Page 56 of Spilling the Tea

“Have you forgotten I’m taking Zoey to dinner and dancing? I need my energy for the latter.”

Chance had forgotten all about Corbin’s date with Zoey. He hoped that his cousin’s energy wasn’t being replenished to do more than dance. “I had forgotten,” he said. A part of him wished he hadn’t been reminded.

“So, what are your plans for today?” Corbin asked.

“The usual for a Saturday. I’m on my way to ride the range. Then I plan to go fishing and return here to enjoy a beer and chill.”

“Okay, I’ll talk with you later.”

“Will do.”

A short while later, while riding the range on Ambush, Chance tried to put out of his mind that Zoey would join Corbin for dinner and dancing. Like planned, after riding the range, he’d gone fishing and then cooked what he’d caught for dinner. It was late afternoon when he decided to relax on his porch with a beer.

Sitting there, he couldn’t help but think about his fantasy dream, which had drifted across his mind several times today. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d had one, but since meeting Zoey, they’d come pretty damn regularly, almost nightly, and it was always her. In bed, she was just like he imagined she would be. Filled with passion and fire.

He gazed at his property while taking the last sip of beer from the can. Instead of seeing his land, he imagined Zoey dancing to a slow song on the dance floor in Corbin’s arms. The thought made him crush the empty beer can in his hands.

What in the hell was wrong with him? Jealousy was beneath him. When had his attraction to Zoey become an obsession? Thathad never been the case with him and any woman before. He wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone and preferred being the loner that he was. Yet, something about Zoey had gotten to him.

It was dark before he finally got up and went inside the house. Instead of moving toward his television, he began pacing. Every ounce of good sense told him to let it go.

He had deliberately introduced Corbin to Zoey for a reason. Namely to get her out of sight and out of mind. Well, the latter definitely wasn’t working. She might have been out of his sight for the last few days, but she was so embedded in his mind that he wasn’t thinking straight.

He’d never been this taken with a woman. Not even with Ravena. He had loved her true enough and anticipated seeing her whenever he came home. But she had never been his only focus. Being an army ranger had also been high on the list.

Chance recalled most of their arguments had been about him making a career in the army. Ravena hadn’t particularly liked him placing his life in danger for his country. More than once, he reminded her that he had decided on a career in the military before meeting her, and that wouldn’t change.

Ultimately, she said if the military was his career choice, she would stick by his side, no matter what. So much for keeping her word. She hadn’t wasted any time hauling ass when he returned home in a wheelchair.

Chance stopped pacing and headed up the stairs. Less than an hour later, after showering and getting dressed, he grabbed his Stetson off the hat rack and walked out the door. Pulling his keys from his pocket, he opened the door to his truck and slid inside.

As he backed out of his driveway, he figured he would call himself all kinds of fools in the morning, but at the moment, he didn’t care. He had a good idea where Corbin would take Zoey for a night of dancing, and more than anything, he wanted to see her again.

Chapter Eighteen

Agrin tugged at the corner of Zoey’s mouth. She was enjoying herself and especially liked the company she was with. After a delicious meal at Clem’s, a restaurant known for their delicious BBQ ribs, Corbin took her to Vance’s Tavern, a place known for dancing.

Within minutes, they were joined by some of Corbin’s cousins—Luke, Blade, Slade, and Reese—and their wives, MacKenzie, Samari, Skye, and Kenna. Getting to know everyone was fun. The group had already taught her a few of the popular Texas line dances and complimented her on being a quick learner.

She enjoyed listening to the couples tell how they’d met. They had joked about how much Kenna liked to dance, and told her that, before the night was over, she would have partnered with every male sitting at their table. They shared photos of their kids on their phones, and it was obvious they were proud parents.

Zoey immediately knew that Luke, a former championship rodeo rider, was Chance’s oldest brother. Although Corbin andChance favored each other, Luke reminded her of a slightly older Chance. He had the same dimples and eye coloring, and except for the shape of their noses, their features were nearly identical. Luke said Chance had their mother’s nose, whereas he had their father’s. Reese, who was also Chance’s brother, favored them as well. All the Madaris men were handsome.

Zoey accepted the women’s invitation to lunch next week and looked forward to joining them.

“Well, damn. I don’t believe it. Look who just walked in,” Blade said. “I wonder what he’s doing here on a Saturday night.”

All eyes went to the entrance of Vance’s Tavern, and Zoey was convinced her heart skipped a beat. It was Chance. She couldn’t stop the emotions filling her chest upon seeing him. “Maybe he has a date,” she heard Mac whisper to Luke.

“Baby, nothing has changed. Chance doesn’t date,” Luke whispered back.

Chance didn’t date? What did Luke mean by that? And he’d said it as if he hadn’t done so in a while. Could she have been wrong in assuming he was involved in a serious relationship with someone? If that was the case, why had he fought the attraction between them?

Chance scoped the place, saw them, and headed toward their table. He looked good in his Stetson, shiny belt buckle, and Western shirt. And then there were his jeans. She was trying really hard not to notice how good his firm, tight thighs were in motion as he walked toward them. As always, she thought he was the epitome of a sexy cowboy, all the way down to his boots. Was she mistaken, or was his gaze trained on her?

Her heart skipped a beat with every step he took, and she could feel a degree of heat curling inside of her. There was just something about his walk. It wasn’t a stroll but a sensuous swag. Yes, he was definitely tall, hot, and handsome.

“Evening, folks,” he greeted, stopping at their table and tippinghis Stetson. He was standing right next to where she sat, and she could inhale the manly scent of his cologne.

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