Edie Earns Her Saddle Read online

  Be still her fluttering pussy, she could not remember ever being so turned on in her life, and that was just from looking at him.

  “Lena.” She turned around and whispered into her friend’s ear. “That’s him!”

  “Who?”

  Edie tilted her head toward Jason and watched as Lena’s eyes landed on him, then widened a fraction. “He’s looking over here,” Lena said out of the side of her mouth.

  “Oh, please. Stop lying.”

  “I’m not!”

  “Whatever. Stop getting my hopes up.”

  “I know what I saw. Now stop holding up the line.”

  Edie turned around and came up short, almost running into the bouncer. She let him glance over her ID while she avoided making eye contact with Jason. She did not know how to play it cool, and judging from the way her heart raced, she had a feeling Lena told the truth earlier, and he really was looking at her.

  Why hadn’t she ever learned to be a sexy, seductive girl?

  The bouncer handed her ID back and winked at her. She took a step forward toward the door when Jason stepped in front of her, his big body blocking the whole doorway.

  “Hi, Edie.”

  His deep baritone caressed her skin like dark velvet, and desire pooled between her legs. She met his eyes and forced herself not to gawk at him. His ice-blue eyes stood out against his tan skin, and the corner of his mouth lifted in what she assumed was a smile. His lips were not very full, but they were perfectly shaped, and she wanted to feel them against hers. What kind of kisser would he be? Would he be the kind to linger, absorbing every detail and nuance of his lover’s reactions? Or would he push her against the wall and show her who was boss?

  “Hey, Jason.” Her voice sounded breathy in her ears. “Uh, are, um, the crowds usually this big?”

  Well, there went her dreams of being a seductress.

  His gaze sharpened, as if he picked up on her nervousness, but the look quickly evaporated, making her wonder if she really saw what she thought she did.

  He shrugged a massive shoulder. “Actually, this is an average size for a Thursday night, but we’ll see. It’s lookin’ like it might get busier. Friday and Saturday are usually bigger.”

  “Huh. Good to know. We know to come early now, don’t we, Lena?” Edie looked over her shoulder at her best friend and prayed her expression conveyed her desperate need for backup.

  God bless her, Lena came up beside Edie and smiled at Jason. Edie took a breath and let Lena’s calmness seep into her. “Lena, this is Jason Chisholm. We met the other day when I went to get the stuff for dinner. He and his brother own this place.”

  Edie watched as Jason extended his hand and took Lena’s into his. She could not help but notice the way his muscles bulged when his arm moved.

  “It’s nice meeting you, Lena. I hope the two of you ladies have a great time. Let me know if you need anything.” His eyes met Edie’s once more, and she felt the heat in his gaze before she realized what it was. Then he turned away from her and took an ID from the girl behind her, who stuck her hip out and smiled at Jason while she made suggestive small talk.

  Edie’s elation at having spoken to Jason again so soon sank like a deflating balloon. Yeah, as if a guy like Jason would ever notice she existed.

  * * * *

  Hi, Edie? Was that all he could manage?

  He was losing his touch.

  Hi, Edie?

  A girl with big tits hanging out of her red tank top tried to talk to him, but he tuned her warbling out, shaking and nodding his head when her vocal cues called for it. He handed her ID back to her after not even looking at it in the first place and watched out of the corner of his eye as Edie and her friend walked through the doors and toward the bar. Correction, he watched the rock and sway of Edie’s ass as they made their way to the bar.

  Lena was pretty damn cute with her reddish hair and little body, but Edie floored him. Flat out made his jaw drop. He wanted to follow her around all night and dance with her, pull her close and learn her scent—

  Whoa. Step back. Calm down.

  Jason signaled for Kyle, his best bouncer, to take over with the ID checks. He went inside, straight up the stairs to the second floor of the bar area, and toward the staff only section. He could get the perfect view of the bar and dance floor from up here.

