Backlash Tender Trap Aftermath - Lisa Jackson Page 0,172
Colton’s older brother. Denver was as handsome as ever. Even though he’d suffered several plastic surgeries after the fire, he was as ruggedly good-looking as Colton. He never left Tessa’s side as they wended through the crowd.
A few faces turned his way, and a few people exchanged meaningful glances. Ryan Ferguson noticed him and stopped dancing with Jessica. Hatred seemed to radiate from his body, and he took a step forward, but Jessica’s hand restrained him.
Denver didn’t seem to notice.
Tessa spied Colton and Cassie and, dragging her recalcitrant husband behind her, made a beeline across the room. Colton shifted closer to Cassie, keeping one arm around her waist as Tessa joined them. “I can’t thank you enough,” she said breathlessly, her hazel eyes shining on Cassie. “Dad says you single-handedly delivered Red Wing’s colt.”
“Not so single-handedly. Red Wing did all the work, and Colton helped.”
“Did you?” Tessa arched one fine brow at her brother-in-law.
“I just took orders,” Colton clarified.
“That I’d like to see!” Tessa said, giggling as Denver, standing behind her, wrapped possessive arms around her thick waist.
“I guess I owe you, too,” Denver conceded, though he didn’t smile and his blue eyes were dead serious. “You managed to save Black Magic and a couple of others.”
“We all did.” Cassie started to relax, but she felt Colton’s muscles stiffen. “Hopefully you won’t have any other cases.”
Denver’s eyes narrowed. “What about the other ranchers in the valley. Has anyone else had a problem?”
Cassie bristled, taking the hint. “None that I know of.” When Denver didn’t seem convinced, she added, “Craig and I talked about it—since strangles is so contagious. He’s afraid that Black Magic linked up with some wild horses who have the disease.”
“Just let me know if you hear of any other cases,” Denver said before Tessa sent him a killing look.
“You, husband dear, have a one-track mind. Cassie didn’t come here to discuss her work and, except to thank her for helping out at our ranch, neither did I. Let’s dance.”
“Good idea,” Colton added as Tessa linked her fingers with her husband’s. She led Denver toward an adjoining room that had been cleared of furniture. The oak floor had been polished to a golden shine, and a few couples were gliding over the gleaming parquet.
“No dancing for me,” Beth said as Colton cupped Cassie’s elbow.
Cassie chuckled despite Denver’s pointed remarks. “Maybe it’s just what you need to convince that baby to come into the world.”
“The baby’s not the problem,” Beth replied as her husband, balancing two platters of food joined them, “my feet are!”
“Come on,” Colton whispered into Cassie’s ear. He tugged on her arm and guided her through a wide arch. Folding her expertly into his arms, he held her close, moving to the soft strains of a slow tune. Other couples swirled around them, but Colton didn’t seem to notice. “If I haven’t said it before, you look sensational.”
“Thanks.” She colored under his compliment and felt the warm whisper of his breath against her bare nape. “I feel ridiculous.”
“Why?”
“This”—she looked down at her dress—“is out of character for me.”
“You can’t run around in jeans and lab coats all the time.”
“Oh, and you’re comfortable?” She arched her black brows, daring him to lie.
“As long as you’re in my arms,” he shot back, his steely eyes glinting wickedly.
“Where’d you read that?”
“I didn’t. I saw it in some movie.”
“Figures.” She laughed, and they danced together, oblivious of the crowd or anything but each other. Colton swirled her and held her, and she forgot the hostility she’d felt when they’d first joined the party.
Laughing, she danced with him, held him, felt his lips press kisses against her hair until she thought she would drop. “I think we could use a break,” he murmured against her ear.
“Amen.”
“Would you like something to drink?”
She nodded and started to follow him to the bar, when she spied Craig talking with a tall, slender man she didn’t recognize. Craig had one hand tucked in the pockets of his slacks, the other wrapped around a half-filled old fashioned glass. He caught her eye and waved her over.
Without waiting for Colton, she skirted the dancing couples and joined the two men. “Wonderful party,” she said, smiling. “I’m glad you talked me into coming.”
Craig chuckled. “Maybe next time I won’t have to put a gun to your head.”
Rolling her eyes, Cassie conceded, “Okay, okay. I was wrong.”
“Now that that’s settled, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.” He indicated the tall, slender man next to him. “This