People look at the guys first before they smile, nod, and wave. Clearly, they’re well-loved by the community.
Then, all eyes slide to me.
Every. Single. One.
My pulse jumps. I straighten without meaning to. They’re curiosity is loud and obvious—who I am and why I’m withthem.If I’m staying at the ranch. If I’m dating one of them. If I’m from out of town. If I’m trouble.
But before I can shrink backward, a warm palm settles on the small of my back.
Lincoln.
He leans down, lips brushing my ear, sending a shiver down my spine, as he whispers, “Ignore ‘em. Small towns don’t get new things often. Especially pretty ones. They’ll stare. Gossip. Then they’ll move on. Happened with my divorce. Happened when Jasper’s sister dyed half her hair neon pink in high school. It’ll die down.”
I laugh under my breath. “Neon pink?”
He nods, shit-eating grin splitting his face. “Worst two months of her life.”
Beau guides me to the bar with a hand hovering near my hip. Jasper slides in close enough that his arm brushes mine. And Lawson orders a round of beers with that calm authority that quietly commands a room.
The banter starts back up, and my nerves settle.
“You want a beer, Honey, or a New York fancy drink?” Lawson teases, raising a brow.
“Listen, I can order a beer. I am adaptable.”
Jasper smirks. “We’ll see about that.”
Lawson slides me a cold glass. “Start with this. It’s from a local brewery.”
I take a sip—it’s surprisingly smooth—and nod. “Okay, that’s actually pretty good.
Lincoln winks in my direction. “Look at her. Fittin’ right in already.”
“You makin’ fun of me?” I laugh.
“Never,” he says, his expression softening just a touch. “Just proud of you.”
And that hits me harder than it should.
The flirting between them, between all of us, feels… different tonight.
Less shy.
Less hidden.
More… intentional.
Beau leans in as the music in the bar suddenly doubles in volume. “Gonna have to keep an eye on you tonight, Darlin’. You’re too pretty for a place like this.”
Jasper chuckles. “Speak for yourself, man. I’m the one who’s gonna have to fight off half the single guys who are gonna be in here.”
Lincoln sips his beer. “Half? Try all.”
I look around the bar. Sure, for a small town, there’s a decent amount of people in here, but it’s nothing crazy.
“Give it thirty minutes, and it’ll be packed. I don’t know what it is about this place, but out-of-towners flock here on a Friday night. Rain or shine, this is the place to be,” Jasper clarifies, answering my unspoken question.
Lawson lifts his glass toward me, his eyes lingering warmly. “She’s with us. They’ll all figure it out.”
