by Nikki Ashton
Dylan looked a little taken aback by it, but resolutely carried on dancing and by some stroke of luck changed direction.
“Well, maybe next time I come visit Aunt Delphine and Uncle Garth, I can take you on a date.”
Only Janice-Ann and Lynn-Ann, dancing together, were between us and Hunter and Belinda. I dropped my head right back and laughed uproariously. Dylan let out a shriek and jerked.
“Are you okay?’ he asked, frowning at me.
Hahahaha
“I’m perfectly fine. Tell me more about where you live.”
“It’s my turn to lead,” Janice-Ann protested above Florida Georgia Line’s Sittin’ Pretty.
“Ladies,” I said as we danced past them.
“Hey, honey,” Janice-Ann replied. “Lynn-Ann I’m leading, I told you.”
“You always lead. And I’m the eldest by ten whole minutes and you know that.”
When we danced past the sisters, Dylan looked over his shoulder at them. His momentary distraction gave me the opportunity to maneuver us next to Hunter and Belinda. As we did, Hunter’s eyes narrowed on me, so I felt behind me and moved Dylan’s hand closer to my butt.
“Okay,” Dylan exclaimed and arched both his brows in surprise.
I smiled and pushed closer to him but kept my eyes on Hunter and let out another laugh.
Hahahaha
As the song changed, Hunter dropped his hand actually onto Belinda’s butt and I couldn’t help but gasp. Belinda said something and it was Hunter’s turn to laugh. His was deep and loud and just a tad too long.
“Oh, Belinda,” I heard him say, a little too loudly. “You’re so funny.”
Funny! There was nothing funny about Belinda Jennings! Now me, I was damn hilarious.
“Dylan,” I said leaning closer into him. “Did I tell you the joke about the horse who walked into a bar? The bartender says, hey and the horse replies, you read my mind.”
Dylan’s laugh was loud, not quite as loud as Hunter’s but good enough to make the guy I wanted to whip his head around.
“Oh, Dylan,” I sighed loudly. “Your laugh is so lovely.”
“Belinda, I have to say you’re looking beautiful tonight.” Hunter counteracted.
“Your hair looks lovely tonight, Dylan.”
I reached up and ran a hand down his shoulder length hair, which was far too girly for my liking.
“Huh.” Hunter scoffed and raked a hand through his silky dark hair, which was swept back from his handsome face.
“You okay?” Dylan asked, tilting his head back to study me.
“Me, oh I’m fine.”
A quick glance at Hunter. Hahahaha.
He stared back at me, his brown eyes piercing as he dragged his teeth across his bottom lip and then slowly sweeping his tongue across it. It shouldn’t have been, but it was as sexy as hell move, and when his gaze then raked up and down my body, I felt my panties getting wet.
“Wow,” I whispered feeling my nipples harden.
Damn those nipples, they had a mind of their own.
“Hey,” Dylan said softly in my ear. “How about we go somewhere quiet after dinner.”
My head shot up to see him looking down on me, lust evident in his gaze.
“Dylan, I—”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mayor Garrison’s voice boomed out. “Please take your places as dinner is about to be served.”
“I guess we should go,” I said to Dylan.
“But before we do.”
I didn’t see it coming, but his mouth was on mine and his tongue was pushing against my lips, urging me to open up. It felt wrong. They weren’t the lips I wanted on me. He just didn’t taste right.
“Dylan!”
I pushed against his chest and as I did, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I was pulled away from Dylan.
“Get your hands off my fucking woman,” Hunter growled.
Dylan took a step back, his mouth open as he stared between us. “What’s going on?”
“You heard,” Hunter replied. “Dancing with her is one thing but kissing her is a damn point of no return. Now, I repeat, get your hands off my fucking woman.”
My heart beat rapidly as I looked up at Hunter and marveled at how hot he looked angry. And then, the idiot in me just had to go and do it. She had to say something, instead of basking in the sexiness and manliness that shot ripples of excitement through my body.
“Who says I’m your woman?” I growled as I poked Hunter in the chest. “Not me, that’s for sure.”
