Page 14 of Loving Justice
She guessed she didn’t mind the attention because she watched him too. Even now, she leisurely journeyed her attention from his black Stetson sitting slightly cockeyed on his forehead to his wide whiskered jaw enhanced by the deep dimple at each corner of his lips. The black T-shirt seemed to effortlessly stretch over his broad shoulders, and the faded Wranglers fit his lean hips and long legs so well she wondered if the denim had been custom tailored.
Rayne leaned in to ask Jinx something. He smiled and nodded, giving her a thumbs-up. His reserved demeanor made him seem somewhat elusive.
Justice truly thrived on the thrill of a challenge.
She didn’t realize she had been staring so long until he shifted and their eyes locked. She refused to turn away, and they played a game of chicken. His grin warmed her inner thighs, and she squirmed to attention.
“Are you even listening to me?” Hope clicked her fingers in front of Justice’s face. “Earth to Justice. Are you in there?”
With a sigh, Justice removed her gaze from the cowboy and onto her annoying sister. “I was watching the line dancers.”
“I bet you were,” Hope said in an irritated voice.
“What?”
“I don’t think I realized until this very minute that someone has a crush on you. And maybe it’s reciprocated.” Hope pretended to pluck a piece of lint off her shirt.
“What are you talking about?”
“Him.” Hope unashamedly pointed at Jinx.
Justice turned to look subtly in Jinx’s direction, but he wasn’t there any longer.
Where did he go?
She scanned the crowd, but she couldn’t find him.
Hope cleared her throat and tapped Justice on the shoulder. “Two o’clock, Sis, and moving.”
Justice should have been warned sooner that Jinx was headed their way because she almost fell off her stool. As he passed, he touched the brim of his hat and said in the warmest, husky voice she’d ever heard, “Evenin’, ladies.”
“Evening, Jinx,” Hope responded happily.
Justice was too busy checking out the wide, fringed pockets that cupped his firm ass to greet him. She swallowed hard and forced her attention off his bottom.
“Yep, I was right, as always.” Hope beamed.
“Don't go there.”
“Don’t go where? That you two have noticed one another.? You two are hot for each other? No, I won’t point out that you have saliva dripping down your chin either.” Hope held out a napkin which Justice didn’t accept.
"Your imagination is out of control," Justice said, averting her gaze so Hope wouldn't see straight through her.
“He’s a good marriage of convenience material,” Hope said in a sing-song voice.
“Then why don’t you grab him?” Justice ordered a drink and planted her attention on nothing really. The most excitement just strolled toward the table where all the crew sat. She couldn’t stare without Hope seeing. However, through the large mirror behind the bar she could see Jinx clearly. He’d taken his hat off and had hooked it on his bent knee. She wondered if his hair was as thick as it appeared.
As if he felt the draw too, his gaze lifted.
“It’s not me he’s eyeing, honey.” Hope snickered.
Once Rayne placed the cocktail in front of Justice, she slurped up half of it through the straw. She needed to change the subject and asked Hope, “What’s been keeping you busy these days? I haven’t seen much of you in the last few months.” Justice leaned her elbows on the edge of the counter, ignoring the roaring laughter coming from Jinx’s table.
“Just busy. Nothing amazing.”
Using her straw, Justice dunked the slice of lime in her drink and forced her gaze to stay on Hope. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”
Hope’s shoulders collapsed and her lips pursed. “I’d like to, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, not even one of our sisters.”