Page 7 of One Scorching Summer

Jorja and Nettie grew more animated as the level in the pitcher dropped, talking and laughing nonstop. Apparently, the women knew each other well.

Did Jorja have any inkling that Nettie’s boyfriend was his best friend? Did it even matter? It could prove an interesting night. He wanted Miss Ogden and, if he had read the signs right yesterday, the feeling was mutual. The wide, blinking hazel eyes. The pink tongue licking that full bottom full lip before she bit down on it. Her gasp when she appraised him from head to toe.Thathad gone straight to his groin. He’d be willing to bet her nipples had tightened into hard points, and that thought made his mouth water and his cock hope.

How was he going to smooth things over after getting off on the wrong foot with her?

Levi, Hank, Brady, and a host of other guys were running both tables, cheered on by a swelling crowd.

“Rake! You’re up.” Levi called over the boisterous talk and the country music pumping out of the jukebox.

Rake finished the rest of the sandwich, drained his beer, and wiped his hands on a napkin. He stepped to the table, chalked the cue stick, and analyzed the balls scattered on the burgundy felt.

Levi sidled closer. “Solids, in case you forgot. You seemed to be more focused on the other room.” A goofy grin spread over his face. “Watching my girl?” He stretched around Rake to gaze at Nettie.

“Nope. The brunette she’s with. Know her?”

“Nettie’s college roommate. Haven’t met her yet. Nettie always visits Jorja in Landry, where she lives. Or they meet up at some spa destination. They were at a new one in Eagle Creek all day today. Women and spas. I don’t get it. My mom and sister love 'em, too.”

“Hmm.” Rake pointed the stick and leaned forward to line up and take the shot. “Five ball. Side pocket.”Crack!The orange ball ripped into the pocket. The cue ball stayed in place, spinning like a top. He moved, searching for the spot from which to take his next shot, pointing at the far corner pocket to his right. “One ball. Corner.” The cue ball struck the side of the solid yellow ball, bouncing it off the cushions and cleanly into the pocket. “Do you know when the girls made plans?”

“Seems like Nettie first mentioned it a few weeks back, preparing me to share her while her friend is in town. Why? You interested?”

What motivates me is none of your concern,Jorja had stated at the ranch. The fuck. Was she hellbent on proving herselfto her dear old dad? Rake rolled his lips in thought, weighing whether to give her a second chance, just for fun and to see what she was made of. Yeah, he had listened to her message, but he was going to let her stew a bit. He was a man of foreplay—business and personal. Did she possess the Ogden grit and iron will? Did she play dirty like Jamison and Silas? Or was she ethical, like her grandfather Wyatt? Was it fair that he held the enticing brunette accountable for the ugly history between their families dating back to their great-grandfathers? Maybe it was time to let bygones be bygones, let go and moving past the generational squabble neither of them were part of. Truth be told, he was no longer interested in carrying the torch of grievance for his forbears.

He avoided answering Levi’s questions by asking a few of his own. “Does your girlfriend know you’re here? That it’s guys’ night out?”

“Yup. I expect that she’ll venture over here before leaving.” Levi stepped to the table to take his turn.

Rake returned to studying the visitor from Landry, wondering how to smooth over the earlier debacle at the ranch. “Where’re they headed after here?”

“Youareinterested.”

“Can’t I just be conversational?”

“Conversational—” Levi assessed Rake through narrowed eyes. “Bullshit. Nettie mentioned they might stay for trivia and then end the night at her place in pjs, with popcorn and a movie or two. They did that last night, too, but it was short-lived. My woman had a busy week, and she said Jorja took a hard spill before she got to her place. I’ll never understand women and their love of pajama parties. You’d think it was over and done with years ago.” He shook his head and raised the longneck. “You’re up again. You keep looking at Jorja like that and you’regoing to light her on fire. She’s a real looker. I’m sure Nettie will bring her over and make introductions.”

“Already met her.”

Levi’s brows shot up. “When?”

“Yesterday. At the ranch.” Rake sank the last of the solid balls, winning the game. “She’s anOgden.”

“Seriously? As in Ogden-Keller Oil?”

Rake placed the cue stick in the rack, finished his beer, and set it on the narrow ledge on the wall. “Yup. One and the same.”

Levi placed his stick next to Rake’s. Awe filled his low whistle. “I didn’t know there were female Ogdens, other than wives. An Ogden-Keller secret weapon?”

“Believe me. The thought crossed my mind. She drove an ancient truck but was dressed like she had a hot date.” He wasn’t sharing more with Levi. However, the image of Jorja Ogden flying out of the vehicle had given him the belly laugh of the year, which was subdued by a sudden and fierce arousal induced by her tight skirt, tanned lustrous skin, and legs that went on forever. A fuckin' smoke show. It was not something he would forget for some time. That, and her blasted furnace of a temper—it about matched his.

“Why did she show up at the ranch?”

“Claimed she had an appointment with me. Kind of true. Skye got the information wrong.”

Levi’s words acquired a protective tone. “Give your niece some grace. She’s been through a lot. You didn’t get up in her shit, did you?”

“What do you think?”

Levi glared at him.

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