Desired (Wanted 6)

Jeff huffed. “I’d be interested in that hookup.”

“Right,” Josh added with a chuckle before taking another drink of his beer.

Standing, Jeff glanced around. “Well, boys, I’m going to go find me a pretty cowgirl to dance with. Excuse me.”

Josh wasn’t far behind Jeff as they both approached the same table of six girls. Jeff turned back and looked at me and smiled, and I knew what the bastard was doing. Trying to set me up with one of them.

“You doing okay?” Lacey’s voice came from my side. I glanced up and grinned.

“Yeah, just watching my two idiot friends over there.”

Lacey followed my eyes and laughed. “Well, they’re in luck if they’re wanting to score. I went to school with most of those girls; all of them I’m pretty sure would easily show your friends a good time, especially with how handsome they both are.”

I shook my head and sighed.

“You want to dance? I’m on a break, and I could sure use a couple of laps around the dance floor with an old friend.”

Standing, I held my hand out for her. “Let’s get out there then.”

We danced for three songs straight, and I couldn’t remember the last time I had smiled or enjoyed myself this much. Lacey filled me in on Rich and how he was now living in Dallas and was a lawyer. She was engaged to her high school sweetheart, and they were getting married in June. Her dream was to start her own business, a little home décor store on the town square.

“What about your fiancé? What does he do?”

She grinned. “What do most of the men here in Mason do?”

“Rancher?” I asked.

With a nod, she replied, “Yep. Lives, eats, and

breathes it.”

“A man’s man.”

She laughed. “You’d really like him. I’m sure y’all have probably met at some point.”

“What’s his name?” I asked before spinning her once.

“Hank Towers.”

I smiled. “Hell, I know Hank. He and Rich used to hang out together, right?”

“Yep, they still do when Rich comes into town.”

“Damn, I haven’t seen Hank in about six years or so.”

She glanced over my shoulder and smiled the most beautiful smile. I knew in that moment she was looking at the love of her life. My heart ached with the desire to have a woman look at me like that.

“Speak of the devil, there he is.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a tall, stout cowboy standing there. He wore the same smile as Lacey and couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. I dropped my hold of her and let her start for him. She grabbed my arm as she walked by.

“Come on, I’m sure Hank wants to catch up with you!”

The second she was in front of him, he lifted her up in his arms and kissed her. I found myself looking away so that they could share the moment together, even though we were standing in a crowded bar.

Lacey’s voice pulled my attention back to them.

“Hank, you remember Gunner Mathews, don’t you?”