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  Emma’s common sense returned, and she realized she needed to find her keycard or they weren’t getting inside. A bit of rifling and she was able to excavate it from amid the clutter collected at the bottom of her purse. She managed to get the card into the slot facing the correct direction on the second try. The automatic locks slid open as the light turned green. Green for go.

  Emma pushed open the door and a moment later, she and Jace were standing inside the room. She should have thought to straighten up after she and Becca had gotten dressed for the rodeo. The room was a shambles, but Jace didn’t seem to notice the two suitcases open on the floor, or the clothes strewn on the chair, or much of anything else.

  He stepped closer, his eyes focused on Emma. Just a few inches taller than she was in her boots, he had to only dip his head to brush his lips across hers.

  Their first kiss was soft and slow, but all consuming. It had her dragging in a breath. What would it be like to make love with a man who could kiss so thoroughly? It had been a long time since she’d been kissed like that. Slow and deep.

  Hell, it had been a long time since Emma had been kissed by anyone in any way at all. She wanted to savor every taste, every touch. This was a memory that would last forever—

  The obnoxious sound of Jace’s phone chiming in his pocket interrupted her enjoyment of his talented mouth. Emma pulled back from the kiss, just far enough to say, “That’s your phone.”

  “I heard it. It’s just a text. I’m ignoring it.” He pressed closer and wrapped his hands around her waist.

  Two sides warred with each other within Emma. She wanted nothing more than to go back to kissing Jace. But the other half was dying to know if it was a text from his friend Tucker. It could be something to do with her sister.

  Maybe it said something about her level of nosiness, or she could pretend it was concern for Becca, but either way Emma let curiosity get the better of her. “Maybe you should check. It could be Tucker looking for us.”

  Jace let out an exaggerated sigh that lost all authenticity when he rolled his eyes and smiled. “All right. If you want me to.”

  He read the text and his grin disappeared. His drastic change of expression had Emma immediately worried. “What’s wrong? Is it Tucker? Is Becca all right?”

  “It’s not Tuck. It’s my ex. She has a flat tire and needs me to come and put the spare on for her.” He punched in a reply and then glanced at Emma. “I’m sorry. She’s stuck on the side of the highway. It’s dangerous sitting there in the dark. People drive like lunatics on that road. I have to go help.”

  “Um, yeah. Sure. Go. You should definitely help her.” A call to the auto club would have been a better idea. Or to a local towing company, if his ex didn’t belong to AAA. Or to one of her friends or family. Any number of alternatives came to mind. Yet this girl had instead texted Jace, her ex-boyfriend. And at her summons, he was going to come running.

  “I really am sorry.” With literally one foot out the open door, Jace paused. “Do you think I could have your number?”

  “You want my number?” Emma’s eyebrows shot up. “You know I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  “I know, but you’ll be back.” There was that smolder, lighting his eyes and making him irresistible again.

  Dammit. She should be mad at him, not admiring how sexy he was. “Why are you so sure I’ll be back?”

  “Because after one night with Tuck, your sister will want to come back for more. I’m thinking there’s a good chance you’ll be with her.”

  That was a very definite possibility. Emma hadn’t told Jace about Becca’s interview at Oklahoma State tomorrow. It was not a secret; it just hadn’t come up. But if Becca got the job—which Emma had every confidence she would—she would be back.

  Maybe this was a one-time thing with the ex-girlfriend. Jace could be just a good guy who felt obligated to help because of their long history together. She probably shouldn’t fault him for being nice and helping out a friend. Even if that friend was an ex-girlfriend with the worst timing on earth.

  “All right.” She scribbled her cell number on the top page of the notepad next to the bed. He took a step forward and grabbed the paper she held out to him.

  “Thanks.” He shoved it into his pocket and opened the door again, cocking his head toward the hallway. “I’d better go, but I’ll call you. I promise.”

  He sounded sincere enough, but she’d believe that when she saw it. “Okay.”

  Hand still braced on the door, he glanced back at her one more time. “Bye.”

  “Bye.” It was a hell of an effort to sound upbeat as she said good night to the man she thought she’d be waking up next to in the morning. She wasn’t sure if she managed it or not.

