“So, brother, what’s going on between you and that cute little baker?” Colter asks, sinking a ball.
“Nothing to tell,” I say, taking a pull from my whisky and then lining up for my next shot.
“Bullshit,” Cade grunts.
“You guys should have seen him. He sounded like a teenager trying to get laid for the first time.” Hayes chuckles, grabbing the cue from my hand.
“Fuck off. All of you,” I grumble, making the guys hoot with laughter.
Sometimes having three brothers can sure be a pain in my ass.
“It’s been, what, five years since Lauren left?” Colter asks, eyeing me from the other side of the table.
“Yep,” I say, popping my lips. I loved Lauren, and it still hurts that she left the way she did. But now that I’m starting to get to know Jade? It’s like no woman before her even matters.
“Dude. Please tell me you’ve at least had sex since then.” Hayes says, eyeing me with disdain, as if not having sex for five years disgusts him.
Not that it’s any of his business, but I’ve had sex since Lauren. Nothing mind-blowing or memorable, but it scratched the itch. It’s not often, but every summer we get a tourist who’s interested in the town sheriff.
“Leave him alone. He’s had sex since then, Jesus,” Cade says, rolling his eyes.
“Like you’re one to talk, Cade. I know for a fact that you haven’t had sex in the past five years.” Hayes scoffs, passing me back the cue.
Cade’s face twists, and he glowers at Hayes. “Enough,” he barks out, and the three of us share a look, knowing it’s time to move on to a different topic. Clara is, and will always be, a sore topic, and you can’t blame the guy.
“How about we talk about Sarah, Hayes?” Colter bates him. “She’s looking pretty fine tonight. Bet any man in this bar would kill to have those long, lean legs wrapped around him.”
Hayes’s fingers clench around the base of his bottle as he brings it to his lips and starts to chug. His knuckles whiten, and I brace for the bottle to shatter before he slams it down and walks off with no parting words.
“Dude, seriously? You know how he is when it comes to Sarah,” I scold, shaking my head.
“Oh, come on. I was just playing! He needs to get his shit together and work things out with her.”
“It’s not our business,” I tell him, watching Hayes walk up and sling a hand around the waist of some blonde. I shake my head and just hope this one isn’t married.
After a few more rounds of pool, we order some food and find an empty table. I spot Jade walking up to the bar and decide I could use another drink as well. Sliding up next to her, I smile and ask how her night’s going.
“Good! I really like your sister. She’s funny and fits right in with us. I had no idea her and Harper grew up together, so it’s perfect!”
I bob my head in agreement and inhale her scent. “They ran in different circles back then, but it’ll be nice for Wrenley to make some friends,” I tell her.
Wrenley, as outspoken and loud as she is, really could never find a group of friends to fit in with when she was younger. With four older brothers and life on a farm, she wasn’t a girly girl like most of the girls she grew up with. She would have the occasional friend, but nothing ever solid. She was always out on her horse anyways, so I don’t think she minded too much. Until she wasn’t allowed to ride anymore. It took a long while for her to break out of that depression.
“Thanks again for sending her our way. She was a natural today. She’ll be great to have at the bakery.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
Marsha, the bartender, makes her way down to us. “Sheriff. Jade. What can I get for you two?”
“I’ll just get a Caesar, please,” Jade tells her.
“Another whisky, please, Marsha. And add Jade’s to my tab.”
Those big green eyes shoot to me. “Oh. You don’t have to do that,” she says.
“Let me buy you a drink, Jade.”
She bites her lip, and my eyes dart to her mouth. I swallow the urge to reach out and pop her lip from her teeth.
