Her Heart-Stealing Cowboys [Hellfire Ranch 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Jennifer August Page B

British, not quite Yankee, and definitely not Texan.
    Wade knew Maljib hailed from Tajikistan and he spoke fluent Russian, but he’d spent most of his formative years bouncing between Boston and his homeland. He’d landed in Freedom like so many of its other residents—looking for peace and understanding. No one had been more shocked than Wade when Maljib and Bosco Evans hit it off so well that Bosco sold him the restaurant when he decided to retire. Maljib had taken the standard diner food and elevated it to a work of culinary art with few rivals. People flocked to the Tin Star from all over Texas. Wade had seen it listed as a must visit restaurant in several airline magazines when he flew to California to visit his son Riley.
    They reached the doorway into the dining room and the noise level increased ten-fold. It looked like every seat in the house was filled. Wade saw Tag’s broad back near the far corner. A gorgeous blonde sat across from him. She smiled then laughed then clapped a hand over her mouth and shook her head. He couldn’t tell what color her eyes were from over here, but he damn sure hoped they were green.
    He was a sucker for green-eyed blondes.
    “Well, hello, nurse,” he murmured.
    “I told you she was lovely.”
    Wade clamped Maljib on the shoulder as he eased past. “Maljib, lovely is a rose or sunset. That ”—he pointed at Tag’s companion—“is perfection.”
    Maljib rolled his eyes. “Good luck with that line, Mr. Merritt. I’ll send Catherine over to take your order.”
    Wade grinned as he approached the table. The blonde saw him first and her eyes widened then flicked along his body. He shivered at the unexpected connection. He faltered then regained his stride. He offered her a smile as he pulled back a chair and sat next to Tag.
    “Afternoon, Tag. Ma’am.” He didn’t look at his friend. He couldn’t. The green-eyed vixen held him in complete rapture.
    “Wade.”
    “Hello.” The woman looked inquiringly at Tag. Her lips tightened and her eyes narrowed at his silence. She reached a hand over the table. “I’m Rebecca Lyons.”
    Wade took the proffered hand in his. Her skin was soft and delicate, but there was strength in her grip that pleased him. He thought there was nothing worse than a wimpy handshake.
    “Wade Merritt,” he said. He cocked his head in Tag’s direction. “Is this guy giving you any trouble?”
    Tag snorted.
    Rebecca’s glance bounced between them and Wade saw the wheels turning.
    “From what I have learned about him, trouble is Sheriff Cain’s forte.”
    Wade’s grin widened and he looked at Tag. “She’s got you pegged.”
    Tag’s only retort was a sour glare. “Don’t you have something else to be doing?”
    “Nope. I’m running the blood drive this afternoon from six to eight.” He checked his watch. “I’ve got about forty-five minutes. Plenty of time to eat.”
    No sooner were the words out of his mouth than Catherine appeared.
    “Wade. What can I get you? The usual?” She cocked her slender hip out and peered at Rebecca with an interested expression. “You decide yet, Miss Lyons?”
    Rebecca flushed and her gaze dropped back to the menu. “Uh, not really.”
    Wade thought the blush on her cheeks was adorable. The pink accentuated the stunning porcelain of her skin and made her green eyes all the more beautiful.
    God, I love green-eyed blondes.
    “You should try the chicken-fried steak,” he told her. “It’s my favorite thing on the menu.”
    Her eyes lifted and a small smile tipped up her luscious mouth. His train of thought suddenly derailed.
    A man could get into a lot of trouble fantasizing about her mouth. He could imagine her full bottom lip dragging softly along his cock. He had a feeling her lips could wrap around the head of his dick and suck the life right out of him and he’d die a happy, contented man.
    “What is that?”
    Her soft question shook him back to reality. Wade casually leaned back in his chair and