Page 3 of A Cowboy's Trust
Hadn’t she?
No. She’d danced withDeclan, oldest brother and a real sweetheart of a teddy bear. The zero chemistry between her and Declan had been apparent from the get-go, so she’d been telling him about one of the guys who was handsy when they danced who’d started to hang out at the café a little too often. Declan had listened earnestly then offered to delimb the bastard at her convenience, which put Declan firmly in Tansy’s good books.
It had been extremely annoying that she’d had spectacularly dirty dreams that night withJakeas the main star.
Tansy cringed as she and her partner bounced off another dancing couple.
No, if Jake was intriguing and interesting, it was because the two of them were oil and water, and Tansy got a perverse satisfaction out of sending his knickers into a twist. He used lists and planned and plotted. Hell, he probably had a five and ten year life blueprint organized and posted in triplicate.
She made plans when appropriate, which meant not often.
He’d wanted to set the timer for the hard-boiled eggs she’d made over at their house one day. A timer.Her. She never used a timer for anything when she cooked.
An announcement broke in overhead as the music paused. “It’s time, folks. Join me as we get ready for the final stroke of midnight and welcome in the new year.”
The countdown began.
Ten, nine…
So many people around, all laughing and shifting. Tansy spotted Aiden as he curled Petra close, ignored the clock, and planted a huge kiss on her.
Amused, Tansy twisted a little farther and came face-to-face with Jake. His eyes widened, lips tightened. As if she were the last person he wanted to see.
Fine. Be that way. She pivoted farther.
Four.
Three.
The cowboy she’d been dancing with—Two Left Feet Malone, Tansy had labeled him in her mind—was a nice enough guy, but as he opened his arms for her to join him for the traditional New Year’s Kiss, the excitement factor was nil.
Ah well. This too was simply a part ofone last timebefore the new year. Because God knew she wasneverinflicting a dance with him on herself again.
From behind her, someone grabbed hold of her wrist and tugged.
She spun away from Malone, caught an instant later against a massive hard body. Tansy’s palms splayed over a firm chest as she looked into a set of blue eyes that displayed both wild satisfaction and shock.
Jake Skye.
She was in Jake’s arms, and the countdown was done, and she couldn’t have planned a better flip fromold to newif she’d tried.
Especially when he leaned down and pressed their lips together and everyyesbutton Tansy possessed clicked on and locked in place. No simple mouth-to-mouth, nearly innocent peck, he dove in wholeheartedly and seared her with heat. A quick nip to her lower lip, a sweep of his tongue. The weight of his big hand on her lower back locking them together so tightly she wanted to purr with satisfaction.
Who knew? The man couldkiss.
Tansy wrapped her arms around him and joined in enthusiastically. Hell, she wrapped herlegsaround him, pressing closer, trying to connect them at as many points as possible. The firm line of him against her body was sexual temptation incarnate, and if they weren’t in the middle of the dance floor, she’d have assumed this was step one toward a very spectacular horizontal dance.
But theywereon the dance floor, and as the cries ofHappy New Yeararound them faded, the other part of why this kiss and embrace were so hilarious kicked in.
She hadn’t seen it coming. She’d bet anything neither had Mr. My Backup Plans Have Backup Plans.
When they finally broke apart, gasping for breath, Tansy clung on and grinned right into his face. “See? Sometimes spontaneity is fun.”
Jake focusedon staying upright as Tansy shimmied her feet back to the ground. He needed to say something, anything. Maybe even apologize.
Nope, couldn’t do it.
“Thanks for the great start to the new year. I’ll see you around.” Tansy patted his cheek then vanished between one breath and the next.