  He also got the perfect view of Edie and her friend trying to make their way through the crowd. He fought the urge to go down there and help them out. They both looked so small compared to all the men blocking their way. The music was loud. He felt it echoing in his chest and knew it must be worse where the girls stood, judging from the way they spoke into each other’s ears. He wondered what it would be like to be so close to her, to be able to bury his nose where the hair at the nape of her neck met her skin.

  Damn, Edie was so pretty.

  Jason knew he made her nervous, which made him wonder how much experience she had with men. The types of women he involved himself with over the years knew how to play the game. They knew when to flick their hair over their shoulders, knew how to flirt with him, knew how to tease out his interest.

  But Edie? She was different. She did not have a calculating bone in her body, and her face said everything she felt. She did not seem to realize just how beautiful she was or how many heads turned whenever she walked by. She possessed an innate sensuality, a certain feminine grace that clung to her like a second skin. Was it the way her hips swayed when she walked? Or the gentle jiggling of her breasts? Because he was sure every guy here knew she did not wear a bra under the scrap of material she called clothing.

  When he saw the top exposed her whole upper back, Jason resisted the urge to pull his own shirt off and throw it over her. The way other men looked at her when she stood there minding her own business made him want to pummel them.

  He did not even want to think about how good that low-cut neckline looked.

  What the hell was up with him? He barely even knew this girl and he did not like other men looking at her. He needed to get his head checked.

  Jason watched as Edie and Lena grabbed their drinks from the bartender and sat at a table close to the dance floor. Almost immediately, young cowboys offered their hands, asking them to dance. They smiled, giggled, and politely refused, much to Jason’s satisfaction.

  That’s right, assholes, take a number.

  He felt, rather than heard, his brother approach before Seth clapped his back with a heavy hand.

  “How’s everything tonight?” Seth asked above the music.

  Jason shrugged his shoulders. “It’s all good for now. I’m just waiting till after midnight for things to start picking up.”

  “Yeah. I hear ya.”

  Jason’s eyes landed on Edie one more time before he looked at his brother. “It is getting crowded pretty early, though. I didn’t expect such a big crowd. You might have to help bounce tonight.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Right. And say no to all the cute girls?”

  Seth put his hand over his heart like he had been shot. “I can sacrifice one night for the well-being of this fine establishment. But there are some pretty cute ones. I don’t know, man, I might have to do some double duty.”

  “Smart ass. Check back around eleven.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Seth took a step toward the stairs but stopped. An odd look appeared on his face. “Everything cool, Jace?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “You keep looking at the same spot downstairs. Is there some trouble brewing or something?

  “No. I’m just keeping a close watch is all.” Jason’s voice sounded normal in his ears, but he knew his brother was on to him. Christ, how could he be so obvious?

  “A close watch, huh?” Seth studied him for a moment before saying, “Is she cute?”

  Damn. Caught red-handed.

  “Holy shit! You’re checking somebody out while you’re on the clock. This has never happened before. She must be something.” Se
th backtracked and stood next to Jason. “So? Which one is she? Who’s the girl who has you, the king of I-don’t-give-a-shit, distracted?”

  “Seth, lay off.”

  “No. Who is she?”

  Jason looked at the expression on his brother’s face and knew that he would not give up until he knew who Jason stared at. Clenching his teeth together, he told Seth where Edie and Lena sat.

  “Holy hot damn, she’s cute.”

  Jason watched Seth stare at Edie for a few more minutes and saw the transfixed look that crossed his face. “Jace, she’s gorgeous. Like beach goddess gorgeous.”

  “I noticed,” he said dryly, though Seth’s staring gave him a reason to stare, too. Lena must have said something funny because he watched as Edie threw her head back and laughed.

  Something inside him tightened when he saw her interacting with her friend. They were obviously close, and the unadulterated happiness on Edie’s face pulled at him. He wanted to put that look on her face. He wanted to make her laugh and smile. And he wanted to watch her expressions as he took her slow, fast, however she wanted it.

