by A. J. Pine
Good thing the Tumble Inn was only an eight-minute drive from the ranch or she might have had to start singing to break up the silence. No one would want to hear that.
When they arrived at the bar Lance took his sweet time parking, she couldn’t help but notice.
They all piled out of the truck like they were about to head into a funeral instead of the lone country western bar in town.
She hadn’t been to the Tumble Inn since the whole Cam fiasco, and now she remembered why. A huge banner hung below the sign.
Two-step Night.
Fabulous. Since she was young, Jessa had absolutely no rhythm. Her mother had attempted to put her in ballet, but after she’d knocked into another girl and caused a domino effect of toppling ballerinas during her first recital, she’d walked away from dancing and never looked back. In college, she’d tried to take a ballroom dancing class and had somehow managed to break her partner’s foot during the fox-trot, so nowadays she pretty much avoided any establishment that centered around dancing.
The Cortez brothers followed their father to the entrance, but she hung back.
“I let some friends know we were coming,” she called. “I’ll wait for them out here.”
“Sounds good.” Levi was the only one who acknowledged she’d said something. “Make sure you save me a dance when you get in there,” he called, working his magic charm with a wink and dimpled grin.
The man had no idea what he was asking. “Sure, I’ll do that,” she lied. Once she got inside, she planned to order a nice, easygoing glass of chardonnay and park it at the bar for the evening. No breaking her friends’ feet tonight.
The men disappeared into the bar right as Darla and Cassidy pulled up in Darla’s BMW. Naomi was a few minutes behind, probably because she had to find a sitter.
They all congregated in the middle of the parking lot.
“You told us you’d never step foot in this place again,” Darla accused. Though she’d had only a few minutes’ warning, the woman had somehow managed to primp and change into a low-cut shirt that displayed her cleavage.
“I didn’t exactly have a choice,” Jessa said, gathering them in closer. “Lucas and Levi came home and—”
“What?” Naomi interrupted, suddenly appearing pale. “What do you mean Lucas came home?”
Jessa took in the shocked—no, make that horrified—look on her friend’s face. Guilt churned her stomach. She should’ve warned them, but she’d gotten so caught up in the plans, not to mention a crazy week at the shelter. “I called them because of the issues Luis has been having,” she half-whispered, watching the doors. “He told me he missed them, so I got in touch and asked them to come home.”
“I’m shocked Levi actually listened to you.” Cassidy’s normally sweet tone had turned bitter.
Oh boy. She really should’ve thought all of this through. Darla was the only one who didn’t seem disturbed by the Cortez family reunion.
The woman elbowed Jessa. “Way to go, girl. About time we got a few hot men back in this town.”
Naomi whirled and made a move toward her car. “I’m not going in there.”
“You have to!” Jessa caught her arm before she could escape. “It’s been horrible since they got home. I thought I was helping but ever since Lance saw his brothers, they’re hardly speaking to each other. I don’t understand.”
“They went through a lot,” Naomi informed her, wrenching out of her grasp. “We all went through a lot when Lucas got sent away.” Emotion trembled through the words.
But that was a long time ago. It wasn’t too late to work things out, even for Naomi and Lucas. Once she got over the shock of it, surely she’d be glad he was back. “I need some support in there, girls.” She had no idea what to do. How to make everything better. She needed backup.
“I’m in.” Cassidy sighed. “As long as there are margaritas involved.” She patted Naomi’s arm sympathetically. “It’s not like we’ll have to talk to them. In an hour this place’ll be packed.”
“Yeah. We can hang out on the dance floor,” Darla offered with a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Or on the mechanical bull.”
“I’m not going near that thing.” Jessa would leave bull riding to the professionals. “Besides, we’ll be too busy to dance. We have to figure out how to get these guys talking so they can get past their issues for Luis’s sake.” All the man wanted was for his family to be together, and thanks to Lance’s rude entrance, they couldn’t even give him that.
Before anyone else tried to bail, she swung one arm around Cassidy and the other around Naomi.
“I don’t know how I’ll face Lucas,” Naomi said through a steady exhale. “I mean, I haven’t seen him since he was arrested…”
“Can’t blame him for not coming back.” Darla followed them across the parking lot. “The whole town wanted to hang him.”
Maybe back then, but things were different now. Jessa held open the door for everyone. “I never knew him that well, but he seems like a great guy.” He’d been so polite to her on the phone, kind even. A little soft-spoken. Thoughtful with words.
“He was always a great guy,” Naomi said, pausing before the open door as though gathering courage. “That’s why I never believed he’d set the fire.”
“It was years ago.” Cassidy took Naomi’s arm and led her inside. “And things were bad before the fire. They all fell apart after their mom left.”
Was that all it was? Were they all still dealing with the resentment of their abandonment? Jessa stepped in behind her friends and let her eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Most of the tables were empty, as it was still early for the party crowd. Thankfully, no one was out on the dance floor, though music played in the background.
The Cortez men had all claimed stools at the bar, sipping their beers while seeming to avoid eye contact.
“Look at them,” Jessa grumbled. “After years apart, they have nothing to say to each other?”
