“I better be going, too,” Cole said.
“Me too,” said Brittany.
“Why don’t you walk Britt out to her car?” Josh suggested, figuring maybe he could give his friend a little push. “You never know who might be lurking out in the dark.” Though there was rarely any sort of problem at Jubal’s.
Cole nodded. “Sure.”
Brittany flushed. “You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.”
Cole’s head snapped up. “Why not? You think if trouble comes, I won’t be able to handle it?”
Britt’s dark eyes widened. “No, of course not. You’re in amazing shape. I don’t think any guy in here would be stupid enough to go against you.”
Cole blinked as if he were coming out of a fog. He cleared his throat. “Sorry. I’ll walk you out. Make sure you get to your car okay.”
Brittany beamed. “Thank you.” She was a beautiful woman, which Cole had just seemed to notice. Or maybe he’d noticed a long time ago, but after losing his legs, no longer had the self-confidence to do anything about it.
As soon as they were gone, Carly stood up from her chair. “I have to go, too.”
“I’ll walk you out.” Before he had the chance, Billie Joe Hardie stepped in his way, a tall, leggy woman in a short, tight skirt, with lots of blond hair, big cleavage, and plenty of it on display.
She flashed a sexy smile. “You aren’t leaving yet, are you, honey? I was hoping you’d buy me a drink.”
“My car’s parked right in front,” Carly said. “I’ll be fine. Have fun.”
Waving her fingers in farewell, she was gone before he could stop her, and aside from the shot of Jack, the reason he had come to Jubal’s tonight was standing right in front of him.
He hadn’t known for sure she’d be there, but he had definitely hoped so.
“What are you drinking?” he asked as she sat down in the chair across from him.
“Same as you, hun.”
The waitress walked up just then, a willowy blonde named Rita who went with one of the bartenders. “What’ll y’all have?” she asked.
“The lady wants a shot of Jack, Rita.”
“You got it.” Rita returned a few minutes later, set a shot glass down on the table, and wandered away. Billie Joe picked up the whiskey and tossed it back, set the glass sharply back down.
“I’ve got a bottle of this stuff at home,” she said. “You ready to blow this joint and have a little fun?” Billie Joe smiled and he caught a whiff of her strong perfume. She moved, giving him a look down the front of her low-cut blouse.
His gaze went over the blowsy woman in front of him. When had his tastes shifted from too much of a good thing to smaller was just enough? When had the notion of taking this woman to bed become more a chore than a pleasure?
It was crazy, but suddenly leaving the bar with Billie Joe was the last thing he wanted. He took a long draw on his beer, set it back down.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to take a rain check, Billie. I’ve got a couple of things I need to do out at the ranch.”
She gave him a seductive glance from beneath the heavy mascara on her lashes. “Well, now, that’s a real shame, cowboy.”
“Maybe next time.” But he didn’t think so.
He’d find someone else, he told himself. There had to be a woman somewhere in Iron Springs who appealed to him, someone besides a tempting little redhead who was nothing but a handful of trouble.
Finishing off his beer, he crossed the room, shoved through the swinging doors, and walked out into the humid Texas night. Along with the hard truth that Billie Joe wasn’t the woman he wanted, he didn’t like leaving Tory out at the ranch alone. Not until things settled down and he could be sure she and Ivy were safe.
He didn’t want to think about the restless night he’d be facing. For two cents, he’d turn around and walk back inside, at least get a little sexual relief.
Instead he climbed into his truck, fired up the engine, and drove back to the ranch. With any luck, by now Randy Stevens was in jail. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about an arsonist.
