The pitchers of beer are making their way around the table, and everyone is having a good time, but someone has to keep their cognitive skills enhanced. I volunteered for that tonight. A couple beers early in the night was enough for me. A few Coca Colas later, and I’m watching the rest of the group living it up. And wondering where that cute little barkeeper with the fiery violet blue eyes went.
Jay gestures to Garrett and a couple of the guys who are in a heated battle of pool at the tables in the back. “Garrett’s running the table tonight. Cole doesn’t lose often at pool.”
I watch Garrett sink one ball and then another. “Garrett’s going easy on the drinks tonight. He doesn’t plan on having a headache from hell tomorrow like our other friends, you included.”
Jay laughs. “It’s not often we go out as a group. Someone has to be watching the family.”
“It was nice of the Larussios to help out with the coverage and to fly everyone out for the occasion.”
Jay nods. “The Larussios and Chase Prestian are the best to work for. I wouldn’t trust Chase and Katarina with just anyone while I’m gone, but Tommy has quite a few men on the payroll, enough to send some of them to cover us and himself while the rest of us are out here.”
Cole takes a shot and misses by a mile. He pulls his phone from his pocket and steps away. A few minutes later he walks over. “Hey, Maddie called. She’s over at Kenny and Eileen’s watching Darcy and little Cole. He has an earache. Can you give me a ride to Eagle’s Swallow; it’s on the edge of town. Krissy isn’t answering her phone.”
I grab my jacket and toss some money on the table. We get a little razzing by the guys for not being able to keep up to them with drinks before we leave, but it’s all in good fun. Cole shrugs into his coat as he walks across the parking lot, before jumping into the passenger seat. “Thanks for the ride. One too many to be behind the wheel. The temperature’s supposed to drop tonight.”
A quick glance at the dash climate control confirms exactly that, reminding me of another icy road and accident years ago. “Yeah, I don’t like that 32-degree temp mark. A little on the iffy side for me if it starts raining.”
Cole looks into the back seat. “You brought the bags Garrett needed? I was going to ask if you brought the extra supplies or if they would come in another trip. A little extra firepower and ammo never hurts when you’re dealing with unexpected events.”
“I took the private jet, so it was easier to carry it along.” I crank the heater on the rented SUV. “It’s definitely getting a little chilly. I think the desert sun thins out your blood after a while.”
Cole closes the door and reaches for the seat belt as I pull out of the parking lot as he tries Krissy again. “They keep the music so loud she probably didn’t hear her cell. We’ll have to run him up to urgent care tonight. Poor guy gets those recurrent ear infections. They’ll probably have to put tubes in until he outgrows them.”
“Poor little fella. Good thing he has you two to care for him. What’s the bartender’s story? PJ? If looks could kill I would have been dead on the floor tonight.”
He laughs. “You do not even want to go there, my friend. That woman will cut your heart out and feed it to the wolves. No man outside of this town has a shot in hell with PJ after some dumb fuck from the city broke her heart years ago. The sad thing is she’s such good friends with the guys in town that no one sees her like that.”
I don’t understand that reasoning. “If I ever thought about settling down, not that I would, it would have to be with someone I could have as a friend too. To share everything with. I mean, isn’t trust what holds two people together through thick and thin; isn’t that what friends do? I don’t see how you’re married to someone without being their friend.”
Cole nods. “You’re not wrong. That’s what Krissy and I have. It wasn’t an easy road to begin with; the trust thing, I mean. We had our bumps in the beginning. I pulled her out of a rough situation. She had to find herself before she was ready to be with me or anyone else. But she did, and we’ll be together for a lifetime. But, PJ, that’s a whole other situation. She holds a grudge, longer than most people I know. She is a fiery spirit!”
I laugh. “Yeah, I could see something flashing in those eyes. That woman is fine as hell too. I tried to talk to her, and she dumped beer on me like I wasn’t worth the time of day.”
Cole rolls his eyes and grins.
“No, she literally dumped beer on me for absolutely no reason.”
Cole laughs. “You get what you get with Priscilla Jean. All I can say is out of towners, beware.” He pulls into the parking lot of a rustic log cabin type establishment and parks next to a gray minivan. “That’s Krissy’s van. I’ll go get her. She and I can head over to Kenny and Eileen’s house and then to urgent care. Their daughter, Maddie, is watching them there tonight.”
I follow him into the rustic bar where the live band is giving it their all in an effort to show everyone a good time. Cole jabs my elbow and gestures to the dance floor. “That’s something I never thought I’d see again. They got PJ to dance.”
My eyes follow his to the women dancing in a line and in sync with the music and each other. I’d recognize the ass on the end anywhere, but now her long, wavy hair is bouncing with every move she makes, free from the ponytail that she wore at the bar.
The ladies turn, in time to the music. As if feeling the heat of my gaze, PJ’s bright glossy eyes connect with mine, her soft features framed by all that hair. Her face is flushed from laughing and dancing hard, but there’s something else in that look she gives me that I find hard to ignore.
