Yeah, you like dirty cowboys with tattoos, don’t you, Cassie?I froze for a split second. Where had that thought even come from?
“Care if we dance with you guys?” one of them asked.
Molly shrugged with a smile. “Sure,” she said, accepting their offer for the both of us.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
In Silver Creek, everybody knows everybody, and I’d never seen either of their faces before. That meant they were just visitors.
“Nope,” the dark-haired one said. “We’re both from Great Falls. Heard the Twisted Spur throws a hell of a Halloween party though, so we thought we’d check it out. I’m Ryan, by the way.” He gestured to his friend. “And that’s Josh.”
Josh, the dirty-blond one, was already spinning Molly around. She seemed to be enjoying herself, which left me lingering with Ryan.
“Wanna grab another drink?” he asked, nodding toward the bar.
“Uh, sure,” I said, trying to sound casual as I followed his lead. Ryan wasn’t a tattooed cowboy with calloused hands and a smirk that could undo me, but he was hot. Maybe a night with him would help me forget the mess in my head about Jace––if only for a little while.
Because the truth was, I hadn’t stopped thinking about what Jace said that night at Ellie’s wedding. Or about the sentimental gifts he had left me. Or his grand gesture in my front yard.
My phone buzzed in the tiny black purse hanging off my shoulder. The vibration made me jump slightly.
Jace:Where are you??
Speaking of the devil.
“So, what did you end up getting?” I asked, trying to keep my attention on Ryan instead of the little buzzing piece of plastic that I’d tossed back into my purse.
“A bourbon. I ordered you another lemon drop. Just playing it safe in case dark liquor isn’t your thing.”
“Good thinking.”
Buzz.
My purse shifted against my hip, my urge to resist checking the text not strong enough.
Jace:Why did someone just tell me you’re at the Twisted Spur dressed up in a sexy costume?
I looked around. Who the hell was texting Jace about me? I couldn’t find anyone obviously staring at me, so I looked back down at my phone.
Cassie:Because I am. Happy Halloween asshole.
There. Done. Focus back on the present, Cassie.
“So, what do you do for a living?”
“Josh and I both work for a real estate firm. What about you?”
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
I was sure it was Jace again. Except this time, he wasn’t texting––he was calling. My hand hovered over my purse as I clamped it shut.
I tried to force my brain to concentrate more on Ryan and less on Jace.
“I’m sorry, what did you ask again?”
“What do you do for a living?” Ryan repeated, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
“Oh, right. Um… I own my own coffee shop downtown. You should stop by sometime.”
