by Ali Parker
I stared at him for a beat, wondering if he was really serious about that. I bit back my initial retort, since I thought they were totally degrading. If that was what Kinsey wanted, I couldn’t say no. But he couldn’t make me take part, could he?
“That’s really not my thing, but I think some of the guys would enjoy it,” I said, neutrally.
Kinsey laughed, “You’re going to look great up there,” he said.
“Oh no,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m not that kind of girl, you know that.”
“You’re pretty enough, though,” Kinsey said. “Anyway, there are some guys who would be interested in seeing you dripping wet. Mason Dawson, for one.” This time, his sidelong glance was shrewd. I knew that any reaction I showed, would be too much.
I tried to keep it cool. “I hardly know any of the guys here still,” I said.
“I heard the two of you danced together the other night.”
I laughed. “We just danced together,” I maintained. “It was nothing.”
Kinsey shrugged again. “Dancing doesn’t count for nothing in my books,” he said. “Plus, he was asking about you. Wanted to know how long I’m going to keep you stuck behind the bar. Think he had it in his head to dance with you again.”
I glanced sharply over at Mason, my body betraying me. I was sure Kinsey saw my sharp intake of breath, my surprise that Mason had been asking about me. But I could tell from Kinsey’s tone that he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of me with Mason. “He seems like a nice enough guy,” I said, slowly.
He was more than a nice guy. He was handsome as all get-out, and even though he clearly knew it, he didn’t come off as arrogant. I wondered if that had anything to do with the fact that he had two older brothers. Maybe he still felt like he was trying to measure up to them.
He didn’t have to, though. With that messy, dark brown hair and those chiseled features, he was enough to make any woman’s heart beat a little faster. He was dressed in a simple checked shirt and jeans, the very picture of a cowboy, pure strength and masculinity.
“He is a nice guy,” Kinsey agreed, also looking contemplatively at Mason. “I’ve known him and his family for years now. They’re good people.” He paused. “You know, his brother David used to be my star act here, but then he ran away to Nashville chasing bigger dreams, and now we’re stuck with theme nights!”
I laughed, but I couldn’t seem to stop staring over at Mason, even as I forced myself to dry some glasses, and concentrate on my work behind the bar. But Kinsey wasn’t done.
“You’ll want to be careful with Mason, though.”
I chewed on my lower lip, remembering the rumor that I’d heard from one of the girls in town, Jenna. The rumor that Ella had reminded me of, with the way she’d put her hand on her stomach when she said she wasn’t drinking. Nothing had been confirmed yet, as I understood it, but if Ella was standing there next to Mason, hinting about her pregnancy, then it seemed pretty likely that the rumor mill had it right. But if anyone knew the truth of things, it was Kinsey; he knew all the gossip. “I heard he’s going to be a dad soon," I said slowly.
“That is the rumor,” Kinsey said, without giving any sign of what he believed. And I wasn’t sure I really wanted to ask. Next thing I knew, I was going to be the focus of all the town’s gossip. I didn’t really want that.
Anyway, whether he’d gotten Ella pregnant or not, the fact that the rumors were already swirling meant I really didn’t need to be getting involved with him. I didn’t need any more drama in my life at the moment. And even though I hadn’t seen Mason go home with anyone the other night, I knew his reputation. He’d be better off with another girl.
I shook my head and dried the last of the glasses. “I have to focus on the family farm,” I told Kinsey. He didn’t know the full details of my return, but again, if anyone knew the rumors, it was him. He might not know the full extent of disrepair that the place had fallen into, but he was about the same age as my grandparents, and I was sure he could guess. He wasn’t getting around quite as well as he used to either. He could imagine how difficult it must be to run a full farm without much help.
Frowning darkly at my thoughts, I got irritated all over again. I still couldn’t believe the rest of my family wasn’t doing more to help. Actually, I didn’t know which was worse—the fact that my grandparents had been too proud to discuss their issues sooner, or the fact that the rest of my family hadn’t jumped on the next flight to help.
I shook my head, knowing I had already spent too much time thinking those same thoughts. There was nothing I could do about that. I was doing everything I could now and just hoped it would be enough.
Glancing over at Mason again, I watched his friend cheer at his own victory at pool. Mason rolled his eyes, but he wore a sheepish expression, like he hadn’t played his best game. For a moment, he glanced over at me as well, and our eyes connected. But I looked away quickly, surprised at the way my heart was hammering. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.
I had to focus on the farm. Nothing else mattered.
There was no way I had time to get involved with the handsome, sexy cowboy with the rough hands and quick footwork. Those few dances the other night had been nice, but despite Kinsey’s hinting, I doubted the man was interested. At least not for anything more than a romp in the hay.
And I wasn’t exactly looking for something like that. I wanted something more than he would be willing to give. And I wasn’t planning on staying in Oklahoma forever, anyway. No, it was best to forget about him and focus on my work.
If only it were that easy.
Chapter 3
Mason
Ben got bored with me after our third game of pool. I didn’t do so well on any of the games, although I’d come a little closer on the second game at least. He started up a game with someone else, another of the guys that we’d known forever. I took a seat at the far end of the bar.