  Just when Emma thought he was about to take his final leave, Jace stepped back inside the room. He strode to where she stood by the bed. He grabbed the back of her head with one big hand, and covered her mouth with his.

  It ended too quick, barely after a few seconds. He pulled away, and with a small smile, left. The click of the door latching behind him gave the act a definite sense of finality.

  He’d kissed her breathless and then had gone to ride to the rescue of another woman. Emma had the worst luck with men. She flopped back onto the mattress and blew out a big breath. Apparently chivalry had its downside when the sexy knight rode off to save another damsel and left his ladylove primed, ready, and sexually frustrated.

  Meanwhile Becca, Miss Prim and Proper, was off somewhere getting lucky. The English professor who didn’t even like to get her hands dirty pumping gas for her own fuel-efficient car was most likely getting laid in the front seat of Tucker’s huge bad boy pickup truck. There was irony if ever Emma saw it.

  After the events of tonight, she sure could use another drink, but there was no way in hell she was going back down to that bar alone after the promising public exit she and Jace had made together.

  She glanced at the phone on the desk in the room. Maybe the bar delivered.

  Chapter One

  “To Tuck and Becca.” Logan Hunt held the stem of the fluted glass between his thumb and forefinger and raised it in a toast.

  The glass contained champagne when he’d much rather be drinking beer, but what could he do? It was a celebration, and celebrations traditionally called for bubbly. Tuck’s mom had poured a glass for them all before she’d run off to the kitchen to check on something in the oven for tonight’s party. Maybe Logan could refill his glass with beer. Who would notice? The two drinks basically looked the same. At least to him, they did.

  The bride and groom raised their glasses to take a sip, but Logan wasn’t quite done with his toast. “May your marriage be long and happy and far less tumultuous than the past . . .” He frowned and glanced at the happy couple. “How long has it been since you two first met?”

  “Ten months.” Becca screwed up her face. “And it hasn’t been tumultuous.”

  It seemed like far longer ago that Tuck had sprung the news on Logan that the new English professor at OSU had been his rodeo one-night stand.

  “Maybe not for you, but for me it sure as hell has. Ten months? Really? That’s all? Jeez.” Logan laughed. As head of OSU’s Military Sciences department, Logan could only turn a blind eye to Tuck and Becca flaunting the university’s non-fraternization policy for so long, hence his stress. But that wouldn’t be a concern any longer, once Tuck and Becca were married. “Anyway, I’ll be more than happy when you officially tie the knot.”

  “So will I,” Tuck agreed. Becca opened her mouth to say more, but Tuck silenced her with a kiss before he pulled back and tipped his glass toward Logan in salute. “And thank you, Logan.”

  A chime sounded and Becca glanced at the cell phone she held in one hand.

  “That must be Emma getting back to me.” She glanced down to check the text. “It is. She’s still at the hotel and needs directions to the house. Of course she does. I knew she’d forget to print out the ones I e-mailed to her last week.”
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  “Go on. Call your sister.” Tuck gave Becca a pat on the bottom that would have earned any other man who tried that a black eye. “Logan and I have a lot to discuss anyway. You know, all the bachelor party plans for tonight after this family party is over.”

  “Bachelor party . . .” She let out a humph.

  Tuck grinned. “Yes, ma’am. Bachelor party.”

  “I’m still not sure I approve of that.” Becca’s blond brows furrowed.

  “Too late to object now. It’s already planned.” Tuck hooked an arm around her neck, planted another hard kiss on her mouth, and then gave her a little push toward the door. “Go call. Emma’s waiting. You know she gets pissy when you don’t get right back to her.”

  Becca narrowed her eyes. “We’re talking about this bachelor party thing more later.”

  As she left the room, Tuck shook his head and glanced at Logan. “I’m sure we will talk more about it later.”

  “No doubt.” Logan commiserated with his friend.

  How many times had he and Tuck stood together in this house in the past? It would be impossible to count the number. Logan had taught both Tuck and his own younger brother, Layne, how to pitch a fastball in the backyard here. All while he’d tried to occupy Tuck’s little brother Tyler, who insisted on being in the middle, trying to keep up with the bigger boys. Being ten years older than Tuck and Layne, Logan had been the referee for many a scuffle between the boys.

