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it would miraculously rid her of the lingering taste of tequila. Poppers were not her choice in drinks.
    Tina laughed and shouted, “Geez, El, you’re such a wimp.”
    â€œWhy? Because I prefer a good Merlot to shooters and beer? Hello! I’ve grown up on a vineyard. It’s in my blood.”
    â€œYou can have your fancy Merlot,” Miranda said over the music with a shake of her golden curls. “I’ll take shooters, beer, and the sight of so many fine-looking cowboys in snug-fitting jeans any day of the week.”
    â€œMmm, girl, you know I’m with you on that!” C.C. chimed in just as the band ended the current song. “It’s a dang shame that we’re the only two unattached women at the table, but someone’s got to pick up the slack.”
    Miranda gave an exaggerated sigh. “Yep, we’ll just have to carry on.”
    Just then C.C. sat up a little straighter and stared through the crowd toward the door. “Yes, Ma’am! Speaking of fine-looking cowboys in snug jeans …”
    They all turned and followed her gaze, watching Jackson and Jeff Turney, Tina’s fiancé, make their way down the bar.
    â€œOkay, that’s not fair,” Tina complained. “How can I drool over other men with Jeff here to watch?”
    â€œCan’t,” Brenda stated with a wry grin. “That’s what you get for being in a relationship.”
    Elise’s pulse jumped at the sight of Jackson in civilian clothes. He did indeed fill out a pair of jeans with exceptional style, she noted.
    â€œI’m telling you, I could eat Jackson Landry up with a spoon,” Miranda drawled.
    C.C. hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “Get in line, sweetheart.”
    â€œYes, it’s a damn shame that he’s taken, girls.” Elise wrinkled her nose. “Although, how Maelene McKinney got her hooks into him in the first place, I will never understand.”
    â€œYou mean was taken, don’t you?” Brenda asked with a twinkle in her emerald-green eyes.
    â€œ What ?”
    C.C. gave her a sad look. “Uh, El, he and Maelene called it quits over a month ago. Where’ve you been?”
    â€œHow do you know that?” Elise demanded to know. Jackson was single again? The air in the bar suddenly seemed thin, and she found it difficult to catch her breath.
    â€œSweetie, he’s your brother’s best friend. How is it that you didn’t know that?” C.C. slapped a hand to her forehead. “Oh, wait. You’ve been busy with what’s-his-name. That’s right.”
    â€œVery funny,” Elise said, watching Jackson flirt with just about every female he came across as he and Jeff headed toward their table. “And I wish you’d quit calling Stuart that. I don’t know why you don’t like him; you don’t even know him.”
    â€œHoney, I don’t have anything against Stewie, per se, other than the fact that the few times I’ve met him, he seemed terribly stuffy and pretentious, that is. That’s also the point, El. He’s been here, what? Three or four times? With each visit I got the impression he felt he was slumming it in the sticks, and that he couldn’t wait to get back to the big city.” C.C. slung an arm around Elise’s shoulder and spoke quietly into her ear as the two men arrived at the table. “I’m sure he’s very nice and I’m probably judging him harshly. I just don’t think he’s the guy for you, that’s all. But that’s another conversation for another night.”
    Jeff circled around, pulling a chair up next to Tina, giving his fiancée a peck on the cheek. Jackson stood between Brenda and Miranda, and his eyes found Elise’s from the other side of the table.
    His smile grew.
    Despite her best effort to remain unaffected, her pulse went wild in response even as she returned his warm look with a bland stare.
    This is