by Cat Johnson
“Emma, what happened between you and Jace?” Becca obviously wasn’t letting this topic drop.
She decided to play it off light. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yes, actually. I would.” Becca nodded, eyes wide.
“Then you’d better wish for something else when blowing out the candles on your next birthday cake, because you’re not going to find out.” There was no way in hell Emma was going to tell her sister that literally on the way to her bed, the man had up and left. To go change his ex-girlfriend’s flat tire, no less. And that on top of that, he’d asked for her number, promised to call, and never did. All while Becca and Tucker were off having a wild night of passion and falling in love.
It was humiliating. She couldn’t be happier that Becca had found the love of her life, but still, as the older sister, it would have been nice if she’d gotten to her happy ending first. Or at least at the same time.
But it was almost a full year later. Things might have changed. Perhaps Jace was finally untethered from his ex and ready for a relationship. It didn’t matter at this point.
For this weekend, Emma didn’t need or want Prince Charming, a perfect man she’d hope would drop down on one knee while holding an engagement ring.
Looking for happily ever after was exhausting. She’d be happy with some good, old-fashioned, sweaty sex. If she went into a fling with no expectations other than a good time, afterward she could fly back to New York happy and satisfied. And most importantly, unencumbered by worries about some guy who would never call even after he asked for her number and promised he would.
No more dreams of white dresses. No more hoping for promises of tomorrow. Well, perhaps a man for just one tomorrow—she was here for the entire weekend—but definitely not past then.
Logan was a possibility for that man. It would be nice to get to know him better. A whole lot better. If only she could get over to him to say hello, or at least get a closer look.
There was a jostling of positions within the wall of bodies in front of them. Emma found herself free of the blockage obstructing her view of the hot military guy still speaking with Tucker.
Shame Logan was in normal clothes—khaki pants and a blue button down shirt. Emma would have loved to see him in his uniform.
What was even more of a shame was that there was now some cute young thing hanging on him. Literally. She was holding onto his arm with a two-handed death-grip as if her life depended on it.
What the hell? Emma scowled at the sudden change of events. “Becca, who’s that girl next to Logan?”
Becca followed her gaze. “Oh, I’ll have to introduce you two. That’s Tucker’s sister, Tara.”
“Ah. Of course.” That figured. It seemed there was always a girl from the past getting in Emma’s way. First, Jace’s ex-girlfriend. Now, Logan’s girl-next-door.
Becca turned to frown at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Look at her, Becs. She’s all over him. It’s the classic little sister with a crush on big brother’s friend scenario.”
“No. I don’t think so.” Becca shook her head. “I’ve never gotten that impression from Logan. Besides, she hasn’t even been around him. He lives in Stillwater now, and she’s been away at college for the past three years. Tyler just drove her home from school today.”
College. God, that made Emma feel old. It was hard not to feel old next to a perky, fresh-faced coed.
“Yup.” Emma nodded. “That sounds about right.”
Classic romance trope. Emma had probably read the story in some form or another a hundred times in paperback novels. There was an older neighbor boy, and his best friend’s younger sister who had an unrequited crush on him since puberty. He falls for her after she returns home from college, a woman now instead of the girl he remembers. With her pigtails, braces, and knobby knees gone, they fall madly in love and live happily every after.
Emma watched as Tara took every opportunity to touch Logan. The girl made skin-on-skin contact each chance she got. Even after he moved away to get another beer, she followed and put a hand on his arm while she spoke to him.
“Hey there, darlin’.”
The voice from the past interrupted Emma’s observations of Tara’s obvious pursuit of Logan. Emma might not have heard the voice for nearly a year, but she would know that darlin’ anywhere.
“Jace. Nice to see you again.” The words were pleasant enough, but her tone didn’t exactly say she welcomed him with open arms.
Next to her, Becca watched the situation unfold, her eyes shifting from Jace to Emma. “Um, I’m going to go get us some wine.”
