Vivian Arend - Rocky Mountain Heat

He loomed over her, dark and dangerous, and she wanted to have him hold her instead of dealing with this whole stupid mess. “Let’s not throw it away, Jaxi, all those years of friendship.”

Her throat tightened up, anger melting away as she fought back tears. There was no way she would cry in front of him, not now. She had to figure out a solution to stop this train wreck from continuing. “I agree we’ve had something special in the past. But don’t you see, all those years of friendship were leading to something bigger and better, and that’s what you’re choosing to give up on. You, Blake, you’re the one throwing the possibility of us away. I know what I want.”

She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss on his burning hot cheek before whispering, “Let me know when you’re ready to admit what you really want. I’m getting tired of waiting for the right answer.”

Jaxi had never been keen on dramatic exits but time was of the essence to avoid bursting into tears in front of him. She slipped past his solid bulk and dashed out the fire exit.

Blake took another draw on his beer and placed the bottle down carefully before turning his attention back to the surface of the pool table. He and Leo were maintaining their own over the twins, the score sixty-seven to sixty-four. Better than the previous Friday when he’d still been out of his mind trying to understand what had happened with Jaxi in the shower the night before. Damn, his life had turned into a cheap dime-store romance gone sour.

Joel and Jesse relaxed nearby, cocky grins on their faces.

“Not bad for a tired old man,” Jesse said, twirling his cue as he waited for his turn.

“Well, if someone was a little less distracted, we’d have you boys so far gone you’d tuck in your tails and head home.” Blake tried to decide which ball to sink. This week his partner was the one off his game, checking his watch and cell phone constantly. “Leo, you got troubles? Other than the twenty we’re ready to lose if you don’t concentrate a little more?”

Leo grinned sheepishly. “Cari’s supposed to get back into town tonight or tomorrow. I’m waiting for her call.”

“Save us from the lovebirds. Leo, you and Cari are soooo sweet.” Jesse turned and pulled a face at Blake and Joel.

Blake snorted. “Six ball, right-side pocket.” He lined up the shot and sank the ball in one smooth, easy motion. Handing the cue to Leo, he went back to his beer.

He wasn’t going to let Jesse know he really was tired. Sleep was hard to come by since he’d witnessed Jaxi in all her glory in the shower. His nights had gotten worse after she’d blown up at him at the community hall. He tossed and turned, hard and aching, all night long with no easy solution to his problem.

“You enjoying the guest cabin, Blake?” Joel kicked his legs freely as he sat on top of a nearby table, watching Leo take his shot.

Blake grunted.

“Guess Jaxi needed a little more room than the office space. What a gentleman you are to offer your bed.” Jesse’s eyes twinkled with mischief.

Blake flashed him a dirty look. Damn twins could poke all they wanted, but no way would he would confess he’d changed rooms because he didn’t trust himself to be close to the girl and not make a move on her.

Hell, the way she’d acted in the shower, inviting him to touch her, he didn’t trusted her to stay away from him. There was no use in begging for trouble.

Then there was the whole “Showdown at O.K. Corral” two nights ago. What a fucking nightmare. He hated that he’d hurt her, the expression in her eyes almost enough to make him reconsider, if only to be allowed to wipe away the pain.

He’d admit it. Jaxi had grown up. But he couldn’t let her goad him into doing something she’d regret. She was too young to really know what she wanted for the long haul, and he was not having a one-night stand with her. The pain of rejection was for her own good, even though sticking to his guns choked something deep inside him.

“Course, staying in the cabin means you’ve got much more privacy if you need it.” Joel jumped off the table with a whoop of delight. “Leo, you blew that shot. Our turn.”

Joel and Jesse alternated in sinking balls, raising their score to seventy-five before they missed. Blake sipped his beer and glanced around, letting the familiar décor soothe his tired nerves.

On this side of the hall, people sat and talked, or played pool and relaxed. Next door, the music was louder, the dance floor wide and the bar open late. He and the boys were the only ones playing pool tonight, tucked into the back corner where it was quiet and private.

Blake was getting up for his turn when he saw her. Jaxi breezed in the doorway, pale blonde hair floating around her head.

“Sweet mercy, angel entering the room.” Jesse breathed out the words in mock ecstasy.

