Emma followed in an instant, finding Nash’s gaze zeroed in on Megan’s every move. Whatever was between them was hot and heavy . . . and oh, so complicated. That much was clear, and Emma imagined that everyone probably knew it too. She sighed, keeping the thought to herself. She understood complicated. Sometimes life wasn’t so neat and tidy.
Emma was helping Megan stock the cooler with beer when Nash asked, “How’s that horse of yours doing?”
She smiled, moving closer. “He’s coming around, actually. Shep’s been amazing with him.”
“I’m sure that my brother has been quite determined to see this through.” Nash’s mouth twitched. “He’s trying to impress you.”
Emma quickly glanced away, her cheeks warming.
Nash added, “Ah, don’t shy away, I’m just razzing you.” When she lifted her gaze to him again, he gave a firm nod, his eyes soft, lacking the playfulness she’d seen before. “You and Shep . . . that’s a good thing.”
Megan snorted, giving him a flippant look. “And now that King Nash has given his approval, you can live happily ever after.”
Emma burst out laughing, unable to help it. She actually didn’t mind Nash’s comment, though. He seemed sincere. Her gaze lifted over his shoulder, and Emma noticed Shep entering the bar right then, the other Blackshaw brother on his heels, or so Emma assumed. They all kinda looked the same, except the guy behind Shep—Chase, she figured now—was a tiny bit shorter than Shep, and he had warm brown eyes, while Shep’s and Nash’s eyes were blue.
Shep’s gaze was fixed on her while he strode into the bar, looking like he owned the place, the side of his mouth arching in that sexy, confident way of his. She swallowed deeply, the air feeling harder to inhale, her belly fluttering.
When he finally slid onto the stool next to Nash, he grinned. “I see you’ve met my brother. I hope he behaved himself.”
“Of course I did,” Nash quipped.
Shep gave Emma a measured look.
Emma laughed and nodded. “He did.” She turned to Shep’s left. Where Nash appeared full of sexy arrogance, and Shep was stuffed to the brim with seductiveness and control, Chase seemed sweet. It was his warm brown eyes; they exuded tenderness. “I take it you’re Chase.” She offered her hand.
“That’s right.” Chase returned the handshake with a smile. “Emma, I’m assuming?”
“You got it.” She suddenly realized what Harper had gone on about regarding these men. With all three of the Blackshaw brothers together, they were quite the presence, definitely some serious eye candy. No woman would stand a chance against any one of them.
“How are you feeling?” Shep asked, bringing her attention back to him.
“Perfectly fine, thanks.” She wasn’t blind to the way he examined her face, looking for any signs of exhaustion. She thought that was sweet, as was the fact that it was pretty clear he’d asked his brothers to come here tonight to casually meet her. “Can I grab you guys some beers?”
“Please,” Shep said, and Chase nodded.
She turned to fetch their beers. The second she bent to grab them from the case full of ice, she sensed a shift around her. Her breath suddenly hitched, belly tightened. A pull had her glancing over her shoulder, and she found Shep’s gaze glued on her ass, basically stripping her clothes right off her body.
Warmth spread out between her thighs. She quickly looked away, reminding herself she was working. That stare was a powerful thing, almost scarily powerful. Yet she realized it was impossibly hard to be worried over this thing between them anymore; basically she was turned on all the time. And that, in itself, was something she couldn’t fight.
With beers in hand, she returned, delivering Shep’s first then handing one to Chase. “Listen, I feel a bit rude not being able to chat—”
“You need to work,” Shep interjected.
“Yes, she does,” Megan said, sidling up beside Emma. “Stop distracting her, boys.”
“That might be a challenge,” Shep stated with a grin. Emma flushed, locked in that sexy smile of his, while he added, “Alas, I’ll agree if you do me a favor tonight, Megan.”
“What’s that?” She slid the cloth over the
bar, wiping up a spill in front of Nash.
“For tonight’s Rope ’Em Up, sign me and Emma up.”
Megan nodded, moving along to serve a customer waiting at the end of the bar.
Emma outright gawked, not caring that his brothers were sitting next to him. “You cannot be serious. Don’t you think I’ve had enough of that stage already?”
Shep grinned, the most seductive smile she’d seen from him yet. “No, darlin’, I don’t.”