Tempting Dusty (The Temptation Saga 1)

“Recapture what? There was never much more between us than friendship, no matter how hard we both tried.”

“Of course there was. Don’t you remember our lovemaking? That was phenomenal, Zach. Don’t you ever wish we could go to bed again? Just once?”

“I’m sorry, Angie.”

“My room’s right upstairs.”

“So’s mine.” Zach shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Where the hell is she?

“Okay, we’ll go to yours.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I’ll make it worth your while. I haven’t been able to think about anything except your luscious body.”

“Christ, Angie. Shut the fuck up, will you?”

Dusty entered the ballroom and he silently thanked God.

“It’s over, okay?”

“You’ll change your mind.”

Angelina walked away, swinging her considerable assets. She was a beauty, no doubt. Funny thing, though. Zach wasn’t even slightly tempted. Instead, he couldn’t take his eyes off the golden-haired goddess walking toward him. She looked a little flustered, but she was still the most delicious thing he’d ever seen.

“You all right, darlin’?”

“Fine.” She plunked down in a chair. “I think I’ve had a little too much Wild Turkey, to tell you the truth. I don’t usually drink hard stuff.”

“Why did you tonight?”

She sighed. “I thought it would help me feel a little more at ease. You know, with Angelina and all.”

“Angelina is nothing compared to you.”

“That’s sweet of you to say. But you and she—”

“That’s over.”

“I know. I just… Never mind.”

“What is it, darlin’?”

Before she could answer, his brother Dallas and his wife approached the table. “Hey, Zach. Who’s this?”

Trust Dallas to get straight to the point. “Dusty O’Donovan. Her pa used to work at the ranch back in the late eighties. You remember?”

“Can’t say that I do.”

“Sure you do. Her brother Sam was best friends with Chad.”

“Sounds vaguely familiar.” He held out his hand. “Dallas McCray.”

“Nice to see you,” Dusty said. “You look a lot like Zach, don’t you? Except you’re a little gray around the temples, and your nose is slightly larger. But still a very nice nose. And both your eyes are brown, of course.” She hiccupped. “Excuse me.”

Zach cringed as the blond woman next to his brother pursed her lips. What the hell was wrong with the bitch tonight? He thought Dusty’s hiccup was charming. She was a little tipsy. Otherwise she probably wouldn’t have mentioned Dallas’s gray hair or his nose. But hell, it wasn’t a damn secret. Dallas was still a chick magnet at thirty-five. Of course, Chelsea kept him on a short leash.

“This is my wife, Chelsea,” Dallas said.