It was getting late, and Kinsey’s was pretty dead by now. Just a few of us left, in small clumps around the room. Only the regulars remained, the guys who were in there almost as often as I was. But Ella and her posse were gone, thank God.
I still couldn’t believe her. She’d actually gone so far as to tell other people in town that she thought she was pregnant, and that I was the father. I’d overheard people gossiping about it for weeks now, wondering if it was true. It seemed like people were only getting more and more curious about it, the more time went on.
But she still had yet to give me any proof that she was pregnant, let alone that it was mine.
The more I thought about it, the more disgusted I got. She was clearly just doing it for the attention. It probably had something to do with David scorning her, and Ted’s new relationship with Lauralee. Of course, David breaking off their engagement had been her own damned fault for screwing around with practically everyone in town. But maybe she’d finally experienced some sense of embarrassment when the whole town started talking about what a slut she was.
She’d slept with Ted, my other older brother, prior to that point—while she and David were still together. God, David and Ted had really gone at it when David had found out about it. Understandably so. But at least Ella had never hinted to the whole town that Ted had gotten her pregnant. I, at least, hadn’t slept with her when she was involved with either of my brothers. But I still knew that I shouldn’t have slept with her at all. And if David found out about the rumors, I didn’t know what he’d do to me. No matter how happy he was in Nashville with Sarah, I knew there was a part of him that would always wonder where things had gone wrong with Ella.
She was totally off-limits, and I should never have screwed her. She was really hammering home that lesson now.
I tried to flag down Abi, hoping I could chat with her some now that things had calmed down at the bar. She was helping a couple of guys a ways down the bar, so I had to wait. I watched her as she worked, still wondering if I should take her home with me that night. I had caught
her looking at me a couple of times over the course of the night. A look of consideration, I thought.
That didn’t mean she was wondering if I would take her home though. Maybe she was wondering if Ella was really pregnant with my kid, since she’d seen us talking together at the bar.
I grimaced, finding that thought troublesome. I didn’t want Ella’s stupid lies ruining things between Abi and I. Especially not before anything had ever really started. I made up my mind to talk to her about it, to apologize for Ella and make sure Abi knew I didn’t really believe Ella was pregnant, or that it was mine.
Abi finally looked over at me and started making her way down the bar. Before she could get to me, a man in the middle of the bar reached over and caught her arm, jerking her towards him. “What the hell, Abi!” the guy snapped, his voice loud in the mostly-empty bar, despite the sad tropical song still playing out of the speakers.
Abi pulled away from him, but halted her steps and turned to face the guy, hands on her hips. “What?” she bit out.
“You were supposed to be home hours ago,” the guy said, angrily, folding his arms across his chest.
I raised an eyebrow at the pair. I didn’t recognize the guy, and I knew Abi didn’t wear a wedding ring. I had checked before asking her to dance. Maybe this was her boyfriend. I didn’t realize she’d moved to town with someone, but then again, I hadn’t really been listening to the rumors about her until I’d seen her that first time.
But if this was her boyfriend, why had she danced with me? Maybe it was a new relationship. Whoever the guy was, he sure seemed to think he had a right to lecture her about when she got home.
“I’m pulling a double-shift,” Abi said, shrugging and tossing her hair back over her shoulders. She looked a little embarrassed, even though she didn’t seem worried about talking back to the guy. “Lucy eloped with Tyler, so Kinsey needed me behind the bar instead of waiting tables.”
“I needed you back home,” the guy complained, a hint of petulance creeping into his voice.
“And Kinsey needed me here at the bar,” Abi said, evenly, which only seemed to piss the guy off more.
Not wanting to let this escalate, I decided to step in. Not that I really thought the guy was going to jump around behind the bar and come after her, but he shouldn’t be talking to Abi like that, and I could tell that she was getting upset, despite her even tone. I got up and walked over to the guy. “Come on, man,” I said, putting a hand on his arm. “It’s just a double shift, and she’s almost done. Bar closes in half an hour, and then she’ll do the final sweep and be on her way.”
“Butt out, Dude,” he snapped, whirling on me. For a second, I thought he was going to come at me with his fists. But he restrained himself. “This is a family matter,” he told me, his voice dripping with scorn. “You don’t need to get involved.”
Blinking at him, I then raised both hands, taking a step back to show that I was out of it. Family matter, huh? Maybe she was married after all, and this was her husband. Who knew? I still didn’t think he had any right to talk to her like that, but if it really was a family matter, it wasn’t my place to get involved. Abi could stand up for herself, I was pretty sure.
This certainly changed things, though. I didn’t mess with married women, no matter how sexy they were. Or if they’d danced with me or not. Especially not married women with husbands who were this pushy. The guy wasn’t particularly brawny, and I could probably take him in a fight. But I wasn’t about to start a brawl over some random woman I barely knew. That just wasn’t my style.
I retreated to my previous seat at the end of the bar, listening as the guy continued to ream Abi out. “The next time you want to ruin my plans, you could at least have the decency to call home first!” he told her. “I’ve been sitting around waiting for hours for you to get home like you’re supposed to. Finally, I had to come all the way out here just to see what the hell you’re up to. What a waste of my fucking time.”
