“Yes, ma’am,” Norah said, pulling her hair into a messy bun. “You’ll want to tie yours back, too. You’ll be sweating in no time.”
I already am. “I didn’t bring one,” I admitted, silently kicking myself.
“Here.” Norah handed me a spare hair tie. “I always carry extras.”
“Thanks,” I said, scooping the hair away from my damp neck and into a ponytail.
Norah grabbed a tray and disappeared into the crowd with practiced ease. I watched for a second, then grabbed my own tray and straightened my shoulders.
I can do this.It’s just drinks and trays. In a honky tonk. How hard can it be?
ThenI stepped out from behind the bar and into the crowd, hoping it was as easy as Norah made it look.
Chapter Six
Zane
A tiny cloudof dust kicked up around my boots as I crossed the dirt and gravel parking lot. The one and only beer joint in this nowhere town seemed packed to capacity tonight. I could hear the music thumping through the walls and had a pretty good idea what I’d find when I opened that door.
Ranchers from all over the county, blowing off steam after a long work week. Young, single women showing off in barely-there tops and skin-tight jeans. And of course, there would also be some not-so-young women, who were also not-so-single, trying to do the same. Deep down I was hoping to avoid all of that tonight. I’d had one hell of a day, and all I wanted was to be left alone with a few ice-cold beers.
But for the life of me, I couldn’t get that snarky brunette from the diner out of my head—all attitude and smartass comments, like she’d rolled into town just to piss me off. Hell, maybe she had. She’d looked at me like I was dirt under her designer shoes—like this town and the people weren't good enough for her.
And yet…
All I could seem to focus on through my own fury was that mouth. The way it curved around her words, soft and sinful evenwhen she was throwing verbal punches.Especiallywhen she was throwing verbal punches.
It was infuriating.
I didn’t have time for drama, and I sure as hell didn’t have time for some big-city snob with a chip on her shoulder and mouth made for?—
Nope. I needed a beer. Maybe three. And the full damn strength of my willpower to forget the way her voice got under my skin like a splinter I couldn’t dig out.
“Hey, Zane, wait up!”
I paused and looked over my shoulder as my younger brother, Luke, jogged to catch up.
“What the hell were you doing back there?” I asked, more than a little impatient.
He fell into step beside me. “Just giving myself a final once-over before we go in.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are so vain.”
He gave me that trademark cocky grin of his. “Can’t help it. When you look this good, it’s hard not to admire the view.”
I knew he was joking,mostly, but there was some truth to it. Luke was a ladies’ man, always had been. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a steady relationship. That’s where we differed. Luke liked to keep things light. Me? I’d always wanted something real. Someone to build a life with.
I almost had that.
Damn.That’s the second time today I’d let one stray thought open the door to memories I’d been trying hard to forget for the past year.
“Come on, big brother,” Luke said, clapping a hand on my back and dragging me out of my thoughts as he grabbed the door handle. “Let’s go have some fun.”
We stepped into the dim bar and were hit by the usual wall of noise, laughter, and the thick scent of beer and fried food. Bodieswere packed in tight. Boots scuffed the floor. Glasses clinked, and the jukebox wailed in the corner.
“Damn, this place is packed,” Luke said, craning his neck to look around. “Hey, there’s Cody and Troy by the pool tables.”
I followed his gaze to the back wall, where our friends were locked in a game of eight ball.