  Jason shifted when he felt his dick swell with desire.

  “She’s really something, Jace.” That transfixed look still lingered in his brother’s eyes.

  “She is.”

  Seth grinned at him. “I gotta meet her.”

  * * * *

  Seth pressed through the crowd toward the woman he and Jason drooled over for the past ten minutes.

  He just had to meet her.

  It did not matter that he thought she was the most beautiful woman he ever laid eyes on, that she had such a gorgeous smile, or that he loved the way her lush body moved. He never saw his brother lose focus for anything, let alone a woman. So for her to distract his brother when he was on duty, she had to be something special.

  When he finally reached their table, he turned on his charm and walked up to them like they were any other patrons to his and Jason’s bar, even though he was nervous as hell. He’d never been this nervous before he spoke to a woman in...

  He stopped and thought about it. Huh. Well, never, really. Christ. A woman made him nervous. Who would have ever thought? He, Seth Chisholm, lover of women of all shapes and sizes, was rendered nervous by a beautiful woman. He almost laughed.

  He laid his hand on the back of her chair and the other on the table in front of her, then leaned in, still giving her enough room to breathe.

  “Hey there.”

  Her sand-brown eyes widened, and she blinked a few times before she gave him a “H–hi.”

  Damn, she smelled good.

  “I hear you’re new in town.”

  “Yeah, my friend and I own the bed and breakfast right on the edge of town.” She gestured across the table. “This is Lena, by the way.”

  “I’ve heard great stuff about your place.” He turned to her extremely pretty friend and offered her his hand. She had a nice handshake. “Hi, Lena. I’m Seth Chisholm.”

  “Oh, you’re Jason’s brother,” Lena said before she leaned a bit to the side, sending a meaningful look across the table.

  Seth turned to look at the woman who managed to enchant his brother. A wave of heat and energy zinged up his arm. Seth looked down at the source. She must have noticed her hand on his arm because her eyes flew open and she yanked it back. Seth took it before it got out of his reach.

  “And what’s your name?”

  He shifted his stance because his cock hardened when he swept his gaze over her from face to chest. She had the most luminous skin he ever saw, and the graceful lines of her face made him want to reach out and trace them with his fingertips. He didn’t even want to think about how gorgeous her breasts looked.

  “Oh, um, Edie.” The cutest blush adorned her cheeks, and she lowered her lashes. “Edie Bishop.”

  “Well, Edie,” he said, bringing her knuckles to his lips, “it’s very nice to meet you.” Her hand felt so small in his. “I was wondering if you would like to dance.”

  “I—um—well, you see, I don’t know how to two-step.”

  Seth looked at her neck and saw the pulse under her jaw racing. God, she was responsive, and the only thing he touched was her hand. He stopped himself from wondering how she would respond to him without any clothes on. Barely.

  “No worries, Edie. Just follow my lead.”

  He took her other hand in his and gently pulled her out of her seat and toward the dance floor. She trailed close behind him, and when he turned around to take her into his arms, he saw her gaze lingered where his ass would have been. Seth fought to keep from feeling smug.

  She was checking him out. He felt a big smile cross his face. She could look at his ass any time she wanted.

  Edie blushed when she met his eyes but gave no protest when he gathered her in his arms and started leading her around the packed dance floor.

  “So all you do is take two steps back, kinda like you’re walking backwards. Then you shuffle with your right foot, then you take the two steps again.”

  He held her close for the first few steps, his arms holding her up when she tripped over his feet. She kept apologizing for stepping on his cowboy boots, but honestly, he couldn’t have cared. He had a beautiful woman in his arms who kept giving him the most amazing, carefree smile.

  Seth kept himself from stealing glances at her chest. For once in his life, he would play the gentleman because she deserved no less. There was something about the way she carried herself, though she obviously felt shy, that told him she respected herself and demanded the same respect from others. She had a confident yet vulnerable air about her, and judging from her wide-eyed look, Seth surmised she was not the worldly type.

