“Hey, Gibs,” the young lady behind the counter said. Her eyes flicked to me, then back again. “What can I get you?”
“The usual.” He glanced at me and raised his eyebrows. “Maya?”
Hearing him say my name—that name—took some of the tension out of my body. “Coffee with cream, please.”
“Sure,” she said with a smile. “To go?”
“Yeah.” Gibson let go of my hand long enough to take out his wallet and toss some cash on the counter. He stuffed a couple dollars in the tip jar, then clasped my hand again.
A guy I didn’t recognize sat at a table near the window, staring at me. Gibson stepped in front of me, blocking me from the guy’s view. I leaned slightly to the left to peek around Gibson’s shoulder and caught a glimpse of the guy’s face going pale.
Was Gibson growling at him?
I bit back a giggle while the guy turned away, almost knocking his coffee over in the process. I’d never been with a man who was so protective. Not that Gibson and I were actually together. But I was grateful for the way he seemed to guard me. Selling my identity as Maya to the people of Bootleg was important to keeping me safe. And with Gibson Bodine standing guard, I felt surprisingly secure.
We got our coffees and left. The late summer air felt good. It reminded me of long days spent at the lake. Swimming in the bath-like water. The smell of sunscreen and bonfire smoke. The good parts of the time when I’d been Callie.
“Hey there, y’all.” Scarlett’s chipper voice came from up ahead. “Good to see you, Maya. How do you like Bootleg Springs?”
Gibson groaned and muttered something under his breath about not needing to yell. But the conspiratorial grin on Scarlett’s face made me smile.
“It’s such a nice town,” I said. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple of the seniors sitting outside the Brunch Club leaning forward, like they were trying to eavesdrop. “So far I like it here.”
“Course it’s a nice town,” Scarlett said. “Well, Maya, I hope you enjoy your visit. Nice to see you again, Maya.”
“Jesus, Scar,” Gibson said. “You don’t have to keep saying her name.”
Scarlett lowered her voice. “I’m just making sure everyone heard.”
“So where are we off to next?” I asked.
“I need to run to the hardware store,” Gibson said with a shrug.
“I have a better idea.” Scarlett sidled up next to me and slipped her arm through mine. “Let’s do a little shopping.”
“No,” Gibson said.
“Aw, come on, Gibs,” Scarlett said. “Your sister needs time to get to know your new girlfriend. This is how things are done. Girl bonding and all that. We’ll catch up with you later.”
Scarlett tugged me forward and it took half a second for Gibson to let go of my hand. I glanced back at him and shrugged one shoulder. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
He glowered at us but didn’t reply.
“I know the perfect place,” Scarlett said. She kept her arm tucked around mine, like we were longtime best friends. “Leah Mae just opened up her own shop, and she has the cutest clothes. No pressure to spend money, but it’s fun to look.”
“Actually, I could use a few new things.”
“See? I told you this was perfect.”
Scarlett greeted people as we walked, waving and taking every opportunity to introduce me. She even shouted across the street. “Hey, y’all, this is Gibson’s new girlfriend Maya.”
I smiled and lifted my hand in a little wave each time. When we got to a small storefront with a sign that said Boots and Lace, we stopped. I glanced over my shoulder. Gibson was still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, his arms crossed over his thick chest, coffee in one hand.
Scarlett pushed the door open. With one last glance at Gibs, I went inside behind her, taking off my sunglasses and tucking them in my bag.
The air-conditioned store felt nice. It was small, but bright and cheery, with an eclectic mix of clothing and accessories. There were distressed jeans, flowing dresses, frilly tops, and tight skirts. Cowboy boots sat on a shelf next to stiletto heels. A display near the counter sparkled with earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, as well as some very cute handbags.
There weren’t any other customers, but Leah Mae stood behind the counter, an open book in her hands. Her eyebrows were lifted, her mouth parted in a circle.
“Whatcha reading?” Scarlett asked.
Leah Mae startled, blinking as she looked up from her book. “Oh my god, you scared me. Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. It’s that book for June’s book club. Have you read it yet?”
