A glance at her watch said she’d been sitting in the car for almost ten minutes. Time to go.
Valene pulled the scarf from her head and dropped it on the front passenger seat. She dragged her feet as she made her way into the bar—not because she didn’t want to see Wyatt, but because she was going to have to distance herself from him. Again.
Maybe for good this time. There was no future for them if he wasn’t willing to live in sin for the rest of their lives, and maybe not even then.
Wyatt nursed his beer while he waited for Valene to show up. He hoped she wouldn’t stand him up. Vee was probably miffed that Daphne Charlene had been hugging and crying all over him at the chili cook-off debacle.
Hunter had called to report that the park looked pretty good given all the chili that went airborne. Wyatt asked if the bride was going to think it was cleaned up well enough and Hunter snorted. Wyatt made a mental note to expect a heated call tomorrow. He shook his head. It amazed him the way people acted up sometimes, when civil conversation would be a better solution to most of the issues folks faced. But no one asked him.
He shifted in his seat, watching the door as two more bikers joined the din of the crowded bar. It wasn’t karaoke night, but it was crowded. Wyatt tipped his beer to his lips again, and darted a look at the door in time to see Valene pause just inside, searching for him. He resisted the urge to wave his arms and call attention to himself because she wouldn’t like it.
She’d find him. She always did. And she would be much happier if he didn’t do what he wanted, which was race across the room, grab her and drag her back to the booth, kissing her silly along the way.
Her gaze landed on him. He winked and she smiled. Gorgeous.
Valene skirted the edge of the dance floor and dodged several other patrons until she reached his table. He noted all the men whose eyes followed her progress through the bar. Wyatt stood up to greet her when she got close, satisfied to see those same men disappointed to learn she was taken. He had no doubt she could have anyone she wanted. He was a lucky guy. If only she wanted him on a permanent basis.
To that end, he had something new to add to his proposal. And he did plan to propose, again. And again and again, as many times as it took for her to say yes. The way she looked at him told Wyatt she wanted to marry him, but something was holding her back. He wished he knew what it was.
As if reading his mind, Valene stood up on her tippy toes and kissed him. Hands on her waist, Wyatt held her close for a few moments to ensure everyone in the place knew she was here with him and not looking for a date.
Valene broke the kiss and smiled. “Claiming your territory again.”
“You got that right.”
She pulled away and sat down in the booth across from him. He took her hand across the top of the table.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“My usual.”
That meant root beer in a brown bottle that looked like she was drinking actual beer. The bartender looked his way and nodded when Wyatt pointed to Valene. He’d arranged her beverage choice in advance. A waitress brought a second beer for him along with Valene’s frosty, cold bottle of root beer.
“Did you requalify for your annual gun certification today?”
“Does a bear poop in the woods?”
She giggled. She always giggled when he said that. It was why he repeated it so often.
“I wish I could have watched you.”
“Why? It’s not that exciting. I stand in a booth and shoot at paper targets with several different weapons.”
She shrugged. “I watched you shoot in a competition once.” Her eyes lifted, gaze locking with his. “You looked…well, really good…you know…shooting.”
“Did I?” He didn’t remember seeing her at any competition recently. “When was that?”
“Three years ago.”
Wyatt narrowed his eyes. “We didn’t even know each other then.”
She lifted one shoulder in a casual shrug. “Well, I knew about you.”
He squeezed her hand, suddenly understanding something about their first meeting. She literally ran into him almost a year ago. He’d been in love with her ever since. But it seemed she’d been aware of him for longer. Two years longer. Warmth centered in his chest at the idea she’d been crushing on him for two years before they even met. Maybe there was hope for him after all.
Wyatt knew the Grey brothers had a little sister. He’d even seen a few pictures of her. His life had changed the moment he came into contact with her and looked into her eyes. He’d known in a second she’d be important.
