He moved in to her until their bodies brushed. His smile was pure wolf.
“I’ve had no complaints about my…ego fitting anywhere so far, Annabelle.”
She managed a hoot of laugher that was pretty good, considering that all the spit in her mouth had dried up because they both knew that it wasn’t his ego they were discussing now. “It’s no concern to me where your”—Annabelle waggled her little finger—“ego fits, Tex.”
“Now that’s a shame.” He gave her another slow smile, then took a step backwards as the music stopped and ran his eyes down her body. “Because I think it would fit just perfect in—”
“Don’t say it!” Annabelle cried as the heat that had started in her breasts was making them tingle before it traveled down to settle between her thighs. “I’m not ever going to know how your ego fits!”
“Now, here’s another thing you should know about Texans, Annabelle. We love a challenge, and when said challenge comes with a body like yours it makes it doubly hard to resist.”
Annabelle had a sudden feeling she was out of her depth with the man before her. When other men flirted or spoke dirty with her, she was able to brush them aside, but the difference here was that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Damn, she should never have responded to his kisses today, but she had, and now she needed to retreat.
“I’m thirsty.” Walking away from him, she didn’t look back, because if she did she was certain she would see the smile of a man who knew he’d won that round.
CHAPTER FIVE
“I loveandhate this event,” Annabelle said as she, Buster and Newman made their way across the grass to join their friends at the annual cookout. “It signals the end of the warm weather and the beginning of freezing our butts off and shoveling our sidewalks.”
“But I love that everyone gets to eat and spend time together,” Newman added when she’d finished talking. “I like seeing everyone here together, kids, parents. It’s cool, you know.”
“Yeah, and the colder weather’s really good for business,” Buster said.
She’d known these two men, both of them big and solid, since she’d started school. Buster Griffin owned the Hoot Café, and was an intimidating man to those who didn’t know him. His hair was always buzzed close to his head, his jaw was fierce and he had several tattoos. In her opinion the only thing that softened the man was his long, girly lashes.
Paul Theodore Newman had blond curls and a sweet smile, and was the polar opposite of the man he walked beside, with his soft brown eyes and gentle nature.
Music drifted to them and Annabelle saw that the town band had set up under the trees. Every space on the grass was covered with blankets or people. Children raced around, weaving in and out of the adults, who in turn were catching up with friends they had probably seen only a few days ago. The scene that greeted them was colorful, and everywhere she looked tables were already heaving with delicious food.
“Anyone see Irish and her idiot?” Buster prowled beside Annabelle, his eyes on the people, hands filled with containers.
“There.” Newman pointed to the small group at the rear, bordering the lake.
Following his hand, Annabelle felt her stomach drop as she saw the Texan.
“Looks like Gelderman Number Five is ripe for some more ridicule, seeing as he’s here,” Buster said, starting forward. “And I’m just the man for the job.”
As they drew near, she noted Ethan was wearing a pair of old shorts that she was pretty sure belonged to Jake, a white t-shirt that stretched across his chest, and on his head he’d settled a Longhorns cap. The man was a walking magnet for any woman, and she was pretty sure her heart just sighed. Of course she ignored it, but it sighed nonetheless.
“Still backing those losers, Number Five?” Buster said as he dumped his things on the table behind them. “Real men know that the Packers are the only team to support.”
“The day I take ‘real men’ advice from a man who wears an apron for a living is the day I hand in my handmade leather boots, Griffin.”
Annabelle ignored the talk and made for the table where Newman was putting her basket.
“Hey, Bran, Jake, and you,” she said to Ethan by way of a greeting.
“You got sweet potato salad in there, Annabelle?” Mikey appeared as if by magic when she opened her basket.
“Why aren’t you fat, boy?”
“I exercise. Do you?”
“Yes.” Annabelle laughed as she pulled a large covered bowl out. She placed everything on the table, then lowered her basket to the ground. “But we have to cook the meat first, then you get the salad.”
“Hey, Mikey.” Buster messed his hair. “I got some cookies, if you need something to keep you alive until the food’s ready.”
“Cool.” Mikey took the offering and ran off.
