Page 14 of Hard to Lose

Nixon snickers to my right but I ignore him. I’m sure he’s taking too much pleasure in seeing me get schooled at the moment.

“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it,” I murmur. She licks her lips and if she didn’t already have my attention, she sure has it now. “And yet, here you are.”

“And yet, here I am,” she says and rests her hands on the bar top. No ring on her finger. I can definitely appreciate that.

I nod, her statement telling me she’s most definitely not from around these parts. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You call me ma’am, and I’m going to turn around and look to see if my grandma’s here.”

“Well, if you’re staying in these parts long, you’ll need to get used to being called ma’am every now and again,” I say. “Now, how may I help you?”

“Thirsty and waiting for my friendly bartender to ask me what it is I’ll have.”

I angle my head to the side and smirk. Her words are quick, but her eyes are slow as they run over my biceps while I wipe down the counter in front of her before looking back at me. “Well, Miss . . .”

“Chase. Chase Kincade,” she says as she extends a hand across the bar top, while I repeat her name in my head.

“People in these parts call me Gunner or Gunny or anything of the sort.” I take her hand in mine and shake it. Of course, I hold on to it a little longer than normal—but it’s not like she pulls her hand away either. “Let me guess. You’re a rum and Coke girl.” Her eyes narrow. “A martini then? Extra dry?”

“Too pretentious.”

“Gin and tonic. Bombay Sapphire.”

She purses her lips and nods. “I’ll take option number three with a twist, please.”

I nod and get to work making her drink for her, but my eyes keep flickering over to her as she casually looks around and offers a smile to Nix, who’s no doubt staring at her.

Then I snap my fingers when it hits me who she is.

“Kincade?” She nods, but I swear to God there’s a small startle in her eyes too. “Are you Duncan Kincade’s little sister? I heard he was having a big blowout to celebrate his retirement. Word around base is that—”

“You’re making me wish the answer was yes, but no, I’m not related.”

“So if you’re not Duncan’s sister, are you just passing through or staying a while or . . .”

“Considering you already had me pegged as a Camo Chaser here looking for a soldier for the night, why don’t you tell me what you think I’m here for?” She laughs.

I slide her drink in front of her, cross my arms over my chest as she takes her first sip, and narrow my eyes. “The possibilities are endless.”

“That’s not an answer,” she says coyly.

“Let me see. You’re in Destiny Falls for a temporary stay because you’re determined to find the man that you were madly in love with. He fell in love with the lion tamer, when you’re more of a tiger kind of girl, and now you want revenge.”

She laughs at my lame attempt at humor and shakes her head. “That would imply that I care about a man who cheated on me. Hate to break it to you, but I wouldn’t. Chasing after a man isn’t my style.”

“No?” I ask, loving how straightforward she is.

“No. My time is too valuable to chase after a man who’s not smart enough to see me for what I’m worth in the first place.”

I emit a long, low whistle and follow it with a smile. “Your confidence is quite becoming.”

And it is. A woman who knows what she wants is fucking hot.

Her cheeks flush, and I like that a compliment does that to her. That means she’s not so used to them she’s immune to them.

“My confidence is off-putting to a lot of men.”

“Not this man,” I say and walk over to take care of some other customers. The whole time I’m making their drinks, I’m thinking about the woman at the other end of the bar. Of her incredible smile, warm eyes, and sexy confidence.