  Come to think of it, it wasn’t just the boys he had to referee. Tuck’s little sister Tara was always right in the mix, too. It didn’t matter if they were digging worms to go fishing or playing war, Tara wanted to be with them.

  It felt good to be back in his old hometown and here in the Jenkins’ house for the happy occasion. Having grown up next door and being the oldest of the neighborhood kids, he had served as a built-in babysitter at times. But with the three Jenkins kids, he was more like an older brother.

  A wave of nostalgia hit Logan hard, along with something else. Loneliness, maybe?

  After their marriage, Tuck and Becca would be building a family. They’d have kids of their own, and it would be Tuck teaching them to throw a ball or bait a hook. For the first time, Logan felt his single, childless status. It left him feeling a little empty.

  It was crazy for Logan to feel lonely, because he was almost always surrounded by people. He had his fellow faculty and cadets, and his family was just a couple of hours away. He could visit home anytime he wanted. Still, Logan hoped he’d be involved in some way with Tuck and Becca’s kids, whenever the time came. Maybe he could be an honorary uncle. He’d fill whatever role they gave him.

  Logan found himself a little choked up as he said, “I’m happy for you, Tuck.”

  “Thanks, man.” Tuck put his champagne glass down on the table. “You ready to trade in these sissy bubbles for something with hops and barley in it?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Logan pushed his champagne flute toward Tuck’s before he ended up tipping over the too tall, stemmed glass and breaking it. Give him a nice solid longneck bottle any day. Something he could wrap his fist around and not worry it would snap or get crushed. “So what’s the plan for tonight?”

  Besides Tuck’s eventual, inevitable negotiations over the bachelor party with Becca.

  “Well, most of the guests we invited to the wedding are local, but the ones coming from any distance have arrived in town already and checked into the hotel. They should all be here within the next hour for this . . . whatever this party is called.” Tuck shook his head, looking as baffled as Logan as to why there was a smaller party tonight before tomorrow’s big party—the wedding reception. “I guess we’re supposed to spend a few hours eating and drinking here to welcome the out-of-towners, before we head out for the bachelor party. Then tomorrow—”

  “Tomorrow your days as a free man are over.” Logan finished Tuck’s sentence. “You ready for that?”

  It had hardly been two years since Tuck’s divorce from his first wife.

  “Yeah, I’m more than ready. If Becca didn’t want the white dress, church wedding, and big reception, I would’ve dragged her off to Vegas and had Elvis marry us on Valentine’s Day when I proposed to her.”

  “But then you couldn’t have had the bachelor party.” Logan laughed at Tuck’s expression of dread at the reminder.

  “I have a feeling that is going to come back to bite me in the ass. Becca doesn’t look all that happy about the whole idea. I don’t know if it’s worth the hell I may have to go through. What in the devil did y’all plan anyway?”

  “Me? Nothing. Jace and your brother did all the planning.”

  “Jace and Tyler together? Crap.” Tuck cringed and took a swig out of his bottle.

  “Aw, come on. What are you so worried about?” Logan grinned and took a sip of his own cold brew. It hadn’t been a serious question. Logan knew very well Jace being involved was something to worry about in itself.

  Tuck released a burst of air. “Jace . . . Well, he’s just Jace. Him alone planning this thing would be bad enough, but my brother’s no better. Tyler’s what, twenty-four now? And he’s never had a girlfriend for longer than two weeks. He can’t appreciate what Becca could put me through if she’s unhappy about this party.”

  Logan laughed and enjoyed Tuck’s torture. “Where are the two party planners, anyway?”

  “Tyler drove to pick up my sister at college. Don’t know where Jace is. He should be here soon, I guess.” Tuck glanced at the old grandfather clock that had stood in the corner of the Jenkins living room forever. Or at least for as long as Logan could remember.

  “Maybe he’s busy finalizing plans. You know, for the nekkid dancing girls and all.” Logan couldn’t resist a little more teasing.

