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At first, he hadn’t recognized her in the short mint green and lace dress, bare legs and cowboy boots. Her hair was down in rich waves around her bare shoulders, and it seemed like she even had on some makeup. But most of all, it was Katie’s smile that lit up the room as she spoke to one of the other girls with obvious vivacity.
The friend replied and Katie nodded, before throwing back her head and laughing.
Beautiful. She’d always been pretty, but tonight she was a knockout. A fun, gorgeous, social butterfly every man in the room was noticing.
Hunter only realized he’d been staring like a fool when her gaze swung to his side of the room and landed on him. Her laughter died as their gazes connected. Surprise registered in her eyes, and she hesitated a moment before saying something to her friends, and then making her way through the crowds to him.
“Hey there.” She pulled out one of the empty chairs and sat down. “Thought you guys were going into Marietta? Grey’s or something?”
“Yeah, I figured we were. Turns out Lance wanted something a little more exciting.”
She tilted her head and wrinkled her nose. “Not sure Livingston is as exciting as Seattle, but it shakes things up a bit if you’re comparing it to Marietta.”
He cleared his throat and nodded toward her group of friends. “So, this was your plan for the night? Girls’ night or something?”
“Sure is. We do it just about once a month. Gets me off the ranch and connected with my friends.”
Usually the only connection he had with most of his friends was social media. Which he was pretty crappy at too. Katie had nailed it when she’d pegged him for an introvert. More often than not, he preferred his own company to others. He needed that alone time to recharge.
“Claire, is here too. You know, Wyatt’s fiancée?” She frowned and glanced back at the women. “Think she must’ve run to the bathroom.”
He hadn’t noticed her. Hell, he’d really only noticed Katie. It’d be hard not to have. His blood pumped a little faster and his chest tightened.
“Where’d your friends go?” Katie looked toward the dance floor. “Never mind, I found them. Nice to see them loosening up a little. This looks a little more like their thing, rather than the ranch stuff. Maybe you should dance too, Hunter.”
“Yeah, I’m not so good at dancing.”
“No?” Her attention returned to him. “Maybe you just haven’t had the right partner.”
There was a twinkle of amusement in her eyes, mixed with a dose of pensiveness. Her cheeks were flushed and her shimmering mouth curved into a smile.
Was she flirting? God, he really wished he were better at picking up on these things. He hesitated, trying to figure out how to respond to that.
“I should get back to my girls, before they start to gossip.” She stood and smoothed her dress down over thighs. “Oh, and stay off that phone, Hunter. Listen to the band and enjoy the music. It’s amazing.”
A soft laugh bounced from his chest as she walked away from him and back to her table. She already seemed to have him pegged.
“Can I get you another beer?” Kim returned to the table, a serving tray tucked against her side.
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
To avoid staring at Katie all night with his tongue on the floor, or taking out his phone to play, Hunter took her advice. He turned his attention to the band on the stage and tried to just enjoy the music like she’d told him to. It was easier than he’d figured it would be.
“I think we need another round of shots,” Claire offered. “This one’s on me.”
The table erupted in agreement, Katie hollering enthusiastically.
Between the seven girls, there were two designated drivers. And tonight Claire was one of them. She might not have been drinking, but she seemed determined to make sure those who were got to have fun.
Though never too much fun for Katie, early mornings and hangovers never mingled well.
As they waited for another round of whisky shots, Katie snuck another glance across the room at Hunter. Though she half suspected him to be playing on his phone by now, he seemed to be paying attention to the band. Maybe he’d taken her advice after all.
“Do you know him?”
“Hmm?” Katie dragged her gaze to her friend Amanda.
“That guy over there.” Amanda nodded toward Hunter.
“Oh, yeah. He’s one of our guests this week.” Hopefully she sounded nonchalant, because her pulse was doing irrational little skips.
“He’s cute.”
“He really is,” Claire agreed from across the table. She watched Katie pensively. “Don’t you think, Katie?”
“I mean, I guess? I hadn’t really noticed.” A blush stole up her cheeks, betraying her words. “If you think that type of look. He’s so... Seattle.”
Their whiskey shots arrived.
“Can I get an amen for girls’ night!” Janice yelled from at the end of the table.
There was a resounding amen from the girls, before they tossed back the shots.
“Seattle? What do you mean?” Amanda pushed on a second later. “Is it the beard? It’s kind of a nice change. Manly and stuff.”
With the whiskey warming up her blood, Katie gave a small laugh, but wasn’t really all that amused. Why did it bother her that Amanda was checking out Hunter too?
Really, half the women in the bar were. She clearly wasn’t the only one looking tonight. There was something ridiculously sexy about a quiet, unassuming, man that didn’t seem in any hurry to join the hype and partying atmosphere that surrounded him.
He stood out, but not in a bad way.
Just as she suspected, the women in the bar started to approach him. Whatever they said, he shook his head and gave a faint smile.
He was a challenge now, and these women clearly loved a good challenge.
Maybe it was the liquid confidence from that second shot, but Katie was struck with the urge to try her own luck. To be the one to get him onto that dance floor and loosen up a little. It didn’t have to mean anything, it was just a dance.
Most of her friends were already out on the floor getting their party on anyway.
