CHAPTER 1
Jaxon
The Rusty Spur is hopping tonight. Everywhere I look, my fellows are happily hitting on anything that moves and breathes.
I’m a little more discerning. But not by much. I love the ladies. At least for a little while.
I don’t stay. Ever. I’ve seen too much over the years and I know what kind of guy I am. I’m not the guy to build a life with. I’m the guy to warm your bed for a little while, kiss me good-bye in the morning and forget I exist after that except for a few happy memories. I hope.
Lifting my beer, I keep one eye on the door and the other eye on the movements around me.
Which is how I see her. Her long, tousled curls gleam dark red in the bouncing lights of the bar. Her pale skin glows, her red lips purse and my cock sits up and takes notice immediately.
She’s so damn tiny she’ll probably only come up to the middle of my chest but she’s all curves and softness. My hands itch to touch her and my breath stills as I slowly drop my hand to set my drink back down on the bar top.
“Where you going?” Mick asks, a smirk on his lips as he spots what my greedy eyes are locked on.
I barely glance at the grouchy bartender. “Who’s she?” I breathe, having to suck in a gulp of air just to get the words out.
“That is way above your pay grade, Sergeant.”
Glaring at him, I wait impatiently.
“Fine,” he growls. “That’s Aspen Archer. She’s relatively new around here.”
“Obviously. I would have seen her before this.”
He rolls his eyes and smirks. “You know….you’re probably right. But you haven’t got a prayer, hot shot. She’s got a lot she’s carrying around and she doesn’t like the military.”
I grab my beer and take another quick drink, grinning. “She hasn’t met me.”
“Yeah. I’m sure that’s it. She’s just been waiting for you,” he grunts.
I nod my head and smirk back at him. Shooting him a couple of finger guns, I grin. “You know it.”
“Ugh,” he grunts. “You are seriously annoying, man.”
Finishing my slide to the ground, I prowl across the packed floor, pushing my way through heaving bodies and cheering women. Stopping beside her, I grin and gently touch her elbow.
She stops talking to the woman she’s standing with and shoots me a glare from soft green eyes. “Yes?”
“You wanna dance, sweetheart?”
Her brows lift and she turns to the woman with her. The woman snickers behind her hand at the stunned look on her friend’s face. “Am I dreaming this?”
The brunette with her shakes her head. “Nope.”
Those fascinating green eyes slew back to me and harden. “I don’t dance with soldiers.” Her eyes drift down my body. “Especially with ones that I’m sure have been working their way through the female population since they were old enough to walk.”
My lips quirk up. I like a woman with a little sass. “You’ve got a pretty high opinion of my charm, sweetheart. Must mean that it’s working.”
Her full lips turn down. “Ugh.” She holds up a slim hand and my heart stops when I see the ring on her left hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you’re married. I don’t hit on married women.”
Her friend opens her mouth but slams it shut with one glare from her. “It’s nice to know that you have some scruples.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Aspen.”
