Rocky Mountain Heat by Vivian Arend Page A

whenever.”
    Jaxi paused in the middle of shuffling loaded bags back into the cart. “You’re free? What about Leo and the big date? That’s Saturday night, right?”
    Her friend sniffed. “Wrong. He messed up one time too many. I’m done with him. Jerk .”
    Jaxi hid her smile. Cari and Leo, the ultimate star-crossed lovers. A week didn’t pass without one pissing the other off, and yet they couldn’t stay apart. “What did he do this time?”
    Cari propped her fists on her hips, her jaw hanging open. “You didn’t hear? He went trolling with those wild Six Pack twins, and they weren’t down by the lake from what I heard. They were fishing for females barely above the legal limit.”
    Something was off in Cari’s information. That wasn’t Leo’s style, nor the twins. Women chased after Jesse and Joel. They didn’t need to prowl to find willing partners. Besides, Leo was rock solid when it came to Cari, but the two of them didn’t communicate and assumed far too much. “When was this?”
    “Two nights ago. Marcy told Karen who told Janice she saw them.”
    Jaxi fought back the urge to rub her temples. “Cari, the boys were home two nights ago. All night. Jesse and Joel suckered us into a Monopoly tournament and a game of Thirty-one that lasted until late. Everyone crashed after it was done.”
    Cari’s mouth closed tight. “You’re not just saying that? I mean, to protect someone, ’cause I’d be really pissed to find out—”
    Enough . Cari could rant for hours, and Jaxi’s spare time was fading away. She handed over cash for the bill. “Trust me. Games all night and a popcorn fight when Mr. C lost his last penny. The man is a hoot—he cheats at cards like a shark, then distracts everyone. I don’t know where Leo was but I doubt he was anywhere near any jailbait. He loves you, girl. Just call him and ask him. Go out on Saturday. Have fun.”
    Cari slipped from behind the counter to hug her, and Jaxi squeezed her briefly before whirling to escape the store. She’d arranged for Marion to have coffee with a couple of the ladies from the church. They’d return to the house far too soon. The clock ticking, Jaxi shoved the cart outside and looked around for the truck.
    “You need a hand?” Jesse pushed off the wall, his bright gaze trailing over her with admiration as he sauntered closer. His sexy drawl was nice, but it simply didn’t create the same chills big brother Blake’s rougher tones conjured.
    “Are you my ride? I want to beat your mom home.”
    Jesse shook his head sadly, his arms reaching around her to pull out a bag of M&M’s. “Sorry, I’m meeting Joel to buy some supplies for the workshop. You’re making Blake’s favourite cookies this afternoon, aren’t you? I like peanut butter better.”
    He lingered in her personal space, opening the bag and offering her a candy. Jaxi let a sigh loose from deep within her. He was incorrigible. “You want to move it or lose it? I’m not interested, Jesse, I told you before.”
    His gaze continued to caress her body. “That was a long time ago, almost a whole week. Maybe I can change your mind. There’s no harm trying.”
    Jaxi prodded her thumb into his chest, snickering at his hopeful expression. He was damn sweet, but he wasn’t Blake. “There’s harm if I decide to lift my knee abruptly.”
    Jesse danced backward and shook his finger in her face, his grin stretching from ear to ear. “You don’t play fair.”
    She raised a brow at him. “Nope, I don’t. I play to win. Remember that.”
    A truck horn blared, and one of the Coleman trucks slid up to the curb, Blake’s dark expression framed in the window.
    “You needed a ride?”
    Between the three of them the grocery cart was quickly emptied, and Jesse handed Jaxi into the passenger side before waving farewell. Blake peeled away, tires squealing, and Jaxi looked over her shoulder to see Joel join Jesse, the twins disappearing into the hardware shop.
    She dropped her head