Isabel and the Wolf: (Part 3) Read Online Free Page B

the turning point!” Isabel leaned back against the stage, her expression wistful.
    “I’m kind of wishing we’d got into the spirit of things and brought cowboy hats,” she said.
    “Doesn’t seem so silly now, does it?” Kara replied, kicking her leg out to display her cowboy boots.
    “And I could’ve worn my cute red checkered shirt, tied up in the middle.”
    “Ok. After these, we’re going to go over there and get our freak on, and we won’t give a crap what we’re wearing!” Kara clinked her beer bottle against Isabel’s.
    “Yee-ha to that!” Isabel said. The music switched to a Shania Twain song and Kara jumped down from the stage.
    “Ok, this is it!” she said, grasping Isabel by the arm and pulling her towards the energetically-dancing crowd. Their arms were flailing around and the air was full of shouts and whoops. Isabel looked at them with trepidation.
    “Wait up!” she called. “Maybe we need one more shot before we hit the dancefloor.” She pulled away from Kara and started to walk over to the bar.
    “Uh, ok,” Kara, replied, standing stock still, hands on hips, staring at her like she was being weird.
    As Isabel turned, she collided with someone. Her face brushed against a man’s broad chest, and she raised her head to find herself looking at the bright blue eyes and easy-going smile of Jed. He was wearing a cowboy hat and a leather vest, teamed with the faded jeans he’d had on before, and a blue, button-down shirt.
    “Well, if it isn’t little miss accident prone!” he said, his grin widening as he looked down at her.
    “Hey!” Isabel said. Her heart gave a little flutter, but she recovered fast. “That’s not fair. The first time wasn’t my fault at all; the second – ok, I did do something pretty dumb. And, right now, well – you clearly bumped into me!”
    “That’s right, I totally wasn’t looking where I was going!” Jed said, his smile widening even more, his eyes gently teasing. They stared at each other for a moment too long. Isabel was suddenly tongue-tied. Jed looked great, and the look he was giving her indicated that he had a similar opinion of her too. She breathed in the scent of him, of the aftershave, the washing powder, and his own masculine smell. Her nipples stiffened beneath the black satin brassiere she was wearing and she felt a little dizzy.
    “I had a feeling I’d see you here tonight,” he said.
    “You did?” she replied softly. Just then, Kara bounded over.
    “Hey there, I’m Kara, Bella’s partner in crime,” she said, extending her hand.
    “Jed. Good to meet you,” he replied, shaking it firmly. Isabel saw an opportunity to escape and compose herself.
    “I’m just going to the restroom. I’ll be back in a second,” she called, already stumbling her way through the crowd. She burst into the ladies’ bathroom. There didn’t look to be anyone else in there. The window was open wide, and she leaned against the wall in between the cubicles and looked out at the black New Mexican night. The coolness of the room was refreshing. She hadn’t noticed how hot it had been in the dancehall.
    “Whew!” she said out loud. Only days ago, she’d been full of nervous excitement at the thought of seeing Peter, and now she was getting hot and bothered about Jed. What was going on? She conjured up an image of Peter in her mind. He was walking towards her, where she was waiting by the fire on her hands and knees, and he was naked, his desire for her evident. The image shot a bolt of heat through her clit and deep inside her. But her desire was mingled with anger at the way he’d left her, without any explanation. He seemed far away; already a memory. She forced him out of her mind and thought about Jed; about how safe he’d made her feel; about the nice, easy way he chatted and flirted with her, and her heart buzzed with electricity. She pushed herself off the wall. As she washed her hands in the basin, she recalled Kara’s favorite