“Oh, sure, and he’s great with the horses, if you were worried about Clarise and Stud-muffin being alone down there.And if Betsy goes into labor, I’m sure he’ll come up and get us.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Now watch the movie, Quinn.”Her pulse wouldn’t settle down.She didn’t think for a minute that he was worried about who was watching Clarise and Stud-muffin or whether Benny would alert them when Betsy went into labor.He wanted to know exactly how alone they were and how much temptation lay before him.
She wasn’t about to explain that although Betsy was due any day, she showed absolutely no signs of going into labor.Benny wasn’t the type to pop into the house for no reason, and Jo was sure Fred had told him to stay in the barn and keep an eye on the new baby.The chances of Benny showing up before lunch were practically nonexistent.She knew how alone they were, and it made watching the movie very difficult.
“I don’t sound exactly like Hastings,” Quinn said after a while.
“No, you sound better.”Whoops.She hadn’t meant to say it like that.
“What do you mean, better?”
Now she’d done it.“I happen to like a deeper voice on a guy, that’s all.”
“Oh.”He sounded pleased with her answer.
“I don’t think it’s a problem that your voice is a little deeper than his.Nobody’s mentioned your voice being different.In fact, they’re all so gaga they don’t notice anything different.They’re prepared to believe you’re him.”
“I guess so.”
But Jo could already tell big differences, and the advantage was in Quinn’s favor.His eyes were a deeper blue, and his mouth had a more sensuous curve to the lower lip.And she liked Quinn’s hands better.The fingers were longer, the back of his hand broader.Of course that was probably because Quinn was taller, bigger all over.And then she wondered if he was bigger all over.Her mouth grew moist.
The movie was quickly approaching the famous scene in the mining shack, the one that had made Eloise Doobie break her promise that she wouldn’t look at another man’s naked parts.The heroine, played by superstar Cheryl Ramsey, had already taken refuge in the shack while a terrible storm raged.She was conveniently in the process of taking off her wet clothes by candlelight while sitting on a cot.
“He’s going to show up, isn’t he?”Quinn said.
“Yep.”Jo was becoming embarrassingly aroused being in the same room with Quinn during this sexy movie.She was so glad she wasn’t a man.The poor guys couldn’t hide their sexual interest at all.
“We’re getting down to it, aren’t we?”
“Yep.”She didn’t dare look at Quinn to find out if his sexual interest was beginning to show, but she’d bet it was.She could hear him breathing, and he kept shifting on the seat cushions.She wondered if getting an erection was painful after the punishment of his morning ride.“Are you okay?”
“How do you mean?”
“Um, are you...uncomfortable?”
“Yeah.”His voice was dry.“Any suggestions?”
“I could get another ice pack for your?—”
“No, thanks.”
Jo tried to concentrate on the movie instead of the state of Quinn’s private parts.Cheryl Ramsey was quite beautiful and quite naked.Jo really didn’t like Quinn looking at her, but it couldn’t be helped.
Brian Hastings opened the door of the shack.The woman glanced up.The look that passed between the two of them made Jo quiver.Then, without saying a word, Hastings unbuttoned his shirt.
Jo remembered thinking he looked pretty damned good when she first saw the scene, but that was before she’d been treated to Quinn Monroe in his briefs last night.Still, watching Hastings peel off his shirt and reach for the buckle of his belt reminded her of the joy of watching a well-put-together man undress.Quinn had been right about Dick’s physique—he was soft in the middle.
She gripped the remote as Hastings, standing partially in shadow with his back to the camera, took off his jeans and his underwear in one movement.No wonder the Ugly Bug Garden Club closed out their meeting with this scene.Her gaze was riveted to the screen.But she’d wager that Quinn’s behind looked even better than this.
Hastings walked over to Cheryl and sank to his knees before her.That simple, knightly gesture was the sort of thing that had made Brian Hastings number one at the box office, in Jo’s estimation.She held her breath as Hastings kissed Cheryl — her mouth, her throat, her breasts.Jo’s breasts felt tight and feverish.
As the music swelled, Hastings guided Cheryl to the cot, and the soft light illuminated their bodies as he moved over her.
Jo moaned softly and gripped the remote.
The scene froze in place.