“That’s an excellent idea.” With Becca off getting them drinks, Emma didn’t have to pull any punches should she decide to put Jace in his place.
Apparently unperturbed by her tone, he grinned as he took her in from head to toe with one thorough perusal. “You look real nice.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t mind an honest compliment, even if she was still pissed over that night.
He dragged his focus back up to her eyes. “I’m glad you could make it in from New York.”
“Of course I could make it. My only sister’s getting married.”
He nodded and took a swig out of his beer bottle. The wrap dress had definitely been the right choice. Emma took great satisfaction in how his gaze kept settling on her cleavage.
She decided to throw him a bone and make some small talk . . . and remind him about that night. Let him stew over what could have been his. “It’s funny, isn’t it? Almost a year ago, when we all met, did you ever imagine we’d be here now for Tucker and Becca’s wedding?”
“Oh, hell no.” Jace laughed. “No offense to Becca, but I never thought Tuck was getting married again. I figured he’d be single ’til the day he died.”
“I guess love changes a man.” Emma hoped that little tidbit sank in to Jace’s cowboy brain.
He snorted out a laugh. “If you say so.”
Same old cocky cowboy. Some things never changed. She wondered if the situation with his ex-girlfriend had. Emma glanced around the party. Aside from Tuck’s sister, who was still staring at Logan like a puppy looking for attention, there were no other extraneous females. She had thought that maybe by now Jace’s ex-girlfriend might no longer be an ex, but she wasn’t here yet, if she were coming at all.
“So, you here alone?” Emma asked.
“Yup. All alone. Totally solo. For the wedding, too. What about you?”
Interesting how he’d stressed his single status so obviously. “I’ve promised a dance at the wedding to that very handsome gentleman shaking hands with Tucker, but otherwise, I’m solo, too.”
Jace followed her gaze and grinned. “Your pa?”
“Yes. Of course, I’ll have to share him with my mother. And I suppose Becca, too. As the bride, she’ll have the father-daughter dance with him during the reception.”
With Logan all tied up with Tara at the moment, Emma hoped Tucker had lots of good-looking, single male friends and relatives. Jace didn’t deserve to think he had no competition for Emma’s attention.
“You know, we should go to the reception together, you and I.” Jace’s invitation surprised her, though it probably shouldn’t. She knew from what little time she’d spent with him that he wasn’t shy.
She shrugged. “I figured I’d just catch a ride with my parents in the rental car from the church to the reception, but thanks.”
Emma knew that wasn’t what Jace meant but she wasn’t about to make this easier on him. There’d been no apology of any sort on his part. No sorry I didn’t call. Sorry I left you needy and wanting alone in a hotel room. Just an invite which amounted to not much more than saying they should probably just go to the wedding together since they’d already both be there. He was going to have to step it up a bit to win her over again.
“I wasn’t talking about driving there. I meant we should be there together at the reception.”
“Oh.” Emma
played it as if she’d misunderstood again. “No worries about that. We will. I laid out the seating chart on the computer for Becca. We’re both sitting at the same table with the wedding party so we’ll be together at the reception.“
“I mean like a date.”
“Like a date?” She cocked a brow. “But not a date?”
He grinned and shook his head. “No, I meant an actual date. Will you be my date to the wedding?”
Emma leveled her gaze on Jace. “Are you planning on staying for the whole reception or will you be leaving early for some reason?”
“Yes, I’m staying. And I apologize for last time. I won’t run out on you again.”
That’s what she’d been waiting for. That, and a reason why he hadn’t bothered to call, but one out of two wasn’t bad. “All right. Since I have to be there anyway, I guess I can be your date.”
He grinned. “Good. I look forward to a dance, when you’re done with your pa, that is.”
“What kind of dance will we be doing? Western line dancing? The Texas Two-Step?” Yeah, she was giving him a good dose of New York attitude, but he deserved it. She couldn’t have him getting too confident. He wasn’t out of the woods yet. Not by a long way.
