Smug Bastard - Stacey Marie Brown Page 0,23

which really annoyed me.

We had taken longer than we thought at Monument Valley, doing a few small hikes with Goat before Smith took us to Mesa Verde National Park, checking out the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings. The moment I stepped into the first residence, I knew we’d be there for the rest of the day. Finding the dwelling absolutely fascinating, I fell in love with the life I could still feel vibrating through the preserved homes, like an echo of the past. I wanted to absorb everything, see everything. I was so thankful Smith brought me there, though most of the day I wanted to ask what had crawled up his ass and died.

Speaking of ass. Oh my god. All day my gaze was locked on his as he hiked in front of me, his basketball-style shorts clinging to every curve of his firm backside. The fabric did nothing to hide the enormous bulge that man carried with him. I couldn’t stop, even when he was being a jerk, obsessed with watching him move, getting more obvious as the day wore on.

It wasn’t my fault. I mean, ever since I accidently—okay, it wasn’t an accident at all—caught a glimpse of his naked butt when he was rinsing off this morning, I blamed him. Holy shit, I had only seen bodies like his in men’s fitness magazines where they had been airbrushed to look that good. The way my chest twisted angered me. I had never been shallow or boy crazy.

And this was Smith Blackburn.

Smug Bastard.

Womanizer and jerk.

My preteen self didn’t understand why my adult self was having such a problem computing that. Weren’t you supposed to get wiser with age, not stupider?

Clearly my education turned me into an idiot, because I hardly took in the beautiful, unique terrain, my awareness overtly tuned to him, his proximity or the fact he went out of his way not to touch me.

“I started the fire. Burritos tonight?”

“Sounds good.” I batted away a mosquito. “Thanks.”

He grunted in response. His phone buzzed in his hand, making his jaw clench, shoving it back in his pocket. His cell was going off all the time, though he never picked it up.

“Someone really wants to get a hold of you.” I poked at the topic, curious if he’d tell me. Whomever was on the other end wanted to talk to him.

“I’ll feed Goat,” he mumbled, stomping away from the table to the van, calling after my dog.

“Good talking to you,” I yelled dryly at him, annoyed by his testy mood, my brain rolling around with who could be calling him, causing such a reaction.

A woman? I snorted to myself. Knowing him, probably several dozen. Each time it rang was probably a different one.

“Hey?” A voice broke through my thoughts, making me jump and peer down at a guy walking up to the table I was standing on, a beer in his hand. “Oh sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” An easy grin widened his mouth, showing off his perfect white teeth. He wore green khakis and black T-shirt. He looked to be in his early twenties, tall, lean and toned, deep chocolate skin, soft brown eyes.

Really cute.

“No, it’s okay.” I waved my hand, feeling a warmth tap at my cheeks. “Just thinking.”

“Hope I didn’t interrupt any deep thoughts.”

“Deep?” I sputtered in laughter. “No. Certainly not that.” I started to step off the table, and his hand darted out, helping me down.

“Thanks.”

“My mama raised me to be a gentleman.” His grin was so easy and happy; I couldn’t help but smile in response.

“So, you’re the one.” I snapped my fingers. “I heard about you. Most of my friends think you are myth, but I believed.”

A laugh belted from him, his smile hurting my cheeks. “See… if you believe, a miracle will find you.” He winked.

“Or at least meet you in Colorado.”

A flirty grin hooked his mouth. “Lucky me.”

Someone cleared their throat, jerking both our heads toward the noise. Smith stood there, his arms crossed, his expression detached, but I could sense irritation ticking at his jaw.

“Oh, sorry.” The guy backed up, his head swinging between us. “Stupid of me to think—”

“No.” I shook my head. “We’re not together. Just friends… or actually, he’s friends with my older brother… He dated my sister…” Shut up, Kinsley. Now. I pinched my lips together to keep from spewing more.

“Oh.” The guy looked unconvinced, but his shoulders eased down a bit. “I was coming over here to invite you, both of you, to