“So, cowgirl,” he said, “your top half is still looking kind of dry.”
“Seriously? I’m soaked!” Jess laughed as she tried to duck her head, but he held her fast. There was nowhere to go. And honestly? Even with the cold water from his clothing seeping through the one remaining dry item she had on, she wasn’t in all that much of a hurry to pull her body away from his.
“You’re not as soaked as I am right now.”
“You deserve every drop, cowboy. Turns out I still don’t like scavenger hunts after all.”
Cole smiled, then spoke low, right in her ear, making her shiver deliciously. “You will pay for this, cowgirl. You won’t see it coming, but I promise you. It’s coming.”
Chapter 9
“Nope. Still no cold feet.” Daniel cracked open his beer and took a long slug, then set it on the bar.
“You say that now.” Cole took a matching draw on his own drink, looking around at the locals ponying up to Salty’s bar on this Tuesday night. The hats were real, the jeans were dirty, and the conversation was loud. It was a far cry from Friday nights, when Salty turned the place into a line-dancing tourist trap.
“Okay, I’ll admit the whole big wedding operation isn’t entirely my thing. If she’d elope tonight, I’d take her anywhere.”
Cole shook his head. “Does every man end up wanting that, in the end?”
“Absolutely.” Daniel laughed. “But it’s all right. She deserves to have her fancy white dress and flowers and best girlfriends out here.”
“I have to admit, I never pictured Hayley in a long white dress, especially walking down the aisle to meet a guy like you.”
“Thanks.”
Cole took another drink. “Eh, you know I’m happy for you. One less bachelor around leaves more women for me, right?”
“Sure.” Daniel tipped his head subtly toward the door. “Speaking of women, looks like someone’s back in town.”
Cole looked. “Oh, Christ. Marcy. Kill me now.”
He braced himself as Marcy strutted over, her nauseating perfume getting there before her body did.
“Well, I’ll be! Cole! How are you?” She reached out both arms for a hug, and he reluctantly returned it. Her father was still on the town council, and Decker’d kill him if he did anything to piss her—and by extension, her daddy—off at this point.
“And Daniel? Oh my God! I haven’t seen you in forever!” Cole rolled his eyes behind Marcy’s back as she slid her hand free and stepped toward Daniel, boobs first. “How are you?”
“He’s engaged. Wedding this weekend.”
Marcy pouted prettily, her hand on Daniel’s elbow now. “You warning me off, Cole?”
“Just saving you the trouble.”
“Well, then.” She huffed as she turned back toward him, but it was all staged. “Looks like the selection of bachelors in Carefree is getting smaller, Cole. But you’re still single, right?”
“Nope. Moving to a commune. Gonna have me six wives.” He took a slug of his beer.
“Well”—she gave her tinkly little fake laugh as she ran her index finger down the buttons of his shirt—“maybe we can go out before you leave.”
Cole almost choked on his drink. “I don’t think so, Marcy.”
“Why not? You’re single, I’m single—”
Um, let’s see. You’re crazy, I’m not.
“Sorry. No can do. It’s a brother code thing.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. Decker and I are old news. Call me, okay?”
Cole raised his beer. No sense arguing with a slightly tipsy version of an egomaniac. “You bet. Good seeing you, Marcy.”
She waved her fingers as she swayed her hips and boobs toward her friends at the other end of the bar, and Cole closed his eyes and shook his head as she went. She’d only been back in town for a month, but had wasted no time getting his number.
“She’s just not getting the hint, is she?” Daniel said. “What is it about a woman that makes her think she can do a guy, then move on to his brother if it doesn’t work out?”
“Not gonna happen.”
“Y’know, it might be easier to get her off your scent if you did have a girlfriend.”
“Doubt it. Knowing her, it’d just make her try harder.”
“Maybe, but it’s something to think about. You know, at least for the wedding.” Daniel tipped his beer nonchalantly. “So you don’t end up getting mauled.”
Cole felt his eyebrows furrow. “Please tell me she’s not on the guest list.”
“Sorry.” Daniel cringed. “Couldn’t be avoided. Someday you’ll see how this works. It’s a whole dominoes game of if-you-invite-so-and-so-then-you-have-to-invite-so-and-so and it goes on and on until you want to just elope, and then suddenly, bam. You’ve got