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  Coy Martin seemed to notice her for the first time and smiled, nodding, but showing no sign of recognition. “Big business then.”

  “Something like that,” Kyle said.

  “It was nice to meet you Mr.…?”

  “Kidd.”

  “Mr. Kidd.” Then the man smiled at her. “Muchacha. Cómo estás ?”

  Yeah, he knew her.

  The man nodded his head. “Hasta luego, amigos.”

  “Wait! My wallet…you didn’t happen to…” What…lift it? This was crazy. “My wallet is missing.”

  The man shook his head, and the skin around his patch crinkled. He’d winked his missing eye. Oh my God, who does something like that?

  Kyle rolled up his window. “Why were you asking him about your wallet?”

  Cassie glanced back, hoping Coy Martin did in fact encounter one of the Lucas brothers, allowing her and Kyle to escape. “He’s…he’s turning down that trail…to the house.”

  “Maybe he thinks that’s the driveway. I mean, he’s only got one eye.” Kyle slowed. “Maybe we should—”

  “Get us out of here, Kyle.”

  She didn’t know what the hell was going on with the Lucas property but assumed it best to figure out off premises.

  Chapter Ten

  Without even glancing at the Backstreet menus their waitress plunked down, Jase ordered for both of them. “Jalapeño burgers and onion rings.”

  Foregoing her approval, the waitress sauntered off and disappeared behind the rusty tin and barnwood counter.

  “Um…”

  “What?” he asked. “Don’t like onion rings?”

  Loved them, but…“I was going to order a salad.”

  “Why?”

  Only a guy would ask that. No, only a guy like Jase would ask that, and Cassie couldn’t help the grin threatening her lips at the way he gazed across the table, eyebrows raised, not a clue in the world why a woman would order a salad or balk at wearing tight jeans. That’s what he’d demanded, right after pounding on her motel room door earlier. She’d dressed in ten minutes and met him outside, not wearing the jeans. They really were dirty this time, and she hadn’t had time to visit the Laundromat after scrubbing the trespassing evidence from her boots. She’d opted for a denim skirt instead. The jeans remained leverage.

  “What’s it going to take here, Jase? A higher bonus? I don’t think we can up the royalty much, but—”

  “It’s not the money,” he said, watching the lemon bob around in his tea.

  “What then?”

  He leveled his gaze across the table. “You can’t go back out there.”

  She leaned in. “What’s out there?” Why does your brother have a vacation rental for psychos on your property? She stopped short of asking. Knowing wouldn’t help sign the lease, and admitting her trespass would only sidetrack them further. She needed a commitment, a verbal at the least. “Am I really going to have to wear the jeans?”

  “I wish it were that easy,” he said. “But I can’t even get you to wear them on a date.”

  Is that what this was? The second date? Oh, no. Besides…

  “Those jeans?” she said, “They’re a little tight.” She didn’t even know if she could close the button anymore, much less, you know, sit. That tended to happen when you lived on the road, ate almost every meal out, and exercise consisted of hefting title indices and turning old pages.

  “So get a bigger size.” Jase stretched back in the booth, as if he’d just supplied a simple solution to a simple problem and was ready to move on.

  She blew her bangs, frustrated.

  “It’s cute as hell when you do that.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I bet.”

  He set both elbows on the table and leaned around his balled fist with a sympathetic smirk, “Feeling a little jiggly, are you?”

  That was almost cute, too, the way he asked, amused.

  “Seriously, I need to lose some weight.”

  He dropped his voice and bent closer, brushing the bread and cracker basket aside. “Let me tell you something about jiggle. I can’t wait to watch your breasts bouncing beneath me”—his lip curled into that little sneer—“or dig my hands into your thighs when I bend you over—”

  “We’re in a restaurant,” she hissed. And she’d never been so turned-on in an eating establishment. Or so confused. How had they gone from lease royalties to bouncing breasts?

  “Actually, we’re at a bar and grill,” he said. “Making sure you don’t lose that jiggle.” He was dead serious. That was confusing, too. It was also pretty arousing. She grabbed her tea, as if that would quench the fire licking in her belly.

