Resisting Mr. Tall, Dark & Texan

“You’ll be out till all hours.”

“That’s the way a bachelor party tends to work.”

“So never mind. I can make the trip tomorrow on my own. I’ll bring you receipts. Lots of them.”

“Uh-uh. I’ll get up in time. And I’ll take you.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

He was grinning, looking way too handsome, as he took up the challenge. “And you will see it. Just wait.”

He was sweet to want to help. She did appreciate that. And she always enjoyed his company. But it didn’t matter either way. If he wasn’t up by the time she had to go, she’d just take off on her own. No big deal. “Want some dinner? I can throw something together within twenty minutes or so.”

He shook his head. “The party’s at the Hitching Post, a local watering hole. Dillon rented a private room in the back. Dinner included.”

“You guys hire a naked girl to pop out of a cake?”

“Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie. Give us more credit than that.”

“Two naked girls?”

He grunted. “You know the old saying. What happens at a bachelor party stays at a bachelor party.”

She waved a hand at him. “I know, I know. If you told me you’d have to kill me and all that. Better you just keep your secrets. I’m too young to die.”

“Plus, I need you alive to make Erin’s wedding cake.”

“Right. That, too.”

“So … the twins and Rose are staying at Thunder Canyon Resort.” His brothers Jackson and Jason were fraternal twins. At thirty, their sister, Rose, was the baby of the family. “I thought I’d wander on up there, see how they’re doing, maybe have a look around the resort’s main clubhouse a little …”

She almost laughed. “And I need to know your every move, why?”

He lifted one hard shoulder in a half shrug. “Well, I mean, if there’s anything you need from me. Anything at all …” Now he was giving her that look again. That sweet, melting look, eyes like dark chocolate.

She braced her elbows on her dinky desk and wrinkled her nose at him. “What are you up to?”

He smiled, slow and lazy. “Not a thing. I’m just saying you can count on me to help, that you’re a lifesaver for poor Erin and I’m here for you, Lizzie.”

She made a shooing motion with both hands. “Out. Go. See you tomorrow.”

“You sure?”

“I am positive.”

“‘Night, then.” He turned and left her.

She watched him go, thinking what a great butt he had.

Until she caught herself staring and made herself look away.

After that, for several minutes, she just sat there at her desk, staring blindly into the middle distance, wondering why he seemed to be pulling out all the stops to be charming and attentive to her the past couple of days.

It was kind of annoying, really. They had an easygoing, best-pals relationship. And suddenly, he was messing with the program, falling all over himself to be available to her, coming way too close to flirting with her.

Worse than whatever he was up to, was the way she seemed to be responding to it. Getting all shivery when he sent her a glance. And … staring at his butt?

Okay, yeah. It was a great butt. But still. It wasn’t as if that was news or anything.

Really. The last thing she needed was to start crushing on Ethan. That would be beyond stupid.

Lizzie tossed down her pen and stood up. She smoothed her hair and straightened her plain white sleeveless shirt. Get over yourself, Landry. Ethan wasn’t up to anything beyond being extra nice to her in hope that she might change her mind about resigning.

And she was not crushing on him. Uh-uh. No way. Not in the least.

Chapter Three

At 3:10 a.m. Friday, Ethan clapped his brother Corey on the shoulder. “You’re a lucky man,” he said.

“Yes, I am,” Corey agreed. “I’ll walk you out.”

Jackson, who was good and toasted at that point, called, “Hey, where you two goin’? Party’s jus’ gettin’ started. ‘S’bad enough Dillon crapped out on us early.”

The redhead on his lap giggled. “Yeah, you two. Stick aroun’ …”

“I’ll be back,” promised Corey with a rueful grin.

Jason, across the table from his twin, shook a finger. “You guys are gettin’ old,” he accused.

Neither Corey nor Ethan argued. The lone bartender, left to close up the place when the party was finally over, shook his head and went on polishing the short bar at the other end of the room. He’d stopped serving at two, per Montana law. But that didn’t mean the partiers couldn’t bring their own and serve themselves.

Ethan waved and left the private back room of the Hitching Post with the groom at his side. They emerged midway along a dim hallway and went right.

Corey pushed the bar on the heavy door beneath the red exit sign and the cool night air came in around them. He waved Ethan out ahead of him and put down the stop on the door to keep it from latching.

They stood in the quiet parking lot under the sodium vapor lights and Corey asked, “You good to drive?”

Ethan nodded. “Not even buzzed. I couldn’t afford to get blasted. I’m taking Lizzie to Bozeman bright and early tomorrow to buy supplies for the wedding cake.”

Corey grinned. He was a fine-looking man and took after their mother’s side of the family, with lighter hair and eyes than Ethan had. “Got news for you, big brother. Tomorrow is already today.”

“Did you have to remind me?”

Corey chuckled, but then he grew serious. “I owe you. And Lizzie. You’ve made Erin very happy.” His deep voice softened when he said his bride’s name. And it struck Ethan strongly: Corey was deeply in love.

First Dillon. Now Corey.

The Traub brothers were dropping like flies lately.