But before she could comment on that, Dove reappeared beside them with a basket of fries she hadn’t paid for and a look that said she’d been shot down. “Your friend is a menace,” she said. “I made a joke, and he didn’t like it. Next thing I know, we’re no longer talking about hooking up. As a matter of fact, he told me to take a hike.”
“I wouldn’t call him my friend,” Fallon said automatically, because labels mattered in small towns, then heard herself and grimaced. “He’s more like an overprotective big brother.”
Buddy choked on his beer and stared at her like she’d said something criminal. Granted, she’d dated Trent a long time ago, so calling him family sounded strange to some. But, that’s what she considered him these days. “Depending on what you teased him about will guide his reaction. He can be a sensitive soul.”
“I doubt that,” Dove said. “I mentioned something about how weird the whole Python Challenge is down here, and how I couldn’t understand why anyone would do it. I mean, aren’t snakes a part of the ecosystem in the Everglades?”
Fallon smacked her palm to her forehead. “Don’t ever say that again out loud. Not unless you want to get shot.”
“I don’t understand.” Dove blinked a few times, looking thoroughly confused.
“Pythons aren’t native to Florida,” Buddy explained. “They’ve invaded the Everglades and are destroying everything in their path, including alligators. Trent over there owns an Alligator Farm. He’s also a snake wrangler, and not just pythons. He’s a nature lover. A snake and gator lover, even if he does the odd poaching thing, he does them for all the right reasons, if that makes sense. And, he loves the Glades more than most.”
“Trent and I agree on making sure the Everglades remain the swampy marshland we’ve always called home,” Fallon said.
“Copy that,” Dove said, amused, and slid into her chair. “Next time I see Trent, I’ll be sure to be slightly more informed and pretend to like reptiles, even if they’re disgusting creatures.”
“Good thing for you, he’s all about second, third, and fourth chances when it comes to women.” Fallon raised her drink.” He doesn’t discriminate when it comes to breasts.”
“Are you speaking from experience?” Dove asked. “Because that might be weird considering how you described him.”
Buddy coughed and pounded his chest.
“I might be.” Fallon laughed. “However, I’m one of the few females that scare the crap out of him.”
“I’d suggest staying away from Trent.” Buddy rested his hand on the back of Fallon’s chair, and his thumb brushed her shoulder. “He’s not a bad guy. He’s grown on me over the years. But I wouldn’t introduce him to my sister.”
“You don’t have a sister.” Dove laughed. “But enough of that conversation. Sterling wants to know if we can borrow your brain in the near future, Fallon. We’re running a water grid for a client, and he’s obsessed with not annoying FWC. Which is adorable and new.”
“I can’t tomorrow, but I can the next day.”
Buddy lifted a hand. “We can always ping your boss, Keaton, since that’s your day off.”
She jerked her head and swallowed the lump in her throat. How the hell did he know she wasn’t on the schedule in two days? “If you’d rather talk to Keaton, that’s fine,” Fallon said. “But it’s not a problem. All I have that day is catching up on sleep and paperwork.”
“Sleep is optional,” Buddy said.
“Sleep is never optional,” Fallon said. “But I’ve got time after eleven, if that works.”
“Sounds good.” Dove nodded.
Juniper dropped off the check. Fallon slid her card into the tray before Buddy could reach for his wallet, because she’d never known him not to insist on paying. “Don’t,” she said. “If I let you buy my dinner, someone’s mother will plan our wedding before the ice melts.”
“There’s no ice in South Florida, and my mother passed a long time ago.” Buddy flicked her card off the bill and slapped a wad of cash on the table. “I insist.”
“Thanks for dinner, boss.” Dove leaned back. “I’m gonna stay for one more drink and maybe that second chance.”
“Don’t stay out too late. Trent’s not worth the trouble,” Buddy said. “Seriously.”
“You sound like he might have hurt your feelings.” Dove snorted.
Buddy didn’t bother answering. He just shook his head.
They stood in that awkward, not-unpleasant space where a night could end or tilt. Outside, the last light went copper over the water. Someone opened the door, and the Everglades sighed warm, salty air into the bar, a reminder that the wild waited just past the parking lot.
Fallon flung her small backpack-purse over her shoulder. “Stay out of trouble.”
“That’s no fun,” he said. “So, how about that coffee? Not tomorrow, but the next day?”
