Page 41 of Enticed
“Little J,” he crooned as he approached with his arms wide open. She hopped down from her chair, and he scooped her into a hug. “Long time, no see, cuz.”
“It’s so good to see you! It’s been too long,” she exclaimed. He released her, and the young woman accompanying him stepped up and pulled her into her arms. Jasmine gasped, her face filling with joy. “Luna!” The two women squeezed each other tightly like long lost best friends. “Where were you during the game? You should’ve come and found us.”
“I couldn’t make it to the game, but when Varen texted me that you all were meeting up here, I had to come,” Luna replied.
“I’m so glad you did. I’ve missed you,” Jasmine said.
“I’ve missed you too. I haven’t been out to the ranch in ages.”
“It’s changed so much,” she declared. “Hasn’t it?” she asked, turning to me to draw me into the conversation.
“It has,” I confirmed.
“This is Gabe, by the way. He’s one of the trainers at the ranch. He’s been traveling with me since Dad can’t,” she added with a sad smile. Varen and Luna both offered sympathetic smiles, indicating they were aware of what was going on with Nash.
“It’s nice to meet you, Gabe,” Luna said, shaking my hand, and Varen followed suit.
“Gabe?” Varen said, studying me for a moment. “Did you work at the ranch before?”
“Yeah, about a decade ago, but I moved to Texas. Came back after my divorce,” I explained. Luna’s eyes skated toward Jasmine, and they shared a look. A knowing grin curved Luna’s mouth.
Varen introduced us to his teammates, and they all took their places around the table. I watched as one of them took the seat directly across from Jasmine and smiled at her. I knew that smile. It was the kind that indicated a man’s interest in a woman. Jealousy lit my veins, and I ground my teeth together so I didn’t tell him to keep his eyes off what was mine. Because she wasn’t mine, no matter how badly I wanted her to be.
Luna took the seat next to Jasmine, and they began chattering away. Varen sat across from Luna so he could talk to Jasmine too. I made small talk with the other players as we sipped our beers. One of the guys was thirty-four and had a daughter close to Rory’s age, so I mostly talked to him.
The guy who couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Jasmine—Quinn, I think his name was—hung on every word she said. He engaged her in a lively debate about classic rock, and she was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn’t speak to me at all. It was as if I wasn’t even there. I needed to get away before I did something stupid, like wrap my arm around her, pull her onto my lap, and pound on my chest while roaring “mine.”
“I’m going to grab another beer,” I announced, standing from the table. “Anybody want anything?” Everyone had fresh drinks, so they all declined. My beer was still half full, but I needed an excuse to get away. The place had filled up since Jasmine’s cousin had arrived, and there was a line to get to the bar. I glanced back at the table while I waited, and Jasmine was still talking animatedly with that guy. She didn’t even spare me a glance.
I finally made it up to the bar and was waiting to be served when the guy next to me stepped away and a woman in a dangerously short skirt took his place. She leaned one elbow on the bar and offered me a seductive smile.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, cowboy,” she crooned, drinking me in like I was her next meal.
“Ma’am,” I said, tipping my hat to her in polite acknowledgment. She was beautiful with sparkling jade green eyes and a magazine worthy smile. I wasn’t exactly interested in having any female company, but she was probably close to my age and seemed interested. It wouldn't hurt to strike up a conversation while I waited on my drink.
“Are you from around here?” she inquired.
I shook my head. “Tennessee.”
“What brings you to Richmond?” she asked as she sipped her margarita. I explained that we’d been at a rodeo nearby and decided to go to the hockey game. I left out the part about hanging out with the players afterward in case she got any ideas about me introducing her so she could ask for their autographs or get a picture. It had happened a couple times since they’d arrived, and though they were good sports about it, it had to get old after a while.
“So you’re arealcowboy,” she said, leaning in closer and placing a manicured hand on my forearm as her eyes lit with intrigue. I stiffened and fought the urge to pull away. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings or cause a scene, but her comment made me feel like a commodity, like some kind of conquest she wanted to check off her list. She wasn’t interested in me. She just wanted to fuck a cowboy.
It had happened all the time in my younger days, women insisting I keep the hat on while they rode me, but having no interest in me as a person. I didn’t mind it so much back then, but meaningless one-night stands and short-lived flings weren’t my thing anymore. I wanted substance. I wanted someone who genuinely cared for me. I wanted a woman I could bring around my daughter and who I could integrate into my family.
There was only one person who fit that bill, and it was getting harder and harder to fight my feelings for her. Before I could respond, a pair of arms wrapped around my waist from the sideand a petite body slipped beneath my arm. I glanced down to find Jasmine beaming up at me.
“Hey, Daddy,” she began, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” She stretched up on her tiptoes to press a chaste kiss to my cheek. My skin tingled where her lips had touched it, and my blood heated. Whether it was with anger or desire, I wasn’t sure. I was torn between wanting to pull her closer and giving her a real kiss or throttling her for calling me Daddy in front of someone.
The woman whose name I hadn’t even gotten yet glanced back and forth between us with a mix of curiosity and horror as though she couldn’t decide if she’d meant it in the literal sense or if there was a sexual undertone. Jasmine’s tone had been just ambiguous enough that it was difficult to discern. ButIknew.
“Hey, Jasmine,” I replied, my voice tight as I reached up and inconspicuously tugged on her hair in warning. I wouldn’t put it past her to reach over and grab my dick just to get a reaction out of both me and the other woman. Jasmine’s smile never faltered, but she pinched my side in retaliation. And for some reason, that little act of defiance made my cock stir to life.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you were here with someone,” the woman said, her uncertain gaze still bouncing between the two of us.
“No worries,” Jasmine replied sweetly with a dismissive wave of her hand. Before she could say anything else incriminating, I curled my hand around her bicep and turned her body away from us.
“Excuse us for just a moment,” I requested, holding up a finger.
