Page 84 of Thornhill Road

“Prefer my Tess naked—but, baby, you better believe I’m fuckin’ you in this dress soon as we get home.”

A low, victorious giggle bubbled out of me as I pressed into him deeper, my free hand gripping hold of his kutte as I turned my head to kiss the underside of his bearded chin. As if he had no tolerance for soft caresses, he buried his hand in my hair, gripping a fistful before pulling my head back enough to deliver a searing hot kiss.

It wasn’t until he pulled away, leaving me breathless, that I understood that kiss wasn’t just for me. I knew he’d been branding me when he continued, “Don’t wear this dress again unless I’m takin’ you out. Can’t spare Buck tonight, need him behind the bar. Phoenix has the night off which means I gotta work, and I need Wrangler on the door. That leaves Mav. He’ll keep an eye out, but he sees a pussy he likes, he’ll leave you to chase that tail, which means I gotta have one eye on you all night. Not much of a hassle, aside from the fact that my dick is hard right now, and it’s bound to be all night if I keep one eye on you. So, do me that favor, and warn me the next time you get a hankerin’ to show off them legs.”

Then and there I decided I was going to need to invest in a larger collection of LBDs.

I nodded as much as his hold would allow, the zing in my belly bouncing around like I was a pinball machine. “I hear you, sweetheart,” I managed in reply.

“Good,” he said with a jerk of his chin. He kissed me one more time, short and hard, then released my hair and demanded, “Introduce me to your friend.”

I took me a second to compose myself. When I finally turned toward Jenna, I saw she was trying, and failing, to hide a grin.

This time, I couldn’t fight it. I smiled huge as I introduced my man to my best friend.

“It’s great to meet you. I’ve heard only good things,” said Jenna.

“Sorry I have to be behind the bar tonight. I’ll stop by as often as I can. You drinkin’?”

“Yeah. I can have a couple.”

“What’ll it be?”

“I’d love a ranch water.”

Mustang looked down at me. “Make that two?”

“Yeah, babe. Thanks.”

He winked at me then let me go, headed for the bar.

Jenna and I sat—me on the barstool Mustang had vacated, and Jenna on the empty one next to Maverick.

She leaned toward me, speaking only loud enough for me to hear her over the music as she said, “I don’t know what he said to you, but that whole exchange was seriously hot. I kinda liked him before I got here, seeing as I know he makes you happy; but after what I just witnessed, I’m officially a fan.”

“The night is still young. Maybe we’ll findyouone,” I teased.

Right on cue, Maverick leaned against the bar, catching my attention before he asked, “Aren’t you gonna introduce me?”

He wasn’t wearing his trucker hat, his curly mane hanging loose down his chest and back.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he was eyeing Jenna with interest.

“Jenna, this is Maverick. Maverick, my best friend, Jenna.”

In spite of the fact that I’d just armed him with her name, he looked her in the eye and asked, “Hey, foxy. How ‘bout you put that ranch water on my tab?”

Jenna looked at me, and we had an entire conversation in one glance.

Her pants had gotten her that first drink.

And just like that, our night was underway.

An hour later, I sat my empty glass on the bar. Jenna had just received her second drink, courtesy of Maverick, who hadn’t found another tail to chase. I didn’t think he had much of a chance with Jenna, but I was going to let him figure that out on his own.

We sat facing the band on stage. They had a few more songs left before the headliner that night. While the bar hadn’t reached standing room only status, business had picked up, and the room was full. I was casually looking around when the door at the front entrance opened, and I jolted in surprise as he walked through it.

Lance Jones.

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