Rocky Mountain Heat (10 page)

“You enjoying the guest cabin, Blake?” Joel kicked his legs freely as he sat on top of a nearby table, watching Leo take his shot.

Blake grunted.

“Guess Jaxi needed a little more room than the office space. What a gentleman you are to offer your bed.” Jesse’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

Blake flashed him a dirty look. Damn twins could poke all they wanted, but no way would he would confess he’d changed rooms because he didn’t trust himself to be close to the girl and not make a move on her.

Hell, the way she’d acted in the shower, inviting him to touch her, he didn’t trusted her to stay away from him. There was no use in begging for trouble.

Then there was the whole “Showdown at O.K. Corral” two nights ago. What a fucking nightmare. He hated that he’d hurt her, the expression in her eyes almost enough to make him reconsider, if only to be allowed to wipe away the pain.

He’d admit it. Jaxi had grown up. But he couldn’t let her goad him into doing something she’d regret. She was too young to really know what she wanted for the long haul, and he was
not
having a one-night stand with her. The pain of rejection was for her own good, even though sticking to his guns choked something deep inside him.

“Course, staying in the cabin means you’ve got much more privacy if you need it.” Joel jumped off the table with a whoop of delight. “Leo, you blew that shot. Our turn.”

Joel and Jesse alternated in sinking balls, raising their score to seventy-five before they missed. Blake sipped his beer and glanced around, letting the familiar décor soothe his tired nerves.

On this side of the hall, people sat and talked, or played pool and relaxed. Next door, the music was louder, the dance floor wide and the bar open late. He and the boys were the only ones playing pool tonight, tucked into the back corner where it was quiet and private.

Blake was getting up for his turn when he saw her. Jaxi breezed in the doorway, pale blonde hair floating around her head.

“Sweet mercy, angel entering the room.” Jesse breathed out the words in mock ecstasy.

She did look like an angel. For the past couple of weeks, Jaxi had worn plain jeans or jean shorts with cotton shirts. She’d pulled her hair into a sensible ponytail while she cooked and canned and worked around the house with his ma.

Tonight her sundress consisted of layers of flimsy material that lifted and floated in different directions as she sashayed forward. The clinging top left her smooth shoulders bare, the scooped neckline revealing deep cleavage of pearly pink skin. The fluttering layers of the skirt slid over her smooth legs, stopping well above her knees. The whole thing was cut from shades of yellow and gold, making her glow like a ray of sunshine.

Jesse rushed forward to greet her. Blake bit back a growl as his brother took her hand and placed it under his arm to escort her to their table, his lips tight to her ear as he spoke. Jaxi’s gaze flicked to Blake for a brief second before she laughed at Jesse, then turned to beam at Joel and Leo.

“Evening, boys. I was looking for Lindy but I’ve been told she’s gone for the weekend. Mind if I join you instead?” Jaxi leaned in and kissed Leo’s cheek, and Blake’s arms jerked as he held himself back.

So much for a relaxing evening with the boys.

“Leo, I haven’t seen you in forever. Where’ve you been hiding?” Jaxi stood close, her hands resting on Leo’s arm. Blake turned away and retrieved his beer. At this rate he would need another one pretty damn quick.

“It’s been busy at the shop lately. And you know, well, Cari and me…” Leo grinned at her. “I owe you one. Big time. Can I get you a drink?”

“Whoa there, stud,” Jesse teased. “You’ve already got yourself a woman. I’ll get Jaxi her drink. What’ll you have, sweetheart?”

“Any you boys drinking draft tonight?”

“Joel and I are,” Jesse volunteered.

“Can I join you?”

Jesse grinned from ear to ear and twirled her in his arms as if they were on the dance floor, snuggling her tight against his body. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Jaxi slapped his shoulders as she laughed up at him. “Jesse, I swear. You’ve got the dirtiest mind. Get me a beer and get on with your game.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jesse dropped a quick kiss on her nose before he let her go.

Blake stared at Jaxi. She was deliberately flirting with the twins and ignoring him, like she’d done since Wednesday. He couldn’t believe she would taunt him. She wouldn’t dare follow up on the challenge she’d thrown and fool around with the twins just to spite him.

Would she?

“Ma all right alone tonight?” Blake kicked himself even as the words escaped.