“Sure they do,” Darla said, sashaying her way to the bar. “Men just need a little help getting the conversation going, that’s all.”
Cassidy followed Darla, but Jessa had to practically push Naomi. When they finally made it to the bar, her friend slipped behind her as though searching for protection and stared at the floor.
“Well, well, well,” Darla said, her voice shattering the icy silence. “It sure is good to see you boys back in town.” She pulled up a stool next to Levi and plopped down. “My friends and I would like a round of margaritas, Rico,” she called to the bartender.
“You got it, mi bombon.”
Ah yes. Every male in town thought of Darla as their chocolate sweetheart. She charmed them all, just like she was doing now, chatting easily with Levi and Lance about the ale they were drinking.
Not everyone was listening, though. Lucas had turned around and was staring steadily over Jessa’s shoulder.
“Naomi?” He rose slowly and bypassed Jessa.
Offering Naomi courage with a smile, she stepped aside to retrieve her margarita from the bar and to give them a minute, but stayed close enough that she overheard the nerves in her friend’s tone.
“Hi, Lucas,” Naomi almost whimpered.
“Hi,” he murmured with this sort of awed expression on his face. It was the sweetest thing Jessa had seen since Lance had told her she was beautiful. Since he’d looked at her the way Lucas was looking at Naomi now, like he wanted to take in all the details and remember them. Like he was powerless to look away.
That lost-in-the-moment look only proved that the Cortez men might be made of steel but underneath that, they had this raw passion that ran much deeper than their brooding stares. She should know. She’d felt that passion seep into her skin and set her whole body ablaze…
Levi appeared in front of her. “How about that dance?” he asked, holding out a hand like a true Southern gentleman.
“Oh. Um.” Her cheeks pulsed. “Actually, no one’s even out on the dance floor.”
“So?”
She remembered that grin from her high school summers. The grin no girl could deny…
Jessa glanced at Lance. He’d set down his beer and was watching her, his jaw set in a hard, angry line.
And wasn’t that just typical? He seemed to be pissed off at her. Again. It’d become a pattern with him. One minute he was ravaging her up against a wall and the next he was glaring at her in a pout. Well, screw that. She faced his younger brother. “You know what? I’d love to dance with you.” He was fun, after all. And wearing boots, which would hopefully protect his feet from any significant damage.
“You’re not gonna regret this,” he promised, leading her to the dance floor.
She laughed. “Let’s hope you don’t regret it.” She probably should’ve had him sign a waiver or something.
“Not possible,” he insisted, taking her hand in his and guiding her in front of him. He wrapped one arm around her waist and drew her close, but thankfully left a respectable distance intact.
The song was slow and twangy. Surprisingly, Levi made it very easy to follow his moves.
“You’re a good dancer,” she said, grinning up at him as he swayed her around the floor.
“I find that dancing only helps my chance at winning a woman’s heart,” he replied good-naturedly.
“I find that dancing only increases my potential for a lawsuit,” she confided.
He laughed. “Not when you’re dancing with the right person.” In perfect rhythm with the music, he twirled her, then reeled her back in and dipped her low. With her head upside down, she caught a view of Lance, who still sat at the bar, but he’d turned around and made it no secret that he was watching her. The dangerous look on his face dried up her mouth.
Levi pulled her back up and resumed their graceful two-step.
Not even the look on Lance’s face could deter her from finishing this dance. It actually gave her the perfect opportunity to figure out what was going on between the brothers. She smiled at Levi. “Things seem a little tense between you guys.”
“Do they?” he asked, spinning her again.
“Yeah. Did you all have some big fight or something?” she asked innocently. They must’ve had some kind of falling out. If she could figure out what happened, maybe she could help them get past it.
His charming grin dimmed. “Let’s just say some of us have moved on from the past and others are stuck in it.”
“You mean—”
“Mind if I cut in?” Lance had left his post at the bar and somehow sneaked up behind her.
“Course not,” Levi said, opening his arms to let her go. “She’s all yours.”
There was never a truer statement spoken in the English language. Seeing Lance, hearing him ask to dance with her, kindled that familiar music in her heart, and yes, right now she did belong to him.
He stepped against her, resting that large skilled hand on the very small of her back, pressing her close to him, not leaving any of the respectable space intact. His other hand swallowed hers, but instead of holding it loosely the way Levi had, Lance threaded his fingers through hers and fused their palms together.
The heat from his body seemed to flow into hers as he moved against her, sparking her lower half until she wasn’t sure she could keep her feet from stumbling.
The song was something sweet and light. Lance moved with the music effortlessly, not carefree and entertaining like Levi had been but deliberate and precise.
There were a few other couples on the floor, but now they seemed so far away under the power of Lance holding her.
“I can’t stand seeing you dance with my brother,” he said against her hair, as though he was too afraid to look into her eyes.
Jessa could hardly find her voice. “Your brother was the only one talking to me.” Somehow the words managed to hold a good amount of attitude, which was impressive, seeing as how all she wanted to do was melt into him.
“I was surprised,” he said, pulling back to look at her. His eyes were serious but they held glimmers of light. “Shocked. And I wasn’t the only one.” He turned to gaze across the room to the table where Lucas and Naomi sat.
