He wore worn shorts and a T-shirt, and when she’d seen him in the Roar, she’d thought the look suited him as much as the corporate one he wore with ease away from Howling. Not that she’d ever tell him that, or that it bothered her. She was now over whatever the hell had happened between them. Well and truly, she reminded herself as she tried not to look at the muscles bunching in his arms as he punched Buster in the shoulder. Dragging her eyes away, she vowed not to look at him again… for at least five minutes. Then she’d get out of here, run home and pack, and leave on the next available transport. She could not let Jay and the Wildlife team see her.
“And I repeat,” Cubby said as Newman approached the counter. “That eye you got in Denver was from walking into a door. No way in hell could a pretty boy like you get into a brawl with more than one man and walk away.”
“The hell you say,” Newman said, scanning the cabinets while his friends continued to abuse him. “You weren’t there to serve and protect, Sheriff, so I had to.”
That produced hoots of laughter.
“I didn’t believe it when I heard how you got it. Imagine you defending the honor of your nemesis,” Buster said softly.
“Why are you whispering?” Newman said. He was then shoved sideways by Katie.
“Well I believed it, because Newman’s one of the good guys,” she said, reaching for a pie.
“Hey, that’s the last chicken with cheesy crust!”
“Poor baby.” She patted his cheek.
“I got more, don’t get your panties in a twist,” Buster grumbled. “You want coffee?”
Newman gave his friend an insulted look.
“Right, strong, I got it. Go sit with your damsel and I’ll bring it all over. After all, what else was I put on this earth for if wasn’t to serve you idiots.”
“It certainly wasn’t your manners,” Cubby said.
Newman turned his head so fast he was sure his neck clicked, and there she was again. Hope “pain in his ass” Lawrence. She’d bolted out of the Roar, but it surprised him that she’d end up here, with Buster. He knew they had history between them.
“Tell me you didn’t actually pay money for that shirt?” Her eyes turned his way as he approached. Not a scrap of makeup, eyebrows in a line as she frowned. “Is that a shoelace in your hair?” He hadn’t noticed that one before.
“So what if it is.”
“Morning, Newman.”
“How’s my favorite girl?” Newman kissed Willow’s cheek.
“Doing good, thanks. The wedding plans are coming along well.”
“The archway’s coming along, and it will be all ready by the end of the month.” Willow and Buster were getting married on his lawn, overlooking the lake.
“I can’t wait to see it. Buster and Hope are all good now, FYI. They talked it through, and now she can settle back into Howling without having to avoid him.”
“Good to hear.” Newman looked at Hope, who in turn looked uncomfortable. He guessed she wasn’t big on people talking about her.
Willow gave him a hug, then went to join her man, leaving him alone with Hope, a fact that she was not happy about by the look in her eyes.
“I’m not sure what business it is of yours that Buster and I have come to an understanding, plus I don’t want to hear your opinion about my clothing again,” she said. “I like the way I dress, and it’s rude of you to say otherwise.”
“Probably, but as I have to look at you, I have something to say. And it’s likely Willow told me because she thinks you and I are friends, seeing as I came home with a black eye from saving your skinny ass.”
“My ass is not skinny.”
“Notice you didn’t question that I saved you, though.”
She flicked her fingers at him as if that was old news.
“Don’t look if you don’t like what I wear.” She ran her eyes over him, and Newman felt everywhere they landed, which was just plain disturbing. “And you’re not exactly a picture yourself. Your designer shorts have creases. What happened, you out of fabric softener?”
There’d been no heat in the words, which surprised Newman. Looking at her, he saw the nerves, and yes it was there again, the fear. He watched her eyes go to the window before returning to him.
