Can't Hardly Breathe (The Original Heartbreakers #4)

A slow song spilled from the overhead speakers, and Thea and her date moved to the dance floor. Hillcrest put both arms around her, and Daniel cursed.

“What in Sam Hill does Thea think she’s doing?” he grated. “She’s supposed to be a role model for the younger girls in town.”

Jude arched a sandy-colored brow. “Role model, is she?”

“Yes! She’s smart, kind, and that mouth...”

“Gets sassy, does she?” Brock asked.

If his friend only knew the half of it.

Jessie Kay arrived at long last, minus West. She was a vision in a fifties-style dress. It was red with black polka dots, a halter top that veed between her breasts and a skirt that flared at her waist and ended just below her knees, revealing a single ruffle. “Hey, y’all. Your day just got made. I’m here!”

Thea and Hillcrest returned to the bar. A smiling Ryanne handed Hillcrest a wineglass and Thea a copper mug. She was having a Moscow Mule without him, he realized. That was his drink.

His date.

Thea was all sunshine and light, chatting easily with Hillcrest and her friends. What were they discussing?

She didn’t look like she was missing Daniel at all.

“Maybe you could have won your girl’s heart...if you didn’t have a micropenis,” Jude said.

“Or that horrifying problem with impotence,” Brock added with a shudder.

“Or those hemorrhoids the size of the Wichita Mountains,” Jessie Kay said helpfully.

“Ha ha. When’d you talk to Holly?” Daniel asked.

“She called about an hour ago.” Jessie Kay took a drink—gulp—of his beer. “She was being a concerned citizen and thought I, as your best friend in the world, should get you in to see a doctor. I, of course, called your other, less important friends to discuss the best course of action for getting you help.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I bet.”

In the back of the bar, a band carted their instruments to a dais. Ryanne joined them and adjusted the mic while the rest of Thea’s group claimed a table in front to watch.

“What do you say we join our girls?” Daniel asked, already marching across the dance floor. He’d told himself he would keep his distance. That he wouldn’t approach her until after the date, because he never wanted her to wonder what could have been. But staying away proved impossible. She drew him.

Maybe he drew her, too. Those green, green eyes landed on him and widened. Electrical currents arced between them.

Daniel picked up the pace.

“Oh my gosh, y’all.” Jessie Kay clapped as she and the others caught up to him. In an exaggerated side whisper, she said, “Daniel and Dorothea are gonna burn the whole place down, namely because a fire just started in my panties. Someone call West and tell him to forget his work and get down here el pronto!”

When he reached the table, he pulled a seat next to Thea, edging Hillcrest out of the way.

“—getting notes of cedar, chestnuts and raspberry,” Hillcrest was saying as he sniffed his wine.

“I’m getting wasted,” Thea muttered, draining her mug.

“Mind if we join you?” Daniel asked.

Finally noticing him, a slack-jawed Hillcrest shot out his arm to shake Daniel’s hand. “You’re Daniel Porter.”

“I know,” he replied, “but thanks for the update.”

The piece of shit didn’t take offense but nodded with enthusiasm. “It’s so great to see you again, man.”

Daniel ignored him, while Thea glanced between them, clearly unsure how to proceed.

Her nails were purple. She was determined.

Determined to do...what?

“I gotta admit I’ve got a bit of a man crush on you,” Hillcrest continued with an easy smile. First thing I’ll do is knock those pearly whites down his throat. “I was part of the armed guard, and you were something of a legend, even to us. I was so proud to tell everyone we came from the same town. I even—”

Brock pulled a chair behind Daniel and wrapped an arm around the guy’s shoulders. “We don’t like to talk about military business in front of our women.”

Our women, he’d said. Good boy.

“Right, right.” Hillcrest ran his fingers over his mouth, miming a zipper, before saying, “My apologies. Oh! Where are my manners? Dorothea, have you met—”

“Yes. She’s met everyone,” Daniel said. “She’s the reason we’re here. The reason I’m here.”

“We’re friends,” Thea whispered. She cleared her throat. “He works at the inn.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Hillcrest laughed at himself, earning an encouraging smile from Thea. “I’d heard talk, of course, but hadn’t put two and two together.”

“This is Jude Laurent and Brock Hudson,” she added, and Hillcrest clutched his chest as if he were having a heart attack.

“I’m—I—This is...” Hillcrest looked at one, then the other, then the other again, stars in his eyes. “The names of those in your unit were whispered through the ranks and—Sorry. My tongue is running away from me again.”

“You are in the presence of greatness,” Daniel said, his gaze hot on Thea. “There’s no denying that.”

She frowned at him before mouthing, Stop it.

Jessie Kay caught the exchange and sought to lessen the mounting tension—by sitting on Hillcrest’s lap. “Bet you didn’t know your hero Danny boy has a micropenis. We’re thinking about asking him to get penile enlargement surgery because we’re so embarrassed for him.”

Thea choked on an ice cube, and confusion pinched Hillcrest’s features.

Jessie Kay often had that effect on people.

Soft, haunting music wafted in the background, claiming everyone’s attention. Ryanne belted out a shockingly soulful note that put goose bumps on Daniel’s arms. She sang about everything left unsaid, everything left undone, and what if there wasn’t a tomorrow, no, no, what if there wasn’t one, what would we do then?

Had she chosen the song on purpose?

Suddenly all Daniel could think about was everything he hadn’t said to Thea, everything they hadn’t done to and with each other. If there were no tomorrow, he’d want to spend every second of today with her. She was the person he longed to hold throughout the night; she was the first thing he yearned to see in the morning.

“I mean it. Stop,” she whispered to him. “You’re making me uncomfortable, looking at me like...like...that. I’m on a date. With another man!”

“End it.” Desperate to stake a claim, he almost yanked her onto his lap. “Problem solved.”

Tremors of anticipation rocked her, but she shook her head no. “I... No. I won’t.” She licked her lips and turned to Hillcrest. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” She stood.

To escape Daniel? Hell, no. That wasn’t happening.

“I’ll walk you—” Hillcrest began, rising.

“How about you and I get the gang a round of drinks?” Brock threw his arm around the man’s shoulders to lead him away. Not that Hillcrest resisted. He stared up at Brock as if he’d hung the moon.