Authors: Chloe Lang
She devoured several before Jackson made it back to the barstool next to her.
“You play pool?” He leaned closer, watching her with a dark, devouring stare.
That look went straight between her thighs. “Not in a long time.”
“How about we play then?” He pointed to the Horseshoe’s only pool table, where three well-built cowboys stood with stares fixed on her.
Like Jackson, these men wore cowboy hats, tight T-shirts, jeans, and boots. She wondered if they worked in the local mine, the number one employer in the town. Probably. Whether miners or ranchers, it didn’t matter—they were 150 percent male. Even from across the room, these cowboys’ broad shoulders, muscled chests, and breathtaking good looks slammed into her like heat-seeking missiles. With a wave of his hand, the tallest motioned for her and Jackson to join them. Though her body felt warm, Jessica shivered under the three men’s unwavering gazes.
It’s my birthday. Why not spend it with four smoking-hot cowboys?
“I’d love to play.”
Jackson grabbed the shot glasses, limes, saltshaker, and bottle, balancing them in one hand. “Let’s do it.”
He sent his arm around her waist, settled his hand low on her hip, and guided her through the throng to the pool table and their new opponents. With each step, her heart raced faster.
The three men stood in a row right in front of her, a mouthwatering display for her eyes to take in.
The one in the gray hat had an incredibly handsome face—and one imperfection, a scar that ran from his ear down his cheek, ending at his jawline. The scar added to his rugged good looks. She wondered what had given him the mark. Some old mining accident, perhaps? Getting him to open up to her might be helpful with her investigation of the latest mishap at the Wilde Silver Mine.
He turned to Jackson. “Who’s this?”
“Jessica.”
He tipped his gray hat to her, and she spied smooth black hair hugging his neck and ears. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Denver.” He smiled, and his pale blue eyes glistened with a come-hither sparkle. Jessica’s breath froze in her chest for a moment. Denver seemed a bit more serious than Jackson, but still looked good enough to eat.
The man to her left stepped forward. The sun-soaked, muscled creature sent her a mischievous grin. His chin had one of those inviting indentions she always loved, enhancing his already sexy appearance.
“I’m Dallas, ma’am.” He removed his white hat, revealing razor-cut dark hair, and winked with twinkling green eyes. Dallas might be trouble, in a good way.
The last man paused and studied her for a moment. His intense scrutiny made her shiver. With the physique of a Greek god, he was the tallest of the lot. She knew a few artists back in New York that would’ve lost their minds if such a specimen ever walked into their studios to model. When he removed his hat, she envied his blond, wavy locks. Hell, being so close to male perfection had her head spinning.
“I’m Phoenix.” His hazel eyes never broke their stare, not even to blink.
“Is everyone in Wilde named after a city?” Suddenly wobbly, she put her free hand on the pool table. Jackson grabbed it and squeezed.
“No.” Phoenix’s face was grim. “How long do you plan on staying in Wilde?”
Jessica swallowed. “Not sure yet.”
Dallas lifted a brow. “You might grow to like our little town, ma’am.”
Denver grinned and nodded. “We’ll do everything we can to make sure of that.”
Wondering what
everything
entailed sent shivers down her spine. Wow, who knew she had such a dirty mind?
“Please, call me Jessica. Ma’am is for old ladies.”
Dallas shook his head. “Sorry, but in these parts, ma’am is how gentlemen address ladies.”
“You’ve never been called a gentleman. Why pretend now?” Jackson chuckled. “You guys want to play pool or not?”
Denver nodded. “I'm definitely game.” Then he looked at his watch. “Damn, I’ve gotta get Becky her meds.”
“Is your wife ill?”
Jackson laughed. “Becky’s his horse. No wife or girlfriend for any of us.”
Jessica felt her cheeks burn. Had she made the same mistake once again? If yes, she needed to get her broken gaydar fixed, and pronto. “Please tell me you guys aren’t into each other.”
“If I were gay, I know I could do a lot better than my ugly brothers.” Dallas looked at Denver. “Call Austin. He’s got nothing better to do than to play nursemaid to your horse.”
“Great idea.” Denver pulled out an iPhone, started dialing, and walked to a quiet corner a few feet away.
Not so remote as not to have cell service.
“You’re all brothers?”
“Yes.” Phoenix eyed her intently, scanning her body as thoroughly as an MRI machine.
Gaydar fully functional—only sexy straight men in my vicinity.
“Let me guess...Denver is the oldest?”
“We’re all old enough, but yes, he is the oldest here. Twenty-eight.” Dallas grinned. “I’m twenty-seven. Phoenix is twenty-six.” He slapped Jackson on the back. “And lil’ bro here is twenty-five.”
Being an only child, Jessica couldn’t imagine how their mother had managed—or why she’d managed—to have so many babies back to back. “Must’ve been something else at your house when you were little.”
“Sure was.” Dallas waved down a male server. “Bring us some shot glasses and another bottle of tequila.”
Jackson put his arm around her waist and rested his hand on her hip. “Have you played eight ball before?”
His possessive hold felt good to her. “Some.”
“What are we playing for?” Dallas asked.
They all turned to her, but none of them spoke.
She choked out, “For fun.”