She did look like an angel. For the past couple of weeks, Jaxi had worn plain jeans or jean shorts with cotton shirts. She’d pulled her hair into a sensible ponytail while she cooked and canned and worked around the house with his ma.

Tonight her sundress consisted of layers of flimsy material that lifted and floated in different directions as she sashayed forward. The clinging top left her smooth shoulders bare, the scooped neckline revealing deep cleavage of pearly pink skin. The fluttering layers of the skirt slid over her smooth legs, stopping well above her knees. The whole thing was cut from shades of yellow and gold, making her glow like a ray of sunshine.

Jesse rushed forward to greet her. Blake bit back a growl as his brother took her hand and placed it under his arm to escort her to their table, his lips tight to her ear as he spoke. Jaxi’s gaze flicked to Blake for a brief second before she laughed at Jesse, then turned to beam at Joel and Leo.

“Evening, boys. I was looking for Lindy but I’ve been told she’s gone for the weekend. Mind if I join you instead?” Jaxi leaned in and kissed Leo’s cheek, and Blake’s arms jerked as he held himself back.

So much for a relaxing evening with the boys.

“Leo, I haven’t seen you in forever. Where’ve you been hiding?” Jaxi stood close, her hands resting on Leo’s arm. Blake turned away and retrieved his beer. At this rate he would need another one pretty damn quick.

“It’s been busy at the shop lately. And you know, well, Cari and me…” Leo grinned at her. “I owe you one. Big time. Can I get you a drink?”

“Whoa there, stud,” Jesse teased. “You’ve already got yourself a woman. I’ll get Jaxi her drink. What’ll you have, sweetheart?”

“Any you boys drinking draft tonight?”

“Joel and I are,” Jesse volunteered.

“Can I join you?”

Jesse grinned from ear to ear and twirled her in his arms as if they were on the dance floor, snuggling her tight against his body. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Jaxi slapped his shoulders as she laughed up at him. “Jesse, I swear. You’ve got the dirtiest mind. Get me a beer and get on with your game.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jesse dropped a quick kiss on her nose before he let her go.

Blake stared at Jaxi. She was deliberately flirting with the twins and ignoring him, like she’d done since Wednesday. He couldn’t believe she would taunt him. She wouldn’t dare follow up on the challenge she’d thrown and fool around with the twins just to spite him.

Would she?

“Ma all right alone tonight?” Blake kicked himself even as the words escaped.

Jaxi did a slow rotation toward him, her face flushed. “No, Blake, she had a pounding headache, a pile of laundry to fold and just before I left I set a swarm of wasps loose in the house.” She strode over and hopped up next to Joel on the table, her skirts flaring out to brush his thigh. Joel raised his eyebrows at his brothers, then took a long, slow look along the length of exposed leg next to him, smiling with appreciation.

“So. Now that we’re all clear Blake is an ass, whose turn is it?” Leo didn’t even try to hide his smirk.

Blake stepped forward. “Jaxi, I didn’t mean I thought you’d—”

“You planning on dancing later?” Jaxi leaned a little closer to Joel, her left breast rubbing his arm as she ignored Blake.

“If you need a partner.”

Jaxi slipped her fingers into his and winked at Jesse hovering on her other side. “Your ma and dad went to visit friends and told me they didn’t need me until tomorrow morning. I guess I have some time to kill.”

Blake felt like shit as he turned back to the table.

Although he’d decided it was best for her to not be with him, the decision wasn’t sitting easy. Watching her with the twins hurt worse than he thought possible. He wanted to be the one holding her hand and whispering in her ear. Taking her close against him on the dance floor and feeling her soft skin rub every inch of his body.

“Nine ball, corner pocket.”

Blake and Leo brought the score to eighty-seven before they missed. It was an exquisite form of torture for Blake as he moved around the table taking shots. Every now and then he’d sight his cue in Jaxi’s direction, see Joel’s arm casually tucked behind her back. Jesse sat on her other side, their thighs tight together, his fingers draped over both their legs. She was sandwiched between them just like Joel had described days ago, and Blake’s temper rose.

He had told them to stay away from her. Warned them not to get too close in private, let alone in public. Joel met his eye with a challenge that was about far more than pool as he stepped to the table, and the twins quickly took their score over one hundred to win.