Just then, Danny’s ball hit the bull’s-eye and Hawk splashed down into the water. As he climbed back up onto the bench with water dripping from his fine abs, Brielle figured out why all the girls were in line cackling.
“I owe Hawk a dunk or two,” Colt said, stepping up to the front of the line and sweet-talking the girl standing there.
Men. Did they ever get past adolescence? Not that females were much better. Brielle couldn’t help but smile as the teenager giggled, blushed and then let Colt cut in.
“He tends to have that effect on girls,” Brielle said with a wink that made the girl grin at her.
“Yeah, I’ve had a crush on him since I think I was five,” she replied shyly as she watched Colt draw back his arm and pitch.
The first ball missed, and Hawk wasn’t going to let that one go.
“Yeah, Colt, that looks like the throw you pitched at our homecoming game senior year.”
Colt gave him an evil smile before grabbing ball number two. “Just testing the wind,” he said and then threw right on the mark, sending Hawk into the tank, and the cheers went up again.
As Hawk climbed back up, he returned Colt’s evil smile. “Did I forget to mention that you’re up next?”
Colt released the ball, but it went way off the mark. “I didn’t sign up this year.”
“Yeah, but Spence couldn’t make it here. Called in to perform emergency surgery. So I knew you wouldn’t have a problem filling in for him. The funds go to charity, you know.”
Colt turned to Brielle. “Sorry. If I refuse, the guys will tie me to the seat of the dunk tank regardless.”
She brightened up. “No problem, Colt.” She couldn’t wait to see him in that tank.
“You’d better have an extra pair of shorts here, Hawk.”
“Of course we do,” Hawk said right before the next person in line sank him, this time while he wasn’t ready. He leapt out of the water, coughing as he tried to catch his breath.
“What color did you say your panties were?” Colt asked.
“Just wait,” Hawk replied. “You’re up in five minutes.”
“My turn should only take half an hour,” Colt told Brielle. “There’s tons for you to do in the meantime.” After he leaned down to give her a lingering kiss, the pink on her cheeks had nothing to do with the hot sun beating down on them.
“Awww, don’t worry about it, darling. All the single ladies are wishing they were you right now.”
Brielle turned to find Bethel and Martin standing beside her. “I…uh…”
“Yeah, Colt tends to make the ladies a little tongue-tied. Come with me, darlin’, and I’ll introduce you to a few more men who are bound to make you speechless.”
And just like that, Brielle felt herself being dragged around and introduced to so many people at the party that she’d have no hope of remembering even half of their names. Heck, she’d be lucky to remember a single one.
When twenty minutes had passed, Brielle looked longingly toward the water tank, and tried to get a word in with Bethel. She was itching to go back over there and see Colt dripping wet with the sun pouring down on him. That time she’d sprayed him with the hose in her front yard, she’d been in too much shock to really appreciate the view.
She was now more than willing to stare all she wanted, because she had no doubt that he wanted her, and no doubt that he wouldn’t mind if she took her fill. Sadly, all she was able to do was catch a glimpse before Bethel carted her off to another group of people.
“Have you met the new owner of the Ponderosa Pines Ranch?” Bethel asked an attractive couple.
The woman was a few months pregnant, at least to judge by the adorable bump on her otherwise slim body. Brielle wasn’t going to make a comment about it, though — she’d learned the hard way that sometimes what looked like a baby bump wasn’t one at all.
“You must be Brielle Storm. It’s such a pleasure to meet you,” the woman said before stepping forward and giving Brielle a startling hug. Yes, Brielle was used to the friendly people in this town, but she still wasn’t used to getting a hug instead of a handshake.
The woman stepped back and said, “I’m Misty, and this is my husband, Bryson Winchester.”
“Wait. Winchester? That name’s familiar.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ve met his brother, Hawk,” Misty said with a laugh. “All the single women around here make sure to meet him.”
“That’s right,” Brielle said. How had she not noticed the resemblance?
“It’s too bad you’re taken already. Hawk and Bryson’s mother has been itching for Hawk to settle down, especially since Bryson and I got married last year, and now we have a baby on the way.” Misty’s cheeks glowed as she ran her hand over her stomach.
“How far along are you?” Now she could ask, Brielle thought with relief.
“Only five months. The baby is due in November.”
“Congratulations,” she told Misty with a smile. “It was so good to meet you. I hope we run into each other again.”
When Bethel’s attention was diverted, Brielle practically sprinted back over to the water tank. She arrived just in time to see a shirtless Colt pushing himself out of the water and up onto the bench, the sun glinting off his hard pecs and rippling down his washboard abs. Hunger sat low and heavy in her stomach — how she wanted to climb right in the tank with him and…
That was so not the appropriate place for her mind to wander while in the midst of so many people, especially with the sound of children’s laughter all around her. What had Colt turned her into? When he looked up and their eyes met, his smile increased in wattage, and she felt her knees grow shaky.
“Come on, Brielle,” Colt called out, “give it a shot. But I seriously doubt you could hit the target even if you were standing three feet away.”
“Oh, Colt, Colt. That was the wrong thing to say.” Brielle stepped to the front of the line, and the boy who was about to throw gladly handed over the ball.
“Don’t throw like a girl,” Colt taunted her.
She fluttered her eyelashes at him, then looked at the target, wound her arm back, and released. The ball flew fast and straight and sank him on the first throw. When he popped back up from the water, his eyes held a look of amazement.
“I’m proud I throw like a girl, Colt. I did tell you that I have four brothers, didn’t I? I’ve been throwing since I took my first steps. I pitched on our softball team in high school, and I was beyond pissed off when they wouldn’t let me play baseball. The girls won the district playoffs and went to state my senior year.”