Chapter 2
Posy
“And one and two and kick ball change. Amazing everyone. I think we’re ready to try this one to music.” I nod to Rafe and he smirks, starting the music.
Nodding my head to the rhythm, I immediately start heel toeing and spinning. A smile cracks my face and I throw back my head laughing.
This is what I love! The music, the lights, the feel of it washing over me, stealing away all those little niggling doubts about what I’m doing here and when it will be time to move on.
The lights spin overhead and the dancers around me are awash in red and white over and over again. An endless cycle that’s almost dizzying if you’re not used to it.
I am though and I love it. It’s like heaven for me.
We make it through the new song and I turn, smiling and clapping my hands. “Okay! That was amazing! We’re gonna take a little break so I can grab a drink before I lose my voice…”. A burst of laughter rolls over me and I can’t help laughing myself.
“So I’ll come back up in about twenty minutes to teach you another song and dance. Have a drink and relax but be ready to get your dance on soon!”
Walking away, I wipe my hand over my forehead which is dripping into my eyes. No matter how cold it is outside, push a crowd of at least two hundred people into the building and boom! It’s hot in here!
Stopping at the huge oak bar, I rap on it and smirk at the bartender, Rodney. The big, bald man grins at me. “Whadya want, Posy?”
“My usual.”
“Cherry Pepsi Zero coming up.”
I know. It’s bad for me. I can’t help myself. I love it.
I turn around and lean on the bar, my toes tapping in my buff cowboy boots. My slim fit jeans tuck into them and my t-shirt with Neon Saloon in bright lettering and my favorite emerald green fits me like a glove.
I used to be self-conscious about my weight since I’m a big girl…but not anymore. I’m healthy and happy and so what if I need to lose some weight. It hasn’t stopped me from doing anything I want.
Or getting male attention sometimes. Wanted or not.
Like he knows what I’m thinking a man props himself up on the bar right next to me and runs his finger down my arm. Ignoring him, I watch the dancers until he moves in front of me and leans a hand on the bar so that he’s almost climbing on top of me.
Grimacing, I try to duck under his arm but he moves again and I glare at him.
“You need to move back.”
He smirks and then runs his hand along my jaw. My mouth falls open and my eyes widen.
“You’re really pretty. Even if you are a little big.”
My brows lift. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. But I still want you to back the heck up.”
He moves closer instead. Until I can feel the bulge in his jeans against me and a shudder rolls through me.
Slapping my hand on his chest, I push…hard. “Get off me!”
I glance behind me but Rodney is busy at the other end of the bar so he isn’t seeing this.
Huffing, I put both hands on his chest and push. He barely moves. Instead he grins and I can smell the whiskey on his breath.
“Really…back the hell up,” I growl. A little frisson of fear is starting to build up. I’m in a crowd of people and yet nobody is seeing this!
“The lady said to back up. I’d suggest you listen to her.”
The guy growls and doesn’t bother turning around. “Bug off, asshole.”
“I’m serious. Get away from her or I’m gonna make you.”
The drunk snorts. “Just how the hell do you think you’re going to do that?”
“Like this.”
I’m yanked away from the bar by one set of hands as another fist flies past me so close that I can feel the breeze. I’m still gasping for breath and trying to shake my long red hair out of my face when all hell breaks loose.
Screams erupt and it’s just like one of those movies with the bar fight. One set of guys fighting turns into fists flying all over the room and the sound of breaking glass. Chairs fly and the guy who grabbed my arm drags me back further.
“Come on. Let’s get out of the way.”
The dark-haired man turns when I pull at my arm. He’s strong and I can’t get away from him.
“What’s wrong?”
“What about that guy? The one who tried to help me?”
“That’s my cousin. He’ll be fine.” The guy’s dark green eyes dance as he dodges another fist and then his other hand goes out and slugs a guy in the shoulder, knocking him back. “Back the hell up and leave the lady alone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah! Stone will be fine. He’s probably having a good time.”
My mouth twists. “Fighting is not fun. And it’s a bad thing.” My head whips around. It’s like Roadhouse in here. Fists and chairs and screams everywhere. Some people are already running out of the doors trying to get out of the way of the melee.
The dark-haired guy grins back at me. “Sometimes it’s necessary.”
Jerking at my arm again, I growl, “I don’t even know your name and you’re manhandling me! Let me go!”
“Naw. Stone would be mad if I let you get hurt after he tried to help you. And my name’s Jules. Jules Jacobson. That’s my cousin, Stone Jacobson back there.”
He glances back and chuckles roughly. “I think that fight is about over.”
I look over my shoulder and I’m shocked when I see the big drunk guy lying on the ground against the bar, his eyes open but blank. The bigger guy is squatted down beside him and he’s saying something to him that makes the guy nod his head.
Stone Jacobson stands up and his dark eyes slew around the room, finding my eyes and it feels like everything just fades away.