  Jase sat back. “Did your ex say you weren’t thin enough?”

  She really didn’t want to talk about Reid, but Jase persisted.

  “That’s why he’s my ex,” she said finally. “And, um, speaking of ex’s, yours—”

  “Wasn’t really my type.”

  Huh.

  “Sounds like we’ve both been dating outside our types,” she muttered, glancing around to make sure none of those types planned on surprise-crashing their little, uh…whatever they had going on in the booth.

  Jase leaned in again. “So what’s your type?”

  “You told me the other night never to cut my hair. Don’t cut yours, either.” She couldn’t believe she’d just given beauty advice to a long-haired country boy, a roughneck. But she didn’t want him any other way. “And don’t ever get an office job. You’re definitely not a khakis man.”

  When she peeked at Jase, he wore a full-on smile. “Definitely not a khakis man.”

  Their waitress appeared with a food-laden tray, and Cassie caught sight of Karyn at a nearby table. Her new friend smiled and cocked one of those dang eyebrows. Cassie smiled back and took a huge bite out of an onion ring.

  The burger melted in her mouth. She only managed a few bites, though, her belly already full from the comforting feel of Jase’s leg against hers beneath the table. Jase, of course, polished off his own burger in record time then sat back, sipping his tea and eyeing her across the table like he wanted something very specific for dessert.

  As soon as she pushed away her plate, Jase rose from the booth. “Be right back,” he said, watching her intently.

  “You’re not hungry for dessert?” she asked, meeting his stare as her blood sang in her ears.

  He swallowed. “Are you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  His lips parted slowly and the hungry, molten gleam in his gaze made it hard for her to regret that answer, even though it had come from a part of her body that clearly lacked the ability to process rational thought.

  He winked and turned, allowing her a few breaths as she watched him walk toward the counter. Good God, the man had presence. She could feel it, even from across the room, and she wasn’t the only one. Female heads sixteen to sixty swiveled in his wake. Karyn caught her staring and shook her head. Smiling, Cassie scooted out of the booth, plunked her purse on the table, and rummaged around for a tip. Jase’s assessment had been spot-on. Make out, fight, make out, fight. That volatile chemistry was going to destroy the deal or her or both. She couldn’t deny it, and she couldn’t run from it. She needed his signature, and she needed this…fling. She needed to know wild attraction like this existed. In a strange way, it gave her hope, and when she left Marian—

  Her smile faded when a voice whispered in her ear, “Really, Cass? A roughneck?”

  She spun and planted her hands on the table at her sides.

  The cologne should have given him away. He reeked of it. But she had other, tastier things on her mind than whatever the hell Reid wore now. He smelled like one of those mall stores that catered to college boys. Trying not to breathe his stench, she asked, “Are you stalking me, Reid?”

  “Nah. Just enjoying the best food this town has to offer.”

  On that they agreed. “What do you want?”

  “Heard you met with Clint Lucas again today.
”

  Her eyes flicked over Reid’s shoulder. Jase headed their way, and his expression revealed a sobering truth. He truly thought of her as “his,” even if just for now. Her heart squeezed tight and something fluttered in her belly. Half of her coveted how Jase looked as though he’d start flipping tables if Reid so much as laid a finger on her. The other part of her wanted him nowhere near her ex.

  Reluctantly, she focused on the man in front of her. “My dealings with landowners are none of your business.”

  Reid smirked that arrogant lawyer smirk. “They’re exactly my business.”

  Cassie slung her purse over her shoulder. “Go screw a secretary or something.”

  Her heart constricted again when Jase reached out while still out of touching range. Once there, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her tight to his side.

  “You okay?” he asked, glaring at Reid.

  “I am now.”

  Reid’s gaze traveled all the way to Jase’s boots, his sneer deepening as he went. He snapped his face to Cassie’s and said, “I know our breakup was hard on you, I just never knew how hard until I saw how you’d let yourself go.”

  Really? Tight jeans were one thing, but let herself go? Ah, yes. She’d offended Reid’s “aesthetic.”

  He sighed. “Despite your weight, you can still do better than some oil-field trash.”

