Book 3: Texas Wolf Brothers
His brothers could laugh. They got their Texas cowgirl dream girls. Anders would hold out for his. It wasn’t like he wanted to marry anytime soon. He was twenty-five, at the peak of his career on the tour, pulling in serious money from tour wins and sponsorships, and his investments in Ghost Hill Ranch and his brother’s distillery—Four Wolfs—only enriched him more.
He didn’t want Mrs. Stay at Home on the Ranch with the Kids now.
Hell no.
Tonight he wanted action—hot, wild and all damn night.
Think of the devil. Anders returned to all four legs of the chair and stood up. Before his brain could kick in and say no, he strolled across the barn, easily dodging dancers and tables and chairs to make his way to the bar August and his bride, Catalina, had constructed to serve their Verflucht wines and his Cowboy Wolf Whiskey.
“Whiskey straight,” he said softly to the copper-haired bartender who had been reorganizing the stock, her supple body swaying to the beat of the music while she worked.
“Me or the drink?” She turned around and cocked a hip.
He’d always loved her bold style of flirting. It had tempted him for months before he decided to make a move. She’d never end up on his perfect wife list, but damn, her husky tone, arrogantly amused regard, and perfectly arched brows combined with her petal soft lips that reminded him of a rose in full bloom still got him even after they’d both finally indulged themselves a couple of months ago.
She’d been the first woman he’d had a hard time kissing goodbye and walking off with a smile after their agreed-upon short fling. Rules were rules, and his had kept him safely unattached.
But tonight he felt primed to make an exception.
“You gonna dance with me later?”
“We already danced, Anders.”
“You are an exceptionally sexy and memorable dancer.”
“Getting lazy with your lines, cowboy.”
“Just stating a fact, Whiskey.”
She leaned back against the wide counter where the liquor was stocked on shelves along with the wine in racks. “Then I’ll say thank you.” Her lips curved. She breathed in, and he watched her chest rise. The brief glimpse of her creamy cleavage was driving him mad, and she knew it. “I remember your moves on and off the dance floor.” She drew out the word and let her heated gaze take a slow walk over him.
Her golden gaze scorched him to his bones. She still wanted him! And he burned for her.
Whiskey knew her power over men the way other people know the earth was round.
She had confidence and fun flirting.
He’d seen her shut down cowboy after cowboy who flirted with her at tour events this year while she’d represented and sold his brother’s whiskey. It had taken him months to devise a winning strategy.
Slow. Subtle. Teasing.
He felt none of that tonight. Reckless and desperate was more like it.
Not good.
And why was trying his luck with her again?
She was so beautiful it hurt his eyes to look at her sometimes. She was funny and smart and sexy and more aloof and unattainable than he was. So what the hell was he doing trying to get a second taste?
There were dozens of unattached women who’d been eyeing him all evening. Some he’d even considered.
But Whiskey drew him like no other.
“So you gonna give me a dance?” he asked again.
A smile hovered on her full lips, and Anders launched from feeling edgy and restless to full-throttle desire.
“Just one?”
Hell no!
Where had that come from? He was acting possessive.
She effortlessly kicked out a long, toned leg, revealing black and silver cowboy ankle boots.
“I did wear my favorite dancing boots. They double for many other favorite activities.”
She stretched, arching her body back, and reached behind her all while her leg hovered a few inches above the counter. Her gauzy dress followed the lines of her body, revealing curves he ached to touch and taste again. His mouth watered, and a small voice of reason urged him to walk away.
“You ever gonna tell me your real name?”
“Whiskey works fine for now.” She seized a bottle of Cowboy Wolf’s top-shelf brand, brought it up and over her head, flipped it, let it roll across her body before she grabbed it again, popped out the glass stopper, and poured him a shot.
Whiskey’s flair skills had always drawn a crowd.
“I want to be alone with you.”
“Want or need?” She laughed and reached out a finger to stroke down his nose and briefly touch his mouth.
He parted his lips and nibbled on the pad of her finger. She tasted like honey, peaches, and a splash of whiskey.
Damn, he was thirsty.
“Tonight is a want that feels like a need. But just a dance if that’s all you’re offering.”
Heat flared in her gorgeous golden-brown eyes. The same eyes that had intrigued him for months and haunted his dreams. Her eyes changed colors in different lights—amber, burnished gold, whiskey. In fact, he thought that had been how she’d gotten her nickname. Her eyes had always fascinated him as much as her body and her humor, sassy comebacks, intelligence, work ethic and sense of adventure. Hell. All of it. Total package.
But Whiskey would never be easy or peaceful or stay-at-home anything. Any man wanting to lasso her would never sleep.
He downed the shot of whiskey. Savored the burn and waited for her decision. She planted her palm on the top of the bar and vaulted it so that she stood directly in front of him, close but not touching.
She threaded her fingers in his dark, wavy hair that Axel had harassed him all week was too long.
“I’d enjoy a dance, Anders. And will even admit to wanting a night.” She stood on tiptoe and guided his head down to hers.
She fused their mouths and lit him on fire. His skin felt too tight and he slid his hands around her body, forcing himself to not crush her to him or grab anything R rated at his brothers’ weddings in a town where everyone knew him.
Her lips moved expertly under his, her tongue played with his inner lip, her teeth nibbled his bottom lip enough to sting—and his heart nearly jerked out of his chest. One kiss from her and his cock swelled so eagerly against his zipper it was painful.
Dynamite.
C4.
Grenade.
Rocket launcher.
Didn’t matter the analogy. Whiskey was an explosive combination of woman. Dangerous. And Anders needed her.
She broke the kiss, and his mouth chased hers. She pressed her fingers against his lips.
“But if we’re talking my needs, Anders Wolf, I need freedom.”