“Thanks, cowboy. I needed that.” She looked out at the crowd, nudging Jillian, and eyed Nick as she said, “Hot guy, two o’clock.”
Don’t fuck with me, darlin’.
“Oh yeah,” Jillian said. “That is one fine specimen.”
Nick looked over to see who they were talking about, and hell if it wasn’t Jon Fucking Butterscotch heading their way. Fanfuckingtastic. He finished his drink, needing about twelve more.
“Don’t you want to run your fingers through that mop of dirty-blond hair?” Trixie wiggled her fingers. “And look at that chest. Mm.”
My chest is twice his size, and you know it.
The other girls who were talking with Jax turned to see who they were checking out, and one of them said, “He’s definitely hot, but he’s got nothing on Jax.”
“Damn right he doesn’t.” Jax pushed to his feet and pulled out his wallet. He handed a few twenties to the three girls and said, “Why don’t you head up to the bar and grab another drink. I’ll meet you there in a little while.”
The girls gushed over his generosity, and as they walked away, Jillian said, “Three women, Jax. Really?”
“Two’s company. Three’s a crowd.” Jax cocked a grin. “But four is a party.”
“Did I hear party?” Jon said as he swaggered up to them in his dark slacks and dress shirt, unbuttoned three buttons deep. He looked more like an upscale surfer than a doctor, with an ever-present tan, a dusting of scruff, and longish hair. “Nick, Jax, good to see you.” He flashed a smile at the girls. “My two favorite ladies. Trix, it’s been too long, baby. Get your beautiful self in here and give me some sugar.”
He hugged her for too damn long, and Nick’s muscles corded tight.
When Jon finally released Trixie, he said, “When are you going to run away with me?”
Trixie laughed softly. “Trust me, Jon, I’d drive you crazy.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.” Jon waggled his brows.
“I’m serious.” She looked at Nick and said, “Just ask this guy.”
Nick scoffed. “You can say that again.”
“So, are you two…?” Jon asked.
Trixie shook her head. “Not like that, no. I’m only here for a few weeks. Nick’s helping me get a horse therapy business started.”
Nick’s chest constricted with the reminder of his temporary role in her life.
“That’s right. Congratulations,” Jon said. “Jilly filled me in on your new business. I’m so damn proud of you for taking the plunge. Cole and I have contacts up and down the East Coast. We can hook you up with as many medical facilities as you want.”
“That would be fantastic, Jon. Thank you. Tempe gave me a list of names that Cole had given her. We’ll have to compare notes.”
“Yes we do. We also need to celebrate.” Jon looked at the rest of them. “What’s it going to be, shots or dancing?”
“Dancing!” Jillian and Trixie said in unison as Jax and Nick said, “Shots.”
“Dancing it is. We’ll come back for shots. Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us.” Jon put his arms around the girls, leading them to the dance floor.
Trixie looked over her shoulder and said, “See ya!”
Nick gritted his teeth. Jax put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Breathe, brother. They go way back; you know that. They’ve been racing together for years, and you know how Jon is. He gets under your skin just enough to make you want to hate him, but he’s a tough guy to hate because he’s so likable.”
Tell me about it.
He watched them dancing like a damn dirty dancing trio. Trixie was a sensual dancer, and it was torture watching her move in sync with another man. He told himself to look away, but he was captivated by her. The music and the other people faded away, until all he saw was Trixie and Jon. Jealousy roared through him. He knew he shouldn’t be jealous. She and Jon were just having fun. But she’d gotten so deep under Nick’s skin, into his thoughts, she’d shattered his ability to think rationally. Images of Trixie and Travis dirty dancing slammed into him, followed by thoughts of Travis’s hands on her. Trixie’s voice crashed into his mind—What’s a little nakedness between friends?—and something inside him snapped.
Fuck this.
He plowed through the crowd onto the dance floor and took Trixie by the arm. “I’m cutting in.”
Jon gave him a thumbs-up.
Nick pulled her into his arms, speaking directly into her ear. “I drank champagne off your body, and now I’ve got to watch you with him?”
“We’re just dancing,” she said with a laugh.
“You think I don’t get that? I know you’re just having fun, but I see you dancing with Jon, and it tears me up inside.”
Challenge simmered in her eyes. “You could have asked me to dance.”
“No shit. But you fuck with my head so much, I’m not exactly thinking straight. All I know is, I can’t share you. I won’t share you. While you’re here, you’re mine. I don’t want anyone else’s hands on you.”
She lifted her chin. “I thought you were into no-strings-attached hookups.”
“Not with you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That works both ways, cowboy, or not at all.”
“Damn right it does.” He covered her mouth with his, claiming her with everything he had. She wound her arms around his neck, and he ran his hands down her back and grabbed her ass.
She smiled against his lips. “You know everyone just saw that.”
“That’s the point.”
She giggled, and he kissed her again, longer and slower, until the world felt right again. He brushed his lips over hers and said, “Do you want to break the news to Travis, or should I?”
“I already did. I turned him down the day he asked me out.”
He arched a brow. “Think you could have told me that?”
“What fun would that have been?”
“That mouth of yours is going to be the death of me.”
“You like my mouth.”
“You’re damn right I do.” As he lowered his mouth to hers, he said, “But I like it best when it’s on me.”
TRIXIE CLUNG TO Nick to combat her wobbly legs as he kissed her senseless, and she tried to process what had just happened. This was so much more than she’d even hoped for. If she’d known that dancing with Jon could get his attention, she’d have done it every time she’d come to town. She’d thought she’d be lucky if Nick realized his feelings for her by the time she left to go back home to Virginia. His public claiming made her head spin and her heart swell.
When their lips finally parted, she was a little dizzy, and he was looking at her like he wanted to throw her over his shoulder and drag her to his cave. She’d happily climb him like a mountain and drape herself over that shoulder.
Nick’s eyes shifted, and his jaw clenched. She followed his gaze and realized Jillian and Jon were staring at them with shocked expressions.
“If that’s what not being together is like when Trixie’s in town”—Jon squared his shoulders—“I want to put my name in the hat.”