A Buckhorn Bachelor

If Issy even wanted that.

Picking up a leftover guy at a town carnival didn’t sound like anything serious to him. But he’d never gotten the impression that Issy was the “fast and easy” type, either. Everything about her screamed “nice girl,” the type you brought home to meet your mom.

Adam knew his mom would love her.

He shouldn’t care about Issy’s plans, but he’d already worked himself up about it and—

Shohn shoved an apron at him. “Your turn.”

Drawn from his thoughts, Adam eyed the utilitarian apron and shoved it back at Shohn. “I’m ready.”

Shohn looked him over, caught his arm, and dragged him a few feet away to say, “I heard you were making out with Isabella Presley right in front of God and sundry.”

What the hell? “We weren’t making out.” He scoffed. “We were talking.”

“Horizontal talking? With you stroking her face?”

Snatching the apron back, Adam tied it on just to give himself something to do other than look guilty. “Horizontal, yes.” As Shohn’s eyes widened, Adam clarified, “On a picnic quilt, resting in the shade. But I wasn’t stroking her.” He’d wanted to. All over. With hands and lips...

But he’d managed to refrain that much.

“We were talking, period.” About getting laid.

Or maybe it was laying each other.

Issy had put him into such a blind tailspin, he couldn’t even remember everything he’d said.

“All right, don’t blow a gasket. I just wondered.” Shohn smiled at an elderly couple who strolled past, then laughed at two grade school boys who flew by with blue cotton candy faces and excitement in their eyes. “If I hadn’t heard about her shaking off the old-maid mantle, I might not have thought anything of it. But word has it that Isabella is looking to take a turn on the wild side.”

Adam stared at him, horrified, suspicious, and damn it, a little jealous. “What are you talking about?”

“Rumors, that’s all.” Shohn whacked him on the shoulder. “Don’t give it another thought.”

Like he’d be able to think about anything else now? “Where’d you hear these so-called rumors?”

“From Amber.”

Well, that explained nothing. Everyone knew Amber had very odd ideas about things—and often saw what others didn’t.

His thoughts churning, Adam watched Shohn walk away.

“Hey, a little help here?”

He turned to see Garrett overwhelmed with a hungry horde looking for corn. “Right, sorry.” With the apron in place, he stepped in and for the next half hour they served over a hundred ears of corn. Finally, once the band started playing from the stage at the other end of the lot, the crowd headed in a new direction.

“Wow.” After dousing his face in icy water from the cooler, Garrett used a hand towel to dry off. “Between the heat of the grill and that broiling sun, I’m feeling as roasted as the corn.”

“Yeah.” Distracted, Adam fished out a chunk of ice and used it on the back of his neck. It helped a little, but with his imagination again on Isabella, what she might be doing—and who she might plan on doing it with—he was still too hot.

“May I?”

At the sound of that twangy voice, he jerked around and there she was, smiling at him. The evening sun gilded her gorgeous hair, highlighting the red and showing the richness of it. Her eyes were so very blue, her pale skin flushed. Between her breasts, her dress was slightly damp.

Adam felt himself reacting and didn’t understand it. What was it about her? Besides her hotness. And teasing. And sweet little body...

She turned to Garrett. “He does this often, sort of goes off in his own head. Has your family ever had him tested?”

Amusement thick in his tone, Garrett said, “I don’t think so, but I can make the recommendation.”

“Might be a good idea.” She looked at Adam again, tilted her head, then held out a hand. “The ice?”

He got it together and fetched her a fresh chunk. Anxious to see what she’d do, he stepped to the edge of the booth and braced his hands on the top beside the butter and salt.

Right there, in front of everyone—which mostly was just him and Garrett—she tipped her head back and rolled that ice over her throat and upper chest.

Lord have mercy.

“It is so hot.” Lifting her ponytail, she tipped her head forward and teased the ice down her nape. A droplet trailed along her slender throat, over her shoulder and onto her chest. “Oh, that’s better. Nice.”

Adam swallowed.

After an elbow to the ribs and a sly grin, Garrett said, “I think I’ll take a break. Man the fort, okay?”

“Yeah. Sure. Whatever.” He peeled off his apron and stepped out of the booth to close in on Issy. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Coolin’ down.”

While heating him up. “You look like you’re making a porno.”

Her eyes flared...with delight. “I do?” She flashed her glance around but now that Garrett had booked, no one was close. “I was...sexy? Seriously?”

How the hell could she not know that? “You’re getting me hard.”

She started to look down.

Adam put his fingers under her chin, keeping her gaze on his face. If she looked, there’d be no “getting” to it. He’d have a full-fledged boner. “What’s more, I think you know it.”

“I didn’t, but thank you for tellin’ me.” She licked her lips. “I’ve been tryin’ to watch other ladies, to see how they flirt. Your cousin gave me some pointers.”

He dropped his hand, blinked, drew a breath—and had to ask. “Amber?”

“Yes. She knows somethin’ about everythin’, doesn’t she?”

“Sure thinks she does.” Scowling, Adam looked around but didn’t see Amber anywhere. He zeroed back in on Issy. “It’s not a great idea to take advice from her.”

“Then from whom should I take it?” She stepped closer, tipping her head back to keep eye contact. “You?”

The breeze was long gone, but as the sun faded behind the hills the heat lost its edge, making the evening air feel more tolerable. Still hot, but not so smothering. Around them, the carnival lights flickered on.