Pressure Point (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 3) by Rhonda Lee Carver Page A

thought you were seeing someone else. Was it Joe—”
    “John Nazarene.”
    “Ah, okay. What happened?”
    Not knowing this chick enough to share the dirty details, Em shrugged. “You know how it is. Things fizzle.”
    “And are you dating Nash?” Curiosity filled the woman’s gaze.
    “No, I mean, yes, we’re here on a date, but it’s nothing serious.”
    Relief brightened Katy’s eyes. “I hope this isn’t too forward, but if you two aren’t dating—”
    “We aren’t.” Em quickly shook her head.
    “I thought I might ask him if he’d like to have dinner one day next week. I just don’t want to overstep anything.”
    “You won’t be. Trust me. I think you should ask him,” Em encouraged her.
    “Okay then. I will.”
    After Katy stepped into the bathroom, Em wanted to shove her head through the wall. She’d practically had an orgasm on the dance floor with Nash, and then turned around to fix him up with another woman. What the hell had happened to her?
    She had no rights to Nash. She could have easily told Katy that Nash was taken, but she couldn’t lie.
    This was what Nash wanted—Katy.
    ****
    Nash got the message from DJ to be at the Rhinestone for dinner at six. Nash wanted to turn the invitation down and go back home. He had work to do and didn’t have time for socializing. Those were his thoughts as he rode his horse, Danger, to the north side of the property. He passed the largest cabin where DJ and Pearl were staying until the last minute projects were finished on their new house. Why couldn’t they have entertained him with ribs and potatoes here? The cabin had a nice view of the surrounding area. In fact, he wouldn’t mind taking up residence there himself when the couple moved out.
    Point was, he couldn’t turn his brother and sister in law down. DJ probably wouldn’t take no for an answer either.
    He had a suspicion the newlyweds would be announcing a baby before long. They both wanted children and they were in love.
    Nash had a nagging pain in his gut. He wasn’t jealous of DJ’s happiness, but damn if he wasn’t a tad bit envious. Up until recently he’d been okay with his single status, but here lately his brain had changed a course of action. He suddenly had a hankering for settling down.
    He needed more in his life than work. He needed a woman to share his life with. Seeing how happy DJ was made Nash realize what he’d been missing. To have someone to laugh with, to share the day’s troubles, to hold when the nights were cold…hell yeah, that’s what he wanted.
    His mind drifted to Em. No surprise. Dang woman had taken up residence there. He wondered if she would be there also? Of course. It was her place.
    He tightened his grip on the leather rein.
    He hadn’t seen her in two days, since the night of the party when she’d come back from the bathroom with a cold shoulder and an attitude meant to bust his balls. He’d asked her what had happened, but she’d blown him off saying she didn’t feel well and needed to go home. Instead of digging for an answer, he had let it go.
    They hadn’t spoken since.
    He was done playing games.
    Tying Danger to a post near the Rhinestone house, he decided to walk the rest of the way. He had made it to the yard when he heard a low female voice. He looked in the distance and saw Em waving at him from the porch. His stomach soured. Figured.
    He thought about turning around, but he couldn’t do it to his brother.
    A thought had crossed his mind to ignore her, but he couldn’t make it inside of the house without crossing her path. He had no choice but to greet her, even if he could only manage a curt nod.
    “Nash, can I speak to you a minute before we go inside?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “What is there to talk about?” What did she expect from him?
    “I wanted to give you this.” She pushed a piece of paper toward him. He glanced down at the check. The exact amount he’d paid for Trojan. “I’m sorry I haven’t given it to