Where There's Smoke: A Texas Heat Novel Read Online Free Page A

the groom, answered, “Sawyer Landon.”
    “The librarian?” Seth asked in disbelief.
    “Yep.”
    Seth made a sound in his throat of masculine appreciation. Rowan flashed him a murderous look. Seth caught it and recognized jealously for what it was. He grinned wickedly.
    “She is smokin’ hot,” Seth said loud enough for Rowan to hear. He bristled. Seth was an ex-Navy Seal, good looking in a rugged, lethal way. Women noticed men like Seth. Sawyer never mentioned the man before. The bastard would be single. Rowan knew his thoughts weren’t exactly Christ like but G.I. Joe better keep his hands to himself. Rowan didn’t like the glint of interest in the other man’s eyes.
    Sawyer made her way to the end of the aisle. She tore her eyes away from Rowan and stood to his left beside the other bridesmaid, Emerson. Her husband Dylan winked at her. She blushed in return. When Harper and her father walked down the aisle, she made a stunning bride. Rowan heard Donavan’s swift intake of breath – the groom was clearly smitten.
    As a pastor, weddings were his favorite thing to do, besides baby dedications. The joy, love and emotion of the ceremony never failed to move him. He’d seen some strange and amusing things happen at weddings, this one didn’t disappoint. As soon as Carl Grant handed his daughter over, the groom cupped her head in one hand, her back with the other, leaned her down and kissed her passionately. The guests clapped, hooted and whistled.
    Sawyer smiled. She caught Rowan’s eye. He leveled her with a potent gaze. She blushed. God, he wanted to taste her all over. Seth cleared his throat, with a mischievous spark in his eyes. Mister Captain America was really getting on Rowan’s nerves. He tried to focus on the ceremony. Just a minor issue. The groom couldn’t keep his hands off his bride.
    Rowan flushed, embarrassed, amused, a little envious of Donavan’s blatant desire. Get a room came to mind. Rowan wished like hell he could do the same. He silently prayed about his wayward, sensual thoughts. God help him, Rowan was so tempted he could hardly see straight. He had gorgeous women literally throw themselves at him in various states of undress. His body never responded. He met women of upstanding character who would make a great pastor’s wife. His heart felt nothing. They could quote scriptures from memory, make a sumptuous dinner, come from the most spiritual background – all Rowan felt was polite civility. Sawyer did things to him he never expected to feel again. He managed to get through the ceremony.
    Donavan and Harper kissed so tenderly, it hurt to look at them. As the radiant bride and groom walked hand in hand down the aisle, Rowan got ambushed by the eighty year old twins, Susie Q and Penny May. They wrote a tell all blog for the good folks of Aberdeen proper. One of the old girl’s pinched his ass. He couldn’t believe it. Sawyer laughed. The musical sound warmed him. Before he could join her, Seth made his move. He glued himself to Sawyer’s side.
    “Hello beautiful,” he drawled.
    A tick leaped in Rowan’s jaw. He cussed under his breath.
    Susie Q gasped. “What was that pastor?”
    “Nothing,” he muttered.
    During the photographs, Rowan came this close to smashing Seth’s face in. The other man found any excuse to touch Sawyer, on the shoulder, the hand, her back.
    Rowan gritted his teeth. So far, he committed the sin of lust and jealousy in less than an hour!
    The reception was no better. Seth pulled Sawyer to the dance floor before Rowan could ask her. He was all up in her personal space, teasing, flirting as they danced to Earth Wind and Fire’s Let’s Groove .
    Rowan never took his eyes off the pair. The next song, a sultry love tune, played. Seth’s hands wrapped around her waist. Rowan saw a hazy shade of red in his direct line of vision.
    The bride, Harper elbowed her new husband. “Oh, here we go!”
    “It would be a shame if my cousin dies at my wedding,”