I wondered what kind of plans the guy had for her, and suddenly found my mind wandering to all the things I’d like to do to Abi, if I had the chance to bring her back to my place. Like strip her down, lay her on my bed, and kiss all over her body. I shut those thoughts down quickly, though. No way was I going to embarrass myself there in Kinsey’s, and not over someone I would never have the chance to take home.
But seriously, was the guy really this upset she had spoiled his plans to fuck her that evening? There had to be something more to it.
Whatever it was, I didn’t have the chance to hear it. The guy stormed off, not giving Abi another chance to stand up to him. Abi rolled her eyes, like she was used to it. She still seemed a little embarrassed, which made sense, given that everyone in the bar was staring at her.
She shouldn’t have to put up with a dick like that, but then again, I didn’t really know anything about them. I wanted to ask if she was okay, but it wasn’t as though we were friends. We had just danced a bit, that was all.
I shrugged and, when she came over to me, ordered another beer. I gave her a slightly better tip than I usually did, like that made up for anything. But I didn’t try to chat with her. Best that I not get involved with all of that. It was a shame, finding out that she was married, but there were other women in town. I’d get over it. It might be difficult to find someone who measured up to her, both in appearance and personality, but I’d find someone.
I took a sip of my beer.
Chapter 4
Abi
How embarrassing! I couldn’t believe that Jeff had come barging into Kinsey’s to yell at me like that. I still felt faintly flushed, remembering the way everyone had been staring at us. Then carefully not staring at me the moment he stormed out the door.
Even Mason seemed like he didn’t want anything more to do with me, once I got him another beer. He hardly looked at me, and I felt disappointment surge through me. Not that I was really surprised. He probably didn’t want anything to do with my drama either. From what I’d heard, he didn’t do relationships. Heaven forbid that he might have to realize that I had emotions or anything like that.
I rolled my eyes, cussing the entire male population in my head. Jeff wasn’t a terrible guy, really, mostly a harmless ass. And I was glad he was here to help me with the farm, unlike our other two brothers. But seriously, so what if I didn’t call him about my double shift? He’s capable of helping out as well, and I doubted he had anywhere that he really needed to be.
Judging from the way he’d burst in there and yelled at me, he’d probably had a date or something stupid. I’d told him not to leave Nana alone at the farm, not with the way she’d been lately. Rather than stay home and be responsible for one night, he’d left her alone and come down here to yell at me. Now, who knew if he was going back to the farm or not, but hopefully Nana and Grampa were in bed already and wouldn’t get into any trouble while I finished the rest of my shift.
I glanced over at Mason as I wiped down the taps, wanting to explain things to him. But I didn’t really want to talk about the family drama here. I came to work to forget about all of that stuff. I didn’t want the whole town talking about Nana’s memory problems or Grampa’s inability to pay the bills, either. Though some people must know, since some of the bills were months behind.
Maybe I could get him someplace quiet and explain just to him. But I knew what would probably happen if I got Mason someplace private. I was a good girl, but even I knew the kinds of things that a sexy cowboy like Mason could do with those big, strong hands of his.
Just then, Mason’s pool-playing friend from before staggered up to him. “Yo, Mason, how much have you had to drink?” he asked, his words slightly slurred. He’d been drinking ‘Jack and Coke’ for most of the night, and it seemed to have caught up with him. The guy wasn’t falling down yet, and he’d probably be fine in an hour or two, but I hoped Mason or someone would make sure he got home all right.
Mason rolled his eyes and shrugged the guy off him. “Just a couple beer
s,” he said. “Not nearly enough to be good at pool yet, sorry.”
Ben laughed, but then his face changed to one of concern. “That’s not why I was asking,” he said. Then, he frowned. “Just a couple beers?”
“Yeah, just a couple beers,” Mason sighed. “This pumpkin shit really isn’t doing it for me.” He shot me an apologetic look, like he thought he might have insulted me, and I had to stifle a laugh. I wasn’t the one who had picked the stuff.
“So, you’re okay to drive, right?”
“Ben, if you’re asking, if I’ll give you a ride home, I will, but I brought my own wheels so you’re going to have to arrange for someone to get yours back. And I’m not keeping this a secret from Linda.”
“No, no, that’s not what I’m asking,” Ben said, shaking his head. “It’s for Steven.”
Mason groaned. “What’s Steven done now?” he asked.
“Who’s Steven?” I asked, unable to help my curiosity. I looked around the bar, trying to see if there was anyone sloppy drunk. But I had been careful not to serve drinks to the people who were already obviously drunk, just like Lucy trained me when I first started working here a couple weeks ago.
“He’s not here,” Mason said, glancing over at me. “He’s the crazy guy who drives around on the tractor.”
“Oh,” I said. “Yeah, I’ve seen him around.”
“Well, he’s really got himself into trouble now!” Ben said, sounding almost gleeful. And I had to acknowledge that whatever this poor guy Steven had done to himself probably was the most exciting thing to happen here in a while, from the way Ben was talking about it. “He crashed his tractor!”
“Shit,” Mason said, shaking his head. “Where is he?”