  Jase took a step forward, and Cassie placed her hand on his tension-taught stomach. “In my experience,” he growled, “biggest trash in the oil field ain’t on the rigs.”

  Reid rolled his eyes. “He can’t even speak correctly.”

  “Ain’t is a colloquialism,” she said. “I use it myself, and I have an English degree.”

  “I believe he dropped an article, too.”

  Jase’s lip curled, and Reid did one of those snorting chuckles before taking a few steps backward and turning on his heel.

  Her hand slid down Jase’s torso, and Cassie let out a shaky breath.

  Jase stared at Reid’s back until it disappeared out the door. “Wait here, babe.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “Go visit with Karyn for a few minutes.” His hand covered hers and squeezed before letting it drop. “I won’t be long.”

  She wasn’t going to argue. In fact, she found she rather liked the idea of Jase standing up for her. Reid sure as hell never had. She hurried over to the counter in front of the order window, looking for Karyn and something to distract her from the thought of Deputy Slick arresting Jase for assault, though she doubted he’d take it that far.

  Karyn came out of the swinging kitchen doors, drying her hands on a dish towel, and looking every bit the rocker chick in a skintight Doors T-shirt—the one with Jim Morrison bare-chested, arms stretched straight out.

  “Is that your ex Jase followed outside?”

  “Unfortunately.” Cassie grabbed a peppermint from the bowl by the register. “Speaking of exes, I met his the other night.”

  Karyn leaned over the counter. “And?”

  “It was weird, not what I expected. She was calm, soft-spoken, and…” she shook her head and popped the mint, “…sweet. I felt sorry for her.”

  Karyn snorted. “You met Zen Daphne.”

  “Zen Daphne?”

  “Next time it’ll be Psycho Daphne. Or maybe Baby Daphne.”

  Baby Daphne? “That sounds disturbing. Multiple personalities?”

  “Don’t know if she’s ever been diagnosed, but yeah, I’m pretty sure it’s something like that.”

  “Oh, wow.”

  “Yeah. No one could believe he stayed with her for so long, especially after…” Karyn glanced over Cassie’s shoulder. “He saw something there worth saving, I guess.”

  “The other night, when you saw us at Hintzen Hall? I told you it wasn’t ‘like that’ between us, but, um…I think it might be.”

  “Girl, I knew that the minute I saw y’all on the dance floor.”

  “I don’t know what I’m doing.” Nor did she know why she’d confided this to Karyn, but it wasn’t something she wanted to talk to Kyle about.

  “What’s to figure out? Not to sound elementary about it, but he likes you and you like him, right?”

  “Yeah, it’s just…”

  “What? You need me to explain the birds and the bees to you?”

  Cassie chuckled. “No, I’ve got that. And if that’s all it was, I don’t think I’d be so conflicted.”

  “Ah,” Karyn said. “You’re referring to those pesky things called feelings.”

  “Uh, yeah. Not only am I mixing business with pleasure here, which isn’t something I’ve ever been tempted to do before, I’m also attracted to more than just that hot body. I see no way this will end well.”

  Karyn snorted. “Says who? And frankly, you’ll never know if you don’t give it a chance.”

  “I’m trying. I really am.”

  “Listen.” Karyn leaned into the bar. “Jase would never intentionally hurt you, if that’s what you’re worried about. And even if it doesn’t work out or you have to move on before you’re ready, there are much, much worse things than taking a ride on Jase Lucas. Especially when he’s chomping at the bit to get you in the saddle. Or the sack. Or whatever.”

  Cassie chuckled again. “Yeah, I got it.”

  “You’ll figure it out,” Karyn said. “And maybe sooner rather than later.” She her tilted her head. “He’s back.”

  He was, striding across the room and drawing even more attention now.

  She turned back to Karyn. “Thank you for the other night. I’m sorry that happened, but I’m glad you had my back.”

  Karyn gave her a pretty smirk. “Believe me, it was my pleasure.”

  “Hey, Karyn.” Jase’s hand skimmed across Cassie’s back. “Ready?” he asked.