“You’re not married, Katie.” Claire’s soft words drifted across the table.
Katie swung her gaze to the other woman. “I know. But still, I probably shouldn’t. It wouldn’t be right.”
“You’re not even serious about Tim.”
“Jim.”
“Whatever.”
“Just go dance with him. What would it hurt?”
Maybe nothing. Maybe everything? Ugh. It was so hard to tell if she’d even be having this conversation if she didn’t have whiskey in her blood right now.
“Fine.” She stood up, pushed her hair over her shoulders, and made her way across the room, but not before she’d seen Claire’s gaze light up with approval.
Before she reached the table, Hunter turned to look her way. He must’ve seen the purpose in her eyes, because he set his beer down and sat up straighter.
“I really think you should dance.” Her ears burned. “Or I mean, we should dance.”
For a minute, she was sure he was going to refuse her. Her stomach dropped to her feet and her skin itched with embarrassment. Just when she was wishing she could sink through the floor, he pushed back his chair and stood.
Katie would’ve had to be deaf not to hear the murmurs of surprise and jealousy from the other women as Hunter placed his hand on her back on walked them to the crowded floor.
Tingles raced through her at the spot where his fingers brushed bare skin.
Oh. That was new.
She swallowed hard. What had she just gotten herself into?
Apparently, dancing with a man who had no idea how to dance, she realized a few moments later. He wasn’t terrible, but he would never qualify as good. Any nerves disappeared into amusement. She let herself just have fun.
“I’m awful at this,” he yelled over the music.
“Nah, I’ve seen worse.” She grinned and grabbed his hands, helping move to the two-step beat. “Just listen and move to the beat.”
He seemed to follow her advice and was soon smiling and relaxing a bit more as they danced. Just when he was getting the hang of it, the song ended and the next one came on. It was a slow one.
Oh no. Slow dancing was a totally different game and she wasn’t sure she wanted to play. She took a step back, ready to make her escape.
“You’re not going to abandon me now, are you?” There was a glint in his eyes. “Not when I’m just getting the hang of things.”
“The slow stuff is pretty self-explanatory.” She gave a nervous laugh.
“Then maybe you’ll let me lead this time.” He slid an arm around her waist and caught her hand with his free one.
When he pulled her flush against him the air in her lungs locked. Lightheaded, she was all too aware of her breasts brushing against his hard chest. The way their hips bumped against each other. The way her knees were threatening to buckle right now.
It had to be the whiskey. It had to be. There literally could be no other explanation.
She drew in a deep breath, which was a mistake. It just teased her senses with the scent of his soap. Of him.
“I haven’t checked my phone once since you walked in,” he admitted conversationally.
She lifted her head at his admission and watched him through her lashes. “I’m impressed. I’m sure your phone has great reception here in Livingston.”
He grimaced. “It really does. I could be scrolling through Facebook right now.”
The idea of Hunter on Facebook had her laughing, which was a good distraction from the sensation of his long fingers laced through hers.
“I’m sure it’s pretty tempting to play on your phone.”
“No.” His gaze darkened and dropped her mouth. “That’s not what’s tempting me right now.”
There was no question of what he’d meant. Hot and cold rushed through her. Her throat went dry and she trembled.
Time to go, Katie.
There was a ringing in her head. Alarm bells, or maybe just the music of disorientation and chaos taking over as she stared at his lips.
Almost absently, she leaned closer, tilting her head back.
It seemed to be the only invitation he needed. His head dipped, blocking out the lights above them, before his mouth settled on hers.
Her heart slammed into her chest, like a caged bird, at the first touch. The soft moan she made was half pleasure, half distress.
He brushed his lips against hers several times, not rushing the kiss, but making her desperate for a deeper taste.
She’d imagined his beard would be coarse and uncomfortable, but it was softer than she realized. Just rough enough to graze against her sensitive flesh and make goosebumps rise on her skin.
It was only when she whimpered and swayed against him, that his lips, firm and commanding, parted her mouth effortlessly. His tongue delved inside, and she was helpless against the exploration, and wouldn’t have wanted it anyway.
Her head spun as she kissed him back. Teased her tongue against his. Heat spread through her body, gathering low in her belly and forming an ache of need.
“Damn, Hunter. Now that’s how you do it.”
Katie literally jolted as whoever walking by slapped Hunter on the back.
Lance.
What had she done? She’d only danced with him to have fun. To test the waters, so to speak, but she’d gotten in way over her head.
“I think I need some air.” Her words were an unsteady whisper.
She broke out of his arms and pushed through the crowd, desperate to find the exit. When she finally made it through the door, there were more people gathered, some smoking.
Desperate for a moment alone and away from the crowd, she made her way to the back of the building.
The bar was nestled up against a group of trees, and only when she stepped beneath their canopy, did she feel like she could steal a breath.
Dusk had settled, but the night was still bright with the lights from Livingston. It was something she’d never gotten used to, whether it was when she’d been in Seattle, or just anytime she left home.
When the sunset on the ranch, it was pretty much dark. There were no street lights or cars coming and going. Besides the house, the only light they saw was nature’s lantern. The moon and stars above.
Gravel crunched as footsteps approached. Katie lifted her head, knowing who it was before she even saw him.
