*
Chuckling to himself,Becket left the pharmacy.When he’d turned around after paying for his purchase, he’d noticed Aurelia Hill.She was new in town, working at the hardware store, and had already built a reputation as the new town gossip.He bet she was probably on the phone right now, telling everyone about the box of you-know-what bad boy Becket Weston had just bought.Speculation as to which lady he was buying them for would give them enough to talk about until closing time.
He’d parked in front of the bookstore on the opposite side of Main Street.The bookshop stocked the brand of paper he liked to use for the cartoon illustrations he made of the antics of his dogs.The other art supplies he needed, like watercolors, oils and acrylics, he bought from a shop in Bozeman, the closest city to Marietta.It was much easier to make the twenty-seven-minute drive to another city than have to explain to anyone here why a cowboy was buying art supplies.
Harper, his beloved Labrador, was in the back seat of his truck.She was older than his two Golden Retrievers, Jack and Sadie, and didn’t like to be left at home.The moment she saw him, her tail wagged.Here was at least one girl who was always happy to see him.
He had a date this Friday night for the first time in a long while.He liked women and loved spending time with the opposite sex.Even though he made it clear right from the start he wasn’t interested in anything long term, women always seemed to want more.When they started dropping phrases like ‘taking the next step’ into the conversation, or stopped to admire rings in the jeweler’s store window he knew it was time to move on.
Before his new sister-in-law, Laura, had fallen for his brother, Hayden, Becket had taken her to dinner at the Graff Hotel.The previous woman he’d dated had shown up in tears, causing a very uncomfortable scene.That was when Laura had told him in no uncertain terms what she thought of the way he treated women.He’d taken a long hard look at himself after that and had steered clear of women for a while.After that particularly unpleasant experience it hadn’t been any hardship to keep his distance from women.
Fact was, he couldn’t ever get serious about a relationship.How could he have a happy ending, when Walker would never get the chance?Because Becket had been too wrapped up in his own little world and wasn’t paying attention at the time, one of his brothers was lying six feet under the ground.It was what it was.
When a new nurse in town, Roxy, had asked him on a date last weekend, he’d accepted, making sure she knew he wasn’t interested in anything long term.
As he turned his head to check the traffic, a motion in the shop next to the pharmacy caught his attention.A woman with curly blonde hair cascading down her back was standing on a stepladder, her hands stretched out in front of her as she was trying to put something on top of a cupboard.A very unsteady stepladder, from what he could see.
He recognized her immediately.It was Ellie, Laura’s very sexy curvy friend.She’d attended Laura and Hayden’s wedding four weeks ago, but had slipped away before he could introduce himself.She wasn’t the type of woman he usually dated, his mother had said when Ellie had been discussed during a lunch.Well, he didn’t have to like her to know she was in trouble.Even from here, it was obvious the ladder was going to keel over at any moment.
His feet were moving before he even thought about what he was doing.
With two steps he was inside the shop.Dropping the bag in his hands on the nearest counter, he charged forward.
The ladder groaned and tilted.
“Oh!”she cried and the next moment she came tumbling down.With another step forward he was just in time to catch her in his arms.
Shocked blue eyes looked up at him.Then the strangest thing happened.For a split second, he could swear the earth stopped turning, long enough for him to become acutely aware of the soft womanly curves he was holding in his arms.
For the life of him, he couldn’t look away.With one glance he took in everything about her—skin like petals under his fingers, silky curls brushing against his hand, generous breasts pressing against his arms, the pulse fluttering in her neck, the shudder that went through her.Or was it through him?
“Put me down!”she demanded and wriggled to get down.
“Steady now, sweetheart,” he got out as he slowly put her down.
Strangely lightheaded from the notes of flowers and citrus that still clung to him, he steadied himself against the counter.Forcing himself to look away, he glanced down.She’d kicked off her shoes and was in bare feet.Her toenails were painted a soft pink.Desire like he’d never experienced before hit him forcefully in the gut.
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” she huffed.“Thank you, but I had the situation under control.”
He should be flirting, joking with her, but gone was all his usual suave bantering.Like an idiot, he could only stare.She was still talking, but he didn’t hear a thing.Her lips… they were made for kissing.And the line of her neck…
“…please leave?”Her words finally penetrated his befuddled mind.“This is yours…” she said as she picked up the package he’d bought at the pharmacist.
As she tossed the packet in his direction, the box of condoms slipped out, fell to the ground and several condoms fell out.
They both crouched down at the same time.She had the box in her hand while he was picking up the few packages that had fallen out.“Skin-on-skin feeling for enhanced sensation and pleasure,” she read out loud before she realized what she was holding in her hands.Blushing a fiery red, she dropped the package like it was a hot potato and got up quickly.
Quickly putting everything back in the paper bag, he stood up.“I…” He had to clear his throat.“I was just trying to help.”
Turning her back on him, she moved closer to the door.“I know all about you, Becket Weston.I’m not falling for those baby blues.”
Well, he hadn’t ever been one to step away from a challenge.Finally regaining his equilibrium, he pushed the package into the pocket of his jeans and sauntered closer to where she was waiting for him to leave, back straight.“Baby blues?”
Whipping around, her mouth opened, ready to cut him down to size again, but then she froze.She’d obviously not realized how close he was standing to her.Backing up a few steps, he saw it—the clear outline of her nipples straining against the soft material of the dress she was wearing; the top button had slipped open, giving him a glimpse of the swell of a milk-white breast and midnight-blue lace.Another wave of desire punched him in the gut—he wasn’t the only one to react.
“Sure about that?”he chuckled as he lowered his head.He’d merely meant to tease her; actually kissing her hadn’t even entered his mind.Until he caught the whiff of her scent again.Within seconds his blood heated to way beyond boiling point and rushed loudly through his bloodstream.
Steady, steady.Taking a deep breath, he grinned, forcing himself to play his usual role.“Wanna kiss and make out?”he teased, trying to clear his befuddled mind.