“Yes, we are.” Jackson pulled her in tighter.
“Sounds good to me, lil’ bro,” Denver said, putting his cell away.
“Rack ’em up, Phoenix.” Jackson guided her over to a table and chairs. He placed the bottle, limes, shaker, and glasses on it, then poured two more shots.
As Phoenix set up the table for their game, Jessica’s head spun. She was being really foolish and reckless. But it was her birthday, damn it. Flirting with four sexy cowboys had lifted her spirits. She didn’t want to be sensible tonight. Wasn’t that what she’d always been? Yes, and look where that got her.
Jessica slammed her third tequila shot, shoving aside her common sense.
When in Wilde...
“I want to break.”
“You heard the lady. Hand her a stick.”
Chapter Two
“She’ll never make that bank shot. We’re still in this,” Dallas told Phoenix and Denver, then shot her a heavenly grin. “Do your best, sexy lady.”
Jessica’s body buzzed warm from the three shots of tequila and the four brothers’ unabashed flirtations. She’d not had so much attention, ever. Back in Manhattan, only the really hot women got such treatment. She didn’t really understand these cowboys’ unrelenting come-ons. Had to be the tequila working on them or lack of women in the bar. Whatever. She wasn’t arguing.
She looked down at the table devoid of all the solids. She grinned, enjoying their shocked looks as she ran the table once again. Now, one shot to go and she’d win another game. The eight was behind the thirteen, so she didn’t have a clear shot.
“Watch and learn, boys.” She hit the cue ball against the rail for the next-to-impossible bank shot. It connected perfectly with the black sphere, sending it into the side pocket. She jumped up, thrilled with her success. “That makes three games to zero. We win!”
“Haven’t played in a long time, my ass.” Dallas shot her a wide grin.
“Great job, partner.” Jackson leaned into her, pulled her close, and kissed her hair. She took in a whiff of his scent. Leather and pine. So good.
“You, too.” She wiggled free of his grasp, stepped to the table with her half-eaten burger and the tequila. She poured two shots, leaving the others’ glasses empty. She handed Jackson his glass. “Let’s toast our victory over your brothers.”
His eyes narrowed. “Last one.”
“Are you worried about me? That’s so sweet.” She looked at the other three brothers. “To our triumph.”
She slammed the shot. Surrounded by hot men brimming with testosterone and looking like they had wicked intentions, her mind whirled, and she felt fuzzy around the edges. She liked the feeling, stupid or not. From age thirteen, Jessica had grown up fast, given what was happening at home. Even then, she only had Michael, her then-boyfriend, now ex-fiancé, to talk to. He’d always been good that way.
“She hustled all of us.” Phoenix glared, then poured the tequila in his shot glass. “Even you, Jackson.” He raised his glass to her, then downed it.
“Yep, she did.” Grabbing her hands, Jackson dark, fixed stare flustered her. “What are we going to do about that?”
Jessica gulped. She looked at the Horseshoe’s clock. One-fifteen. “Well, let me pay my part of the bill. I need to get at least a couple hours of sleep. I’ve got an important meeting in a few hours.”
“You do?” Phoenix muttered from behind her.
Crap. She’d said too much. Keeping her arrival a surprise for the top brass of the mine was important for her investigation. The likelihood that these guys worked at the mine was high. Where else would they be employed out here? “Just meeting a few people.”
“I already took care of the bill, Jessica.” Dallas grinned.
“You shouldn’t have done that, but thank you.” She wasn’t sure if it was the tequila or her twenty-five-year dry spell, but she really didn’t want the evening to end. “I’ve had fun, guys.”
Jackson coiled his arm around her waist and pulled her in tight. Being so close to him felt heavenly. “We’ll make sure you get back to your room.”
“The Hotel Cactus is only across the street.”
His eyes darkened. “You may have street smarts for most places, but out here, a gorgeous woman like you shouldn’t be walking without an escort. No sense arguing.”
Gorgeous woman?
She felt foggy, warm, and unable to argue with him. If his eyesight was compromised, who was she to tell him? She shrugged. “Okay.”
The brothers surrounded her like her own personal battalion of bodyguards, then walked her out of the Horseshoe, toward the Cactus.
When they arrived at the hotel’s front door, the woman in the housecoat looked up from her computer. Her eyes glittered with a suspicious light as she looked them over.
Jackson smiled. “Hi, Aunt Maude. Don’t let us disturb you now. You go back to updating your Facebook.”
“You and your brothers aren’t too old for me to call your mama if there’s any trouble. I think my sister could still tan your backsides if need be. Miss Greene is my guest. You boys better be nice. You hear?” Maude said with a twinkle in her eye, followed by a wink to her.
“Yes, ma’am,” Phoenix and Denver said in unison.
Dallas reached for one of the chocolate chip cookies on the glass dish on the counter.
Maude slapped the back of his hand. “Young man, those are for guests.”
He leaned across the counter and kissed the woman on the cheek. “But I love your cookies. You’re the best cook in Wilde.”
“Sweet talker. Fine. Take one.” Maude grinned and then turned to Jessica. “If these boys don’t behave, you call me, alright? I’ll change their Facebook statuses to wishing they were dead, if you know what I mean.”