Jaxi did a slow rotation toward him, her face flushed. “No, Blake, she had a pounding headache, a pile of laundry to fold and just before I left I set a swarm of wasps loose in the house.” She strode over and hopped up next to Joel on the table, her skirts flaring out to brush his thigh. Joel raised his eyebrows at his brothers, then took a long, slow look along the length of exposed leg next to him, smiling with appreciation.

“So. Now that we’re all clear Blake is an ass, whose turn is it?” Leo didn’t even try to hide his smirk.

Blake stepped forward. “Jaxi, I didn’t mean I thought you’d—”

“You planning on dancing later?” Jaxi leaned a little closer to Joel, her left breast rubbing his arm as she ignored Blake.

“If you need a partner.”

Jaxi slipped her fingers into his and winked at Jesse hovering on her other side. “Your ma and dad went to visit friends and told me they didn’t need me until tomorrow morning. I guess I have some time to kill.”

Blake felt like shit as he turned back to the table.

Although he’d decided it was best for her to not be with him, the decision wasn’t sitting easy. Watching her with the twins hurt worse than he thought possible. He wanted to be the one holding her hand and whispering in her ear. Taking her close against him on the dance floor and feeling her soft skin rub every inch of his body.

“Nine ball, corner pocket.”

Blake and Leo brought the score to eighty-seven before they missed. It was an exquisite form of torture for Blake as he moved around the table taking shots. Every now and then he’d sight his cue in Jaxi’s direction, see Joel’s arm casually tucked behind her back. Jesse sat on her other side, their thighs tight together, his fingers draped over both their legs. She was sandwiched between them just like Joel had described days ago, and Blake’s temper rose.

He had told them to stay away from her. Warned them not to get too close in private, let alone in public. Joel met his eye with a challenge that was about far more than pool as he stepped to the table, and the twins quickly took their score over one hundred to win.

“I guess that means we keep the record for another week, right, old-timers?” Jesse held his hand toward Leo and Blake. Leo slapped a twenty into his palm.

“We have time for another game,” Blake suggested. Anything to keep the twins from taking Jaxi into the dancehall before he decided what he was going to do. In spite of all his good intentions, there was a bitter taste in his mouth.

Jesse gave him a grin that said it all. “Well, that’s up to Jaxi. What do you say, sweetheart, can you wait a little longer for your dance?”

Jaxi wiggled her way off the table, letting Joel ease her to the ground. “You go ahead and play another round. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

Dead silence filled the area as they all paused to watch her hips sway as she headed for the ladies’ room, the layers of her skirt flaring around her legs like windblown leaves.

Leo whistled, long and low. “Sweet. That woman is one hot piece of action waiting to happen.” He turned back to the brothers, his face innocent and blank. “So, do I get to watch a fight to see which one of you takes her home tonight?”

Jesse and Joel snickered, their dark blond heads shaking. “We’re all taking her home. She’s staying with us to help our ma.”

Leo flipped a hand at him. “I know that, and that’s not what I asked. She’s been waiting for one of you Six Pack boys for as long as I’ve known her. I just can’t figure which one. Spill.”

Blake glared a warning at the twins. “What do you mean, waiting for one of us?”

Leo shrugged. “I noticed it more after Cari said something to me once. Jaxi’s willing to flirt with the twins, but she’s got her eyes all over you, Blake. The way the woman watches you I’d think you’d feel her burning a hole in your backside.” Leo examined Blake’s face closely. “You had no idea, did you? Maybe you need to spend a little less time in the fields and a little more time around people. Jaxi’s got plans, and she’s moving on them. I can hardly wait to see how this one shakes down.”

Jaxi returned by the time they’d racked the balls, and Leo got ready to take the first shot.

“Playing one hundred again?” she asked.

“It’s our favourite way to embarrass the old folks,” Joel taunted.

Jaxi’s gaze raked Blake from top to bottom. He stiffened at the blatant appraisal, the sexual gleam she didn’t even try to hide. “Pretty nice looking for old folks.” She turned to Jesse. “I haven’t seen you play Challenge lately. Why don’t you do a round of it for me?”

“Challenge?” Leo whispered to Blake.

What was the minx up to?
Challenge was usually played with mixed teams and it was definitely a flirting game. Downright foreplay at times. Jaxi tucked her cell phone away in her purse and shimmied back onto the table.

