Chasing Trouble (Chasing Love 1)

“Fuck off.”

Huck tsked. “We’re not playing that game right now.”

Jenna couldn’t help but laugh. Huck was carefree and didn’t give a crap about much of anything.

“You’re drunk. And we’re not in high school anymore,” Bass stated, but he grinned. Sebastian’s composed facade rarely faltered. Jenna identified with that. She also knew that while he might be intense, deep down, he was a rowdy country boy like the rest of them. Tonight, after a few beers and laughs, Jenna was happy to see the relaxed side of him.

“Okay, okay, okay! I’ll pick ‘truth’ for you.” Huck held up his hands, each holding a beer. “Bass, do you make the witnesses cry or scream when you question them?”

A devilish smile spread Sebastian’s handsome face. “Both.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Huck took a swig of beer. “But you always debrief them right?”

Now everyone laughed and Sebastian’s grin widened. “You can’t ‘debrief’ lingerie, you redneck.”

“Oh, I forgot, counselor, you just talk ’em out of their panties.”

Sebastian shrugged. “And when that fails you use your teeth.”

“Bass, you’re terrible!” Lily smiled.

“What are you talking about, terrible? Getting this guy in jeans with a beer is his best side!” Huck finished both of his own beers and went back to the cooler.

“Jesus, Huck. Who are you trying to outdrink?” Sebastian said.

Huck mumbled something unintelligible.

Jenna looked over at Colt, who was watching all this play out, just as she was. She’d like to think he was struggling with thoughts similar to her own. If he was, she sure as hell didn’t know it. He looked so calm, completely unaware of her.

But that’s what she wanted, right? Distance.

Why did she feel like scolding herself right now? She and Colt had shared something intimate. Special. She had been honest and told him how she felt and what she wanted. Problem was, how she felt and what she wanted were constantly conflicting.

There was no way she was going back on her word. In reality, she didn’t need the grief and mess that came with a relationship, especially in this town with that man—not that he was offering that in the first place. But she would let everything else go for tonight go and just be.

Her eyes skated over Colt again. Pausing on all the delicious parts. What he had said and how he had looked at her—like he really did want her to have everything. Like he understood a part of her no one else did. Because she could be herself with him.

“You trying to stare a hole through me there, sugar?” Colt called out at her.

Jenna frowned, her eyes remaining on his hard chest. “Your shirts…” She took a sip from her longneck. “They just fit you so nice.”

The simple cotton looked soft, stretching wonderfully over the hard planes of muscles in his chest and torso.

Jenna looked up and saw everyone staring at her. Panic rose. She wasn’t anywhere near drunk. The few beers she’d had made her buzzed enough to say what was on her mind. Apparently everyone took notice. She looked at Colt, silently begging for…anything. Anything to get her out of this moment and away from her verbal slipup.

“As long as we’re being nostalgic, how about a game of sardines?” he asked the group, breaking everyone’s attention off her, thank God.

“Ooh! I’ll be ‘it’!” Penny smiled.

“Aren’t you worried she’ll get herself lost?” Sebastian said to Ryder.

“Hey!” Penny piped in, “Ryder is my brother, not my keeper. I’d be more worried about you getting your uptight corporate ass lost out there.” Penny retorted, obviously tipsy.

Ryder laughed. “There’s that Diamond temper coming out.”

Penny’s eyes went wide at her brother’s comment and she threw a palm over her mouth. Normally a big ball of sweet sunshine, Penny’s little outburst appeared to take even her by shock.

Sebastian downed the rest of his drink, tossed the bottle in the fire and stepped closer to Penny. “Oh, it’s on now.”