Chapter 1
Shelly
Friday night at the Bear Den wasexactlywhat I needed.
As we walked in, Mina and I were greeted by bluegrass music and the aroma of cheap beer. The place was already buzzing with locals.
It felt likehome.
The worn dance floor was filling up, and a group of mountain men were camped out around the pool tables, like they were every Friday night.
I loved this place. It helped that I knew almost everyone in here. It was one of the perks of small-town life.
Mina went to play pool, while I scanned the bar, looking for my friend Claire.
That’s when my eyes caught on Amos.
He was holding court with two women flanking him, hanging on his every word.
Amos leaned back against the bar, chest out, an easy grin on his sexy lips. The man was doing his favorite thing right now, basking in their attention.
Why does he have to be so hot?
His sleeves were rolled to his elbows, and his shirt stretched across his chest decadently.
It was his Friday-night shirt. The one with the lucky horseshoes embroidered across the front. I’d given it to him for Christmas, and he’d worn it every Friday since.
Vanessa and Ivy laughed at something he said, and my heart settled uncomfortably in my chest.
I’d watched this exact scene play out dozens of times. The night would wind up the same way it always did… with him walking someone out the door.
But it was neverme.
In all the years I’d known Amos Nelson, he’d neveroncetried to take me home.
And after years of pretending that it didn’t bother me, tonight I wanted to know why.
For one second, I almost walked away.
But then I didn’t. I squared my shoulders and beelined to the bar, sliding onto the empty stool beside him with a smile.
“Excuse me, I’m going to need to borrow this man for ten seconds before hecompletelyloses his mind over you two. If you don’t watch out, he’ll try to takebothof you home.”
Amos turned at the sound of my voice, and his whole face lit up.
Ivy squealed when she saw me, and Vanessa shouted, “You look hot, girl! Who did you dress up for?”
“No one. Ialwayslook like this,” I sassed back, knowing full well I’d spent an hour fussing over myself in the vain attempt to get this man to notice me as something other than a friend.
“Shelly-Rae Anderson,” Amos rumbled. “You’re the best thing I’ve seen all night.”
He tucked a loose curl behind my ear, his fingertips grazing my cheek. Then he slipped them under my chin while his eyes lit up brighter than the Milky Way.
“Hi, Amos,” I said breathlessly. I always lost my words when he touched me.
“Hey, sweet baby,” his eyes danced down to my cleavage and back up again. “You’re going to make the men lose theirmindsdressed like that.”
I chuckled. Amos was always being silly.
