But when she touched the fifth forearm, she knew. Strong and meaty, with two big veins that bulged across all that rock-hard muscle. She was tempted to stroke her thumb in the crease of his elbow to see if he flinched, because Kyle always did. But she moved on. Taking her time. Keeping a puzzled expression on her face like she couldn’t make up her mind.

“So, do you know which one is your husband’s arm?”

“Number five.”

“You’re sure?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Sure enough to lay a big wet kiss on man number five, even when it might not be him?”

“It is him.”

“Why are you so confident?”

“Because I’ve been drooling over Kyle’s arms for a lot longer than just the little time we’ve been married.”

Catcalls rang out.

“Contestant number five, come forward.”

Celia’s heart beat a little faster when the blindfold slipped off. She had a brief glimpse into Kyle’s gleaming eyes right before he kissed the daylights out of her.

Chapter Sixteen

The smartest thing he’d ever done was marry this woman.

Kyle picked her up and carried her out of the room as he continued to kiss her. He backed her against the wall.

She blinked those liquid silver eyes at him.

“What?”

“A blow job is my favorite drink, Kyle? Really?”

He laughed. “I figured we oughta have some fun with it. I also figured you’d shoot back that my favorite shot was a wet pu**y.”

“I had no idea that shot even existed.”

He raised his eyebrows. “But you know a drink called tie me to the bedpost?”

“I almost said tie me down and f**k me,” she retorted.

“We’ll have to try it sometime.”

“The drink?”

Kyle shook his head.

Ooh, look at the flash of interest in Celia’s eyes.

“So what did you ladies do? Sounded like you were havin’ a wild time.”

“Played games. Did some shots. You should see the pile of presents we got.”

“Yeah? How come I didn’t get to help open them?”

Celia rolled her eyes. “Do you even care that the pot holders from Susan match the hand towels and dishrags from Bernice?”

“Point taken.”

“What did you guys do?”

“Talked about ranching. Drank beer. Talked about cattle stuff that I always tuned out before, but this time I paid attention. A few differing opinions.”

She pecked him on the lips. “The only opinion that matters is mine, right?”

Somehow he’d been afraid she’d say that. He changed the subject. “Speaking of Susan…I heard some interesting gossip. She’s considering selling the Buckeye. She’s tired of working all the time.”

“Really? That’d be weird to have someone else own it.”

“We should go dancing there next week,” he murmured, crowding her body with his. “We had a good time last time we went.”

“You aren’t thinking about the dancing part at all. You’re thinking about the vertical bop we did against the building after getting hot and bothered on the dance floor.”

Kyle tucked the veil behind her ear. Bracing his hands by her head, he focused on nuzzling her exposed skin. Her ears, her jaw, her neck, her temple, her hairline. Touching her…yet not.

“Kyle.”

He expanded his attentions to barely-there brushes of his mouth. Soft teases with his breath across her neck, cheek, ear, and temple. A fleeting press of his damp lips.

Celia whimpered softly. “Stop. I can’t function when you flip your seduction button on High.”

“I’ll dial it down a notch. If you do one thing for me.”

“What?”

“It involves the vibrator I heard you won.”

“Okay.”

Kyle peered at her flushed face. “Okay? That was easy. No arguing?”

Her molten gaze hooked his. “You turn me inside out every time you touch me. Why would I ever say no to you?”

He stared at her. Stunned by her acceptance of everything about him. Now was the time to tell her. “Celia. I—”

“Hey, lovebirds,” Harper said, stepping behind them. “You cannot skip out on your own party. Quit screwing around. Get back in there and mingle with your guests.”

“You this bossy with Bran?” Kyle asked.

“When he lets her be bossy.” Celia grabbed Kyle’s hand. “We’re going.”

Kyle didn’t have to argue with anyone to keep his wife by his side for the rest of the party. Food was spread out. The bar was hopping. Music started. The instant he and Celia found a place to sit, they were surrounded.

Bernice took Celia’s right side.

Pearl Tschetter sat on his left. She’d worn a very bridelike getup, white lace from her neck to her ankles, including lace gloves, and a puffy fur pimp hat. She carried a martini glass. A long cigarette holder would’ve been the crowning touch. “Now, Kyle, this might be overstepping my boundaries…”

Please don’t give me sex advice.

“But I wanted to mention I knew Marshall Townsend and his wife.”

Not what he’d expected. “You did?”

“Yes. Were you aware my husband owned the implement dealership outside Rawlins?”

Kyle shook his head.

“I did the books, he handled the sales. Anyway, Marshall was a decent fellow, not a particularly happy fellow. We had a Christmas party for our customers and he came every year.” Pearl tossed back her martini. “I’ll be blunt. I hated when his wife came with him. She was such a shrew. So I’m a little torqued off that he didn’t know about you until you were an adult. You might’ve been the one bright spot in his life, Kyle.”

Tags: Lorelei James Blacktop Cowboys Western
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