Page 37 of No One But You

“Yes, I am. And you know that how?” I asked as she danced closer. She had her arms in the air and wiggled her hips in a seductive manner. I took a step back.

“You’re new in town, handsome, and I asked.” She closed the gap between us, and another couple pushed me from behind. I had to place my arm around her to keep from knocking us over.

She winked and wrapped her arm around my neck and wiggled her ass in a seductive and sexy manner.

Any other time, I might have been interested in those moves, but tonight I was just interested in one person. I glanced at the table and my heart skidded. Kora was in a deep conversation with Summer and some guy I had never seen before. It was obvious, though, that Kora and the impostor knew each other well. She leaned into him and laughed.

Heat raged inside me—jealousy—a feeling I haven’t felt often, but the few times I have, it never ended well.

I needed to go to the table and introduce myself, but Chloe held on tight and pulled me closer.

“So, how long have you been in town?” she shouted into my ear.

“I’ve been here two weeks.”

She leaned away and raised her brow. “Well, newcomer, welcome to Orlinda Valley. Are you here to stay, or just passing through?”

Passing through and entering a cornhole competition at Jerry’s Pub. What were the chances? “Does anyone just pass through Orlinda Valley?”

A slow song started, and Chloe put her body and voluptuous breasts against me. “Do you mind?” she asked as she started to sway to the slow twang of a Garth Brooks song.

I glanced at the table. Kora was no longer there. Shit. Where’d she go? The guy she was talking to was gone as well. I searched for her, but she was nowhere.

Shit. I pulled away from Chloe. “I’m going to go sit back down.” I gestured to the table. “Thanks for the dance.”

“Anytime, sugar.”

I let out a breath as I hightailed it to Bryson and Darlene. I still couldn’t find Kora. “Congratulations,” Darlene said as I sat down. “You two are naturals. Maybe you should take it to the professional Cornhole League of America.”

I laughed. “I think we’ll keep it local, but thanks.” This was crazy. Where did she go?

“Hey, Kai. What’s got your attention?” They were joined by Summer and the guy Kora had been talking with. He seemed older than the rest of them. He was broad-shouldered with brown hair and blue eyes.

Summer’s hair, which was black with blue tips yesterday, seemed to be a more natural brown with burgundy highlights throughout today.

“Kai. Are you the one doing the renovations at Shear Perfection?” the broad-shouldered guy asked.

“I am.” Who was this guy, and where was Kora?

He put out his hand. “I’m Lance. My mom, Kaye, told me all about you.” A sheepish grin appeared on his face.

My brow ticked up. What exactly did Kaye say? There was no telling. I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. Your mom’s been great. She and Diane are letting me stay at the salon. It makes working on the room much easier.”

“I heard,” he said as he opened a beer from the ice bucket in the middle of the table. “I’ve also heard that you had a sleepover.”

Darlene choked on her margarita.

“Holy shit,” Summer shot as she busted out laughing.

Bryson pushed Lance playfully. “Don’t be a dick. Kai was just taking care of Kora because ‘she had one too many margaritas’ last night.” He did air quotes.

“Yeah, okay. Is that really the bullshit she ejaculated in the salon this morning?” Lance retorted.

“Yeah, it is,” Bryson answered. “That’s what she ejaculated this morning, but I’m not sure that’s exactly what was getting ejaculated last night.”

“Guys. Enough. Don’t you dare say that word again,” Darlene interrupted, then placed her hand on my arm across the table. “Ignore them. They always have to act a fool when they’re around each other. It’s worse when Jamison and Rowan are around also.”

“Except that Rowan would get irritated and would kick both their asses,” Summer added.

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