My back didn’t hurt as much as I tried to peer through the crack in the shutters to get a peek outside.
“That kid opened a bar,” he explained. “Something about making his own beer.”
“Which kid?” I prodded. I was still trying to piece together the who’s who of Stonecreek Valley.
“That one with the beer idea. Drew. That’s it. Drew.”
“Oh. Ok.” Clearly Vincent wasn’t the one to go if I wanted information. It took him almost five minutes just to come up with the bar owner’s name. I was just glad to hear there was something happening in town. It gave me a little bit of hope I could have a social life again.
“So he makes craft beer?” I asked Vincent, but this back was to me and he didn’t hear the question.
I sighed. I had a quick pang of homesickness for Tia. She would want to check out the new beer bar. She’d be curious. She’d want to know what night life was like here, but I didn’t have time to wallow. A tall drink of water walked into the diner.
“Table up.” Vincent pointed. I was stunned he had noticed.
I straightened my apron the best I could and tried to pin back my flyway blond wisps. Holy shit. The customer was gorgeous. Too gorgeous for me to serve him. I wanted to spin around on my heels and hide in the kitchen.
But Reva was gone and I was the only one working the dining room. There was nowhere to hide unless I convinced Vincent to take my place. I knew that would never happen.
Ok. You can do this, Jade. You’re just getting your life together. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Nothing at all. Never be ashamed to work hard.
“Hi.” I plastered on a smile. I pulled a menu from the stack in the bin next to the door. “Table for one? I mean booth? I mean for you?” Oh fuck. This was going nowhere. I exhaled.
He chuckled. It was the kind of laugh that made me notice how deep and sexy his voice was without him uttering a single word yet. I was already tingling. I didn’t need anything more enticing.
“Actually, I came by to see Cookie,” he replied.
I felt the disappointment. “Oh.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “She’s already gone for the night.”
His eyes landed on me and something inside me stirred. It was instant and instinctive. As if someone had lit a match in my belly.
“Maybe you could help me instead.” He grinned and I knew I was in trouble. “See, my friend picked up lunch yesterday for us, but the orders were switched… and anyway, I owe Cookie for about six cheeseburgers.”
“Six cheeseburgers?” My jaw dropped.
There was no way this man ate that many cheeseburgers. He had an athletic build and tan skin. His hands were rugged just like his jaw. He had deep green eyes and hair that was black like midnight. I doubted he’d every had an ounce of fat on his flawless body before.
He laughed. “Yeah. I owe her for those. But you know, I could stop by tomorrow.”
“Maybe that would be better.” It also meant I’d have another chance to drink in this man.
“All right. I’ll do that. I’ve got to get back to my buddy across the street.” He had perfect white teeth when he smiled.
“Oh, are you at the beer event?” I pried. I was being overly nosey.
“Drew’s Brews. Yeah.” He bit his bottom lip and I almost let out a sigh. “Why don’t you walk over when your shift is done? I’d love to buy you a beer.”
“Oh.” I shook my head. “I have a lot of work to do.” I started nervously wiping off one of the tables. “But thanks.” I don’t know why I turned him down. I don’t know why on my first invitation in Stonecreek Valley I couldn’t just say yes.
“I’m Ace.” He held out his hand. “We haven’t met.”
I didn’t know if it took more courage to shake his hand or to remove it from his firm grip.
“Hi. I’m Jade. Tonight’s my first night.”
“Pretty name.” He winked. “Nice to meet you, Jade. I’ll be seeing you around. Welcome to Stonecreek Valley.”
I nodded. God I hoped I’d be seeing more of him. I was in a something like a drunken stupor when he backed out of the door. I groaned when I saw the trio of men who replaced him. They were certainly a few too many drinks in already. At least the diner didn’t serve alcohol.
I pointed a booth. They licked their lips and looked at me like the diners looked at their burgers. I hated it. I hated them already, but maybe I’d get some good tips from them. Money I could put away for my next studio.
7
Ace
I strolled out of the Valley Stop Diner, hesitating just before I walked into the bar. There was a tug at my chest. Like a string telling me to turn around and march into the diner. There was something sexy as hell about the new waitress Cookie had hired. She was cute. Chances were if Dalt hadn’t been waiting for me with another round, I would have stayed and ordered something from her. I ignored that tugging sensation and walked inside, moving people aside to get to Dalt.
I perched up at one of the high-top tables. It was loud inside and crowded. Drew had hired a band for the night. It brought in people from all over the county. Band nights were the best nights. They had always been the most fun. I searched the groups of girls dancing to see if there was someone as cute as the waitress. Someone I could buy a drink. Maybe steal a kiss. Maybe take back to my room and wake up with in the morning.
The more I scanned their faces, the more I realized no one here compared to her. These girls were dressed to kill. Sexy tops and perfume. They’d spent hours on makeup and hair, but I didn’t see anyone that was as beautiful as Jade. I chuckled. What were the fucking chances?
“That took a while.” Dalton eyed me.
“You know how slow it is over there at night.” I wasn’t ready to reveal the waitress to him just yet. He’d know soon enough.