  “Oh, God, I hope not.” Tuck hissed in a breath and glanced in the direction Becca had disappeared. “And don’t even joke about that where she might hear you.”

  Seeing Tuck as a taken man again sure was making for some good entertainment for Logan in his own unencumbered state. It made a man happy to be free. He’d be even more grateful of that fact at the wedding when all of the available female guests were feeling romantic after the nuptials. Maybe some would be looking for someone to slow dance with or kiss. Logan could definitely oblige.

  Becca, the woman responsible for Tuck being off the market again, came back into the room. Luckily she arrived well after the discussion about dancing girls was over. “Emma’s on her way. She figured out her outfit so she’s happy.”

  “Thank God for that. Nobody wants Emma unhappy about her outfit.” Tuck rolled his eyes before glancing at Logan. “This’ll be your first time meeting Bec’s sister, won’t it?”

  Logan dipped his head in response to Tuck’s question. “Yes, sir. It sure will be.”

  “I’m not worried about Emma fitting in. Everyone loves her. It’s the rest of the relatives I’m concerned about.” Becca screwed up her face into a scowl. “My father, Mr. Punctuality, is beside himself they’re not here an hour early, and it sounded like my mother was already well into her sherry. She bought a bottle at the duty-free shop at the airport.”

  “A bottle? Sounds like a hell of a good start to a party,” Jace said as he walked through the door.

  Speak of the devil.

  “Hey there, darlin’.” Jace scooped Becca into a hug that lifted her feet right off the ground. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and set her back down. “You look great, as usual.”

  Becca laughed. “Thanks, Jace. But you’d better save a few compliments for later when my family is here and I’m tearing my hair out. I may need to hear them then.”

  “You got it. And just send me the signal and I’ll sneak you some booze, too, if you want it.” Jace winked at her and slid a flask partway out of his pocket.

  “I’ll keep that in mind. A visit with my parents might require some alcohol.” Becca glanced at Tuck. “I’m going to go see if your mom needs any help in the kitchen.”

  “Sounds good,
baby.” Tuck nodded.

  Jace watched Becca leave as he walked over to Tuck. He stuck out one arm to shake the groom’s hand. “Hey, man. How you holding up? You ready to bolt yet? I got the truck filled up with diesel and coolers full of ice-cold beer. It’s parked right outside, just in case.”

  Logan shook his head. Typical Jace, as changeable as the wind. He was sucking up to the bride with one breath and offering to help the groom escape with the next.

  Tuck’s gaze cut to the doorway Becca had gone through before he answered, “Not at all. I love every minute of this. Nothing more fun than planning a big ol’ wedding. You want a beer? I’m getting myself another one.”

  Logan glanced at his bottle. He wasn’t even halfway done with his own beer yet but Tuck’s was empty. Tuck might pretend he was calm, cool, and collected about the wedding and all it entailed, but the empty bottle told another story.

  Out-of-town relatives. Nervous brides. Crazy groomsmen. Saying I do for the rest of your life . . . Yeah, Logan sure was happy he’d be on the ushers’ side of the altar rather than directly in the line of fire like the groom.

  “Definite yes on the beer.” After he answered Tuck, Jace turned to extend a hand toward Logan. “Lieutenant Colonel Hunt, sir. What’s the status of the Oklahoma State ROTC program?”

  Logan laughed at how Jace lowered his tone of voice and spoke more like a battalion commander than a bull rider. “A little slow right now since we’re on break between semesters, but thanks for asking. How you been, Jace?”

  “Good. Rodeoing quite a bit now that it’s summer. Dragging Tuck with me when I can get him away from Becca and convince him to ride.”

  “Just don’t break him, please. Tuck may be a bull rider part of the time, but he’s one of my soldiers full time, and one of my department’s best military science instructors. I need him with two functioning legs when we go back to PT with the cadets. Got it?”

  “Sure thing. Let’s just hope Becca doesn’t break anything on him during the honeymoon.” Jace waggled his eyebrows. “As for rodeo, he usually ends up breaking his ribs when he wrecks, not his legs, so we’re good. Broken ribs hurt like a son of a bitch, but he can still run with ’em.”