Page 9 of One Scorching Summer

“Possibly …” Jorja hedged. “You picked up dinner, so the rest of tonight is on me. I’ll be back with our beers.” She edged off the stool just as a graying older man stepped onto the stage.

“Good evening!” The mic carried his words over the crowd. “For those of you who haven’t been here before, and those who have, welcome. I’m Wade Chisholm, one of the owners of Beugy’s Bar and Grill. Some housekeeping before we begin trivia night. If you’re hungry, the last orders for the kitchen are at nine o’clock. That’s a hard stop. Our cooks work hard and need time off. Back to trivia. Teams are limited to four people. You could end up playing people you never met. To quote Yeats,”—he directed the patrons to the large lettering on the wall to his right— “‘There are no strangers here; only friends you haven't yet met.’ So, get yourselves acquainted, situated, and be prepared to have a lot of fun. We’ll begin in fifteen minutes.”

Jorja returned with four long necks in a bucket of ice, handing one to Nettie before scooting onto the stool. “Thought I should get backups since everyone began lining up during the announcement.” She helped herself to a bottle and tapped it to her friend’s. “Here’s to us.” She sipped, then added. “Sorry I slept through his arrival last night. I want to meet your Levi.”

“No worries. You’ll meet him shortly. Not sure if any of his?—”

“Hey, babe.”

Jorja’s college roommate grinned from ear-to-ear as the tall, good-looking man placed himself in between the women anddelivered a wallop of smooch. Her friend was a goner. Nettie’s enthusiastically returned the kiss. They should just find a room, or a dark corner. Never one for PDA, Jorja rolled her eyes and glanced away, connecting with the man in her dreams: Rake Carpenter.

What the actual hell? No. She stiffened, squeezed her eyes shut,and turned toward her friend, who was finishing a blistering kiss with the guy who had to be Levi.

Jorja pulled Nettie toward her and sniped in her ear. “Explain.”

Flushed and wet-lipped, Nettie stared at Jorja with confusion. “You know I don’t just kiss anyone,” she said, not comprehending her friend’s behavior and giggling through the introductions. “Jorja, this is Levi. Levi, Jorja, my bestie.”

“Nice to meet you, Jorja.” The sandy-brown haired man smiled kindly and acknowledged his wingman. “I understand you’ve metmybest friend, Rake.”

“You met Rake? When?” Nettie gasped, narrowing her eyes and nodded slowly as understanding dawned. “Oh … Oh … It all comes together ... Your edginess. The evasiveness.”

Nettie’s questions and her knack of understanding irritated Jorja. The gorgeous mercurial rancher was Levi’s best friend?Aw, hell. What are the chances? Apparently, one hundred percent. Shit. What a mess.

“This is a pleasant surprise.” Rake’s voice rumbled through her, elevating her pulse and unleashing a kaleidoscope of butterflies that centered in her stomach and fluttered throughout her body. That same glint she noticed at the ranch shone in his eyes. And what appeared to be a knowing smile.

A pleasant surprise, my ass.

“Babe, will you stay? You and Rake can complete our foursome.” Nettie encouraged. “It’ll be fun. Where are Hank and Brady?”

Levi’s attention moved from Nettie and settled on Rake and Jorja. “They were wrangled into a darts competition.”

“Sure. We’ll stay.” Rake drawled, leaning in and helping himself to one of the beers. “I enjoy games. Gettin' to know you better, Jorja … I’d like that.”

Gone was the mercurial alphahole she met yesterday. In his place was a charming, confident man who oozed sex. Goosebumps chased over Jorja’s skin as his breath caressed her cheek, temple, and ear. Her hand tightened around the bottle’s neck, and her sex clenched, sending the butterflies into a frenzied state.Help.

He grinned wickedly. There was no mistaking the heat in his eyes, which were focused on her as he sealed his lips over the bottle’s mouth and drank.

Mesmerized by the movement of his Adam’s apple, her breath stuttered. She was unable to look away. Willing to disappear with him should he ask. Pissed off by her body’s reaction to his hypnotic, sexy energy, Jorja emptied her beer, trying to wash away the thoughts accumulating at lightning speed:

Rake capturing her mouth, hungry and forceful at first, and then tender and seeking.

Leisurely feathering his fingers over her skin and tasting it as he slid off her shorts, then growing impatient and ripping her panties.

Murmuring, “You’re heaven” while he thrust in and groaned in her ear, setting the pace. “Meet me, honey.”

Her hands flailing about, unsure what part of him she needed to explore first. Then giving up and dragging her nails over his broad back as her body adjusted to his, encouraging him to take her harder. Deeper.

Epic fail. An uncomfortable warmth spread over her chest, neck, and face. Shit, she was had to be glowing red. Rattled andclose to the edge, Jorja’s hand shook when placing the bottle on the table with unintended force. Not prepared for this, she needed distance. A few minutes of time. “Excuse me.”

Jorja stood and headed toward the door, picking up her pace as she neared the exit. As she reached out for the crash bar, a hand closed on her shoulder, encouraging her to turn. She knew who it was from her body’s reaction—the urgent pulsing hunger of her dreams.

“Hey. Where’s the fire?”

How was it possible that his lashes were a natural black fringe that was impossible to duplicate with mascara? Jorja swallowed. “I?—”

“Let’s talk.” Rake gently guided her to the left, into a dimly lit private hall.

“I—”

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