“Challenge sounds fine to us,” Joel called. “We can beat you faster than in a normal game since you’ll be too embarrassed to sink any balls.”

Leo shrugged. “I’m game.” He pointed a finger at Jaxi. “I don’t know what you’re doing, little lady, but I’ll play along this time. You got Cari to give me another chance, and I can put up with a little tomfoolery for your sake.”

Jaxi winked at him and sat back to watch.

The twins won the break, and Blake tried to remember a game challenge that wasn’t too raunchy. He wasn’t interested in getting up close and personal with Leo or his brothers. This had to be the most insane suggestion ever.

“First ten points, consecutive pockets starting with far right.”

Jesse hooted. “You worried about making us blush, big brother?”

Bastard
. “Just shoot.”

Jesse and Joel took their turns, managing to sink eight balls in a row into the appropriate pockets before missing. Blake and Leo took over and put away two more before Jesse cleared his throat to announce the next challenge.

“Triple Play.”

“Hell, Jesse, you’re kidding,” Leo complained. “Do I need to worry about why you want to slip between me and Blake while we shoot?”

Jesse shook his head. “Not me. I figured we could talk Jaxi into helping us.” He turned and held a hand to the girl. “What do you think, sweetheart? Run a little interference for us?”

Blake’s heartbeat increased as Jaxi took the hand offered her and smiled sweetly at Jesse. The boy had the guts to clasp her by the waist and slowly lower her to the ground, letting their bodies rub together on the way.

Jaxi propelled herself back from Jesse’s arms with a wink. “I’m in, but I’m supposed to start with the other team. Troublemaker.” She patted Jesse’s cheek and turned toward Blake, her eyes flashing. “Unless you’d rather give up right now and admit defeat. I never took you for a quitter, but I guess you can never tell when things will get too hot for a person to handle.”

Blake shoved down his anger. She wanted to play with fire, did she? He was nearly ready to burn through her teasing and take her on the table, right in front of the whole world, if she didn’t back off. Damn the consequences.

He turned away to examine the table for a sinkable shot. “Twelve in the side pocket, Leo.” His partner nodded and eyeballed the line before placing his hand on the table for Blake to rest the cue on. Leo twisted his body far to the side, leaving plenty of room for Blake to make the shot using only one hand.

Except Triple Play meant Jaxi had to be between him and Leo. Touching them both at the same time. Blake threw Jesse an evil look, and a roar of laughter blasted back at him.

“I did shower recently,” Jaxi said, moving in close.

Bloody hell. Don’t talk about showers right now.

Blake wrapped an arm around her and brought her to his side. She slid her arms around to his back and clung tightly as he leaned over the table, positioned the cue on Leo’s outstretched hand and took the shot.

Jaxi’s sweet scent rose around them, her breath hot on his neck as he stood. Tension built in his gut, not only from the feel of her against his body. Nine more balls to sink before they went to the next challenge, and he would go insane if he had to watch his little brothers spoon Jaxi between the two of them.

Leo picked a shot and Blake set up the cradle. Instead of hugging onto Leo, Jaxi slid close to Blake again, resting against his chest, her breasts compressed against him, swelling to the top of the scooped neck of her dress. Blake bit back a groan.

“You got troubles, Blake?” Jaxi whispered in his ear. She licked him, her hot little tongue slipping into his ear, making his whole body jerk in reaction.

“Hell, Blake, stay still,” Leo complained. The ball bounced sideways, shy of the pocket, and rolled to a stop.

“Our turn for a bit. Come here, sweetheart, and give me some sugar.” Jesse checked Blake for a reaction before bussing Jaxi on the lips.

Blake glared daggers at his little brother.

Joel got into position, kneeling with one leg up, his arm resting casually on the table to his side. “Ride side saddle if you want.”

Jaxi flicked another glance at Blake, then strolled forward confidently. “Side saddle is for cowards.”

She stepped on either side of his leg and lowered herself to straddle him, her skirt lifting to expose more of her long limbs. Blake gritted his teeth as Joel pulled her in tight, squeezing their bodies close as she slid over him. Jaxi made a soft sound of pleasure, her expression nowhere near as confident as only moments before. She bit her lower lip, and Jesse swore, folding his body over them to sink the shot. He lifted her and got ready for the next shot.