At the Cowboy's Mercy Read Online Free PDF Page A

slid into the booth beside her and Luke sat across, picking up a menu from behind the napkin dispenser.  
    "Want something to eat?" he asked her.
    Her stomach had started growling the moment she walked in and smelled all the fried foods. She eyed the menu for the cheapest meal. "I'll take a burger and a beer."
    He grunted his approval, and closed the menu. "I'm getting a steak." He waved to the harried waitress and placed their order.
    Her attention drifted to the dance floor, where cowboys danced with pretty girls. Liam watched, too, but Luke's attention was on the flat screen above the bar--another basketball game.  
    "You looked relaxed out there," she ventured, then slammed her lips together when he darted a surprised glance at her. Of course he'd remember that she'd been there when Gary was ordering him to get laid. She wasn't asking if he had. Was she?
    "Just needed to focus."
    Liam looked from one to the other, confused. "What am I, chopped liver?"
    "Second place," Luke taunted without missing a beat as the waitress delivered their beers.  
    "Which means you're buying." Liam turned to Kennedy. "Want to dance?"
    Tension ran from Luke across the table to her, but he didn't look at her, merely drank his beer and looked up at the screen.  
    "Sure." She couldn't remember the last time she'd danced. She swung into Liam's arms and he began to move to the fast-paced song, guiding her around the dance floor which wasn't nearly as crowded as the bar.  
    He was a great dancer, a good leader with a good sense of timing. He spun her and drew her back, closer, his hand shifting lower, resting just above the low-riding waistband of her jeans, his fingertips resting on her spine. With a little laugh, he pressed his knee between her thighs and pulled her closer, slowing to the new song, circling her hips with his. She shifted her hands to his shoulders to keep her balance and had no choice but to look into his face. He was laughing, but his eyes held a darker intent, a seductive one. For a moment, she let herself enjoy it, to remember what he made her feel, to move into it. But when he slid his hands down over her ass and squeezed, she stopped and stepped back.  
    "Thanks for the dance."
    "Ah, come on, Kennedy. Let's have some fun. We were good together."
    "I don't think so." She glanced toward the table.
    Liam stiffened and released her. "Is he who you want to have fun with?"
    She didn't answer, couldn't. It was true, but she could never tell Liam.
    "Why did you go to him and not me? You knew he was pissed at you."
    "I just--did." Because she'd known Liam would ask for a price. Not that making love to him would be any hardship--he was beautiful and very good in bed--but it would cost her more of her pride. Turned out she had more of that than she thought, and wanted to hang onto it more than she wanted to hang onto the few dollars in her pocket.
    "My place is nicer. My bed is queen-sized, plenty of room for both of us."
    "I'm not sleeping with him."
    "Hell, I know that. All you have to do is look at him to know that. But if you were sleeping with me, you'd put him out of his misery."
    Did he mean that Luke wanted to sleep with her? Because she kind of got that feeling, too, and she wouldn't say it didn't appeal. "I'm not sleeping with you, either."
    Liam's gaze drifted to her breasts. "Shame."  
    Luke's scowl was darker than usual when she slid back into her place, but he said nothing, his attention on the television. She drank her beer and made room for Liam beside her. He dropped his arm over the back of the booth and she made a point to sit forward.  
    "Why don't you two go dance?" Liam encouraged. "This song is about your speed, isn't it, bro?" He pointed to the ceiling at the speaker above their table, where a slow song played.
    Luke bared his teeth at his brother. But when Kennedy thought he'd ignore Liam's taunt, Luke grasped her wrist.
    "Let her out, then."
    "You could have asked," she said as he guided her out on the