Page 37 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

Seconds later, Holt laid his hand on Briggs’s shoulder. “Good to see you, man.”

Briggs turned, his brows arched in surprise. “Prosper, didn’t know you were here.”

“I am here.” Holt increased his friendly squeeze on Briggs’s shoulder. “How y’all doing tonight? Enjoying the music?”

Briggs’s eyes narrowed. “Dancing with Macie here, if you don’t mind.”

“That right? Looks like you were doing something else that wasn’t dancing, Briggs.”

Briggs tried to shrug off Holt’s grip, but to no avail. “What do you want, Prosper?”

“Just socializing.” Holt’s gaze cut to Macie. She was no longer being manhandled by Briggs, but by the expression in her eyes, she was no fool to what was going on.

She stepped close to Holt and slipped her arm through his. “You promised me a dance, remember?”

Holt stared at her. What was she talking about?

“Come to collect?” Macie asked. “Or are you going to keep on checking out Briggs’s nice shirt?”

Briggs smirked. Holt wanted to wipe it off the man’s face with his fist.

Macie nudged Holt. “Unless you changed your mind.”

Holt swallowed, trying to release the hot anger inside of him. It wasn’t even directed toward Briggs. This was all Knox. “I haven’t changed my mind.”

She smiled, and Holt felt the anger melt from his body. Just like that. His heart did a slow flip.

“Then come on,” she said, “time’s a wasting.”

He released Briggs, who then jerked away. “We’re not finished,” Holt said in a parting shot before letting Macie lead him to the other side of the dance floor, away from most of the frenzied dancing.

Despite the fast tempo of the music, Macie set her hands on his shoulders as if she wanted to slow dance. Holt had no choice but to slide his hands to her waist. Her exposed skin between the top of her jeans and the hem of her blouse was warm and smooth, and an involuntary shudder sighed through him.

Macie moved even closer, her eyes narrowed. “What was that all about?”

Holt decided to keep the conversation to Briggs. “Was he trying to get you to leave with him?”

“No,” she said. “I asked him where he got his shirt, and he wanted me to meet the lady who owns the shop where he bought it. She was sitting on the other side of the bar.”

Holt studied her brown eyes. “That’s all?”

The scolding in her gaze softened. “That’s all.” Her fingers played with the edge of his collar, and the brush of her fingertips against his skin sent bits of fire straight to his veins.

Well, then. “You all right, darlin’?” he asked in a low voice.

Her mouth twitched. “I’m all right.”

The music shifted then to a slow melody, and the lights dimmed as if on cue.

He should release her. He should walk out of this bar right now.

Have you ever just lived in the moment?His brother’s words were like a plague in Holt’s brain.

He slid his hands around her back, drawing her close enough so that he could breathe her in. Her body was soft, supple, and he quickly lost himself in her touch, her scent. It was as if they’d been created for this moment, this dance, this . . . Her breathing was as rapid as his. He didn’t know what to think about that. She wasn’t pulling away or anything. In fact, she’d tightened her hold about his neck and turned her head toward him so that he could feel the warmth of her breath at the base of his neck.

Bumps raced along his skin. “You smell like apple blossoms,” he murmured. “Did you know that?”

He felt, rather than saw, her smile.

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