Sun-Kissed (Love In All Seasons 1)

And nothing is gonna change mine.

Still, I feel bad for Tammi.

Just then a waitress comes around, asking for our drink order. I lift my eyebrows when I realize it's the woman from earlier. The woman I got off to in the shower. Two fucking times. The woman who walked through the casino looking like fresh air and sunshine. Here, though, she looks like the devil's playground in her tight dress. So much skin. Hair piled high on her head revealing a long neck and so much fucking cleavage I could get a hard-on just looking at her.

She has no place being in a smoky bar like this.

"What are you doing here?" I demand.

The guys look at me like I'm crazy but I'm not. This woman should be outside, picking fucking sunflowers and catching goddamn butterflies.

"Um, I work here?"

I look her up and down, and her cute outfit from earlier is long gone. She's replaced it with a tight little black dress. Her tits look fucking amazing in it, but I don't want these other guys at the table looking at her.

"You shouldn't be wearing that," I say firmly.

She laughs, not taking my tone seriously. "Well, excuse me, mountain man, but it's the uniform." She rolls her eyes and begins going around the table, taking our drink orders.

I run a hand over my beard, hating the way Luke and his buddies are looking this sweet thing over. She doesn't pay them any mind, though, and that makes me feel slightly better.

"And for you," she asks. "What'll it be?"

"I only like 'em one way, darling."

Her lip twitches. "Oh, yeah? And how’s that? On the rocks or--"

I cut her off. "I'm not talking about drinks. I'm talking about women."

She snorts. "Okay, wise guy, then how do you like your women? I'm guessing barefoot and pregnant?"

I grin, aware of the other guys at the table shaking their heads at me, thinking I'm a damn hypocrite.

But I see the hint of pink on her cheeks. The light in her eyes.

The attraction.

It's goddamn undeniable.

"Pregnant works. But if your feet are bare, you'd better hope the rest of you is uncovered too."

She drops her jaw, her hands on her hips. Playing mad.

"You think those lines work on women working in Las Vegas?"

I nod. "I think they work on you."

She bites her bottom lip, and damn, when she does I can't help but think of teasing it between my teeth, kissing her until she whimpers, until she is melting in my arms.

She taps her pen on her order pad. "Um. Okay, so I need to take your order... and um...." She uses the pad of paper to fan herself.

"Getting hot in here?" I ask. At that, my brother seems to think I've gone too far.

"Levi, leave the girl alone."

I shake my head again. "Nah, she knows how to take care of herself." I grin, seeing the lift of her brows as she realizes what I'm implying. Oh yeah, this sweetheart knows all about taking care of herself. What I wouldn't give to take care of her too.

"So, what'll it be?" she asks, her eyes on mine.

"An old-fashioned please."

She bites back a smile. "And that's your usual order?"

I shake my head. "That's the only way I order."

Our eyes meet and it's clear by the way she licks those pouty pink lips of hers that she knows exactly what I mean.Chapter TwoLucyToday has been a disaster from the get-go.

After visiting Granny at her home, I was reminded, once again, that she needs better care than what she's getting.

I spent hours on the phone with the insurance company, trying to talk to them about her moving into a new assisted living home, but they aren't willing to pay. And even though I'm working two jobs, there's no way I can take on any more outrageous bills.

Part of me wanted to call in sick tonight -- I'm still running on fumes after my job last night; I didn't get home until 4 AM. But this is a Friday night shift and I cannot miss out on these tips.

Maybe, if it was just me I was worried about, I'd say screw it. I'd draw a bubble bath, pour myself a glass of boxed white wine and download a new book onto my Kindle. Specifically, a book featuring some rugged mountain man who would walk into my life and sweep me off my feet.

But of course, that is not my actual life. My actual life means two jobs, bills that have to be paid, and a granny who is counting on me to look after her.

And truthfully, I would do anything to help Granny. After all, she's my only family. She raised me and has helped me every step of the way. Now it's my turn to do that for her.

"Is that table ridiculously annoying or what?" Scarlett asks as she pushes into the backroom where I'm catching my breath on a five-minute break. She carries in a tray of empty glasses and drops them in the sink.