Or maybe bad luck because now Lexie and Amanda know I want a fling and Austin’s here and I’ll have to tell them about him and—
He sets his hand on my arm. “Take a breath. I’m not that scary.”
Take a breath? Am I…
God, yes, I am. My breath is coming out in small puffs.
And no, he’s not scary. Not scary at all. I know scary all too well.
“Sorry.” I roll my eyes. My heart rate slowly settles. “Hi.”
He smiles.
And I melt. So do my panties. That grin should be illegal.
“Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
His hand is still on me and he pulls me to the side as a woman comes down the hall. He settles himself so I’m shielded by anyone else who might come by.
“I’m here with my brothers.”
“You mean your half brothers?”
He shrugs his broad shoulders. “We’re getting to know each other over beers”—his intense gaze dips from my eyes to my lips—“and pretty women.”
“I’m here with Lexie, one of your ranch vets, and a friend of hers.”
“I’ll walk you back then.”
He slides his hand down my arm to interlock his fingers with mine. Yes, we’re holding hands, and it feels…
Nice. Too nice.
I glance at him as he works his way through the bar. People clear a path to let us through. With my free hand, I point to the high-top where Lexie and Amanda are talking with their heads close together.
When I slide onto my stool, they stare up at Austin, and then down at our joined hands.
“Looks like you don’t need our help,” Amanda says to me with a sly smile. “I’m Amanda. That’s Lexie.”
“Austin.”
He’s not in full cowboy-wear. He does have on jeans and they do amazing things with his sturdy thighs, butt, and… package. I take in his black T-shirt, how it showcases his muscles beneath. Finally, I look at his face.
He winks.
Shit. I’m caught ogling and my cheeks heat.
“I’m new to town,” he says. “Carly’s one of the only people I know.”
“Where are you from?” Amanda asks.
“Seattle.”
“You in town long?” This time the question comes from Lexie.
“A year.”