LITMIR.BIZ

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a sultry rhythm that quickly became a pulsating beat in his blood. Cassidy’s hands encircled his neck and her hips began to sway in a sexy samba.

      Their eyes locked and Tim found himself drowning in the liquid blue depths. The people surrounding them faded into nothingness and all he saw was her.

      Tim barely noticed the music had ended, scarcely heard the lead singer announce the band was taking a break. His hands were on Cassidy’s waist and his eyes trained on that sexy mouth.

      God, he wanted her.

      “Break it up, you two. This is a family event.”

      Tim groaned and dropped his hands from Cassidy’s waist.

      Liam Gallagher, old friend and the reason that Tim was on this date in the first place, slapped Tim on the back. “Haven’t seen you in weeks and where do I run into you? At a street dance of all places. Unbelievable.”

      “Cassidy. Good to see you.” Liam’s smile widened. He jerked a thumb in Tim’s direction. “I haven’t had a chance to thank you for bidding on this guy.”

      “My good deed of the month,” she said with a cheeky smile, not appearing off balance by Liam’s unexpected appearance. Then again, Cassidy always seemed to handle whatever life tossed her way with a smile and an impudent attitude.

      The two bantered like old friends about the auction, or as Liam dubbed it, the “Jackson Hole Meat Market.”

      Tim watched the two, an uneasy knot forming in his gut. Women liked Liam. He was a good-looking guy with thick brown hair, and his smile always seemed to make the ladies swoon. Not to mention the psychologist could converse easily with anyone. Over the years Tim had developed that skill but the art of small talk still didn’t come naturally.

      Liam paused, as if suddenly realizing only he and Cassidy were engaged in conversation. “Am I interrupting?”

      Tim met his friend’s gaze. “Ever heard the saying ‘three is a crowd’?”

      Liam laughed uproariously as if Tim had made a joke. But within minutes, the psychologist had come up with an excuse to leave.

      Tim thought he’d once again have Cassidy to himself but Liam had barely disappeared when he caught sight of Jayne Connors headed in their direction.

      Though known for her tailored dresses and heels, apparently in concession to the casualness of the event, tonight Jayne wore navy pants and a sleeveless white shirt.

      When her gaze landed on Tim, she waved and smiled. Her bright smile dimmed when she caught sight of Cassidy. The look of disbelief she shot him made no sense. Tim distinctly remembered mentioning his date with Cassidy to her.

      “What a surprise.” Tim offered a welcoming smile when she drew close. “I thought you didn’t care for these kinds of events.”

      “Back at you.”

      Tim sensed Cassidy’s watchful gaze on him.

      “I was wrong,” he told Jayne. “It’s fun.”

      Cassidy offered the woman a friendly smile. “Good to see you, Jayne.”

      “You, too, Cassidy.”

      To Tim’s surprise there seemed to be genuine warmth between the women. He hadn’t realized they were so well acquainted.

      “The Jackson Chamber of Commerce has been plugging Old West Days all week,” Jayne explained. “Since I didn’t have plans for the evening I decided I’d wander around and see what the hype was all about.”

      Cassidy lifted a hand as if in mock toast, approval in her eyes. “I salute your spirit of adventure.”

      Though she looked pleased, Jayne lifted one shoulder. “It’s not as enjoyable when you’re by yourself.”

      “Join us.” Tim spoke without thinking.

      “Yes, please join us,” Cassidy echoed, though with less than her normal exuberance.

      “That’s kind of you both to offer, but you caught me on my way back to the car.” Jayne pressed two fingers against her temple. “The music, the heat, the noise is giving me a headache.”

      Tim was struck by the words. Only moments before Cassidy had confessed to Liam that the crowds and the noise energized her. Still, he could understand how Jayne might find the whole scene overwhelming. If he’d ever been able to drag Caro here, she’d likely have headed home with a headache, too.

      “Feel better.” Cassidy touched Jayne’s arm. “I’ll see you Monday. If you need to reschedule—”

      “I’m fine,” Jayne assured her. “I’ll definitely be there.”

      Tim tilted his head.

      “Haircut,” Jayne informed him. “Nobody cuts hair like Cassidy.”

      “You’re too kind.” Cassidy’s quicksilver grin flashed. “Though it’s completely true.”

      The band launched their next set with a Southern rock favorite from the sixties. The popular tune was apparently familiar to many in the crowd and en masse they began to sing the words.

      The librarian winced. “That’s my exit cue.”

      With a pained look on her face, Jayne said her goodbyes and hurried off.

      When Cassidy tugged on his arm, Tim leaned close, inhaling a whiff of her perfume. Something about the enticing scent made him want to move closer.

      “Let’s explore.” As she spoke her hand slid down his arm and her fingers laced with his.

      Her hand wrapped in his felt so natural, Tim didn’t even think of pulling away. Deliberately heading in a direction away from the band, they wove through the crowd. It took several blocks before the streets and sidewalks became less crowded. Instead of loud and pulsating, the music became festive background noise.

      With no destination in mind, he and Cassidy wandered, strolling side by side, enjoying the warm summer breeze and each other’s company.

      After several blocks the streets grew crowded once again and Tim quickly discovered the reason. Vendors. Booths stood like soldiers at attention, lining both sides of the street. Tim’s gaze swept over signs touting everything from cotton candy to rings made from horseshoe nails. Cassidy paused at one of the first booths, where an older gentleman dressed as an Old West sheriff stood selling tin stars.

      “Give me your opinion.” Tim slanted a questioning look in Cassidy’s direction. “Think the girls would get a kick out of one?”

      For a moment Cassidy silently stared at the badges, her expression unreadable.

      “I wanted one in the worst way when I was their age,” she said finally, almost to herself.

      “Really?”

      She nodded. “I had this crazy idea the badge would give me superpowers and allow me to control those around me. Stupid.”

      Something in the way she spoke, or maybe it was the turbulent emotion in her eyes, had him reaching for her hand and giving it a squeeze. “Did you ever get one?”

      A shadow passed over her face. “Naw. But that was okay. It wouldn’t have helped anyway.”

      Glancing away, she focused on a teenage girl walking by with a cone of rainbow-colored cotton candy. She touched his arm. “Be right back.”

      She did that a lot, he realized, little squeezes and pats. His family wasn’t overly demonstrative but he liked it when Cassidy touched him. And the contact made him want to touch her back.

      The line for the tin stars moved quickly. After making his purchase, Tim started down the sidewalk toward the cotton-candy seller. He thought back, trying to recall what he knew of Cassidy’s childhood. She’d been several years behind him in school. There had been a lot of talk when the pigtailed blonde from the wrong side of the tracks

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