Hunter reared back and looked at me for a few seconds and then threw his arms into the air.
“You know what, El, I give up. I just can’t win. No matter what I do or say to you, you’re not going to change that stubborn mind or yours.”
He moved to walk away, and panic washed over me. I knew if I let him go, I wouldn’t ever get him back.
Before I had time to think about my next move, he turned and strode away.
“Hunter, wait!”
“Ellie, what’s going on?” Dylan asked taking my hand.
“I’m sorry, Dylan,” I said as I pulled away from him. “I need to go.”
Without any further hesitation, I ran from the dancefloor and went in search of Hunter wishing I wasn’t so stubborn and didn’t have a big mouth.
As people milled around, moving toward their tables, I cut through them with my eyes constantly searching for the big cowboy who had my damn heart. I finally spotted him heading out of the ballroom toward the lobby, with Belinda not far behind him. My pulse spiked and my breathing got faster and faster as I moved through the crowds. I was almost sent toppling over by an angry looking Jacob Crowne as he pushed in front of me to follow his wife out. Wondering what had bitten his ass, I was just about to reach the lobby when Declan O’Reilly and his eldest son Eamon, stepped in front of me.
“Ellie,” Declan said, his face impassive and his jaw tight. “Where’s your brother?”
“Is he with my sister.” Eamon’s nostrils flared as he towered over me.
“I have no idea,” I snapped. “And I’ll thank you not to take that tone with me.”
I thrust my hands to my hips and jutted out my chin. The two big men didn’t scare me and if they tried anything, I’d be more than happy to throw one of my best punches.
“Listen.” Declan held his hands up in a conciliatory manner. “We haven’t seen her for over thirty minutes and my guess is she’s with your brother.”
“Well she isn’t,” I replied, pointing over in the direction of the huge doors at the end of the room, which led to the Mayor’s chambers. “Because my brother is over there.”
They followed my gaze and Declan positively slumped when he saw Carter walking up and down with his phone to his ear.
“Doesn’t mean he hasn’t been with her,” Eamon growled. “And if he’s done anything with her that he shouldn’t, believe me he’s gonna be ending up in that hospital you work at.”
I poked him in the chest. “Don’t you threaten my brother, Eamon O’Reilly.”
“I mean it, Ellie,” he replied. “He’d better not have put a hand on her.”
Declan pushed in front of Eamon and sighed. “I’m sorry, Ellie, it’s just she’s easily led, and well she’s got a fire in her belly that girl.”
“No doubt a kid too,” Eamon muttered.
“Eamon. That’s enough.” Declan smiled at me. “I’m sorry, Ellie, I just know she has a thing for Carter, and she’s been staying out late and disappeared pretty much as soon as we got here. Her mom is frantic with worry about what she’s going to end up doing.”
It was then that I spotted Marie sneaking back into the room and Jim Wickerson’s grandson, Evan was close behind, tucking his shirt back into his pants. I really didn’t want to get him into any bother, but I also didn’t want my brother to get the blame. Plus, I really needed to talk to Hunter.
“Marie is, twenty, a grown woman and you should realize that,” I replied, skirting around the two
men. “But if you really want to know where she is, she’s over there.”
I nodded to where I saw Marie and Evan staring lovingly at each other.
“Is that Evan Wickerson?” Eamon asked. “I’ll kill him.”
As Eamon turned to go, Declan pulled on his arm. “Eamon leave her be. Ellie’s right, she’s twenty years of age, and Evan’s a good kid.”
“Oh, and Carter isn’t?” I asked indignantly.
Declan gave me a look as if to ask if I was for real, and I had to agree, Carter was a douche where girls were concerned.
“He’s also her age,” Declan added as he slapped a hand on Eamon’s shoulder. “Sorry to have troubled you, Ellie. Come on son, let’s go tell your mom we found her and she’s fine.”
They walked away with Eamon still muttering about ripping Evan’s teeth out but giving me the opportunity to continue out to the lobby.
As soon as I stepped into the brighter lights, my heart dropped like a stone and bile rose to my throat. Standing in front of me was Hunter, another woman in his arms, and the other woman wasn’t Belinda, but Bronte.