The two of us make our way toward the ladies on the floor. “It looks like PJ is learning to have a little fun again. It’s nice to see. It’s been way too long.”
Krissy spots Cole and walks quickly across the dance floor to him, her eyes full of worry with the others close behind. “What’s wrong? Why are you guys here?” she asks, a little out of breath from dancing.
Cole explains the situation, and she pulls out her phone with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry. I never even heard the phone ring. Thanks for bringing Cole out,” she says to me. “I’ll get my things.”
Cole looks around as we follow Krissy back to their table. I take in all the empty shot glasses and some full ones too. “Where are Lacy and Patti; I thought you were all here together?” Cole asks.
Jules slips dramatically into a chair and grabs a full shot, tossing it back. “Lacy and Patti went over to meet a few friends at the Eagle’s Nest. It’s their grand opening tonight. They’ll be back before 11 pm. Then we are all going to have a few more drinks, a last hoorah dance, and head home at midnight.”
Cole nods. “The owners are good friends of Lacy’s. I heard they were opening another bar but didn’t realize it was tonight.” He looks at me. “Krissy was DD and supposed to take the ladies home. She’ll drive us out to get little Cole and then over to the urgent care. Can you make sure these two get home safe?” He gestures to PJ and Jules as they both reach for a beer.
I smirk and lower my voice so only he can hear. “Sure, babysitting a couple of drunken women? No problem. But you will owe me, my friend.”
He grins. “Consider it an IOU. Garrett probably already knows where Lacy and Patti are, but I’ll give him a text and make sure he’s aware. He quit drinking hours ago and can pick them up and take them home.”
I watch as he places his hand protectively on Krissy’s lower back, as they head out to get their little guy. PJ’s gaze trailing over my body heats my skin. I turn to find her looking at me with curiosity and a half-inebriated haze as Cole and Krissy head out the door. “So have you ladies had enough fun yet?” I ask, because by the look of things, they’re going to be hurting in the morning if they don’t rein it in pretty soon. And it’s far from midnight.
I get a set of wide eyes from Jules. “Not on your life, mister. Do you know how often it is that PJ lets loose, even a little?” She puts her forefinger and her thumb together to show me exactly what a little is. “Well, it has been a hot minute. There’s no way we’re leaving now. Not when Mr. tall and good looking has been singing to her all night long. No, we’re definitely staying,” she says, picking up two more shots and handing one to PJ who throws it back with a melodious little laugh that travels straight to my dick.
PJ pins me with a look. “We’re definitely staying. We’re having way too much fun to go home now. If small town fun isn’t your thing, don’t stay on our count. We can find our way back to town. Plenty of friends who will drive us home. Not some stranger from out of town who we barely know and don’t want to get to know anyway.”
My eyes narrow, watching that sassy little mouth move. I resist the urge to tip her over my lap and paddle that little ass, letting my gaze trail past her face instead. There is no possible way to miss that cleavage and those peach-sized breasts now that she’s divested herself of that ugly green apron she had on back at Kenny’s bar.
PJ feels the heat of my gaze, and her nipples harden right in front of my eyes. The little miss can deny it all she wants, but whether I’m from out of town or not, she feels the attraction too. I know it, and she knows I know it.
“Come on, Jules. We don’t need men to dance with to have a good time.” She gives me a little huff, grabs Jules’ hand, and tugs her back to the dance floor, leaving me to watch the two young women who have had way more than their fill of alcohol but managing to stay in sync with the music just the same.
A waitress stops by the table. I load up all the empties and put them on the tray for her and slide a couple fifties on top for good measure. Who knows what she’s had to put up with from the drunk little she-devil tonight.
I glance back at the dance floor, and my jaw locks tight as the long-haired crooner on stage with the steel guitar makes a show of singing to PJ. Jules is swept away by a cowboy with an urge to dance, suddenly leaving PJ standing in the middle of the dance floor, all alone, while couples swirl around her.
My feet move before my brain has a chance to check in. I close the distance between us and twirl her around to face me, snake my arm around her waist, and take her by the hand. “Jules got swept away by a cowboy. I didn’t think you’d mind a quick dance.”
Her face flushes as she sizes up the situation and inhales a deep breath. “I didn’t even realize she was gone. Oh my stars. I must be three sheets to the wind if I’m dancing with you,” she says.
It’s hard not to laugh. “If that’s what it takes to get a dance with the prettiest girl in the room, fine.” I spin her around and then pull her back to me.
She looks up at me, still completely flushed, and those violet eyes flash. “You may be able to dance, but I’m not some girl you can sweet talk out of her panties and then toss away the next day without even a thank you, ma’am. I know how this works. You’ll be back on that big jet you flew in on before you know it, and I’ll have my panties safe in hand.”
I whisper in her ear, “Darling, I do want those panties. But you’re not in any condition to consent to giving them to me right now.”