  She smiled around her mint and let him lead her out of the restaurant. When he pushed through the barnwood door, she couldn’t wait any longer. “What did you say to him?”

  He hooked an arm around her neck and leaned down. “I explained a few things.”

  “Such as?”

  “How it’s gonna go if he ever speaks to you again.” Jase steered her toward the passenger side of his truck. “How if he sees me coming, he’s gonna do that fancy little spin and head in the opposite direction.”

  Cassie did her own fancy little spin so she faced him, her back against his truck door. “I have to tell you something.”

  “Tell, baby.”

  “Do you remember I said another company is after your brother’s interest?” He nodded. “Reid works for that company, and he’s already spoken to your brother, more than once. He asked me the other day if I knew where he could find you.”

  She’d expected him to be mad. What she hadn’t expected was the belly laugh that made her own chest shake as he pressed his forehead against hers. Oh, how she wished she could be there when Reid realized his mistake.

  “Think he’s gonna have a heart attack when he finds me?” Jase asked.

  “A massive one.”

  He cupped her face with his big hands, serious now. “He won’t speak to you again, not like he did earlier. He didn’t know what he had and now he doesn’t have it anymore. I should thank him for being such an asshole.”

  “But—”

  “Shhhh,” he whispered as his lips brushed hers.

  The kiss didn’t remain gentle for long. With Karyn’s words ringing in her ears, Cassie clutched Jase tighter, kissed him deeper, and opened herself to him completely. She kissed him with a ferocity she’d never shown him before, a ferocity she wasn’t sure she’d ever shown anyone. He cupped her face, not to control the kiss, but…but almost like he sensed this was something different, something new, and wanted to savor it. His hot tongue and soft lips devoured her in return, and when they finally came up for air, panting and breathless, he touched his forehead to hers and didn’t speak for a long time.

  “You taste like mint,” he murmured, his thumbs at her jaw, the touc
h gentle and possessive at the same time. “And I plan on finding out what the rest of you tastes like in about ten minutes.”

  And if he hadn’t pinned her to his truck, she’d have melted into a peppermint puddle in the gravel parking lot of the Backstreet Bar & Grill.

  The man in her bed trailed open-mouthed kisses down her throat and over her collarbone. His body moved between her thighs in a sensuous way that shouldn’t have surprised her after those dance hall moves. She’d never been more aroused, at least not fully clothed. But when his strong hand curled around her neck, a heightened desire surged through her lust-heated veins. She loved the possessiveness, the hint of danger. God help her, but she did. And all she could do was moan his name again and again.

  His hand slid to her jaw. Fingers pulled at her bottom lip, and she drew two of them into her mouth.

  Pounding.

  Someone at the door.

  Jase tore his mouth away, growling. “What the fu—”

  “Ms. Mitchum?” a voice called through the door. “It’s Deputy Butzchlich.”

  Jase’s brows knitted in confusion as he shifted onto his hands and knees. Cassie swallowed and looked up into those blue eyes, wanting nothing more than to ignore whatever waited outside. And it had to be unpleasant. Why else would a deputy bang on her door in the dead of night?

  More pounding. “Ms. Mitchum?”

  Jase’s hands clenched as he moved across the room, and she barely had enough time to compose herself before he jerked open the door.

  She heard a throat clear. “Uh…sorry, I’m looking for someone. Must have the wrong room.”

  “You got the right room.” Jase pointedly adjusted himself, a super-alpha move that left her both aching and appalled. “What do you want with Cassie, Slick?”

  The deputy poked his head inside. “I need to speak with her. May I come in?”

  Jase shot her a look she couldn’t read, and she nodded from the end of the very rumpled bed. Her skin burned, and she was positive arousal and embarrassment warred across her flushed face. The deputy didn’t acknowledge her discomfiture, but he did remove his hat as he entered—an old-school move that added insult to injury, or in this case, mortification to intrusion.

  “Sorry to trouble you folks.” This seemed more directed at Jase, who leaned against her dresser with his arms crossed. “I just need to speak to Ms. Mitchum about the call I received from Clint this evening.” Slick glanced at a tight-jawed Jase again before returning his gaze to hers. “He said you were at his property today.”