Monty glanced toward his friends. “I’ll make it work.” When he returned his attention to Kendrick, an ache formed in his balls at the downright playful expression he wore. “’Cause I’m sure you’ll make it worth my while.”
His desire kicked up another notch, and only the need to head to a customer got Kendrick moving after nodding and growling, “That’s a promise.”
Good at compartmentalising, he served the customers with ease, only occasionally letting his gaze stray to Monty. He hung with the group he’d arrived with, laughing, drinking and dancing, and occasionally eye-fucking Kendrick.
Moving down the bar, seeing Trey, the owner and his best friend, busy enough not to notice his interest in Monty, was definitely a bonus. Kendrick wanted it to stay that way. His friend would only give him shit as it had been a while since he’d last bothered to get naked with a lone out of towner.
A cowboy tapped the bar and Kendrick strolled over. “What can I getcha, Cranny?” Kendrick’s gaze swept the bar and, finding that Zippy wasn’t in, the sudden tension across his shoulders released.
Cranny’s often repeated verbal battles with Zippy were legendary in these parts. The two worked on Darling Ranch and had a love-hate relationship that spilled out in the bar a time or two. Kendrick was not in the mood for dealing with that tonight.
“Beer, thanks.”
Cranny wore a look of misery, and Kendrick debated a second before asking, “What’s got you looking like you lost a hundred dollars and found a nickel?”
“Don’t ask.” Cranny shook his head and left the money on the bar. Taking his drink, he slipped through the crowd towards the pool table.
Kendrick had no time to dwell on it when a guy stepped into the bar, once more giving him a solid kick of arousal to his balls. Linebacker's shoulders narrowed to a trim waist. Powerful thighs flexed under soft denim as the guy strode to the bar with purpose. He ticked every damn requirement Kendrick had for an alpha. Big, strong and nearly as tall as him. The guy was classically handsome, with a lean face, strong jawline, pouty lips and beautiful eyes that scanned the room, assessing everything. Military training, he would bet his life’s savings on the guy having been in the forces.
A ‘fuck off and leave me alone’ expression went with repressed tension, visible in the way he moved. He was all kinds of wound up, and Kendrick groaned under his breath, adjusting himself quickly at how he’d like to bend the guy over the bar and help him release the tension—with Monty pinned beneath them both.
One look into the gray eyes and he let his fantasy slide; no way the guy would be up for the fun and games Kendrick had in mind. He was a realist, tonight would be no different.
Pity.
Although Ranch-Down was one of the busiest bars in Bayfield, and attracted some out of towners, like tonight, it was mostly those who worked on the surrounding ranches that populated the bar. Two guys in one night, both out of towners, what were the chances of them knowing each other? They both looked like they were playing cowboys.
The alpha took a seat, alone, and Kendrick appraised him, a part of him still clinging to the dream of enticing the alpha toplay. Only, something about the guy said he didn’t look the type to give up his ass. Kendrick knew most alphas preferred to keep their asses to themselves.
Most of the time.
His bear’s opinion came out of the blue and caused Kendrick’s pulse to skip a beat.
You picking up something I’m not?
Continuing with what he was doing, Kendrick side-eyed the big guy to see what he was missing that his bear side hadn’t. Beneath the polished veneer was something untamed.Dangerous.
More intrigued than he suspected was healthy for him, Kendrick finished serving, moving towards the alpha unhurriedly. They didn’t have any additional staff manning the bar tonight as there was no band, just the jukebox, which meant Kendrick got to serve the guy.
When he first felt those intriguing gray eyes land on him, Kendrick’s senses vibrated with an awareness that set off something in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t say exactly what it was, but there were shadows behind those pretty eyes that suggested past trauma. His gut clenched when something told him he was right, and it plucked at Kendrick’s senses like a violinist.
He’s only gonna be here for a few days—possibly.
He shook off the weirdness and gave the guy an enticing smile, one he’d been told could charm the pants off anyone, and called out, “What’s your poison, honey?”
There was a bark of laughter, which sounded bitter, then the guy's attention roamed over to where Monty stood with his friends, and he muttered, “Monty.”
As he was looking away, he missed Kendrick’s jerk of surprise.
What were the fucking odds?
One quick glance at Trey, who was busy at the other end of the bar, assured Kendrick his friend wouldn’t notice what he was up to. Kendrick felt this was too good of an opportunity to miss. Fuck, the pair would look glorious together, their contrasting sizes…
A worm of guilt snuck in at the promise he’d have to break to get what he wanted. Trey had no issue with his finding someone, or a couple, to take home. He would have an issue with Kendrick picking up two single guys in the bar when there could be fallout if things went pear-shaped. It had happened once, and it hadn’t ended well when the men weren’t compatible and started a fight in the bar over who would take Kendrick home.
Trey had made him swear he’d not do that again. Except this was too good an opportunity to miss… wasn’t it?
Hadn’t Cassidy mentioned something about there being a bunch of PAs from Starling Enterprises up at the ranch? Maybe there were some other folk with the PAs? It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility, when they offered cowboy experiences to city folks.