Hunter
“Oh my God.”
The voice I heard was Ellie’s and she sounded upset. Letting go of Bronte, I turned to see her watching us. Her hand was at her chest and she looked as though she’d seen a ghost.
“Ellie?” Bronte said moving away from me. “What’s wrong?”
With a wild-eyed look, Ellie took a step back, her face shrouded with hurt and anger. She looked devastated and I was scared at what could have upset her so much.
“Baby, what is it?” I moved alongside Bronte, but Ellie stepped away shaking her head. “Did that dickwad do something to you?”
Even though I’d told her I’d give up trying, it didn’t mean that I didn’t care about her. I’d punch the prick if he’d hurt her in any way.
“No, he’s done nothing,” she cried. “This is all on you. How could you, Hunter? I know I was stupid out there on the dancefloor, but to get back at me with this. And don’t call me baby.”
Frowning I looked from her to Bronte and then back again. “Bronte? We were just hugging is all.”
Bronte took another step closer to Ellie. “You think me and Hunter?”
“Well you said you had your eye on someone else, so why not Hunter?” Leaning forward with a scowl, Ellie gave me a good glimpse of her cleavage.
I cleared my throat and forcibly removed my gaze from the goods. I would not be the man she thought I was. Ah shit, one quick look wouldn’t hurt.
“Hunter,” Ellie snapped her eyes still on Bronte. “I know you’re thinking about my tits right now, so don’t. Not if you want to leave this dance with your big penis intact.”
Bronte gasped. “How do you know he has a big penis?”
Ellie made a gurgling sound, like she was choking on her own blood, and shot her gaze to me. Her eyes were pleading for me to help, but enough was enough.
“She knows because we’ve had sex,” I replied, turning my head to Bronte, who looked like she might be getting ready to catch flies with her open mouth.
“Hunter.” Ellie gasped and stepping forward, poked me in the chest. “You did not just out us to Bronte?”
“Yeah I did.” I poked her shoulder. “And what does it matter anyway, you’re with Dylan now?”
“Well,” she replied, with another poke to my chest. “For one, we were supposed to be keeping it a secret, and for two I’m not with Dylan. For damn three, I just saw you with your arms around her. No doubt trying to entice her with that beautiful, big thing between your legs.”
I took a step closer so that we were only inches apart. “For someone who doesn’t want to date me, you talk about my dick an awful lot, baby.”
Her mouth gaped like a fish, but no words came out.
“You had sex,” Bronte said, sounding more shocked than a nun on a bachelor party.
“Yes.” Ellie and I both replied.
“With each other?”
“Of course, with each other,” Ellie replied. “How the hell do you think I know about that.” She pointed toward my junk. “I’m sorry, Bronte, but I had no idea you had feelings for him. At the time you were all about Jefferson. I wasn’t to know you’d swap your affections to his son.”
“Me and Hunter,” Bronte said and laughed. “Ick, no way.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“What’s wrong with him?”
I turned back to Ellie and when I saw the hurt on her face, I knew I had her. No matter what she said. Whether she was going to start dating that damn Thor wannabe or not, she wanted me as much as I wanted her.
“He’s a great catch,” Ellie continued, making me grin like a Cheshire cat. “You should be honored to be his girl.”
My heart thumped wildly in my chest and all I wanted to do was kiss the life out of my beautiful Belle look-a-like. Fuck I was so gone for her.
“What’s going on?”
We all turned to see Carter, his eyes moving across the three of us.
“Did you know Hunter and Ellie had sex?” Bronte asked.
“Bronte,” Ellie gasped and swung around to her brother. “Don’t you dare punch him.”
Carter shrugged. “Why the hell would I punch him?”
“Because I’m your little sister and he defiled me.”
“I did not defile you,” I growled. “You were all in and damn well loved it.”
Ellie waved me away, keeping her eyes on her brother.
