Page 28 of Snow in Texas

Colin.

Oh my God.Colin.

If she was totally honest with herself, she had to admit it: he was magnificent. Physically, anyway. All alone with her thoughts and the lingering sensations, she could admit that she’d loved everything about the sheer size, strength, and masculine presence of him. He was aman. He’d kissed hard, his hands had known what they were doing, and she’d felt the evidence of moresizethrough his jeans.

But she didn’t need someone like him. Someone young and stupid and trying to prove himself. She’d had that once…and it had put her in the hospital.

“You know I won’t hurt you, right?”His words echoed in her mind.

But what loyalty would a relative stranger have? What would keep his large hands from blacking her eyes…when the man she’d said vows to had violated her so deeply?

The worst part was, she couldn’t shake off the clinging heat of desire. Damn her, but she wanted to take things further, wanted Colin to come back to her.

But Candy had taken him to The Armadillo. And that was nothing but temptation in cutoffs down there.

She filled her glass again and drank deep.

~*~

Colin

The evening dragged. Once their adversaries were away, Colin wanted to head back to the clubhouse.

Instead, Candy and Jinx ordered a whole big barbecue spread and invited a few of the off-duty waitresses to join them at their table. A slender brunette who looked alarmingly like Mercy’s wife slid in beside Colin and put a too-familiar hand on his thigh. Okay, she might look like Ava Lécuyer, but that was where the similarities ended, apparently.

“Hey, Daddy,” she said. “You look lonesome.”

She couldn’t have said something worse if she’d tried.

He picked up her hand and set it aside, “Do me a favor and don’t call me ‘Daddy.’” Maybe she didn’t have daddy issues…but he did.

Her smile dimmed. “What?”

Colin turned to Candy who had a waitress of his own to contend with. “When are we headed back?” he asked, not caring it if was impertinent. Screw him, but he sucked at being a prospect.

Candy gave him the slow glance-over. “You in a hurry, prospect?”

How to answer that? “I just don’t give a shit about being here is all.”

Candy’s gaze sharpened. The girl at his side, running her hand down his bicep and oohing and ahhing? Not even remotely distracting. Whatever plans he had with these tarts, it wasn’t anything he gave a shit about, judging by the dark hooded nature of his eyes.

“Nothing here that catches your eye?” he asked, voice anything but innocent.

Colin felt his shoulders lock back, ready for a fight of any variety. “No. Nothing.”

Candy grinned, darkly. “You think I’m just gonna give you the green light?”

Colin didn’t answer.

Candy laughed. “Cool your fucking heels, man.”

Time limped forward, drink after drink landing on their table, the waitresses swapping off as their breaks ended and those of others began. The dance floor writhed with humanity, mostly girls dancing with girls, but a few brave cowboys venturing into the center so they could be rubbed against.

Colin thought he’d grind his teeth down to nubs with impatience. Which would have been a shame, because he had nice teeth.

They left just before closing, two waitresses given invitations to come to the next club party. Colin felt no joy in the return ride, the cold night air slapping at his face, bugs splattering against his goggles.

The clubhouse was all quiet when they got in. Candy and Jinx shuffled off with muttered goodnights. Alone, Colin went to the bar and poured himself a generous Scotch, parked himself on a stool to nurse it.

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