Brielle was mortified to discover that people had been paying attention. Peggy hadn’t been anywhere in sight when Colt had slipped in there with her. But of course the woman knew what was happening in her own store. What had Brielle been thinking when she allowed that make-out session to go on in such a public place? Okay, maybe she wasn’t all that surprised at what she’d done. And she couldn’t regret it altogether. His kisses were that good.
She was, however, more than a little uncomfortable now that she was being examined under a high-powered microscope. Were these women finding her seriously lacking? They probably didn’t think her good enough for one of their own small-town cowboys.
That thought stung, though it shouldn’t have. She knew who she was and what she was worth. But that was just it. She didn’t really know who she was. She knew she was a Storm, but that didn’t mean anything anymore, and certainly nothing in this town. She felt as if she were floating on a cloud and she just didn’t know when it was going to start dropping rain, leaving a big hole for her to fall through.
“We don’t want to be a bother,” Maggie said. “We just wanted to meet Brielle and see what you’ve been up to, Colt. It seems you’ve been avoiding us lately.”
“Why would I ever avoid you three beautiful women?”
“Oh, don’t even try that on us, Colt Westbrook,” Bethel told him. “Or that ridiculous smile. We’re not some dumb young girls who can be fooled by your charm. If your mama was still alive, she’d be crying in her favorite front-porch rocking chair right about now, complaining about what a playboy you’ve become.”
“My mama raised me right, ladies,” he said, tipping his hat and looking around for a way out. When the doorbell rang and a man walked in, Colt’s face filled with relief. “I would love to keep chatting, but I need to speak to Hawk.” And he made a beeline for him, a man who didn’t know the minefield he was stepping into.
The new arrival made Brielle’s jaw drop. “Do they grow them all to be tall, dark and handsome here?” she couldn’t help asking.
“I think it’s something in the water,” Bethel replied with a laugh.
“Nah, it’s the sweet-corn whiskey,” Eileen argued.
“That’s my son, Hawk. He’s the local fire chief,” Maggie said, beaming. “It’s too bad Colt has already laid claim to you…”
For the zillionth time in the last hour, Brielle felt her cheeks grow warm. And then, to Brielle’s absolute horror, the two men began walking their way. She could barely form coherent sentences around Colt, let alone try to hold a conversation with two such hunks. Hell, she now lived on a cattle ranch; why not just call them beefcakes?
“Good afternoon, Mom.” Hawk leaned down and kissed Maggie on the cheek.
“Hello, son. How did that last call go?” she asked, giving him a quick hug.
Brielle was completely out of her element. The two seemed to have genuine affection for each other. Her family didn’t do hugs or kisses anymore. At one time they had, though — a long time ago.
“It was fine. Rick just hit a deer and messed up his truck’s bumper. The deer had to be put down, but you know that happens too often,” Hawk said.
“I know it does, Hawk, but it’s still unpleasant.”
Hawk nodded before turning Brielle’s way. “Who’s this beautiful woman with you, Mom?” he asked with a winning smile.
It was bright enough to make Brielle want to take a step backward. Or forward — she wasn’t sure.
“This is Brielle,” Colt said, stepping up beside her once again and wrapping his arm back around her. It seemed his fear of the meddling women was overruled by his desire to put his brand on Brielle before Hawk had a chance to get interested.
Not that Brielle realized that.
“Ah…I see,” Hawk said with a laugh. “Too bad,” he added with a wink at Brielle. “I’m Hawk. If your place is ever on fire, make sure and give me a call.”
“Yeah, we’ll do that,” Colt practically growled.
Hawk laughed with delight. “It was nice having you in the pack for as long as we did, brother.”
“I’m still in the pack, Hawk.”
“Doesn’t look like it to me.”
“What pack?” Brielle asked. She was grateful to have found her voice.
Before Colt could stop Hawk from speaking, the man opened his mouth. “The single men’s solidarity group,” he said with another chuckle. “I’d better grab my jeans and go.” He reached out, took Brielle’s hand, lifted it to his mouth, and he planted a kiss. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Brielle.”
Hawk headed to the counter and grabbed the package that was waiting for him, and then just as quickly as he had come in to the store, he was gone again.
“Yes, too bad,” Maggie said with a sigh as she watched the front door close. “I can’t wait for him to settle down.”
“We really need to pay for our things and get going,” Colt said grumpily.
“Of course, sweetie. We wouldn’t dream of holding you up,” Bethel said as she leaned in and kissed Brielle’s cheek. “It was so great to meet you, dear. I’ll be sure to have you over for lunch before too long.”
The two other women also kissed her, and they repeated the sentiment, then left the store without buying a single thing.
“Did they come over here just to meet me?” Brielle asked.
“Yeah, they did. We’d better get out of here before the entire town comes in,” Colt replied, and his tone indicated irritation.
Why was he was in such a foul mood all of a sudden? Brielle had no idea, but it wasn’t her place to ask. When they approached the register, Brielle pulled out her bank card — a mere gold card with a laughably low limit — except she wasn’t laughing. Yep, the purchase would hurt, but at least she now had boots and could ride a horse. Or could she? She still wasn’t going to admit that she’d never done it before.
Chapter Nine
The ride back to her ranch was filled with tension so thick that Brielle wondered how it was the windows didn’t shatter. Colt was in a less than perfect mood, and she thought back to what had happened during their time in the store.
Yes, they’d kissed, and yes, she’d run away from him afterward, but he’d seemed fine while she was speaking with the three surprisingly friendly women. It wasn’t until after his friend had arrived that he’d grown so grumpy and distant. Maybe Hawk wasn’t really a good friend and Colt didn’t like being around him. But she and Colt were hardly the best of friends themselves, so she couldn’t ask him about it.