My chest aches.
“Something wrong,mi Cielo?”
Shaking off my rumination, I blink away the fog and find exactly what I need right in front of me—a distraction. A very sexy distraction.
“Santi, hi!”
I’ll wait until later to analyze how he pulled me out of my head with just a few words and that smile. But I’ll let myself admire his ivory cowboy hat and those nice-fitting jeans.
I swear, Santiago looks like he was born in the saddle. His dark hair brushes the collar of his shirt beneath the brim of his cowboy hat, and his skin carries the warm bronze of a man who spends more time beneath the Wyoming sun than indoors.
“I was hoping I would run into you again,” he admits as he sits on the seat next to me.
I turn on the stool to face him. “Oh, yeah? Why’s that? Checking on your best friend’s daughter?”
“Not quite.” Santiago tenses for a moment as his eyes harden, but the intensity quickly dissipates. “We never got to finish our conversation.”
Strange but okay…
“No need. I know what type ofvaqueroyou are.” I spin on my stool again, giving him my profile.
Santiago grabs my seat and turns me back toward him. “I feel like I’m supposed to challenge you to a duel or something for insulting my way of life.”
I scoff and let sarcasm seep through my words. “What is this? The wild west? Is your ego that delicate?”
“No, but I don’t want this to end.” He hops up, grabbing my hand. “How about a game of darts?”
This is definitely the distraction I need right now.
“You’re on, player.” I jump off my stool just like he did and let him lead me across the bar to the dart board in the back corner. I ignore the stares from the nosy townsfolk as we go. “You do know that Levi taught me darts when I was twelve, right?”
Retrieving the six darts when we get to the board, Santiago hands me three and keeps the other three for himself.
I’m not sure if he saw the curious looks, but if he did, he’s brushing them off well.
He leans down, whispering in my ear, “Who do you think taught him?”
Shit.
I don’t want to lose, but I don’t think I’m actually upset about this. Teenage Blake is jumping up and down for this one-on-one time with Santiago Ramirez.
Not to mention the flirting.
I could be making it all up in my head, but I’ll let myself live in this fantasy a little longer.
“Ladies first,” Santiago offers with a smile.
“Don’t mind if I do,” I return. Getting into position, I hold up the first dart and aim. I keep my eyes on the target and prepare to let the dart fly.
But before I can, a pair of hands land on my hips, and I’m pulled back into a firm body. My nose is filled with notes of oakmoss and leather, and I feel my heart race in the best way.
“You’re doing it wrong.” Santiago’s lips brush the shell of my ear, and my core begins to ache.
Dear God. I don’t want this to end. Even if it’s just for tonight, I’ll take it.
Allowing myself to lean back into his body, I reply, “I was doing it just fine.” My rebuttal comes out more husky than I mean for it to.
Santigo’s tongue lightly traces the tip of my ear. “Why settle for fine when you can have it so much better?”
