Back in the Saddle (Jessica Brodie Diaries #1)(72)

I parked in the lot, struggled with my dress to get out of the car, and headed to the local watering hole.

A girl walks into a bar…

That was it. I was my own joke.

Moose stood in the back of a half-filled, medium sized bar. Well, if it wasn’t Moose it was another giant man.

It was Moose.

Next to him stood Adam. They watched someone slide from the booth, who I realized was Candace, while talking and laughing together. Adam saw me first, but Moose wasn’t far behind. Neither could help being guys as they looked down at my awesome dress and perfectly sculpted body because of it.

I still got it!

“Hey guys. How are you?” I asked flirtatiously. The best way to hide your inner grief is to look good, act good, and pretend pain doesn’t exist.

“Hey little sister. You look...” Moose was trying desperately not to stare at my br**sts.

Adam gave him a hard nudge and grinned at me, the first of them to come back to earth. I would have to wear this dress more often! I just had to keep going to the gym to fit into it.

“Hi ya, Jess,” Adam said happily as he gave me a big hug. “Missed ya! Where have ya been?”

Moose hugged me, too. But after that he avoided looking at me entirely.

“I guess this dress was a good find,” I said sardonically.

“Moose here just got a girlfriend and she’s...being coy,” Adam explained.

“Oh, she hasn’t given it up yet, you mean. Keep in there Moose, it means she likes you.”

Moose put his hands up in surrender. “Nope. I give. Let me know when she sits down.” He walked off toward the bar.

Candace ran over, squealing the whole way. She hugged me exuberantly then commented on how much she liked my dress.

Ty followed her over and said, “Holy Lord, Jessica. You trying to find love tonight or what?”

“Love? Is that what you call it when two like-minded people spend a night together?”

“Oh sorry. Let me rephrase. You looking for a wild ride tonight or what?”

Candace hit him.

“Men? Hell no! I found this dress in my closet while looking for some sweats, fit into it—miracle!—and decided to take it out for a test spin. How do I look?” I turned around to show off the wares.

“Well let’s see,” Ty said as he analyzed with his hand on his chin, “Adam the saint just checked out your ass, that guy over there checked out your rack, Candace checked out your waist, and every other guy is sizing us up to get in and have their shot. I would say that dress is a success. Candace?”

“Oh I love it!” Candace gushed. “Wish I could fit into it!”

“You want a beer?” Ty asked.

“Yeah, that’d be great, Ty. Thanks!” I leaned against the wall next to Adam. Candace followed Ty to the bar.

“You do look beautiful, Jessie. You aughta come out with us more, you know?” Adam was looking out at the rest of the bar.

I waved the comment away with my stellar linguistics: “Yeah, well.”

“Everythin’ alright with... you? After the...”

“Adam, do me a favor?”

“Anything,” he turned his head to me.

“Just know that I’m okay, and will continue to be okay, and you didn’t let me down, okay? I don’t really want you to bring it up anymore.”

He regarded me with his soft brown eyes and striking face. He was less a baby face now that I knew him. It was probably due to his masculine personality. Still pretty more than handsome, more teen model than Gladiator, but I could definitely wake up next to him every morning. Or even for a couple mornings until I got the hell out of here.

Why the hell does that make me feel guilty?

“I’m sorry to pry,” Adam said.

I got a sudden impulse, turned and punched him in the soft spot on the upper arm where the muscles meet. Those in the older brother bizz call that baby a Charlie Horse. No matter how big and strong, if you get hit just right in that sweet spot, it would hurt. Just so happens, I am a pro at the older brother bizz. Don’t know why, as I never had an older brother.

Adam hopped away with something that sounded like, “Yeeee owwww.” He grabbed his arm and looked at me like I committed a cardinal offense.

I bent over, laughing, even though it was actually a little tough to laugh in the dress. It still had to loosen up a bit. Or I needed to lose another pound or two.

No, it had to loosen up.

Adam came shuffling back, fists up, ready for revenge. I laughed and put my hands up, pleading like a fragile girl. In between giggles I put on a pouty face. Adam’s grin got bigger and he laughed harder.

“You wantin’ me to take it easy on ya now, huh? That it?” he asked, chuckling, swaggering up to put an arm around my shoulders in a sideways hug.

I used that as a platform for a titty-twister. I grabbed his nipple quickly, squeezed, turned and pulled. I hopped away again quickly, laughing all the while. His peck was hard and well developed.

His face lit in surprise at the realization I tricked him. He grabbed his chest, shocked I would take advantage of him. He started rubbing his nipple as the pain registered.

“Why, you little...” He came after me this time with no reservations. He couldn’t very well give me a titty-twister, though it had happened before, and I doubt he would punch me, but he was going to do something awful, I could tell.