Inside the honkytonk, the bar counter was set up on the far left side of the room with half of the rickety stools already taken by couples and friends who were out for a good time. Ahead was the stage where the band had been playing a couple of minutes before. They were taking a break, letting the sound and chatter of everyone else fill the barroom for the moment. Along the other two walls were tables and chairs that were just as unstable and old as the bar itself. Cleared away in the center, rather unceremoniously, was the dancefloor right in front of the stage. Its wooden planks were scuffed by the countless pairs of boots that had stomped, skipped and skidded across their once polishedsurface.
The neon lights buzzed on the wall as skimpy fans hung motionless above their heads. During the summer, this place could get downright stuffy and hot with all the moving bodies on the dancefloor. The odors of beer and stale cigarette smoke had permeated the floors, walls, and ceiling over the years. He was sure that even if they tore this place down and rebuilt it as something else, it’d smell thesameway.
Couples who had been married for decades had met here for their first dates. Men and women in need of companionship and comfort during their darkest hours had come to this place for a little escape from the harsh world. Friends had met there to equally celebrate and mourn. Bartenders came and went. Numerous bands had gotten their start right here and moved on to bigger things. But the owner – a guy that went by the name of King – would never give up County Line Bar, not for all the fortunes in the world, as he put it. It was an iconic spot with its own character, its own sort of life that you could feel as soon as you walked inthedoor.
Daniel led them toward an empty table and cleared away some of the peanut shell crumbs left behind by a previous group. Beau was already walking toward the bar to place his and Rebecca’s order when Daniel was asking forTara’s.
King was at the bar, laughing with a couple of guys about how the bar was founded. It was a story he had heard a thousand times already and he didn’t even live in Brooksdale anymore. The old man, his shoulder-length salt and pepper hair pulled back into a thin ponytail, turned to Beau withsmilingeyes.
“Hey, man!” he bellowed in greeting. “Haven’t seen you around here in awhile!”
They shook hands and Beau wondered if he could get away with sitting at the bar all night instead of with the others. It might have been rude, but he couldn’t stand to see his brother moving in on the girl he really wanted. Then again, maybe he needed to step in and make sure Daniel didn’t get sidetracked withRebecca.
“I’m just here with my brother on a double-date,” he replied. It was pointless to hide it from King. He’d find outanyway.
The bar owner leaned over to get a good look at the girls and whistled. “Damn, son! I don’t know which ones yours, but you did goodeitherway.”
Daniel arrived just a second or two later before Beau could formulate a response that didn’t make him sound bitter or resentful about his arrangement withRebecca.
“Two beers,” his brother said, leaning against the edge of the pitted and polished bar counter. King kept the bar in better condition than his regular tables and it reflected the overhead canlights.
King gave a nod and looked to Beau for his order. When Beau mentioned he wanted a wine and a beer, the ownerchuckled.
“I’m gonna assume the wine is for your date,” he said with a hearty laugh before turning around to pour theirglasses.
Beau elbowed his brother, who was too busy staring back at the two girls at the table. “Eyes off my date,” he warned, even though he didn’t truly mean it. How he felt a mess of contradicting emotions war in his chest at that moment. It didn’t help matters when Tara eyes lifted and she gave him that look that told him his chances of getting somewhere with her wereprettygood.
* * *
Tara’s mouthwatered as she checked out Beau’s sexy ass in those blue jeans. Damn, how she wished she could have been the one to dance with him. Maybe if they did a line dance, she could at least stand nexttohim.
Rebecca was not a willing victim of these circumstances. She didn’t like bars, didn’t like dancing, and didn’t even like country music. She had moved to Brooksdale from out east back when she was in middle school, because her parents wanted a change of pace from their hectic, inner city lifestyle. Rebecca probably would have moved out of the small town long ago if it weren't for the amazing friends she had made inschool.
Right about now, though, Tara was sure Rebecca wanted to disown hercompletely.
“At least you get to spend some time with Daniel,” she said after Rebecca had mumbled out a string of complaints about the smell of the bar and the loud noise of the band that was tuning up on the stage for anotherround.
Rebecca shot her a look. “That’s the only reason I’m hereatall.”
Tara watched the boys saunter back with their orders. Poor Beau carried a wine glass for Rebecca, which looked pretty emasculating as it was. She wasn’t deterred though. She loved the way his black, tight fitted shirt was tucked behind his big silver belt buckle, which might have been the only thing keeping his pants from falling offhiships.
Daniel handed Tara her beer, but she didn’t take a sip right away as the guys did. She might have needed a little something to take the edge off this awkward double-date, but she also didn’t want to get carried away and say too muchtoosoon.
Daniel and Rebecca started in on some small talk that Tara followed and occasionally contributed to, but she saw that Beau was fairly quiet in comparison. The way he took swig after swig from his glass, she might have suspected he was trying just as hard to be at ease as she was without the aid ofalcohol.
She watched him closely and the way his blue eyes wandered around the room. She had read about this in the book earlier that day at work. Sneaking in a few pages under the table at the desk, Tara had to stop right about this point in the evening. Beyond that, the book wouldn’t divulgeanything.
She knew she was going to wear the cutoffs, she knew Rebecca was going to complain, she knew the guys would go get their drinks, and she knew that Beau was going to be distracted and slightly listless while they allchatted.
What she didn’t know was why. She didn’t know what songs the band would play, or what dances would come up next. The rest was up to herandBeau.
The next song came on and she immediately recognized it. Copperhead Road. She grinned and grabbed forRebecca’sarm.
“Oh my God!” she squealed. “Come on, I swear I’ll show you how to dothisone.”
Beau’s attention was drawn back to thetable.
Rebecca’s eyes went wide, a silent plea for Tara not to put her through that kind of torture. There wasn’t much time before the band got to the firstbeats.