“Not yet.” Scarlett pulled on the sleeve of a blue shirt. “Is it any good?”
“Well…” Leah Mae’s cheeks colored. She closed the book and tucked it beneath the counter. “Yes, it’s really good. But… different. You kind of need to read it for yourself to see.”
“Guess I’ll have to start it tonight,” Scarlett said.
“Hey, Maya,” Leah Mae said. “What are y’all up to?”
“We’re doing a little shopping while Gibson goes to the hardware store,” I said. “Or, at least, I think he’s going to the hardware store. Last I saw, he was still standing in the same spot, watching us walk away.”
“Oh, Gibs is just being overprotective,” Scarlett said. She grabbed a dress and held it up to me. “This would look adorable on you.”
“It really would,” Leah Mae said.
I took the dress from Scarlett and draped it over my arm. “Is he always so—”
“Grumpy?” Scarlett filled in for me.
“I was thinking guarded and serious, but yeah.”
“He does have a temper on him, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Scarlett said. She paused and pressed her lips together, as if thinking. “Well, he wouldn’t hurt a fly unless it mouthed off to him at the Lookout and he was lookin’ for a brawl. But that’s all Bootleg men.”
“True,” Leah Mae said, nodding.
Scarlett glanced around. “There’s no one in the dressing room, is there?”
Leah Mae shook her head. “No. I had customers earlier, but right now it’s just us.”
“Have you heard anything yet about…” Scarlett trailed off, nodding her head toward me.
“Oh yeah,” Leah Mae said. “Jameson and I had breakfast at Moonshine after… you know. People are all aflutter about Gibson’s new girlfriend.”
“But just that, right?” Scarlett asked. “Gossip’s all about Maya.”
“Yep. There’s talk about how y’all met. There’s apparently a rumor going ’round that you were a mail-order bride, but I don’t think many believe it. Mostly people are just surprised that Gibson has a real girlfriend.”
“That’s what I’ve been hearing, too,” Scarlett said.
I took slow steps through the store, touching items as if my attention was on the clothes. But I was thinking about Gibson. “I take it that’s big news? Gibson having a girlfriend?”
“Is it ever. I can’t remember the last time he admitted he was dating someone. Maybe not since…” Scarlett paused and made a disgusted face. “I won’t even say her name. Anyway, he takes his lone wolf status seriously. Mostly just occasional hook-ups with random girls he meets when he’s playing.”
“Scarlett,” Leah Mae hissed.
I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing.
“Well, it’s true,” Scarlett said. She held up another dress, first in front of herself, then on me. “This one’s more my color. Anyway, when it comes to Gibs, there’s no point in sugar-coating it. But don’t let that put you off. My brother’s a good man, deep down.”
“That is your color. And his relationship history isn’t my business anyway.”
“Speak of the devil,” Leah Mae said, pointing out the window.
I glanced outside. Misty Lynn Prosser paused, snapping gum between her teeth. Her eyes roamed over the window display. She was dressed in a hot pink tube top. Maybe it was just the angle, but it
looked like her boobs might be crooked.
“Oh hell no,” Scarlett said. “If she comes in, can I kick her ass out?”
“Yes,” Leah Mae said.
“Good.”
A flash of anger burst through me. She’d stolen Gibson’s wallet and turned in the photos he’d kept. Photos of me and him. It didn’t bother me that he’d dated her. That had been a long time ago, and he wasn’t really my boyfriend anyway. But it did bother me—deeply—that she’d used me to try to hurt him. It made me want to march out there and give her a piece of my mind.
Misty Lynn flipped her bleached-out hair over her shoulder and walked by without coming inside.
“Damn,” Scarlett said. “I was hoping I’d get to escort her out.”
“She never comes in,” Leah Mae said. “Which is fine by me. I know you’re supposed to be courteous to your customers no matter who they are, but I think Misty Lynn is the universal exception to that rule.”
“I agree,” I said.
