God, I missed my friends. Maybe I don’t need to get laid. All Ineeded was a night out with my closest friends and a good peach Italian cream soda.
My eyes flit to Addison again as she takes a swig of her drink. Her throat bobs as she swallows, and my mind is back in the gutter.
No, I definitely still need to get laid.
Chapter 6
I’m goingto fuck Juniper Calhoun again.
I had the thought while I was organizing the tack shed two days ago.
I don’t know what led me to it. Maybe it was watching her ample hips sway as she walked Honeysuckle down to the corral, or perhaps it’s because my day isn’t complete without seeing her smile, even if it’s not directed at me.
She lit up when I asked her about the history of the ranch on our way back from Missoula, and the pleased expression on her face when I sat next to her at Sunday dinner had me craving more.
I’ve never wanted to surprise anyone before, but the way the corners of her mouth tip into a shy smile and her eyes glimmer when she’s happy makes me want to find ways to keep her on her toes.
I know fucking the boss’s daughter isn’t the best idea, but the desire I have for the sunshine-y woman with sapphire eyes overrules my logical reasoning. I knowI should ignore the spark she ignites in my belly when she throws her head back. I shouldn’t be wondering if her bedroom looks how I think it does. I shouldn’t becraving the feel of her pillowy lips against mine or wondering if she still makes that whimpering sound when she comes.
But I can’t help myself. She’s calling to me like a siren’s song, and I don’t think I can go an entire summer without getting another taste of her, even if it’s only once. When the season ends, I’ll move on and forget about her, but while she’s in my reach, I can’t find any more willpower to stay away.
If I thought for a second she wasn’t interested, I’d move on and suppress what I’m feeling, but I’ve felt her eyes on me more than once. She doesn't think I notice the way she looks at me, and she obviously doesn’t see me looking back at her.
I’m not imagining the chemistry between us, and I want to give in. Just once. One more night is all I need to get her out of my system.
Having her pressed up against me in the truck made me want to tell Briggs to turn around and take us back, but I’m glad I didn’t. She looks happy right now, and I can tell she needed this time with her friends. They seem cool, even if some of their eyes linger on her a little too long for my liking.
Does she know how magnetic she is? How beautiful? More than once, I’ve caught a man staring at the way her breasts sit against the bodice of her dress. I’ve seen their eyes linger on her, full of interest, when she throws her head back in a laugh or flicks her glossy hair over her shoulders.
I’m not the jealous type, but I want to spray them all in the eyes so they can’t look at her.
She finishes her drink and sashays over to the bar, leaning up on her tiptoes as she orders something else. The bartender says something that makes her laugh as he puts her drink together.
One of the cowboys sidles up next to her, and my stomach plummets as her smile is directed at him. I can’t tell what they’re saying, but it looks like they’re flirting with the way she bats her eyelashes, and he leans against the bar.
Usually, I wouldn’t have any qualms about ordering anotherdrink, but if there’s the slightest chance I’ll get Juniper in bed with me tonight, I need to have my wits about me. I finish the drink I’ve been nursing all night and make my way to the bar to get some water.
And to eavesdrop.
“You’ll have to show me your art sometime, honey,” the cowboy drawls, sliding his hand closer to Juniper’s. “I’m sure someone as beautiful as you is only capable of making things that are equally so.”
Her face flushes, but she removes her hand from the bar. “Thank you, Caleb. That’s very kind of you. Maybe you can stop by the ranch sometime, and I can show you.”
He’s clearly unaware that she isn’t interested because he leans closer to her. “What if we go out instead? I hear there’s a great new steakhouse in Helena. Are you free next Saturday?”
Juniper’s entire body goes rigid. “Oh, um. We have a big client coming next week, and Saturday will be busy with our send-off dinner.” She pulls out her phone, shaking it like she got a phone call. “Can I get back to you? I need to take this.”
“Oh, sure.”
Juniper hustles away, heading down the back hallway that leads to the bathroom.
One of Caleb’s buddies approaches him, giving him a slap on the shoulder. “So, did you do it?”
“Nah, man. I tried, though. She seemed… I don’t know… jittery when I mentioned leaving Copper Creek. I think you’re right about her never wanting to leave. She took a phone call and said she’d get back to me, but I don’t think she will.”
“Don’t know how she’ll ever find someone if she doesn’t get out of this town, but that’s not our problem, is it? At least you tried. You gonna try to get with Shiloh instead?”
“And risk the wrath of Cillian? No thanks.”
