Page 45 of Honey Bee Hearts

My eyes widen in disbelief. I open my mouth, but nothing but a soft croak comes out.

His grin turns saccharine, his eyes narrowing on me. “What I wouldn’t give to see that flush travel down your body. What I wouldn’t give to bury my fingers in your hips.” He leans in and I know he’s about to kiss me. I’m prepared for it. I want it. Fuck, I’m wet just with his words alone. This man has a way with his presence. I might as well be one of the dogs at his beck and call. “Would you like that, Annie Oakley?” he asks.

I nod, my eyes on his, and he tilts his head to study me, weighing something. Whatever he decides, he starts to lean in, and I prepare myself to be kissed so well, I’ll soak throughmy panties. Colt King can stum me like a guitar and I’ll play whatever tune he wants me to.

“So sweet,” he breathes, his breath fanning across my lips. “So?—”

“What are you two doin’ out here?” Rhett’s voice interrupts.

Colt pauses and sighs before leaning back to level Rhett with his gaze over my shoulder. He releases my chin, and I feel the loss acutely. I turn and look at Rhett to find him glaring at Colt. When he realizes I’m looking at him, his expression falls back into his signature smile.

“Looks like you two are havin’ all the fun out here without me,” he teases.

“Don’t worry, boss man,” Colt grunts. “I’m behaving.”

Rhett grins and I see mischief enter his eyes. Before I know what he’s got planned, he tugs me toward him with a hand around my wrist. I plaster across his chest when I can’t get my feet beneath me, tripping over the cracks in the concrete.

“I’m not,” he says, right before his fingers tip my chin up and he plants his lips right on mine.

Fireworks explode behind my eyes when they close, when my fingers curl into his shirt. I just knew Rhett would be a good kisser, a dangerous one. His fingers tangle in my hair and he tips my hat back and kisses the hell out of me as he parts my lips and his tongue dances inside. When he pulls back, I’m staring up at him, panting, as if I hadn’t been about to kiss his friend behind me seconds before I’d just kissed him.

Fuck. Guilt suddenly slams me.

Rhett winks at me. “Figured it would be more fun if I got the first kiss,” he teases before releasing me. “We should head out. The party’s starting to wind down and we still got things to do tomorrow.”

I glance at my phone and realize it really is already one in the morning. I blink. Where did all the time go?

I glance over at Colt, my face flushed, both from guilt and Rhett’s kiss.

He chucks me on the chin. “Don’t worry, Annie Oakley. I ain’t mad at you,” he whispers, but he shoots a glare over at Rhett who seems completely oblivious to Colt’s ire. “Let’s go, before I decide to kiss you better to prove a point.”

Well. . . damn. What point is that? Maybe I want him to prove it.

Chapter 25

Fable

Igo to climb into the driver’s seat only to remember I’ve had too many beers to be driving. How many did I have? I’m a little buzzed, but don’t feel drunk. However, I’m definitely over the limit. There ain’t no way I can drive and risk getting in trouble.

But am I over the limit enough to calm my PTSD?

“Shit. I can’t drive,” I rasp, stopping before I can climb into the truck.

Rhett looks at me and frowns. “Oh shit. Yeah, you’ve been drinking. I can drive. I didn’t drink.”

“Yeah,” I croak. “Yeah.”

“You gonna be okay with that?” Gunnar asks.

“I gotta be,” I whisper. “Right?”

But I know I won’t be. Fuck. I either get over it or I stay here. And that seems silly to stay here. Jethro will be so worried. It’s only a twenty-minute drive. I can manage. Maybe. Hopefully.

“Here,” Rhett says. “Up in the passenger seat,” he directs, leading me over to the other side and helping me in. When I don’t move, he buckles my seatbelt for me. “It’s gonna be okay.”

Rhett is never the considerate one. What must my face look like for him to be concerned now?

Trent climbs silently into the back behind me, Colt and Gunnar in the other seats again. Rhett runs around to the driver’s seat and immediately starts fixing the adjustments I’d changed.

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