The music is gone, the chairs and screams and fists…
all of it disappears. All that’s left is the big guy stalking towards me, his strides panther-light and strong.
His tight jeans fit every inch of his muscular legs so well that I can see his thick thighs bunch and flex.
He twists and his blue plaid flannel shirt pulls tight at his slim waist that’s tucked into his worn, pale blue jeans.
He’s tanned and toned and devastating to watch and my mouth waters enough that I reach up to make sure that I’m not drooling.
He reaches us and holds out his hand to me and without thinking, I put my hand out.
He wraps both of his around my much-smaller hand and I feel like I’m engulfed in his warmth, the rough texture of his skin.
The clean, fresh lemon and pine scent of him with a subtle scent underneath it that gives him a sexy smell that makes my nose twitch.
I want to lean in and take a big whiff but I don’t.
He leans in closer and pats my fingers. “You good, honey?”
My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. I can’t speak. Can’t think about anything but the big guy holding my hand so gently, rubbing softly. Heat pools in my belly and I grimace.
Backing away, I finally find my tongue. “You didn’t have to do that,” I mutter under my breath.
His dark brow quirks. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
Rodney runs up and pushes between us and then his silver brows lift. “Oh hey, Stone. How’s your brother?”
All around us there’s still pockets of fighting and a few cops are running in the door, trying to break it up. And these guys are just chatting like nothing is wrong.
Huffing, I step back and the other guy, Jules, smirks at me. “Going somewhere?”
“I’m gonna get out of this lunacy before I get arrested.”
He cocks his head. “Don’t worry. You won’t get arrested.”
Snorting, I back away faster. “I don’t know that.”
Bumping into someone, I turn to apologize only to find myself face to face with law enforcement.
The Sheriff groans when he gets a look at the guys I’m standing with. “How did I know you guys would be here in the middle of this?”
“Not my fault,” Stone says, grinning. “My ma told me that I had to go out tonight. And she’d tan my hide if I let some asshole mess with an unwilling woman.”
The Sheriff laughs. “She still looking for grandbabies?”
The smirk fades off his lean face. “Yeah.”
My brows lift and my eyes shoot over to the other guy. Jules smirks at me. “Ma really wants grandbabies. She’s not happy that we’re not cooperating. Nobody bucks ma when she wants something.”
“That’s…um, wonderful?” I really don’t know what to say.
“Let me walk her out of here so she can get home sooner rather than later and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. But for right now…don’t let that guy leave. He was the problem.”
He points at the bar and I try to dodge around all the men. “I can find my own way out of here.”
But all the men ignore me and I find myself being walked home by the most gorgeous cowboy I’ve ever seen. Or at least out to my car.
“I can get myself home.”
“I’m just walking you to your car. Then I’ll go talk with the Sheriff. He’s gotta be wondering what the hell happened.”
“Oh you mean you don’t usually start fights over nothing.” We stop by my little suv and he shakes his head, leaning on the door so I can’t get away from him.
“Nope. I don’t usually fight with anybody. Unless they lay hands on a woman. That guy needed to learn a lesson. He shouldn’t have laid hands on you.” His deep voice drops to a low growl and a shiver runs along my arms. Something tightens in my belly and I gulp, swallowing roughly.
The guy’s sexy. There’s no way to get around that. But he’s also arrogant as hell.
“I was fine.”
“You were not.” He doesn’t even bother arguing, just shifts back on his boot heels and grins. My eyes can’t help but wander down his long, lean body. His thigh muscles bunch when he moves restlessly and he leans out to push my hair behind my ear. “You sure are pretty.”
He sounds surprised. But I’m the one surprised when he leans in and his lips brush mine softly.
Fire flares in my belly and roars out until it’s tingling in my fingers and I flex them, fighting the need to touch him.
His broad shoulders block out the dim parking lot lights and his mouth moves on mine gently, his tongue licking at my lips.
Gasping, I open my mouth and my fingers dig into his muscular, warm arms as I fall into him, stunned.
My belly tightens when he finally lifts his head, my breath puffing out in little clouds.
Staring at him, I lick my lips. His dark green eyes follow the movement and he groans.
He’s so close I can see little pale green and blue flecks in the green.
His dark hair curls lightly around his ears where it’s a little long but that’s all I can see under his gray stetson.
I want to take it off and run my fingers through his hair, tugging him closer until…
But then he leans back and steps away. “Go home.”
And he walks away, leaving me confused and so damn turned on that it feels like I could combust at any second.
Mechanically, I sit in my car and finally start it, driving away. This has to be the weirdest night I’ve ever had.
And when I lick my lips, I can still taste him on my tongue. Still feel his strong arms around me.
I don’t know what I’m going to do but Stone Jacobson is not going to get another kiss from me. I’m gonna avoid that guy like the plague.
How hard can that be?