My heart skips a beat in my chest and I wipe my hands on my apron before heading in their direction. I shove down the embarrassment that creeps up, hoping and praying that maybe Cole forgot the time I tried to kiss him. Cash leans on his elbows, talking to Cade while Cole stares down at the laminated menu in his hands.
“Well, good evenin’ boys.”
My eyes scan the three of them, Cash sitting back in his seat with a goofy grin on his lips. “Hey, Ella.”
Cade tips his head. “Howdy.”
Cole slowly sets down the menu, lifting his head as his gaze collides with mine. “Hey El.”
His voice is a little deeper than I remember it being, but then again, it’s been a long time since I last saw him. He looks good, like time has been on his side. He’s only twenty-six—three years older than me.
Stark, sharp bright blue eyes. His nose straight and jaw line perfectly chiseled with a dusting of stubble along the sides of his face. There’s a small scar above his left eyebrow, but I remember that he got that when he was thrown off a horse in high school. His dirty blonde hair is tousled and wavy, falling above his eyebrows.
“What can I get y’all tonight?” I ask the three of them, my eyes bouncing between them all. Cole’s gaze travels across my face, down to my mouth before landing back on my eyes again.
“We’ll each take a bourbon on the rocks, whatever you have that isn’t bottom of the barrel,” Cade tells me, the smallest smile on his lips. “I’ll take a burger, medium well.”
Cash chimes in. “Yeah, I’ll do the same.”
I don’t bother writing any of it down, since the order is simple enough. I look back to Cole and find him watching me once again.
“What would you recommend?” He questions me, tilting his head to the side as amusement passes through his irises. “I haven’t eaten here in a long time.”
I swallow roughly, smiling at him, dipping my chin. “I mean, I’m a little biased, but anything on that menu is good.”
“Hmm,” he murmurs, his eyebrows shifting slightly before relaxing once more. “I’ll have what they’re having.”
“Sounds good,” I tell the three of them, the smile still on my face. “I’ll get your order in and be back with your drinks.”
The three of them thank me simultaneously before Cash ropes the two of them into a conversation. My heart pounds as I walk over to the screen to put in their orders. My fingers shake as I enter in their order.
I pause, sucking in a deep breath, closing my eyes while I focus on my breathing for a few seconds. When I open them, the shaking is gone, but my heart still has a mind of its own, pounding away.
Something about Cole makes me feel like I’m off kilter. It must be the remembrance of the crush I had on him and those old feelings speaking. It was never mutual. Cole was best friends with Wyatt, so he never once made a move on me. I wouldn’t have expected him to, but there was a part of me that had hoped he would.
I was just a delusional teen, obsessed with her older brother’s best friend.
We’re adults now and there are no crushes to be had.
Only drinks to make and burgers to serve.
Ignoring the burning curiosity and urge to look back at Cole, I busy myself with all three of their bourbons before carryingthem back over to their spot at the bar. I walk over, finding two empty barstools and one Wild brother sitting by himself.
My heart pitter patters again as I set two of them down and the last in front of Cole. “Did your brothers abandon you?”
Cole lifts the glass, a smirk on his lips as he shakes his head. “Nah, they’re back there,” he motions behind himself to the pool table. “They’re both still trying to learn how to have patience.”
I laugh softly, looking back at Cade and Cash before directing my attention to Cole. “It seems like you do, though.”
His cheeks lift a little higher, his eyes narrowing in the slightest bit as he nods. “Oh, I am. I learned to be patient long ago.”
He doesn’t elaborate and I don’t ask what he means by that. “I’m surprised to see you back in town.”
“It’s been a while.” His throat bobs as he swallows hard. “I figured it was time I got back here to help out on the ranch.”
“Did something happen?” I question him, even though I know what happened.
He half shrugs. “Just bullshit injuries,” he tells me. “Healing properly becomes an issue when you rush it. I never healed properly from my shoulder injury two seasons ago. Last season was rough and after MRIs showed the amount of scar tissue inside, I realized it was time to hang up my hat.”