“Not that you need a reason, but do you have bad blood with Misty Lynn?” Scarlett asked.
I glanced toward the window again. “Not from before. But she turned in those pictures of me and Gibs. Am I wrong in assuming she did it to hurt him, and not because she thought it was the right thing to do? Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions.”
“You’re not jumping to anything,” Leah Mae said. “Bex told me Misty Lynn sashayed into the sheriff’s office like she was expecting a blue ribbon. She didn’t even show a lick of remorse that she’d broken Gibson’s window, or that she’d committed theft. She wanted to get him in trouble.”
“God, that pisses me off.”
“She cheated on him, too,” Scarlett said.
“She what?”
Scarlett nodded. “Back when they dated. It was right after our mom died. That’s mostly why I hate her so much. I didn’t like her before—let’s be honest, she’s never been very likable. But after she cheated on my brother? She made an enemy for life.”
I decided in that moment that I hated Misty Lynn, too. Hate was a strong word, but no one hurt my Gibson and got away with it. I didn’t care if he wasn’t my boyfriend. He was still mine, in a way, even if we were just friends.
“That woman needs a solid dose of Bootleg Justice,” Leah Mae said.
I couldn’t have agreed more.
Leah Mae and Scarlett chatted a while longer—mostly about Leah Mae and Jameson’s wedding plans. I wandered through the store, looking at clothes. I really did need a few new things. I didn’t own a lot of clothes, mostly because I hadn’t had a permanent place to live for so long. I didn’t own a lot of anything. Living out of a suitcase didn’t leave room for many belongings.
Running my fingers over the soft fabric of a floral dress, I imagined my clothes hanging in a closet, my things folded neatly and tucked away in drawers that smelled like cedar. What would that be like? To have a home again? To belong somewhere?
I liked my life. I’d made a career for myself in music, which wasn’t an easy thing to do. I enjoyed traveling, touring, meeting new people, seeing new places.
But Jenny had been right. I’d spent a long time running.
The door swung open and Gibson poked his head in. “Finished. You ready?”
“That was fast.” Scarlett smirked at him. “I guess you couldn’t wait to get back to your girlfriend.”
He glared at her.
I laughed softly. “Almost ready. I’m just going to get this.”
Gibson stepped inside and let the door shut behind him. He had a bag that said The Rusty Tool in his hand. Leah Mae and Scarlett seemed to share a look, but Leah Mae just took the dress and scanned the tag.
“I’ll give you the family discount,” she said with a wink.
“Thanks.” I paid and she handed me a cute little shopping bag.
A group of girls—probably high school age—came in, giggling and talking. Gibson appeared to ignore them. In fact, he appeared to be ignoring everyone except me.
“Bye, ladies,” I said and headed for the door.
“See y’all later,” Scarlett said. “Thanks for the mini-shopping trip, Maya. Have fun with your girlfriend, Gibs.”
Gibson grumbled as he took my hand and led me out the door.
13
GIBSON
The trip into town yesterday had done its job, solidifying Callie’s identity as Maya. Grudgingly, I had to admit that Scarlett loud-mouthing her name on the street had been effective. And with my family all confirming the story, Bootleg Springs was not only convinced, they were too distracted by the fact that I supposedly had a girlfriend to question her name.
It also seemed to have taken the attention off my visit to the sheriff’s office, and those pictures I’d been carrying in my wallet.
Her secret was safe, for now.
Cassidy had passed the truth about Callie on to her dad, and he’d called me to ask some questions. He told me straight that his first priority was keeping her safe. Made me feel better about cooperating with him. We’d agreed that it would be best if he met with Callie at his house, under the auspices of dinner, rather than at the station. Dinner with the Tuckers wouldn’t raise eyebrows, whereas the new girl in town meeting with the sheriff in his office would.
For now, we just needed to lay low and keep up the pretense that we were dating. I’d have been happy to hunker down here and ignore the town. But I knew that if we didn’t show our faces, it would start feeding the rumor mill again. I didn’t need half the town claiming I was holding her hostage.