  Actually, he knew she was not the worldly type. One of the first things he noticed about Edie when he and Jason watched her was that she did not scope the bar out for guys to buy her free drinks. Seth could not count the number of times he saw women flirt their way to a whole night full of free alcohol, then as a way to say thank you, would take the guy home and screw him. Edie was not like that.

  He decided to test his theory out by brushing his fingertips over the part of her back exposed by her top. He bit back a groan. Her skin felt soft and smooth under his hands.

  Edie jerked a bit. “I’m a little ticklish. Well, a lot ticklish, actually.”

  So she was responsive everywhere. Perfect.

  “Are you? I’ve never met anyone with ticklish skin before.”

  “It’s not that my skin is ticklish. It’s just that really soft touches feel like it. You know what I mean?”

  “Personally, no. But I’ve known a few people who are sensitive to touch.”

  “Oh.” Her light brown eyes widened just a fraction, and Seth suspected she put two and two together and realized he spoke about women. “So how long have you owned the place?”

  The corners of his lips quirked. Definitely not the queen of subtlety. “About two, maybe three, years now.” He guided her around a slow couple, and she did not lose her footing, so he decided to spin her around so he could get a good look at her body.

  What he saw made his gut clench. She was curvy but still managed to be thin. Any extra weight just gave her a softer, more feminine look. She made his cock hard in his jeans. He caught a glimpse of her bare upper back, and he resisted the temptation to run his fingers over the skin there again. No bra. Her full breasts filled out her top nicely, and the indentation at her waist would make the perfect place for his hands to rest when he bent her over and fucked her deep and hard.

  Shit. He needed to get that image out of his head before he popped out of his pants.

  * * * *

  Edie reminded herself to breathe when Seth pulled her back toward him. She did not know it was possible to be so turned on and so overwhelmed at the same time. Goodness, the Chisholm brothers were the sexiest, most sensually masculine men she ever met. Jason made her tummy flutter with his cold brooding, and Seth, armed to the teeth with his smile and rakish charm,
made her head spin.

  If her intuition was right, and it usually was, Seth Chisholm stole some glances that were far from secret. She could not believe he was checking her out. The thought of it made her pussy clench. She didn’t even want to think about what looking at him did to her female parts.

  Seth looked like his brother, and Edie had already entertained quite a few fantasies about Jason since she met him. The Chisholms must be a beautiful bunch because both brothers were gorgeous. Seth had the same dark brown hair with a little red in it that his brother had, but it was longer, curling above the collar of his button down shirt. His eyes were full of mischief. They held a certain playful glint to them and were a deeper, more mysterious blue. Like indigo. His face was just as handsome as Jason’s, though less angular, and his jaw a little less squared. It made him look more approachable and easy-going. His lips were fuller than Jason’s, and Seth’s rakish smile could charm the panties off any woman from fifty yards away, including the ridiculously pretty redhead shooting her the evil eye from a table near the dance floor. Oh, and the voluptuous blonde dancing with a handsome cowboy kept staring at her, and not in a friendly way. Well, there went making friends with the local girls, judging from the looks they sent her way.

  Seth must really get around, she thought to herself.

  Then reality slapped her in the face like her younger sister when they fought over who got the last oatmeal cranberry cookie last Christmas. He was probably just being nice to her because she was the new girl in town. He did not ask Lena to dance because everyone knew about her engagement to the Stone brothers.

  Edie wanted to smack herself. With women who looked like that redhead flocking to Seth in droves, why would he want some girl who ran a B&B and had very little experience with men? And by very little, she meant she’d only been with one very little man. Well, he wasn’t little, but his Mr. Happy certainly had been.

  Her leg accidentally brushed between Seth’s legs, and for a brief second, she thought the hardness there was something in his pocket. But when his arms folded around her and pulled her a little closer to his big, warm body, Edie’s heart dropped straight into her shoes.