Page 18 of Denim & Diamonds

“Good.” He winked. “Because you owe me one after I didn’t bust your balls about going through the phone when you thought it was mine.”

Brock and I spent the next two hours talking. He told me more about growing up with five brothers, and I finally came clean about the real reason my board had sent me for a mental-health break.

“Let me get this straight… You had no clue the mic was on, and everyone in the audience at some hurdy-turdy fashion show heard you having sex?”

I sipped my drink. “Pretty much. With my competitor. And we sort of cursed at each other through the whole thing. Iloathethe man. Though sadly, it wasn’t our first time.”

Brock went quiet.

“What are you thinking right now?” I asked. “I’m not generally promiscuous like that, if that’s what’s running through your mind.”

“That wasn’t what I was thinking.”

“Then what is it?”

He met my eyes. “That I’d like to punch the fucker who got to have sex with you.”

A little flutter moved through my belly. I smiled. “The feeling is mutual. I was jealous of whoever you were sexting with. By the way, you should tell your little brother to delete some of the racy pics he has on his phone. He’s underage, and if he sends them to people, it could be considered dissemination of child pornography.” As soon as I said the words, my eyes flared. “Oh my God, Brock. You have to get your brother’s phone back!”

Brock’s brows pulled tight. “Why?”

“Because I was pissed at you and left you a parting gift on it. I took a pic of me giving you the finger.”

He shrugged. “That’s not a big deal. My brother’s seen and done a lot worse.”

“No, Brock! You have to get it back. I didn’t just give you the finger. I wanted you to see what you were missing, so I held it upbetween my bare breasts!”

CHAPTER 4

Brock

I’d booked it out of the bar so damn fast there was probably smoke left in my wake. My pulse was going a mile a minute. This woman was going to be the death of me. It was hard to believe I’d only known her a couple of days, because she’d consumed me from the moment she blew into town.

No way in hell I was going to let my brother see that photo.That’s why I’m speeding down the road, I told myself. But I had a vested interest in getting to that photo—for myself. As crazy as February drove me, there was no denying how gorgeous she was. Knowing she’d sent a nude photo for my eyes only made me a little crazy. It also made me realize how damn hard up I was, and how much I needed to be careful not to let my carnal desires get in the way of common sense.

Going over the speed limit, I raced to make it to my aunt’s before my brother happened to go through his photos and notice it.

I reluctantly slowed down when I spotted an old man on the side of the road. He was holding his side, limping, and looked like he was struggling to walk. Shit.Why do I always attract this stuff?Normally, this would be my good deed of the day, to stop and help. But if I did, I’d run the risk of not getting to Axe in time.

After I passed the man, guilt consumed me. So I stopped my truck and put it in reverse.

I rolled down the window. “Are you okay, sir?”

His voice was frail. “Just played cards at my friend’s house. Thought I could make it home carrying this bag, but I’m feeling awfully tired. Got a cramp in my arm.”

“Where do you live?”

“On Groveland…”

I tilted my head. “I can take you home.”

His mouth curved into a smile. “That’s very kind of you, Brock.”

“You know my name?” I asked, surprised.

“Everyone knows you around these parts.”

I got out and helped lift the little old man into my truck. “What’s your name?” I asked.