Sizzling Mountain Man (Hot Mountain Nights 2)
Chapter 1
one
Lex
“We need a male stripper, and we need one fast.” My younger sister, Lyra, tugs on my arm. “The bachelorette party is from the city—they’re expecting a male stripper for entertainment.”
“I don’t dance, and I certainly don’t take my clothes off in front of strangers, especially not horny women.”
“Maybe you should—it might loosen you up,” Liv, Lyra’s twin, adds with a smile.
Having grown up with three younger sisters, I’m used to their teasing. But I would have thought they would have grown out of it by now, especially since I’m five years older than my next-closest sibling, Lana. At thirty, I should be well past the teasing phase.
“Look, Lex, the Whitmore family is filthy rich. Why they chose our winery for the bachelorette party and wedding venue is beyond me, but we need everything to go off without a hitch.” Lana raises an eyebrow, daring me to argue with her.
Our winery hasn’t been open very long, but hosting a wedding like the Whitmore’s could be a major financial boost for us and the town of Temptation Ridge. The mountain view alone is enough to make the outdoor wedding a success. My dancing, on the other hand, might have the opposite effect.
“Sorry, Lana. I only came up to snake the drain in the kitchen for Rosie.” Even though the vineyard is where I spend most of my time, I’m also the handyman at the winery.
“That’s the perfect opening line for the bachelorettes,” Lyra’s eyes flash with mischief. “Hello, ladies. Did someone call a plumber? I’m here to snake your drain.” Both Lyra and Liv burst out laughing.
“Don’t mind them.” Lana glares at Lyra and Liv, making them laugh even harder, then turns back to me.
“It’s only for one song, and you don’t have to take everything off—just some of it.
Besides, with your dark hair, that five o'clock shadow on your jaw, and your muscular body, the women will be happy if you take off only your shirt.” Liv and Lyra alternate between giggling and gagging.
“Not helping.” Lana glares at them again, finally silencing them.
“Sorry.” Liv apologizes. “But he’s our brother, I don’t want to think about his muscles.” Both Liv and Lyra scrunch up their faces as their bodies do an exaggerated shiver.
“What are you, three or twenty-three?” Always the mother hen, Lana puts Liv and Lyra in their place.
“Sorry.” They say in unison.
With all three of my sisters distracted, I slip toward the exit to make my escape, just as someone rushes around the corner and crashes into me.
I wrap my arms around them to steady us both, only to come into contact with lush curves—the kind a man could get lost in for days, attached to blonde wild curls.
“Excuse me.” The woman in my arms lifts her head, her wild curls cascading like a waterfall down her back, making me want to bury my hands in them and pull her closer, something I’ve never wanted to do with anyone else.
Her green eyes lock onto mine, and for the life of me, I can’t let her go.
“Are you the male stripper?” My arms tighten around her at the thought of her being the bride and already taken.
She must sense the desperation in my touch as she steps back out of my arms. “The bride is getting restless waiting for the male stripper. She’ll kill me if he doesn’t show up. ”
I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing she isn’t the bride.
“Yes. I’m Lex. I’m the dancer,” I say, surprising myself and my sisters.
“If you’ll give me a few more minutes, I’ll be right in.
” Unable to resist, I brush a lock of her wild curls back behind her ear and watch her eyes flare with interest. She nods and heads back the way she came.
I turn around to find all three of my sisters smiling at me, “How am I going to pull this off?” My shoulders drop in defeat.
“Have you ever heard of the Thunder Down Under?” Liv hands me her phone, and a video shows a half-naked man thrusting his hips to a screaming crowd of women, and I realize how totally screwed I really am.