her
tongue. Did he have a little sweat she could lick off?

“What are you thinking about?’

‘Nothin’, why?”

“You've got a guilty little smirk on your lips.”

She captured her lips between her teeth.

“Ah, somethin’ dirty?”

“Maybe, but I won’t tell.”

“How about if I tickle you until you tell me?”

“You wouldn’t.” His hand curled into her side and she
giggled like a schoolgirl. “That’s not fair!”

“Sure it is. You’re keeping secrets.”

“I’m a woman. We have secrets.”

“Tell me.” He tickled her again.

“Stop!”

“Not until you tell me.”

“Okay, okay!” She gasped for breath as he led them to an
empty table toward the back of the bar in a secluded corner. How this
particular table became available, she would never know, but here she sat with
one the most gorgeous men she’d ever seen in a darkened corner.

“Spill it.”

“I was thinking about you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“And?”

She forced a ragged breath between her lips. Surely he
didn’t really expect her to tell him she wanted to lick the sweat from his body
after he fucked her like a couple of bunny rabbits? “Nothing, really.” He
reached over and tickled her side. “All right!” She sighed. “You are rotten,
you know?”

He touched her side again, making her jump.

“I was thinking about you being sweaty.”

“Like after working outside?”

“Yeah.”

“Why would you be thinking about me being sweaty?”

“Like licking you after sex.” Heat crawled up her neck as
she dropped her gaze to the table. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Why?”

“Seriously? We’ve only known each other like not even
twenty-four hours.”

“So? I think you’re beautiful, sexy, interesting, and a
great dancer. There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to each other.” He
reached over and slid his hand along the side of her face. “I want to kiss
you.”

“You’ve kissed me before,” she whispered, drowning in his
eyes.

“I want to do it again.”

His breath flittered across her lips. She wanted his mouth.
She wanted his tongue. God, she wanted all of him touching her, holding her,
making love to her.

“We should go.”

“No. Not until I’ve tasted you again.”

“Hey, Joel. Mesa,” Josh said, sliding into the booth on the
other side of her.

“Josh. What are you doing here?”

“I saw your two leave and figured you might be headed here.”

Shit. Now I’m sandwiched between two good-looking men.
Threesome? No, no, no.

“Yeah, we did. We’ve been dancing.”

“I rode the bull,” she said, moving a little further away
from Joel. She needed the breathing room. Being close to him did all kinds of
funny things to her insides.

“You did? Wow. Great job!” Josh exclaimed. “Did Joel?”

“No.”

“Chicken, brother?”

“No. I got busy congratulating Mesa and forgot.”

“Uh-huh.”

The look on Joshua’s didn’t face bode well for their
continued anonymity. She really didn’t want his family knowing about their
shared kisses or the fact of her wanting to get him in bed. She needed to
forget about that part. He really should be beyond her reach. Girls like her
didn’t get guys like him. Women like Brandy roped in guys like the triplets,
with their penetrating blue gazes, rock hard bodies, and kissable, full lips.
Damn.

“Dance with me, Mesa,” Joshua said, holding out his hand.
“Please?”

“I’ll warn you, I step on toes.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Joel added. “She just learned to two-step
though, so take it easy on her.”

“Of course, brother.”

She scooted out of the booth, allowing Joshua to take her
hand and lead her to the dance floor. The whole time, she felt Joel’s gaze on
her back. The moment they reached the wood flooring, Joshua swept her up in his
arms, bringing her in close…too close. She pushed on his chest to put more
space between them. “Ease up on the hold buddy, or you’re gonna lose something
precious to you.”

“Come on. You like Joel. I can see it in your eyes. We’re
identical.”

“In looks maybe. But you need to think about what you’re
doing here.” She pushed again.

“What? I’m dancing with a pretty woman.”

“Who happens to be here with your brother.”

“So?”

“You don’t get it, do you? Do you guys always fight over
women?”

‘No.” He grinned and winked. “I usually win.”

“Why? Because you’re an ass if you ask me.”

He put one hand on his chest. “I’m hurt, Mesa. I thought you
were a nice girl.”

“I am, but I don’t put up with bullshit like what you’re
trying to pull. Let me go.”

“I could make it good for you. Joel won’t go against the
wishes of our mother and I think you want a good, hard lay.”

She pushed out of his arms, pulled back her arm and slapped
him as hard as she could. “How dare you! Someday you’re going to find a woman
who will put you in your place, Josh, and I’m going to laugh my ass off when I
see it. Joel is twice the man you are.”

“What's going on?” Joel asked, sliding to a stop between her
and Josh.

“Nothing. Josh was just leaving.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are brother. You’ve obviously insulted my lady
friend and I won’t put up with it. Go home before I kick your ass.”

“You can try.”

“Take it outside boys,” the bartender hollered from behind
the bar. “No fighting in here. You know the rules.”

“Fine. Outside?” Josh asked, egging on his brother by
smiling at Mesa.

“Bring it on, bro. I can kick your ass anytime.”

“Stop this!” she shouted, pulling on Joel’s arm. “Don’t do
this. Don’t fight over nothing.”

“It’s not nothin’, darlin’. He insulted you or you wouldn’t
have slapped him.”