Samhain Publishing Ltd, Ebooks and Books in Print

Australia

“You’re a bloody fruit loop.” Miller drained the rest of his beer and set the empty mug down. “Chill, or let’s get out of here.”

Cohen ignored his brother and looked around the crowded pub one more time. The place was teeming with tourists. No doubt, Miller had the right of it. A bloody fruit loop, to be waiting for a woman he’d spent half the night with a year ago. Still he could recall their fevered promises to reunite this year. If only he’d been able to get the night out of his mind or Hayleigh out of his fantasies.

“Mate, the least you could do is spill.” Miller waved the barkeep over again. “You’re making me bloody nervous. I can’t even enjoy the beer.”

He winced. Just like his brother to get down to business. Cohen was still surprised Miller had lasted an hour in silence. Would it have been too much to ask—for once—to have Miller go along? Miller would think he was a real nut, if he found out the reason Cohen had dragged his arse into the city.

Cohen’s gaze didn’t leave the door. He didn’t want to miss her. Though, as time passed, he agreed with Miller. He was an idiot for waiting, thinking she might show up after all this time.

Miller swung around and braced an elbow on the bar. “Bloody perv tonight, aren’t cha?”

Cohen blew out a breath. “I’m looking for someone.” Though he had eyed every female who’d come through the door, he hadn’t seen her. A time or two he’d looked too long. Nothing wrong with looking. He’d always favored a nice full rack.

Christ. What a nut to be waiting.

“Someone?”

“I met someone in here a while back. I’m looking for her.”

“Considering neither of us has been to the city…” His brother folded his arms and slowly scoped out the pub. “…in what…?”

“A while.” He cast Miller a glare before turning back to the door.

“So, I’m guessing you and this woman did more than chew the fat.” A shit-eating grin spread across Miller’s cakehole.

“I may have mentioned her to you and Ethan.” Maybe, he’d spoken to Ethan more than Miller about Hayleigh. Their oldest brother could be bloody difficult to talk to. Especially in recent months.

“Damn me.” Miller shook his head. “You were a dog after last year’s Sydney trip.”

Cohen caught the inside of his cheek between his teeth. He had no desire to give his brother any details of that night. They’d done a whole lot more than talk. Hayleigh had allowed him to screw her against his truck. Then she’d allowed him to screw her inside his truck.

His erection swelled at the memory of how hot she’d been. Hours of sucking face, and he’d been hornier than he’d ever been. He’d made the moves, and Hayleigh had melted at his every touch. Several hours of dance and a little talk had ended with an hour of the most remarkable sex of his life.

“Pig’s arse.” Miller nudged him. “Are you telling me you hooked up with a Yank and expect her to show up again?”

Yeah. Sounded like bullshit to him to when it was laid out fact on fact.

“Bloody fruit loop.” Miller’s expression showed his disbelief and disgust. He turned back to the bar. The barkeep placed another mug in front of him and without a word moved off. “I bet a week’s pay, you had a gutful of piss.”

“I wasn’t drunk.” He’d been buzzing, but he could still recall every minute of the night.

“Mate, you’re a grazier. You spend your days tending cattle and sheep…” His brother took a long swallow of his beer. “The Yank didn’t consider the screwing any more than a one-night stand.”

Fists clenched, Cohen turned back to the door. “Look, I know this is a waste of time. Head on back…”

“I got all the time in the world.” Miller sipped his drink.

Frustrated, Cohen wanted to give his brother a knuckle sandwich. Instead, he ordered a beer for himself. How many times had he tried to forget about his one night with Hayleigh? Since last year, he’d screwed every woman he could to work her out of his system. Had even gone as far as to date a neighbor. Nothing had helped.

Hayleigh had gotten into his blood, and he didn’t know how to work her from his mind. If she didn’t show…

“Mate, there’s a spunky sheila eyeing you.”

Cohen turned around, and his breath stalled. Oh, Christ. She’d returned.

“That her?”

Mouth dry, he swallowed. No way to get his head around seeing her again. Hayleigh had bloody returned like a boomerang. Slowly, his gaze perused her from head to toe. Loose brown hair framed brown eyes. A kissable bow-shaped mouth. Eh, she was spunky as all get out.

“She looks nervous. Better get over there before another bloke spots her.” Miller gave him a shove in the pretty brunette’s direction. “I’ll catch up to you back at Ethan’s place.”

“Thanks, mate.” He nodded. While in the city, they always stayed at Ethan’s condo.

Light-brown eyes widened as he approached. She backed toward the wall she’d been standing near.

Miller’s retreating back gave him pause. Damn. Maybe he should have come alone. The opportunity to see their brother Ethan had been his chance to visit the city. But seeing Hayleigh waiting for him…it reminded him Miller had been left cold at the altar and hadn’t been worth shit since. Denae hadn’t spared Miller a thought, yet Hayleigh had traveled across the Pacific Ocean to be with him.

That was saying something.

Only, he’d have bet the world Hayleigh wouldn’t show. Pure instinct had driven him back to the pub. He glanced over to Hayleigh.

Lust stirred.

Shaking off the guilt over Miller’s situation, he moved. He’d waited forever for this moment. He smiled. “G’day.”

“Hello.” Hayleigh’s skin flushed from her cheeks and neck along her full cleavage. Eh, he’d always favored a nice rack.

His erection swelled, turning rigid within his pants. Christ, she was something to look at. No getting over her beauty. His hands itched to caress the fullness of her jean-clad hips, to trail down her curved belly. She’d picked up some weight since last year, but the curves only encouraged him to explore. She looked softer somehow.

“You remember me?” Her lower lip trembled, only to have her catch it between her teeth.

“Hayleigh Davenport, I remember every inch of you.”