Page 28 of The Cowboy and the Bombshell
“Oh,” gushed the second. “We’re sorry. We didn’t mean to interrupt. We just wanted to say we thought you were so cute together. We’ll let you get back to your date. See you Monday.” And with that, they wobbled off on their high heels, I assumed to find more drinks.
I stared after them, unable to completely comprehend what just happened. “Date?”
Silas started to laugh, his head thrown back. “Oh, shit.”
“What?” I questioned, raising my glass to finish off my bourbon. Coming out tonight was a bad idea.
“That day,” he said, running his hand over his short hair. “The day I arrived in town. All the girls in the office were staring. That’s why!” He exclaimed, like it was a revelation. “They think we’re a couple.”
I choked on my bourbon. Slamming my fist into my sternum, I coughed until the fire cleared out of my lungs. “Why would they think that?”
“Well,” Silas said thoughtfully. “Let’s think about what they’ve seen. The first time they saw us together we were hugging.”
“That was a bro hug,” I qualified.
“True,” Si conceded, nodding. “But it was an enthusiastic bro hug. I can see where they might have misinterpreted it.” I grinned as he continued listing all the reasons people would think we were romantically involved. “You and I arrive to the office together every morning, we eat lunch together almost every day, and we leave together in the evenings.” He finished ticking off the list on his fingers. “All in all, I’d say from the outside it looks like we are in a very happy and committed homosexual relationship, Stone. And those gals are right about one thing,” he finished with a smug grin on his face.
“Yeah? And what’s that?”
“That you, Mr. Montgomery, are the luckiest guy, like, ever.”
With that we both burst out laughing. I really was lucky to have a friend like him on my side.
My laughter cut off as I caught a glimpse of two women standing at the bar, my eyes drawn to the one with long golden blonde hair. I could only see her from behind, and as she leaned over to tell the bartender her order, I couldn’t help but stare at her perfect ass, covered by a tight black skirt, the lace trim at the bottom only accenting her long sexy legs. Her hair fell almost to her waist, and I was struck by a sudden vision of running my fingers through it, fisting it tight as I pressed into her from behind.
The image was so strong, so realistic in my mind, that I felt my blood pumping hard and my body responding to the thoughts in my head without my permission. As I sat there, staring at the gorgeous blonde and letting my imagination run wild, my eyes tracked down her long legs to see the bright pink shoes she had on.
Shoes I recognized.
I dragged my eyes up her body again, this time really looking hard.
It couldn’t be.
But it was.
It was Penelope. And she was a fucking Blonde Bombshell.
As the bartender handed her the drink she ordered, she paid him and turned around. And there stood Penelope, her hair down for the first time that I had seen, wearing a sexy skirt and those freaking heels. The smile on her face wide as she laughed at something the person beside her said. Looking at her companion, I realized with a shock that it was Daphne. My sister was standing there in a dress that was practically scandalous as every man in the room stared at the two of them like they were lunch.
My fist tightened around my empty glass. Penelope hadn’t spoken to me in weeks, but here she was, looking hot as hell for any guy in town to drool over.
And Daphne! She’d barely turned twenty-one. Neither of them should be here.
Silas looked at me, and seeing the change in my face he followed my gaze. I could see his eyes widen as he took in what I just saw. His jaw tensed, and I wondered if it was because of Penelope or Daphne. However, that was a conversation best saved for later.
We watched them from our booth, laughing and enjoying their drinks. Penelope looked incredible. Her hair, out of its bun for the first time since I’ve known her, fell like a waterfall of sunshine, and her bright blue eyes were shining even in the dim light of this ridiculous club.
She was stunning. Absolutely glowing, and it took me a moment to realize that it was because she was happy.
It was the first time I’d seen her without her defenses being on high alert and the difference was striking. Seeing her now, carefree and light, I could tell just how much strain the bickering we’d been doing had been putting on her. Watching her laugh with my sister, I was struck by just how much I wanted to bask in the light she gave off. I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
And I just knew I was gonna get burnt.
Shutting down any further thoughts of Penelope, I moved to stand. I wanted to leave the bar and head back to the house where it was quiet and I could sit in my room and think of all the reasons why I hated Las Vegas and this project and how badly I wanted to get back to Texas. But as I was pulling a few bills out of my wallet, I saw a trio of guys approaching Penelope and Daphne. I stilled as I watched the douchebags, probably a group of dude-bros here on vacation from whatever Ivy League school their daddies got them into.
“Stone,” Silas warned. “Whatever you’re thinking of doing, man, don’t. Just walk away.”
But I barely heard him. I stood and watched as the tallest of the guys leaned down and whispered into Penelope’s ear. Daphne had another guy on her side. He was yammering away but she seemed to be ignoring him. Penelope was listening to what ever that douche was saying, then she threw her head back and laughed. She nodded, and suddenly he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and held up his phone with the other hand. Just as he was about to snap the selfie, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to Penelope’s cheek.
