physical attraction coupled with desire burst through her. Holy shit! Her mouth went dry and she tried to look away, but the stranger’s burning gaze held her.
Then two women—a brunette and a redhead, both wearing tight-as-hell spandex dresses, wrapped themselves around him. After a quick assessing gaze of Ashley, the brunette ran her hand down the man’s chest right to his waistband as if to say, “Back off, bitch.”
Ashley dragged her eyes away and headed back to the counter. As she settled down on the barstool, she wanted to turn around and look at Mr. Sexy, but she forced herself to stare ahead and concentrate on a couple who swayed to the overhead music. Ashley shook her head slightly and groaned inwardly: she was a sucker for a bad boy with dark eyes. Stop it right now! You’re in town to work—that’s it. The fact that it’d been a while since she’d had sex shouldn’t enter her thought process at all. Not one bit. Anyway, the guy’s got player written all over his face. I know the type. Hell, I’ve dated the type. I bet women are nothing more to him than notches on his belt. She rolled her eyes. Been there, done that.
“What’re you drinking?” a deep voice rumbled in her ear—warm breath caressing her neck.
Turning, she cocked her head and gazed up close into the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen; for a long second, it took her breath away. “I’m good, thanks,” she said.
The corners of his mouth curved up in a sexy grin as he leaned in closer. “You look like you need one.” He lifted up his hand and waved it.
“What’ll you have?” one of the bartenders asked.
“A Modelo and”—his eyes cut to hers and he pointed a finger at her—“whatever the lady’s drinking.”
“Vodka sour,” she said, then exhaled a long sigh.
The bartender scurried away, and the sexy stranger’s gaze drifted down her body with a stop at her breasts and then at her legs. The scent of freshly hewn pine, leather, and crisp Rocky Mountain air hit Ashley and curled around her, as she inhaled deeply. He even smells rugged. This guy’s dripping badass and raw sex. Dammit. Not liking the way her body was reacting to him, she scooted to the edge of the cushion.
Slinging his arm across the top of the stool back, he laughed, then leaned in. “I don’t bite,” he said in her ear, his warm breath tickling and caressing it.
His chest brushed against her arm and a tingle sprinted up her spine. Ashley gritted her teeth, perturbed that this man was having an effect on her. She shifted in place and said, “That’s what you say.”
Eyes widening in feigned innocence, he asked, “Has someone been talking about me?” A small smile tugged at his lips.
“Maybe the brunette.” Ashley glanced over at the woman, who stood at the end of the bar, glaring at her. The blonde stuck her tongue out, and Ashley stared in surprise. “She and her friend don’t seem too happy that you’ve abandoned them.”
He glanced over Ashley’s shoulder, and the fine lines on his forehead deepened a bit. “Chynna’s got no claim on me, and neither does Holly.” The man’s face softened when he looked back at Ashley. “You don’t need to worry about them.”
Talk about being arrogant. Ashley shook her head. “I’m not.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He handed her the vodka sour. “I’ve never seen you in here before.”
She raised her glass, took a sip, then looked at him over the rim. “Do you know everyone here?”
There was another wide smile, and this time she noticed a slight gap between his front teeth. “Pretty much.” He squinted as he brought the dark amber bottle of beer to his full lips. “There’s no way I wouldn’t have remembered you. You’re a very attractive woman.” He took a long gulp and looked directly at her. “And you know it.”
His blunt comment startled her. She opened her mouth to deny it, but changed her mind and smiled instead. “Thanks for the half-assed compliment.”
“Anytime.” Once again, his gaze roamed over her body.
“You do know you’re ogling me, right? Is that your standard pickup move?”
He took another swig of beer and then set the bottle down on the bar. “I’m appreciating the view. What’s your name?”
“Marie.” She lied.
“I’m Smokey.”
“Did you get your nickname from smoking a lot?” she asked while running her index finger along the side of the tumbler.
Smokey laughed, a deep, warm sound that resonated through