“First of all, we’re in Oklahoma, not Texas. And second, real cowboys don’t line dance. We like to dance nice and close. Close enough to polish our belt buckles.” He winked at her. “Here’s your sister with your drink. Excuse me while I go grab myself another beer.”
Cowboy to the bone, Jace tipped his hat and spun on one boot heel to make his way toward the bar. Emma blew out a breath. So much for keeping her resolve to not give in to this particular cowboy’s charms.
“So? Tell me everything.” Becca thrust one wine glass toward Emma and kept the other for herself. “Why did Jace look so happy?”
“He asked me to be his date to the wedding.”
“And?”
“I said yes.” Emma sighed and wondered if she’d made the right choice. She hadn’t exactly taught him a lesson. When it came to men and playing this whole dating game, she stunk.
“Good.” Becca broke into a wide grin, her voice high the way it used to be when she was little and excited. “Oh my God. Imagine if you and Jace hit it off! You could move here. You two could get married. We could buy houses next door to each other and have our kids at the same time.”
“Whoa. Wait a minute. Don’t put the cart before the horse. First of all, I’m not looking for anything serious this weekend. Second, I still have many, many doubts about the relationship potential of that one.” Grave doubts after last year’s encounter.
If Jace could keep his butt, and his other parts, in the same room as Emma without running off, which had yet to be proven, then maybe they could have one hot night together. But a long-term relationship? Probably not. It would depend on whether he was ready for commitment again after his last relationship, and she seriously had concerns about that.
“All right.” Becca sighed. “I won’t start looking at apartments for you quite yet.”
“Yeah. Good idea.” Emma laughed. She turned and noticed Tucker was on his way over with Logan.
Damn, Logan was handsome. Tara’s schoolgirl crush on the man might make him ineligible for Emma’s amorous pursuits for the weekend, but she could still appreciate him as a fine male specimen. Not just his rugged good looks, but his entire demeanor. He oozed testosterone.
Logan. Jace. Tucker. Oklahoma was full of gorgeous men, but they weren’t model perfect. They were manly men, all tanned and toned. Their bodies were firm, not flabby, and from honest hard work, not the gym.
With a flutter low in her belly as Tucker and Logan got closer, Emma once again had to appreciate the differences between the men she was used to in New York and the ones here. Maybe she should take a quick look at the Help Wanted and the Apartments for Rent listings in the local paper. Just to see.
“Hey, baby.” Tucker reeled Becca in with one arm around her shoulders and brushed his lips across her forehead. “I wanted to introduce Emma to Logan.”
Logan didn’t wait for the introduction. Emma found herself captured in his intense brown gaze even before Tucker made it official. He didn’t break eye contact. Not when he extended his hand to shake hers. Not as his deep, warm voice washed over her as he said, “Very nice to meet you, Emma.”
The sound of her name on his lips sent a thrill through her. “Pleasure’s all mine. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
One dark brow rose. “I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. Perhaps we need to discuss it, in case I need to redeem myself.”
Oh, she could definitely discuss it and more. She’d do anything to keep Logan talking to her. Looking at her. Touching her would be nice, too. Emma swallowed past the tightness in her throat and hoped her voice wouldn’t come out sounding like a frog. “Anytime you want. I’m available.”
“No time like the present, I always say.” He smiled and drew her attention to his lips. Good strong lips made for kissing. “Have you seen Mrs. Jenkins’ rose garden yet? It’s the pride of the county. She was telling us how it’s just come into bloom.”
“I haven’t seen it, but I’d love to. It sounds beautiful.” Emma yanked her gaze away from the temptation that was Logan and found both Becca and Tucker staring, watching as if she and Logan were on stage and this conversation was the show.
“Good.” He touched her arm and she couldn’t have cared less anymore about Becca and Tucker or the twin expressions of shock they wore, until Logan frowned and dug into the pocket of his khaki pants. He pulled out a ringing cell phone. Emma flashed back to Jace and the incident with his ex. She got a feeling of dread as Logan glanced at the name on his phone.
