I flinch in his hold and shrink into myself. “Oh no, sorry, I didn’t. Can I help you?” I lie sweetly. It’s better that they think I’m some sweet lost girl. It always is. Then they don’t see the pocketknife I have in my bag coming.
The man chuckles and lets go of my shoulder. I take the moment to swivel in my chair and look at him. I wish I hadn’t—I should’ve just gone straight for a slap across his face.
He’s stupid hot—tall, muscular, and he has a charming smile that promises he’s broken way too many hearts. His chestnut?-brown hair is styled and swept to the side, giving him a sharp look.
“Is it just you here? Why don’t you come sit with us?”
“Oh no, that’s okay, I’m getting my food to go.” My fingers tap anxiously on the counter.
His eyes narrow at my hand, and his grin grows with amusement. “They don’t do takeout. New to town?” He looks me over again with a little more interest.
Fuck, of course they don’t do takeout.
“Come on, we don’t bite.” He turns up the charm. I cast a look back at his group of friends, all of them are staring at us. Two of them are grinning and one has an annoyed furrow to his brow.
I guess it would be really awkward to sit here and eat after he’s come over. Plus, they’re all pretty cute. With the shitty day I’ve been having, I could use a distraction.
“Okay.” I sigh with resignation. His expression lights up instantly.
Honestly, what’s the worst thing that could happen? They are just some good-looking guys.Bad ones, I think, but still. Maybe I can get some useful information on this town and what there is to do around here. I’ll definitely need something to kill time besides cleaning up the farm.
I grab my cup of coffee and walk toward their table. He wraps his arm around my lower back and guides me to where he was seated.
I offer an awkward smile and sit down. The men are all sprawled out, not too concerned about me joining them, but they do have a glimmer of interest in their eyes. The man I sit next to has his arm set above the back of the booth. I don’t have any choice but to scoot as close as I can because the one that asked me over here sits down next to me, boxing me in.
Welp, this was probably a mistake.
“What’s a prissy little thing like you doing out here in the middle of the night?” the man across from me asks. He’s a little taller than the rest, and he has tattoos that crawl up his neck and end at his jawline. God, I’ve always had a thing for the tattooed ones. They can handle pain, and something broken in me really likes that.
Prissy? I’ve been called worse.
I consider lying and telling them I’m out here just for fun or to be with family, but if I run into them later, it might be a hard lie to keep up with. I don’t have the bandwidth for that right now.
“There was someone casing the house I’m supposed to be staying at. I didn’t feel like being axe murdered, so I left. I don’t have any cell service out here, so I came to this diner hoping to use a pay phone.” My words trail off as I think about how stupid it is that their police station is closed right now.
“Let me guess, you were going to try to call the police but realized they close at eight p.m. around here.” The guy next to me chuckles.
“Eight p.m.?” I emphasize, genuinely flabbergasted. Is that even legal? My opinion of this place keeps declining.
“Yep, Sheriff Murray doesn’t work very late. How long did you say you were in town for?” the guy who came up and grabbed me asks with a flirty tone.
I firm my lips and rub the edge of my shirt as the wheels in my head churn. I’m not sure I should mention how long I’ll be here.
The hot blondie in the corner across from me seems to catch on to my uncomfortable expression. “I’m John. What’s your name?” He offers a charming grin that soothes my suspicion a bit.
Callum won’t find me here. He thinks I’m dead, and there’s no security cameras in small towns like there are in the city.I calm my thoughts. But a little lie won’t hurt to help me stay hidden, right? “My name is Briar,” I say sheepishly, keeping up with the sweet girl facade. It’s not like it’s a complete lie. I’ve been going by Briar for months now. Chloe Thornton is dead—she died a long time ago.
“That’s a pretty name,” John says with that cheeky smile I’m already fawning over. His eyes are a deep blue that could sweep me off my feet. He’s the one that would break my heart out of them all.
“I’m Gale. That’s Taylor and Bensen.” Taylor is the one who keeps calling me cutie, and he grants me another smile when I look at him. Gale shifts in his seat across from me. He’s the only one who looks a little uncomfortable with me sitting with them.
John speaks up again, setting his elbows on the table and resting his chin on his knuckles. “You look like the type of girl who likes to have a little fun.” He bites his lower lip suggestively. He’s the most attractive of the bunch, but he’s definitely out for a fling. My thighs warm, and I shuffle my feet.
A little trouble might be the only thing that gets me through my time in Bane Falls.
“Uh, yeah, I guess. Except normally I’m in the city partying, not out here in the countryside. What do you guys even do for fun? Tip cows?” My tone is full of sarcasm, but I’m genuinely curious what the heck they do out here.
“Oh, a city girl, huh?” Taylor says as he nudges me from my left side. I laugh awkwardly. “Do you actually think we tip cows?”
