Billionaire Bachelors 9 : Hidden Treasure(50)

Laughter could be heard spilling from the mesh walls of several inflatable castles set up on the grounds. There was even a dunk tank proudly displayed; a line of females stretched out for what looked like a mile, all of them waiting just to see the shirtless men who were taking part. Helium balloons were flying, and a bottle of beer seemed to be in everyone's hands.

Open tents were placed strategically around the huge yard to offer shade to those who wanted to get out of the sun, and a live band was playing upbeat music. The longer Brielle was in Sterling, the more she realized that country life had its upsides. When Colt handed her a beer, she accepted it without complaint.

She usually didn't like the taste, but the day was hot and everyone else seemed to enjoy the stuff, so she took a pull from her Corona. Not half bad. As she and Colt neared the dunk tank, her eyes widened when she recognized the man who was taunting the teenager with the dunk-determining ball.

"Come on, Danny boy, you throw like my grandma!"

"She's here, ya know, Hawk. I think someone should go and get her to see how well she throws," someone hollered, and the words were met with widespread laughter.

Just then, Danny's ball hit the bull's-eye and Hawk splashed down into the water. As he climbed back up onto the bench with water dripping from his fine abs, Brielle figured out why all the girls were in line cackling.

"I owe Hawk a dunk or two," Colt said, stepping up to the front of the line and sweet-talking the girl standing there.

Men. Did they ever get past adolescence? Not that females were much better. Brielle couldn't help but smile as the teenager giggled, blushed and then let Colt cut in.

"He tends to have that effect on girls," Brielle said with a wink that made the girl grin at her.

"Yeah, I've had a crush on him since I think I was five," she replied shyly as she watched Colt draw back his arm and pitch. 

The first ball missed, and Hawk wasn't going to let that one go.

"Yeah, Colt, that looks like the throw you pitched at our homecoming game senior year."

Colt gave him an evil smile before grabbing ball number two. "Just testing the wind," he said and then threw right on the mark, sending Hawk into the tank, and the cheers went up again.

As Hawk climbed back up, he returned Colt's evil smile. "Did I forget to mention that you're up next?"

Colt released the ball, but it went way off the mark. "I didn't sign up this year."

"Yeah, but Spence couldn't make it here. Called in to perform emergency surgery. So I knew you wouldn't have a problem filling in for him. The funds go to charity, you know."

Colt turned to Brielle. "Sorry. If I refuse, the guys will tie me to the seat of the dunk tank regardless."

She brightened up. "No problem, Colt." She couldn't wait to see him in that tank.

"You'd better have an extra pair of shorts here, Hawk."

"Of course we do," Hawk said right before the next person in line sank him, this time while he wasn't ready. He leapt out of the water, coughing as he tried to catch his breath.

"What color did you say your panties were?" Colt asked.

"Just wait," Hawk replied. "You're up in five minutes."

"My turn should only take half an hour," Colt told Brielle. "There's tons for you to do in the meantime." After he leaned down to give her a lingering kiss, the pink on her cheeks had nothing to do with the hot sun beating down on them.

"Awww, don't worry about it, darling. All the single ladies are wishing they were you right now."

Brielle turned to find Bethel and Martin standing beside her. "I … uh … "

"Yeah, Colt tends to make the ladies a little tongue-tied. Come with me, darlin', and I'll introduce you to a few more men who are bound to make you speechless."

And just like that, Brielle felt herself being dragged around and introduced to so many people at the party that she'd have no hope of remembering even half of their names. Heck, she'd be lucky to remember a single one.

When twenty minutes had passed, Brielle looked longingly toward the water tank, and tried to get a word in with Bethel. She was itching to go back over there and see Colt dripping wet with the sun pouring down on him. That time she'd sprayed him with the hose in her front yard, she'd been in too much shock to really appreciate the view.

She was now more than willing to stare all she wanted, because she had no doubt that he wanted her, and no doubt that he wouldn't mind if she took her fill. Sadly, all she was able to do was catch a glimpse before Bethel carted her off to another group of people.

"Have you met the new owner of the Ponderosa Pines Ranch?" Bethel asked an attractive couple.

The woman was a few months pregnant, at least to judge by the adorable bump on her otherwise slim body. Brielle wasn't going to make a comment about it, though - she'd learned the hard way that sometimes what looked like a baby bump wasn't one at all.