“I didn’t think about that,” she murmured. “I was only thinking about your dad. About how much he seemed to regret what happened with Lucas. I wanted to help.”
He smiled, and that smile had the power to change the world. Or at least her world.
“I know,” he said, sliding his hand up her back, caressing in a way that made her want to arch into him. “And things’ll be fine.” He said it like he might be trying to convince himself.
“Why aren’t things fine now?” she asked.
His hand slipped low to her waist again, guiding her as they swayed to the music. “It’s complicated.”
“Families usually are.” Or at least, that’s how she imagined a family would be. “But even with the complications, I’d give anything to have a family.” She’d always longed for that, a place where she fit. And he might not be willing to tell her any secrets, but she’d give up all of hers if it helped him smooth things over with his family.
Lance stopped moving and gazed down at her. “Don’t you have your mom?”
“She’s all I have.” Not that she could complain, but… “I always wanted brothers and sisters.” She used to beg her mother to have another baby. Or adopt.
He pulled her close again, and now his gaze strayed. “Yeah, well, having siblings isn’t always easy. Trust me.”
“I do trust you.” But he didn’t trust her. Lance was good at kissing her, touching her, and, let’s face it, giving her more pleasure than she’d experienced with any man, ever. But when it came to trusting…that wasn’t exactly his strength. “No matter what it is, you guys can work through—”
“Jessa?” Cassidy tapped her on the shoulder. “Can I have a word with you real quick?”
“Oh.” She hesitated. They were finally getting somewhere with a real conversation. “Right now?” she asked, hoping her friend would give her a minute.
“Yeah,” Cassidy said apologetically. She leaned closer. “We have a situation.”
The gravity in her tone forced Jessa to pry herself away from the luxurious warmth of Lance’s body. “Be right back?”
He nodded and reluctantly let go of her hand.
Cassidy pulled her away, in the direction of the ladies’ room.
She almost had to jog to keep up. “What’s wrong?”
“Naomi. We need to get her out of here.”
“Why—”
As they neared the ladies’ room, the sound of sobbing echoed.
Jessa turned the jog into a sprint. “Good God, what happened?”
“Not exactly sure,” Cassidy said as they pushed through the door.
Jessa ran to the open stall and found Naomi sitting on a vacant stool with her face buried in her hands. “I can’t do this,” she wailed. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t prepared to see him.”
Lucas. Jessa sank to her knees in front of her friend. “Oh, honey. I’m the one who’s sorry. I should’ve told you he was coming.” She knew how much Naomi still thought about him. She should’ve prepared her for this.
“I loved him so much,” Naomi sniffled. “We never had any closure. And he’s the same. Kind and thoughtful.” She swiped at the tears on her face. “God, I could’ve married him. We would’ve been happy. Instead I made a mess of my life with Mark.”
“You didn’t make a mess of anything,” Cassidy insisted, squeezing into the stall with them. “You have a beautiful daughter.”
“Exactly,” Jessa agreed, squeezing Naomi’s hand. This had obviously been a bit too much for her. “Don’t worry. We’ll take you home. You don’t have to stay.”
They could stop by Darla’s place and calm her down with some wine and chocolate. That always seemed to do the trick when one of them was upset about something.
“Okay,” Naomi said, tearing off a piece of toilet paper to dry her eyes. “Just give me a minute to get myself together.”
Chapter Seventeen
Lance moseyed over to where Lucas sat at a table. Last he saw, Naomi had been sitting with him, but she seemed to have disappeared. “Hey.” He pulled out the chair across from his brother. He’d seen him only a few times since he’d left town. They’d met in Denver, just for a quick lunch or dinner if one of them was going through, but they’d always tried to avoid the subject they now had to discuss. And after they’d avoided it so long, he almost didn’t know how to bring it up. “Where’d Naomi go?” he asked. Wouldn’t hurt to keep avoiding it a little longer.
“Not sure.” Lucas stared blankly at the full beer bottle that sat in front of him. “Didn’t realize how much I’d missed her until I saw her.”
“Yeah, I wondered about that.” Couldn’t have been easy for Naomi, either. Back in high school the two of them were pretty hot and heavy, and then one day Lucas was just gone. From all of their lives.
“She looks good,” his brother said, taking a drink.
“You never ended up with anyone else.” And Lucas could’ve found someone by now. He didn’t seem to carry the baggage Lance did, even after prison. He wasn’t bitter about any of it. Their mother leaving, the heavy-handed sentence he’d received…
“I’ve gone out with plenty of women,” Lucas said, staring at his hands.
Guilt bore down on Lance once again. If they hadn’t thought up that plan to protect Levi, he had no doubt Naomi and Lucas would be together right now.
“Wasn’t in the cards,” his brother said with a shrug.
“Because we wrote the cards.” He’d never regretted it more than he did right now. When Lucas was gone, he didn’t have to think about it, didn’t have to face the consequences of covering for Levi. “I’m glad you’re back.” That surprised him. The shock had worn off and now, sitting across from him, he could see having Lucas around again. Once they waded through the shitstorm that would surely hit.
“Nice try.” His brother took another sip.