“Ellie,” Carter sighed. “I hate to tell you this, but I don’t give a shit whether he defiled you or not. As long as he didn’t hurt you or give you some nasty disease. I can’t sit down to Thursday night dinner with someone who has crabs.” He held up a hand. “I’m sorry, call me unsympathetic, but I saw with Erik Mackenzie at college what those little critters can do.”
“I do not have crabs,” Ellie huffed out. “How dare you.”
“I did not give her crabs. I’m clean as clean can be.”
Carter threw his hands in the air. “Seriously, how you two haven’t got together before now, I have no fucking idea. I didn’t say you’d given her anything. I pointed out that would be the only reason I’d punch you.”
“Yes, well,” Ellie said, narrowing her eyes at me. “It might just be Bronte he’s given them to now.”
“I don’t have fucking crabs, or any other disease of the dick.”
“What do you mean?” Carter’s tone stopped me in my tracks. It was low and pretty murderous.
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” I asked, turning to him. “What do you think I mean. I’m fucking clean, man.”
“Not that. What did Ellie mean about you giving Bronte crabs?”
“Carter,” Bronte sighed. “Don’t be an idiot.”
He swung his gaze to Bronte and the look he gave her almost knocked me on my ass. It was soft and gentle, and it was just like the ones that I found myself giving Ellie.
“Carter?” Ellie said his name so softly it made me wonder if she’d seen it too. “I was only joking. Well, kind of, I did find Hunter with his arms wrapped around her.”
Boom!
The punch landed right on my chin and it did actually land me on my ass.
“Carter.”
Ellie ran to me and dropped to her knees, her dress gaping open, and even as I saw stars, I couldn’t help but think how amazing her legs looked.
“Are you okay?” she asked cupping a hand around my face and gently rubbing her thumb along my jaw. She looked over her shoulder to Carter who had taken a step toward me. “You’re a damn idiot.”
“You said he was kissing Bronte,” Carter exclaimed, looking at Bronte.
I pushed myself up into a sitting position.
“Just lie back down,” Ellie said pushing a hand against my forehead. “You might be hurt.”
Shaking my head, I sat up and rubbed my chin. “I’m fine. Like he could hurt me.”
“I totally could,” Carter scoffed.
“You could not,” I replied, getting to my feet and then holding out a hand for Ellie. “You caught me unawares is all.”
“Even I could lay Carter out,” Ellie said, scowling at her brother.
Grinning down at her, I helped Ellie up. “She could too.” Once she was standing, I didn’t let her go but pulled her closer.
“Hunter,” she said softly as she collided with my chest.
I bent my head so that my mouth was close to her ear. “Ellie, where in the hell would you get the idea that I was kissing Bronte?” I whispered, ignoring Carter’s voice whining on in the background.
“You had her in your arms,” Ellie replied, glancing over my shoulder.
“I was hugging her.”
“Before we get back to whether you can take me in a punch up or not,” Carter said. “Tell me why the fuck you were hugging her.”
“Carter don’t be an idiot,” Bronte added. “He was just hugging me because he saw I was upset.”
“Why were you upset?” Carter asked and moved over to Bronte and placed his hands on her shoulders. “What upset you? Tell me.”
“She was upset about her mom and dad. Why the hell would I kiss her?”
“What the fuck is wrong with kissing Bronte?” Carter snapped.
I rolled my eyes. “Nothing if that’s what you want to do, but I don’t. You’re as bad as your sister for getting the damn wrong end of the stick.”
“I saw you,” Ellie cried.
“I was a little tearful, because I know my parents are going through a rough patch,” Bronte offered. “Hunter found me crying.”
“Why didn’t you come find me?” Carter crooned. “I was only taking a call about a pig with mastitis.”
“You left the main room with Belinda,” Ellie said to me, her bottom lip trembling. “Are you going to start dating her?”
Letting out a sigh, I shook my head. “No, I’m not. Dancing with her was a stupid thing to do. It was a dick move to both her and you. So, I told her, I’m only interested in one person and it’s not her.”
“Bronte?” she asked.
“Damn it, Ellie. Are you being obtuse on purpose? Who the hell do you think I mean? Who is it I’ve been trying to persuade to date me for the last few weeks?”