Chapter 1
Chapter One
RYLEE
“Are you guys sure you want to go to The Dusty Spur tonight?” I ask.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Joey asks.
“Well, you’re the one that just broke up with someone, so we could stay in tonight,” I point out.
“That’s exactly the reason I want to go out. I’m tired of dating all of these douchebags and want a night out with my friends.”
“Hopefully you’re raising Max to be better.”
She nods, pulling her dark brown hair into a high ponytail. “He will be. Even if I can’t find a good father figure for him.”
“At least you have your brother.”
“Chase is a pretty good uncle,” Joey agrees.
Her brother is a good guy, but I don’t tell her that.
My best friend doesn’t need to know that I’ve secretly had a crush on her brother for years.
Chase Andrews is the sexiest man I’ve laid eyes on.
Ever since I came home from my first semester at college and saw the way he looked at me, I was hooked.
But how do you tell your best friend that you have the hots for her brother?
It’s harder when all Joey does is bemoan the opposite sex and go on about how terrible they all are. Especially when we hang out at Chase’s bar all the time. I can’t escape him.
The entirety of Pinecrest could fit in one square block of Manhattan with about two thousand residents. I run into Chase more often than I should.
And every time I bump into him?
I fall that much harder for his charming smile.
“Are Presley and Georgia coming out tonight?” I ask, steering my thoughts away from the one man that consumes them.
“They are meeting us at the bar after Presley drops Poppy off at the babysitter’s.”
“Who’s watching Max?”
I swipe one last coat of lip gloss over my mouth before dropping it into my purse.
“My parents. Thank God for them or I don’t know what I would do.”
“Well, at least we have a chance to let loose tonight,” I say.
“You’re telling me. It’s been a long week at the ranch.”
“Is it getting any better?”
She shakes her head. “Verne keeps grumbling about having to do all these repairs but doesn’t want to. Says there’s no money, no guests, and no time.”
“That’s bleak.” I wince.
Joey nods her head in agreement. “Well, if he doesn’t get people in there, I’m not going to have a job anymore.”
“There’s always the Hash ’N Hop.”
Even if I smell like grease every time I leave, it’s a steady job.
“Maybe I should go work there. All I do is stand around at the front desk and check out dating apps.”
Joey locks her front door behind her as we link arms and head into town. It’s a short walk from her apartment to The Dusty Spur.
“Okay, maybe we should delete the dating apps. I can’t imagine how you’re finding so many douchebags here.”
“It’s because a lot of them are just in town visiting.”
“That’s your problem. You need to find someone who is sticking around.”
“Ugh, don’t I know it.”
I shake my head at my boy-crazy best friend as we make it to the door of the bar, where a few people are gathered outside waiting to go in. Thankfully we know the owner and are shown right in.
“Trust me, Joey. When it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen.”
“Until then, we’re going to put boys out of our mind and have fun tonight.”
Grabbing my hand, she pulls me inside and we’re met with a wall of sound. A live band is playing on stage to one side while the bar lines the back wall. Christmas lights hang around the ceiling and a mechanical bull sits in one corner, daring anyone to take it for a spin.
My eyes rake over the waves of people, but they know exactly where Chase is. They lock on to him.
I shouldn’t be surprised that his brown eyes are already staring back at me. This happens more often than it should and it does funny things to my inside.
Grabbing Joey’s hand, I push through the crowd of people. “We need shots!”
I have to yell it to her to be heard over the noise. By the time we get to the bar, Chase has shots waiting for us.
“Are Presley and Georgia joining you ladies tonight?” he asks, smiling at us.
A hint of a dimple pops out and it makes him that much sexier. Pair it with the backward baseball cap, The Dusty Spur T-shirt that stretches across his chest, and the thousand-watt smile, and I only have eyes for Chase Andrews.
“They’ll be here soon,” I tell him.
He winks at me before I knock back my shot. A warmth buzzes through me that has nothing to do with the tequila floating through me.
“If you need anything else, just let me know.”
Joey turns her back and links hands with mine to pull me onto the dance floor. The band switches to another popular tune as we start dancing along.
Spinning on my heeled cowboy boot, I let the music flow through me. Joey is bumping hips with me as the two of us have the best time—no boys needed.
“Hey!”
Joey’s eyes light up as I follow her line of sight.
Presley and Georgia are dodging their way through the crowd to make it to us.
“About time you got here,” I say, pulling them in for a hug.
“We grabbed some beers from the bar to make up for it.”
They pass fresh drinks to us.
“Chase knows how to take care of us,” Joey says.
The two of them join us in dancing, and every time I spin, my eyes look to the bar. I shouldn’t be so obvious, but I am.
Chase is busy working. Even from here, I can see his arms flexing under the black T-shirt he’s wearing. He flashes a smile at one of the women waiting and a flare of jealousy rages hot and bright inside of me.
I have no claim to this man.
He’s my best friend’s older brother. I need to bottle these feelings up and toss them into the ocean.
“I need another drink,” Joey says. “Want to get another shot?”
I nod and the four of us link hands to form a train to make our way back to the bar. It’s like Chase can sense us coming and smiles at us as he starts mixing drinks and pouring shots.
“You know, you guys are going to drink me right out of tequila,” he says, passing four glasses our way.
“You’re the one that’s giving us free drinks,” I say.
“What kind of brother would I be if I didn’t?” He grins.
The four of us clink our shot glasses and knock them back.
Georgia grabs my hand, but I stop her.
“I need some water. I’ll be right out there.”
I watch as the three of them head back to the dance floor before I turn my attention back to Chase.
“Can I get a water, please?” I ask.
“Such good manners.” He laughs, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry.” I rest my elbows on the bar and get closer to him. “Do you want me to be more demanding? Give me water right now, damn it.”
“It’s cute you think that’s demanding.”
Grabbing the water gun, he fills up a glass of ice water and passes it over.
“I can’t help it. I’m not a mean person.”
“That’s a good thing, honey.”
Honey.
Chase leaves to help the next patron and I can’t help but watch him as he works. Feeling what that one word does to me.
Does he know the effect he has on me?
That every time I’m around him, I want it to be just the two of us?
The stool next to me opens and I plop down onto it. I sip my water, trying to cool the heat raging through me.
I wish I could sit here all night and watch him work, but I can’t. I’m here with my girls. Seeing him move down the bar to help another woman, I knock down the rest of my water and head back to the dance floor.
Some things I don’t need to see. Chase Andrews talking with another woman is at the top of that list.
Until then, I’ll go back to the dance floor and lock up my feelings for that man.
Because if I can’t have him, I don’t want to watch him fall for anyone else.