The rest of my shift passes in a blur of prescriptions and customers. By the time five o’clock rolls around, I’m practically bouncing with anticipation. I haven’t been out anywhere besides work and Devlin’s cabin since the robbery. The thought is both exciting and a little terrifying.
Lennon is waiting for me in the parking lot, leaning against her car, scrolling through her phone. She looks up when I approach, a smile spreading across her face.
“Ready for a makeover?” she asks, waggling her eyebrows.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I laugh, climbing into the passenger seat.
At Lennon’s apartment, she immediately drags me to her closet, pulling out options for me to try on. We settle on a pair of high-waisted jeans that hug my curves and a deep blue top that brings out the color in my eyes. The bruising on my face has almost completely faded, needing only a light layer of concealer to cover.
“You look amazing,” Lennon says, stepping back to admire her handiwork after helping me with my makeup. “Devlin won’t know what hit him.”
“Devlin’s not going to be there,” I remind her. “Girls’ night, remember?”
She gives me a knowing look. “Sure. And I’m the Queen of England.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means Aubree is dating Jesse, who is Devlin’s brother, and the Rusty Spur is where all the ranch hands go after work. So unless Devlin is planning to sit at home alone while his brother and all his friends are out having fun…”
I hadn’t thought of that. “Oh.”
“Don’t worry,” Lennon assures me, applying a final coat of mascara to her own lashes. “I’m not going to get mad if your hot cowboy shows up. Just don’t ditch me the minute he walks in, okay?”
“Deal,” I promise, feeling a flutter of anticipation at the thought of seeing Devlin in a social setting. We’ve been so wrapped up in our own little world, I haven’t really seen him interact with many people besides Jesse and Aubree.
The Rusty Spur is already crowded when we arrive. Country music blasts from the speakers, and the dance floor is packed with couples two-stepping. Aubree waves to us from a table near the bar, and we weave our way through the crowd to join her.
“You made it!” she exclaims, standing to give me a hug. “And you look fantastic!”
“All Lennon’s doing,” I say, gesturing to my outfit. “She’s the fashion expert.”
“Well, she did good,” Aubree says approvingly. “First round’s on me. What are you having?”
“Just a beer for me,” Lennon says.
“I’ll have the same,” I add.
Aubree flags down a waitress and orders three beers. “So,” she says, turning back to us once the waitress leaves. “How’s life with the mysterious Devlin? Still going well?”
“Really well,” I admit, unable to keep the smile from my face. “It’s…easy being with him. I never expected that.”
“The Nelson men can be intense,” Aubree agrees. “But they’re good guys under all that brooding. It just takes the right woman to bring it out of them.”
“And you’re definitely bringing it out of Devlin,” Lennon adds. “I’ve never seen him so…human.”
I laugh at her description. “He’s always been human, Len.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” she mutters, but there’s no real heat behind it. “Before you, I don’t think I ever heard him string more than three words together.”
Our beers arrive, and we clink bottles in a toast. “To girls’ night,” Aubree says. “Long overdue.”
“To girls’ night,” Lennon and I echo.
One beer turns into two, and then someone orders a round of tequila shots. The music gets louder, the crowd gets rowdier, and I find myself relaxing in a way I haven’t in weeks. It feels good to laugh with my sister, to exchange stories with Aubree, and to just be a normal twenty-something woman out with friends.
“Oh my god,” Aubree suddenly says, her eyes fixed on the entrance. “They’re here.”
Lennon and I turn to look. Jesse and Devlin are making their way through the crowd, and with them is Carson, Jesse, and Devlin’s younger brother. Devlin’s eyes scan the room, and when they land on me, his whole face changes. The hard lines soften, his lips curve into a smile, and something warm and possessive enters his gaze.