He looked up at Tucker. “It’s Layne.”
Emma’s brain spun, wondering if this Layne was a male or a female. And more important, a friend or a girlfriend.
“Layne’s calling from Okinawa?” Tucker asked, surprise evident in his voice.
“Yeah. He wants to congratulate you since he can’t be here.” Logan turned to Emma. “Excuse me a moment? I have to take this.”
He? Phew.
“Of course.” Emma couldn’t stop her sigh of relief. Whoever this Layne was, he wasn’t a she, or Logan’s girlfriend, and that was very good news.
Logan stepped through the doorway as he flipped open the phone. Tucker followed him out into the hall and Emma could breathe freely again.
She turned to Becca, not concerned, but still curious. “So who is Layne and why is he calling from Japan?”
“Logan’s little brother. He’s in the marines and stationed over there, and don’t change the subject.” Becca glared at Emma.
“I didn’t realize I was.”
Becca very pointedly glanced at Logan and then back to Emma. “What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
Her sister checked the hallway, then leaned in. “The chemistry was so thick between you two, I could cut it with a knife.”
It had been, hadn’t it? Emma smiled. She was glad it hadn’t been her imagination. Even if all evidence indicated Logan wasn’t the marrying kind, she sensed he was definitely interested in a little extracurricular activity. She could handle a bit of that.
Emma shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going on. We’re just talking.”
“Maybe you’d better figure it out.” Becca shook her head. “You just made a date with Jace to the wedding. And now you’re making a date to see the rose garden with Logan. It’s getting a bit hard to keep up with you and the social life you claim not to have.”
Crap. Jace. Logan’s presence had so consumed Emma, she’d forgotten the date she’d agreed to with Jace. The irony wasn’t lost on her. She’d gone months upon months without a date at home. But on her first day here, she’d found two men she was interested in, and they both appeared to be interested in her. Now what?
A female laugh from the corner of the room caught her ear and Emma turned. She saw Tara talking with T
yler and their parents. That was a vivid reminder that as strong as the chemistry had seemed between her and Logan, Emma was still late to the party.
Tara had grown up with Logan. They had history together and Tara had an obvious crush on Logan. Even if it was yet to be determined whether the feeling was reciprocal, Emma wasn’t about to put all of her eggs in one basket. She knew darn well from past experience that things that seemed like a done deal could change in an instant. All it took was one little text message.
Emma turned back to Becca. “Eh, you know. A girl’s got to keep her options open. Might as well play the field. Besides, how in the world could I choose between a soldier and a cowboy, anyway?”
Becca gazed at her fiancé in the hallway. “Luckily, I didn’t have to choose. I’ve got the best of both worlds with Tucker.”
“Yes, you do.” Emma glanced again at the conversation happening among the Jenkins family in the corner. Tara’s light and cheery laugh filled the room one more time as she flipped a silky fall of long dark hair over one shoulder. “We’d better go and mingle with your new in-laws so we don’t look like rude New Yorkers.”
Time to size up the competition a little closer.
Chapter Three
As the party began to wind down, Emma put the empty glasses she’d collected from around the house into the sink and then turned to frown at her sister. “I can’t believe you don’t know any fun places to go around here.”
The boys were all going out, and Emma would be damned if the girls sat home and did nothing. Though, the more she thought about it, the more she realized Becca never went out. Not when she was a teenager. Not as an adult. It was Emma who snuck out the window of their shared bedroom so her parents wouldn’t know she was meeting her friends. Becca was always the one who stayed home, studying or reading.
It would have been easy for Becca to go out, too. They looked so much alike, once Emma turned twenty-one she could have said she’d lost her driver’s license, gotten a duplicate to replace it, and given the old one to Becca to use to get into bars until she reached legal drinking age. But, no. Emma had suggested that once and Becca had lectured her about it being illegal and rattled off all the possible consequences.