that Dean had had any doubt. When his buddy’s wife wanted something, she usually got it. “I know you’ve taken a room at the inn, but you’re welcome to move into one of our guest rooms if you and Snake would be more comfortable.”
Dean’s hand froze, the beer bottle halfway to his mouth. Priscilla stay here? Was Leeann nuts? Who invited their husband’s ex-girlfriend to room down the hall?
Mind your own business. You aren’t interested, remember?
Yeah, if he kept telling himself that, maybe he’d believe it. No, what Dean needed to keep telling himself was that the lady was off-limits thanks to his buddy having been there first. Even if the two of them hooking up had to have been at least three or four years ago. Right around the time he’d been getting shown the door by—
“Thank you for the invitation,” Priscilla said, “but I think I’ll—we’ll—stay where we are.”
“We all love the Painted Lady, and the house is a national landmark, but it must be vastly different from what you’re used to.”
Priscilla tucked her notebook away in her oversize bag and leaned forward to take her glass from the table. Straightening, she crossed one knee over the other, causing her skirt to ride up. Dean now had a perfect view of those magnificent legs that had haunted his dreams last night.
“Oh, the room is beautiful and quite large,” she said. “I’m on the top floor and the staff has been very accommodating.”
Dean snorted, then covered it up with a quick cough when she glanced his way. He bet they were accommodating. Major hadn’t shut up about her the entire time Dean had put him through his paces during their physical-therapy session, grilling him about the beautiful blonde like the marine boot-camp drill sergeant he’d once been.
“Oh, you’re in the best room at the inn. The bridal suite.”
The smile remained, but she gripped her glass with both hands, her fingers pressed hard enough to turn her knuckles white. “Am I? I hadn’t realized. Well, it’s a comfortable room, large enough for me and Snake. Not to mention the claw-foot bathtub is a dream.”
Okay, that was a visual he didn’t need.
“I hate to throw a wrench into this whole auction idea—” Bobby nudged at his wife’s shoulder “—but you still need to secure a group of men willing to be sold like cattle at a livestock auction. Thankfully, this side of beef is off the market.”
“Yes, you are—” Leeann leaned in and gave him another quick kiss “—but you’re right. Without the men, this isn’t going to work. There are plenty to choose from, but getting them to agree might be another issue.”
“Surely once you explain the reason behind the event they’d be willing to participate,” Priscilla said. “At least for one date with the lady who wins him.”
“Maybe, but we’d probably have better luck convincing them if—” Leeann cocked her head to one side “—say, one of their own had already agreed to participate?”
It was then Dean noticed she was looking right at him. Oh, hell no. “Forget it, Leeann. I’m not interested.”
“But you are single, right?” Leeann pressed. “You haven’t been steadily involved with anyone for a while.”
Dean looked at Priscilla and found her watching him as she scratched Daisy, who’d rolled over onto her back, exposing her belly in a display of contented bliss. “Yes— No— Yes, I’m single, and no, I’m not dating—”
“I’m assuming from your shirt you’re involved with the camp somehow?” Priscilla asked.
His empty bottle hit the bar top with a thud. “I volunteer at Camp Diamond because we’re open to all kids, even those with disabilities. I’m there to handle any physical-therapy issues that might arise.”
“Very admirable. Can I also assume you were born and raised in Destiny?”
“Nope. Sea Point, New Jersey.” Dean enjoyed the stunned look on her face. “I’m a beach bum who’s only lived out in the Wild West for
Dean’s hand froze, the beer bottle halfway to his mouth. Priscilla stay here? Was Leeann nuts? Who invited their husband’s ex-girlfriend to room down the hall?
Mind your own business. You aren’t interested, remember?
Yeah, if he kept telling himself that, maybe he’d believe it. No, what Dean needed to keep telling himself was that the lady was off-limits thanks to his buddy having been there first. Even if the two of them hooking up had to have been at least three or four years ago. Right around the time he’d been getting shown the door by—
“Thank you for the invitation,” Priscilla said, “but I think I’ll—we’ll—stay where we are.”
“We all love the Painted Lady, and the house is a national landmark, but it must be vastly different from what you’re used to.”
Priscilla tucked her notebook away in her oversize bag and leaned forward to take her glass from the table. Straightening, she crossed one knee over the other, causing her skirt to ride up. Dean now had a perfect view of those magnificent legs that had haunted his dreams last night.
“Oh, the room is beautiful and quite large,” she said. “I’m on the top floor and the staff has been very accommodating.”
Dean snorted, then covered it up with a quick cough when she glanced his way. He bet they were accommodating. Major hadn’t shut up about her the entire time Dean had put him through his paces during their physical-therapy session, grilling him about the beautiful blonde like the marine boot-camp drill sergeant he’d once been.
“Oh, you’re in the best room at the inn. The bridal suite.”
The smile remained, but she gripped her glass with both hands, her fingers pressed hard enough to turn her knuckles white. “Am I? I hadn’t realized. Well, it’s a comfortable room, large enough for me and Snake. Not to mention the claw-foot bathtub is a dream.”
Okay, that was a visual he didn’t need.
“I hate to throw a wrench into this whole auction idea—” Bobby nudged at his wife’s shoulder “—but you still need to secure a group of men willing to be sold like cattle at a livestock auction. Thankfully, this side of beef is off the market.”
“Yes, you are—” Leeann leaned in and gave him another quick kiss “—but you’re right. Without the men, this isn’t going to work. There are plenty to choose from, but getting them to agree might be another issue.”
“Surely once you explain the reason behind the event they’d be willing to participate,” Priscilla said. “At least for one date with the lady who wins him.”
“Maybe, but we’d probably have better luck convincing them if—” Leeann cocked her head to one side “—say, one of their own had already agreed to participate?”
It was then Dean noticed she was looking right at him. Oh, hell no. “Forget it, Leeann. I’m not interested.”
“But you are single, right?” Leeann pressed. “You haven’t been steadily involved with anyone for a while.”
Dean looked at Priscilla and found her watching him as she scratched Daisy, who’d rolled over onto her back, exposing her belly in a display of contented bliss. “Yes— No— Yes, I’m single, and no, I’m not dating—”
“I’m assuming from your shirt you’re involved with the camp somehow?” Priscilla asked.
His empty bottle hit the bar top with a thud. “I volunteer at Camp Diamond because we’re open to all kids, even those with disabilities. I’m there to handle any physical-therapy issues that might arise.”
“Very admirable. Can I also assume you were born and raised in Destiny?”
“Nope. Sea Point, New Jersey.” Dean enjoyed the stunned look on her face. “I’m a beach bum who’s only lived out in the Wild West for
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