Page 96 of Nobody's Girl

“First, call me Ethan. Mr. Southern is my father. And I don’t expect my voice, no matter how smooth and charming it might be, to sweep you off your dainty feet, my dear, Kel.” He placed his hands on her upper thighs, making her eyes grow large.

“Now you need to understand this about me,” she said as she moved his hands. “While I’m interested in talking to you, Ethan, that’s all I’m interested in. So keep your hands to yourself, or I’ll be forced to leave your company.”

“Noted,” he said with a sly grin. “So the basics, then. How old are you; what do you do with your time; and how long do you think you need to know someone before you tell them you love them?”

She laughed with his obvious joke, then answered, “I’m 25. An old 25 I’ve been told. An ancient soul, if you will. I’m in my last semester of business technology at MIT in Cambridge. And I work when I’m not in classes. And you?”

“Well, first let me say that I think there should be no particular length of time before two people exchange I love yous. That said, I’m 32 and a salesman for Red Head Scotch. And I’d also like to say that I think you’re gorgeous and you and I would make lovely children together. I mean that.”

Kel couldn’t help but laugh at the way the man talked. He was charismatic; she had to give him that. “Tell me. Do these lines usually get you what you’re looking for from women?”

“Every single time, my love,” he said, then picked up her hand and kissed the top of it. “Now, tell me. What it is you do for fun?”

“I don’t have time for fun, if you must know. This evening is a rarity for me. A night off work and no homework for the weekend have allowed me to come out, but that usually doesn’t happen.”

“So you’re a hermit,” he said with a deep chuckle that made his wide chest jiggle, taking Kel’s attention. He was a monster of a man.

“I wouldn’t say a hermit. I am inside of one building or another most times, though. And home the rest of the time. But it’s not self-imposed as much as it’s necessary to get me to where I want to be.”

Griffin walking behind Jess to what looked like the exit, had Ethan looking over Kel’s head. He stopped breathing until he saw the two take a seat at a small table for two instead of heading out.

Jess was wondering what the hell the totally cool dude was coming on to her for. She was about as cultured as an alley cat. “So you’re from Montana and a salesman for a cattle company?”

“Yes. And what do you do?” he asked her as he couldn’t take his eyes off the emerald pools hers were.

“I go to college in Amherst at the University of Massachusetts. I’m studying animal biology.” She glanced to the side of him as one of her old boyfriends from high school came through the door, smiling at her. She shook her head to let him know she was busy and he took the hint when he looked at the man she was sitting with.

“How old are you, Jess?” Griff asked, then waved at the waitress, gesturing for two more beers.

“I turned 21 last month. And you?” she asked and took the beer that was placed in front of her. “Thanks, Bonnie.”

“I’m 30,” Griff said, then took a drink.

When she looked kind of freaked out by his age, he frowned as she said, “Damn!”

“It’s no big deal,” he argued.

“For you, maybe. For me … well, damn!” She took another drink of the beer then set the mug down on the small round table that had more than a few names chiseled into its dark surface. Then she reminded herself that the man who sat across from her wasn’t going to be in town for long, so she shouldn’t be worried about their age difference. It wasn’t like he was asking her to marry him or anything. “Yeah, it’s not a big deal, Griff. Sorry for overreacting about that.”

He nodded and felt the tiniest bit of relief. “So how about that? We both are in fields where animals are involved. That’s kind of cool, huh?”

“I guess so. What is it you do with the cattle?” she asked him as she noticed his eyes were a mixture of greens and blues with touches of browns in them too. “You have really cool eyes, Griff. They’re kind of freaking awesome, you know?”

“Thanks,” he said, then reached out to stroke her cheek. “Your eyes happen to be my favorite color. You’re a real knockout, baby.”

“So are you, if we’re telling the truth here,” she said, then found herself sighing as his touch was kind of melting her heart a bit.

Everyone was getting along so well; the men were pretty pumped about their chances to score. A little more time and they’d have the women right where they wanted them.

On the way to a no-tell motel!

Chapter 6

Finding all their women retreating to the bathroom at the same time, the men took advantage of being left alone and congregated at the bar to learn how each was doing. They all took seats, and the bartender asked if they wanted anything to drink, to which all told him, no.

“We’re getting close to the wire here boys,” Ethan said. The bartender turned to leave them alone. “I think I nearly have Kel right where I want her.” The bartender stopped and found a spot on the bar that urgently needed to be cleaned. Plus, he could listen in on the conversation that involved his cousins.