“Right.” He nodded. “Vince and Cookie on a Friday night are the equivalent of putting two turtles together.”
I laughed. “Something like that.”
We couldn’t see through the front windows to get a look at the diner. There were too many people standing between us and the windows. I turned again, thinking about walking over again. I could at least get Jade’s number. I could offer to wait until her shift was over.
But before I could make up an excuse there was a loud slap on my back.
“Look who the hell showed up.”
I grinned. “My man.” I shook Drew’s hand.
“You two need another round.” He pointed at our drinks.
“Not me.” Dalton waved him off. “I’m driving his drunk ass home tonight.”
“I’m not drunk enough yet.” I laughed. “I’ll take you up on that, man.”
Drew stood between us and ordered someone on the wait staff to bring another beer over. It wasn’t long before he was pulled into the crowd.
“When you’re finished with that one want to head out?” Dalton asked.
I had a few sips left. “Yeah.”
We paid for the beers. I added an extra tip for the girl who had waited on us. As we walked outside, I picked up the pace. I wanted to see if Jade was still at the diner. But as we grew closer to where Dalton had parked his truck, I knew something wasn’t right.
I heard Jade scream.
The rest is history.
8
Dalton
I looked over my shoulder. Ace was in the backseat of my truck with the new girl from the diner. Apparently, he knew her too. I wasn’t convinced Cookie hadn’t already tried to set them up. It wasn’t as if I mentioned running into her. Did I expect my best friend to give me every detail every time he met a pretty girl? We weren’t in high school anymore.
“How’s she doing?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” she answered.
Ace chuckled. “I think she can answer for herself.”
“I can.” She struggled to sit up. I watched the scene unfold in the rearview mirror.
“We’re almost at the ranch.”
“What ranch?” She leaned o
ver to look out the window.
“Our ranch.”
Ace tried to give her some space. She was scared out of her damn mind. I didn’t want to think what would have happened if we hadn’t left Drew’s bar when we did. It was fucking luck that we parked on that side of the alley and we saw those assholes cornering her.
“Maybe you should just drive me home.” Her voice cracked a little. “I’ll be fine at my place.”
It made my chest curl with pain for her. I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight. Not after what she had been through.
“Look,” I explained. “We’re the good guys in this scenario. We want to make sure you’re ok. And I think it’s good to put some distance between you and those assholes.”
Ace nodded. “Who were those fuckers?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Some guys who came in the diner tonight. They stayed way too long and all they did was drink coffee and stare at me.”
“I’m sorry, Jade.” Ace pulled her to his chest.
Jade? Her name was Jade. Damn it. He already knew more about her than I did. My chest was split between jealousy and concern. There was something about that little spitfire in the backseat that ignited my primal instincts to protect. It didn’t matter if she liked Ace. I had to accept that. What mattered is that we got her out of there in time. We saved her before things became critical.
“Thank you. Again. Thank you for what you two did back there.”
“Don’t mention it.” I steered the truck through the gates to the ranch. The house was a mile off the main road. “It’s going to be a little bumpy,” I warned.
“I’ve got you,” Ace consoled. I tried to think of a time I’d seen him this compassionate before.
My inner beast wanted to growl. Ace held her tightly while the truck took hard divots in the drive. I was fucking jealous. But what was I supposed to do?
I pulled up in front of the house. Ace helped Jade down from the truck. It was a big step to the ground. It was then that I noticed just how long her legs were. One slender tanned leg was revealed and then the other. My cock throbbed against my jeans. I strolled up the front steps and into the house.
“You two live here?” Jade walked in behind me.
“Yeah. Business partners. Roommates. Ranch owners.” That was the most succinct way I had ever described my relationship with Ace.
“Wow.” She seemed mesmerized by the giant stone fireplace at the center of the great room.
“Ace and I built that.”
Jade gravitated toward the massive structure. She ran her hands over the rocks we had hand-picked from the quarry and the creek beds on the property. “This is unbelievable. The placement. The colors. All of it.”
Ace walked in. “No sign of company.” He locked the deadbolt. “I doubt they were conscious enough to follow us. But I wanted to keep an eye on the road for a few extra minutes.”
“Did you radio to one of the hands to lock the main gate?” I asked.
“Yeah. I did. We can’t be too careful in a small town, can we?”
I turned to Jade. She was still analyzing the stonework. “I think you need a drink, darlin’.” She seemed composed, but I saw her shoulders shiver every few seconds. I poured her a bourbon on the rocks. One for Ace. One for me. I handed Jade the glass. “Drink this.”
“Why? So you can get me drunk?” she accused.
I scowled. “Fine. Don’t drink it. It wasn’t an order.”
I reached to take the glass away from her, but she held it out of reach. I shook my head and took a seat on the couch.
“I get it. You’re jumpy. But we aren’t going to hurt you. I think everyone in this town would stand up for us. We’re not going to lay a finger on you. You’re safe here, darlin’.”
“I’m sorry.” She lowered her eyes. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” She sipped the bourbon before she started coughing. “I didn’t mean to snap.”
I shook my head. Why was I giving her such a hard time? She had been through an ordeal tonight.