Which was why I was standing in my living room, wearing my best jeans and boots, waiting for a girl I wasn’t dating to finish getting ready. For our date.
I looked out the window, my arms crossed, feeling nervous as hell. Why? No idea. We were just grabbing dinner at Moonshine—not even a fancy date. Then Scarlett was having a bonfire out at her place. The new house she and Devlin were building would be done before next summer, so she wanted to get in some more bonfires at her lake cottage while they were still living there.
Nothing to be nervous about. It wasn’t even a real date. And since when did I get nervous about a girl? Since never.
Callie came out of my room wearing a floral dress. It had thin straps and stopped just above her knees, showing a lot of tanned skin—not to mention those sexy-ass tattoos. Her thick, multicolored hair fell in waves down her back and she’d put on bright lipstick and a pair of dark-rimmed glasses.
“I didn’t know you wore glasses.”
“I don’t,” she said. “They’re not prescription. They just have a blue-light filter.”
“A what?”
She adjusted the glasses. “Electronic devices emit blue light, and some people say it’s bad for us to be exposed to so much. Someone in Blue Moon told Quincy and Henna, and they insisted I get some special glasses. The ones they suggested looked more like safety goggles so I found these as a compromise. I figure they might help me look different, since I won’t be wearing sunglasses in the dark. It worked for Superman, right?”
“Huh.”
“You don’t like them?”
There was a hint of a smile on her lips and I had a feeling that if I said no, I hated them, she’d just smile that big pretty smile of hers and go on wearing them. But I didn’t hate them. They looked adorable on her.
“They’re fine.”
“Okay, good. Are we ready?” she asked. “How do I look?”
She did a little twirl and I swallowed hard. She looked sexy as hell. Like the sort of girl I’d have been proud to introduce to my mom. And the sort I’d hope I’d get to bring home with me after a night out.
But she wasn’t. She was Callie, and this wasn’t a real date. But damn it, she looked amazing.
“You look all right,” I lied.
“I guess that’s good enough.” She grabbed her giant handbag and slung it over her shoulder.
“Do you really need all that? What do you even keep in there?”
Sh
e glanced down at her bag. “No, probably not. I’m just used to carrying it around.”
“Looks like you could live out of that thing.”
“I have lived out of it.” She patted the bag. “More than once.”
“Fine. Let’s just go.” I turned for the door.
“We don’t have to go out if you don’t want to,” she said.
I paused with my hand on the doorknob. “What makes you think I don’t want to?”
“I don’t know. You just seem kinda grouchy tonight.”
She wasn’t wrong. I was wound up so tight I felt like I might snap. Flexing my fist, I took a deep breath. I needed to calm my ass down. I didn’t even know what had me so fucking irritable.
“I don’t mind,” I said without turning to look at her. “Dinner at Moonshine sounds good.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. Because dinner at Moonshine sounds amazing. I haven’t eaten there in so long.”
I cracked a smile and glanced over my shoulder. “It’s the best.”
She smiled again, so pretty it almost hurt to look at her. The scar on her face made her lip curl at an odd angle, but it was cute. Distinctive.
And right there was a part of what had me so edgy. Looking at her sent my emotions spinning out of control. She was beautiful in ways I’d never expected. But that scar on her face was a constant reminder of what her father had done to her. The mix of desire and anger was potent, almost intoxicating.
I didn’t have an outlet for any of it. And it was making me a grumpy bastard. Grumpier than normal, anyway. But none of that was her fault.
“You don’t look all right, you look beautiful,” I grumbled. “The dress is nice.”
“Thank you, Gibs.” She stuck her hands in little openings in the dress and twisted back and forth a few times. “It has pockets.”
I chuckled. She really needed to stop being so goddamn adorable. She was killing me.
We went out to my truck and I opened the door for her. Figured I could drum up some manners. I drove us into town and parked outside Moonshine. She waited while I got the door for her again. Took her hand to help her out. There was that smile again, making my insides feel all twisted.
Highball Rush: Bootleg Springs Book 6 Page 10
