Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(38)

“Is that why you are single, Moose? Women just haven’t learned their lesson yet?”

He looked like I had slapped his face—something between shock and surprise. It must have been my smile that let him know I was kidding, because he broke into a huge grin to top mine and chuckled. “You had me going for a second there! You say things so dead pan when you’s joking!” He laughed harder. “I suppose that is why I’m single, at that. Just a big creep that all the ladies seen through already!”

As I reached my seat, guess who was waiting for me. Freaking Georgie. Did the guy like being rejected that much?

I held up my hand in Georgie’s face. He opened his mouth to ask me to dance, a bemused smile eating his cheeks, and I just shook my head, reaffirming my “stop” gesture. I snatched my beer and took a big swig. This dancing was getting in the way of my beer drinking. I was behind.

He tried ducking around my hand. “Do you wanna—“

“Nope. I need to drink some beer.”

His face dropped in a puppy dog expression, with big eyes and his lip stuck out. “Please?” he whined, a little grin messing up his perfect pout.

I shook my head, held up my beer, and finished it up. I had another full one waiting, and it was starting to get warm.

He crouched, intending to sit next to me, no doubt trying to wait me out.

“Oh no! No way! This table is for the Davies’ crew. Suitors must sit at another table...” I held up my nose in my best interpretation of a snob, and drank another sip of beer.

Moose sat, instead, flashing Georgie a crooked grin. Adam sat on the other side, leaned way back in his chair, and put his arm on the back of my chair, sporting the same cock-eyed smirk.

“Sorry, man,” Adam said, “this side of the table’s all full up.”

Moose chuckled.

I would have thought Georgie would get in a huff and stock away. To his credit, he started laughing and slapped the table. “Alright boys, have it your way. Help her play hard to get! I am on it like a coon dog, though, and I always tree my coon!”

He looked at me, winked, and tipped his big cowboy hat. “Ma’am, I’ll see you on the dance floor yet!” He walked away laughing.

“Did he just call me a raccoon? I mean really, do I look like a mean, rabid creature?” All the guys turned to me. I paused. Then held up my finger. “Don’t answer that.”

About that time Candace bounded back. She crinkled her eyebrows at the boys sitting next to me, then had a moment of indecisiveness. She obviously wanted to talk to me but two lumps of muscle blocked her way. She hovered for a moment, shifting on her feet.

“Here, sit right here,” Moose said, jumping up. Adam was up just as fast.

“Jez, what do I stink or something?” I huffed. “Don’t answer that, either!”

“Oh my God, Jessica! Oh. My. God!” Candace exclaimed in a hushed voice, looking all around to make sure she wasn’t heard. “He kissed me! He kissed me!”

“Wait. What?!”

“He kissed me!”

“Wait, wait, wait! What do you mean? Where? When? Details, woman, details!”

She took a big breath. “Okay. Well, we danced, right? Then we danced to the next song. We got a beer and talked. He is so easy to talk to. I wouldn’t shut up! And we danced again. He is such a great dancer. He wanted to go for a walk to have a smoke then, and I asked if I could join him.”

She paused to take a dramatic breath, pure excitement bubbling up. “Then,” she gushed, a smile taking over her face, “we were walking outside and he smoked his cigarette. I didn’t smoke one because...well...I don’t smoke. But he did. And we talked about nothing. Everything, actually. But nothing important. And we were just about to turn to come back in and he turned to me all serious. My heart was about to explode, Jessica! He leaned in then and kissed me!”

She giggled a little and did an excited squirm in her seat. I was grinning like a fool.

“I felt it from my head to my toes. I did!” She giggled again, and I joined her. First kisses were so exciting!

She was about to go on when someone took the other chair beside me. At first I wasn’t concerned because I half thought it would be Ty coming for his beauty, but when I turned, my smile twisted off my face.

Dusty’s brown eyes were kindled with an unnatural light. A sickly smile wormed its way onto his face. “Hey ya, darlin’. How’s the night goin’?”

Fear twisted in my gut.

“We were talking,” Candace said haughtily, leaning forward to meet his eyes across me.

Dusty didn’t miss a beat. “You were talking. Get lost now. I have some things I need to say to her.” He clutched my shoulder with flesh covered claws. The knife of fear wrenched harder.

I pleaded Candace for help with my eyes, not knowing what to do. She looked back, her eyes just as wild. Just as fear streaked. Then her stare turned hard, assessing, and she was gone. I could only hope it was to get help.

I summoned strength and confidence. He couldn’t hurt me here in the middle of the dance hall with people everywhere. I needed to embody Lump. Missing her wouldn’t help me now. I needed to be her. Hell, or Claire or Flem. Anyone stronger than myself.

I shrugged off his hand and turned to him with my guard up. He met that with an animalistic glare.