“No. Don’t apologize. That was on me. I think we’ll all feel less edgy after we just sit here.”
Jade’s face looked sour when she tried another sip.
Ace tipped his glass back. “Let me guess. You’re a wine drinker?”
“Sometimes,” she admitted. “But really I like vodka. Secretly.” There was a sweet and shy smile on her lips.
“Why didn’t you say so?” I stood from the leather couch and poured another drink for her. This time, the clear liquid filled the glass. “We have plenty of vodka too. And the good stuff. None of that watered down shit they serve in town.”
“Thank you. This looks much better.” She smiled at me and something in my chest started to crack. My lungs were filled with warmth and excitement. Who was this girl and what was she doing to me?
In one night, I had stepped into a fight where I was out-numbered. Considered fighting my best friend out of jealous. And now? I was attacked by the beginning of a crush. That’s what this had to be. I equated it to a teenage crush. Although, my cock was aching like she was the most beautiful and gorgeous woman I’d ever laid eyes. There were things I wanted to do with her I’d never even thought about in high school.
“I know I need another one,” I announced. Maybe the only way through this insanity was with more bourbon.
“What’s your name?” Jade asked. “I know we met yesterday, but…”
“Wait, you two know each other?” Dalton’s eyebrows pinched together.
“Not exactly.” I threw a couple of ice cubes in with the bourbon. “We ran into each other outside the diner yesterday when I went to pick up lunch.”
“I see.” Ace looked angry. Good. At least maybe now he knew how it felt. I met her first. I saw her first. Was that even an argument that applied here?
“My name is Dalton,” I finally answered. “And you know Ace.”
“Yes. We met tonight before the diner closed, and then again afterward.” She held the vodka between her delicate fingers. I studied her. Every part of her looked so damn perfect. I almost felt as if I needed to look away.
“How are you two friends?” She crossed her legs on the couch. “How long have you known each other?”
Ace exhaled. “I don’t think we can pin a date on that. We’re from Stonecreek Valley. Were we born knowing each other, man?”
“Something like that.”
“I’ve heard that a lot already.” Her gaze traced over the fireplace again.
“When did you get into town?” I asked.
“Just a few days ago. I inherited a house from my grandparents. My grandmother really. And I kind of hit rock bottom.” She shrugged. “It’s a do-over for me. That’s why I’m here. I packed up everything I own and moved to Stonecreek Valley.” The explanation seemed to make her sad.
“You don’t look like someone who has hit rock bottom.” I could reach out and kiss those pouty sweet lips of hers. The only problem was that my best friend was in the room.
“Trust me. I have hit the rockiest bottom possible.” She sighed. “Anyway, that’s how I ended up here and why I need the job at the diner.” Her eyes were misty. “Please don’t say anything to Cookie about what happened when I closed up.”
“What?” Ace and I echoed in unison.
“I-I can’t afford to lose this job.”
“Cookie would never do that to you,” I argued. “She needs to know. She would want to know you’re ok.”
Jade shook her head. “Please. She doesn’t know me well. It was my first night. I did everything wrong. If I had carried my phone with me, or left the door open. Or just told Vincent to wait…”
“No. Hell no. You aren’t going to take responsibility for what happened to you out there. Those assholes are to blame. Not you.” I wasn’t going to let her take the fall for what those dicks did.
“I don’t disagree with you, but I know what will happen. I know exactly what will happen. I’ll lose night shifts. The diner staff wi
ll look at me differently. Even if they believe me, I can’t take the looks. I’m already a stranger in this close-knit town. I don’t need that stigma on my back. I’ll be known as the girl who was almost… ” She swallowed the end of her sentence.
“That is fucked up,” Ace whispered.
“But it’s true. Tell me I’m wrong.” She glared at both of us.
“I saw it with my own eyes, darlin’,” I explained. “You did nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing.”
“Then I want to ask this favor of you. Please don’t say anything. I don’t want to lose the best shifts because I can’t work alone. I need the money. I can’t afford to be stuck on days.”
I rubbed my jaw, considering her request.
“All right,” Ace answered too damn fast.
“What the fuck, Ace?” I stared at him.
“We’ll make a deal with you,” he offered. “You let Dalton or me pick you up after your shifts.”
Hell.
“What?” Jade questioned.
“Take it or leave it.” He folded his arms across his chest. “We’ll keep your little secret, but only if we know you’re safe.”
It seemed like a lot of responsibility and a little bit like a babysitting service, but if it meant I got to see Jade every time she worked nights, I was all in.
“He’s right.” I joined in. “You need security.”
“But I thought Stonecreek Valley was the safest town in Montana.”
I shrugged. “It usually is, but I’m afraid not even our little town is immune to the kind of filth that stumbled into the diner. Not anymore. I hate to admit that.” I paused. “So, when is your next shift?”
“Tomorrow,” she answered.
“Ok. We’ll work it out and someone will be there to pick you up.”
I noticed she wasn’t arguing. Maybe she was too tired. Or maybe she liked the idea. It didn’t really matter. We were going to be seeing a lot more of Jade.
9
Double Rugged Trouble: Rancher MFM Menage: Stonecreek Valley Page 3
