Hold up a minute . . . “How’d you know I was counting?”
“Because you do it every time I talk to you.”
That grin of his told Kennedy that he didn’t mind one bit that she was trying to blow him off. “And how do you know this?”
Kennedy received a wink and a cocky grin in response before Sawyer turned his attention to the bar. That was when she realized he’d resumed his seat and now she looked like she was the one pursuing him.
Great.
Turning, she glanced at the door that would lead her outside into the fresh night air and away from this arrogant ass whom she should definitely be staying far, far away from. When her feet didn’t budge, Kennedy glanced back at him as she crossed her arms over her chest. The movement drew his intense blue-gray eyes downward and she immediately regretted the movement.
“Eyes up here, cowboy,” she scolded him firmly. When his gaze met hers, she could see the laughter swirling, and damn it all to hell, she couldn’t stop the smile that formed. “Damn you, Walker,” she muttered under her breath as she turned away from him again. This time, Sawyer drew her up short, his strong hand on her arm was like a shot of pure adrenaline being pumped into her veins.
“Come on, girl. Talk to me,” Sawyer said, that deep, velvety voice sending another bolt of unwelcomed lust penetrating her bloodstream.
“No can do,” she answered, trying to wrench free from his grip. “I’ll take my drink, but as for talking, I’m actually waiting for someone.”
Okay, so that was a total lie, but Kennedy knew that as soon as someone she recognized came through the door, she’d be able to fake it like a pro. Unfortunately, no one she knew personally had arrived, unless, of course, she was interested in hanging with another one of the Walkers.
“Liar,” he said without heat, getting to his feet again before pulling her toward the booth she’d been sitting at. The one that still had the drink he’d brought her sitting all by its lonesome.
“I don’t want to sit with you,” she stated firmly, acknowledging that yes, she did sound juvenile.
Again, Sawyer’s only answer was that mischievous smirk that really pissed her off. Because it was sexy as crap.
When he slid into the booth across from where her butt had been planted only moments ago, Kennedy tried to convince herself to stand firm. She wasn’t going to do this. Not here. Not now. Not ever. Sawyer Walker was bad for her health and for years she’d been focused on ensuring she ate healthy, drank plenty of water, exercised regularly, and avoided men like him at all costs. Until now, it had worked like a charm.
“Sit.”
The demand in his tone had her immediately planting her butt back on the seat before she realized just what she’d done. When she went to stand up, completely ashamed at how easily she’d let him tell her what to do, his hand came down on her forearm gently, causing her to pause.
Sawyer leaned forward, his voice low and smooth. “I’m not gonna strip you naked right here, darlin’, so you don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Hmmpphh,” she grunted, feeling foolish and silly for her reaction to him.
“Well, not unless you want me to.”
The blush that infused her face was so hot, she worried she actually had a fever.
Leaning forward, mirroring his position, Kennedy whispered, “Only in your dreams.”
“Tell me about it,” he answered easily before leaning back, that sinful smile once again tilting his full, firm lips. “I see you’re still blushin’ like a schoolgirl.”
Kennedy ignored his comment. Or at least she tried.
Resisting this man’s charm was something Kennedy had been working on for a while now. Unfortunately, she was much stronger when he wasn’t within five feet of her, like now. Even with her Midori Sour and three extra cherries—because Mack was the sweetest bartender she knew—her mouth was still dry and her palms were not. Sawyer had an uncanny ability to undo her with that grin, or the glint in those hypnotic smoky eyes.
Kennedy considered herself a smart woman. After all, she had a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Texas A&M. So what the hell was her problem when she looked at this man? Why was her vocabulary reduced to single-word sentences and grunts? Sure, he was handsome, if you liked leanly muscled, towering cowboys with a naughty sense of humor and that down-home country-boy charm. Which she didn’t particularly like all that much.
Uh-huh. Right.
Time to stop listening to her subconscious and get back to reality. Sitting here with Sawyer was definitely not in her best interest.
chapter TWO
If it weren’t for the fact that Kennedy looked at him like he was something she craved but was denying herself, Sawyer might’ve actually let her off the hook. But that twinkle in her pretty eyes told an entirely different story than her guarded body language did. She was definitely fighting her attraction to him. In fact, he was beginning to wonder what it would do to her if he dipped himself in chocolate. Would that push her that extra little inch and right over the edge?