Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
After a few more beers, the lights dim and the music gets a touch louder. As I look around, I notice quite a few more people have spilled into the joint, looking for their nighttime drink like I am. I still haven’t seen her yet.
Believe me, I’ve got my eyes peeled for her delectable body. But it’s more than her physical assets that have me parked on this stool. I saw the appalled look on her face when I blabbered the origin of my name, and I heard what she muttered under her breath afterward. Something instinctual kicked in with her, like a momma bear protecting her cubs. Or a fierce lioness ready to tear to shreds anyone who comes near her king.
And she doesn’t know me.
But she will soon.
I keep to myself, nursing my fourth beer while I watch the crowd interacting. There’s a camaraderie floating in the alcohol-infused air. You can tell they all know each other by the hugs and pats on the backs. I’d imagine they probably know everything about everyone too. Small towns work like that.
Diamond works like that.
I don’t come to Harmony often, actually, I can’t remember the last time I was here for any length of time, so the only people I know are with the local motorcycle club. I could have gone to their ranch, had a few drinks there, but I seriously wasn’t looking for company.
I’m looking for a different type of company.
After a few minutes, I spot Dakota’s long dark hair on the dance floor, and fuck. I barely recognize her. Gone is the professional girl behind the counter, and in her place is a sensual woman with plush curves in all the right places. She’s wearing a yellow dress, denim jacket, and cowgirl boots. The bottom of her dress floats above her knees, teasing me to lift it. Damn, she’s sexy.
“Everyone ready to get started?” she says into the microphone. “Well, get in line.”
A crowd of people assemble on the dance floor and once the country music plays, she leads them in some boot-scootin’ dance I know nothing about.
For the next fifteen minutes, I watch intently as she glides across the floor doing a sexy do-si-do and everyone follows suit, mimicking her moves. Her infectious grin has me smiling too, and I can’t keep my eyes off her as she dances.
When the song ends, she does a cute curtsy and says into the microphone that she’s taking a break. She saunters up to the bar, and my lips tip up when her gaze locks with mine. I don’t think I’ve smiled this much since… Well, never.
My heart races as the distance between us closes. Dakota was right about this being a life-changing experience. She could choose any spot along this bar, but she selects the one next to me. I want to pound my chest and declare her mine.
“Hi,” she says.
“You’ve got some great moves,” I tell her.
“Pfft.” I’ve made her blush, and it’s adorable. She tucks a glossy lock behind her ear. “Why didn’t I see you out there with us?”
I shake my head. “Oh, you never will.” I point to my black boots. “Two lefties.”
She raises a brow, letting her gaze trail over my thighs and down my legs. “I don’t think that’s true. I bet you can move your body better than the rest.”
Fuck, her innocent words sound so dirty in my filthy mind. I raise my beer, drinking to extinguish the flames igniting inside me from her comment.
“Ice water, Jared,” she says to the bartender.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
A woman squeezes in next to us and Dakota moves closer to me, brushing her leg against mine. My dick jumps from the simple contact.
“I don’t drink.”
“Not at all?”
She shakes her head. “Nah. I figure why bother? I like having control over my body.”
Again her words are pure, but turn to filth in my mind.
I stare at her over the rim of my bottle. “Complete control? At all times?”
She rolls her plump lips inward and waits a beat to answer. “I… I suppose so.” Jared slides a glass of water in front of her and she takes a sip, her cheeks turning a rosier shade of pink. “I actually don’t know what you mean by your question.”
This woman looks like sin, but is probably the most innocent creature around. If I were a better man, I wouldn’t want to corrupt her.
But fuck, I do.
I spread my thighs, so she’s encased within my territory, and lean closer. “Do you ever relinquish your control and let someone else take over for a while?”
Now, she’s got it. Her eyes widen with understanding and that pretty mouth forms an o. “Is that what you do? Control your women?”
Her question catches me off guard, because obviously I’ve had sex, but it feels wrong to taint what I’m feeling for her by discussing the past. Besides, I got tired of easy pussy long ago.