1. Katie
1
KATIE
I can’t believe I’m back in this godforsaken town.
Four years ago I swore to myself that I’d never return, yet here I am, sitting in a slightly dingy bar twirling a glass between my fingers. I wish I stayed home, but I needed a drink and the bottle shop was already closed by the time I realised this. Cheap supermarket wine wasn’t going to cut it.
The pub, one of only two in this tiny, back-country town, is much like I remember it from my teenage years. Timber panelled walls, a floor that’s permanently a bit sticky, a weird fake bison head mounted on the wall—which makes no sense since we don’t even have bison in New Zealand. There’s a jukebox in one corner, vinyl booths along one wall and pool tables at the back of the room.
It’s not airy or modern with a cocktail list the length of my arm and the bison is giving me the creeps, but it’s still a far better choice than the shady bar on the other side of town, or sitting at home alone while my thoughts spiral in my head .
And I’ve got to give it to this place, they mix a good drink.
Rowdy laughter breaks out behind me. I don’t need to turn around to know where it’s coming from—who it’s coming from.
I can’t believe on my first night in town I came across the very last person I want to see. I’d rather set fire to myself than have to have a conversation with him—the main reason I swore I’d never return.
I should have known though. Kauri Creek is not a big place. I knew when I drove back here this morning that eventually I’d see him.
I just didn’t think it would be on a Wednesday night when I’m exhausted and emotional from moving into my grandmother’s old house.
I wish she were here. She’d make everything better. But she died when I was eighteen and I have no other family left.
I left Kauri Creek not long after, making one of the worst decisions of my life. That was six years ago.
If I was allowed, I’d sell Grandma’s little cottage on the edge of town and never look back. I inherited it with her passing, but I’m not allowed to sell it until I turn twenty-five. Until then, it’s held in trust so while I can live there, I can’t take the money and run. I mean, move on.
Maybe she knew that I’d need to come home, and that running out of money was going to be the final domino in a line of events that saw me return. It’s not the only reason I’m back, but a pretty major part of my decision.
I take another swig of my drink and let the icy liquid cool my emotions .
Heavy footsteps stop beside me and I suck in a breath. Has he finally recognised me? Come to have a go?
“Hey, man. Another round for that lot, please.”
A voice I definitely don’t know. I risk a peek out of the corner of my eye. He’s one of the few guys from the corner I don’t recognise.
He’s wearing boots and worn black jeans, a chambray shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, displaying strong forearms that are resting against the bar, and dark blond hair cut short and neat. He works his jaw from side to side.
His real sharp jaw.
He looks like he strolled right off the set of a cowboy movie. Based on his company, I’m guessing he strolled right off Constellation Station, the largest sheep and beef farm in the area.
“Hey.” The guys voice is quieter now than when he called for more drinks and I wonder who he’s talking to. “Is this seat taken?”
I risk another glance and find him looking down at me. I arch an eyebrow. “Is that your line?”
He grins. “Would you rather I come up with some cheesy-ass line that you can mock me about?”
“I’d rather you didn’t talk to me at all.” I’m not usually this mean, but I don’t have it in me to deal with small talk tonight, especially not with some cocky cowboy.
“Oof, that was brutal.”
I shrug. “Why feed me a line at all? Why not just carry on with your evening and leave me to mine?”
It’s his turn to shrug. “I haven’t seen you around before so I thought I’d say hello. The concept of someone drinking alone has never really sat right with me.” Oh, so he’s just super friendly. I wonder if he’s been put up to it. It wouldn’t surprise me.
“Well, it’s not the most fun but it’s the easiest way to drown your sorrows. So, here I am.”
He looks like he’s about to say something, but the bartender places a handful of bottles on the table.
The cowboy collects them, still looking like he wants to say something, but not quite sure what.
“Enjoy your night,” I say as I turn back to my drink, leaving him no choice but to carry on with his life. He turns and walks away.
I’ve barely taken another sip of my drink when he’s back.
“Are you a parking ticket? Because you’ve got fine written all over you.”
His voice is deep and smooth in my ear with just a touch of roughness around the edges.
I turn to face him. “Seriously?”
The cowboy grins down me. “Thought I’d try another tack. At the very worst, I figured it would make you laugh.”
“At you maybe,” I say, forcing my lips to remain in a straight line.
A catcall comes from the corner. “You go, Dallas,” a voice shouts across the room. A voice that makes my insides want to curl.
As much as I want him to leave me alone, I can’t ignore that. Against my better judgement I open my mouth. “Did he just call you Dallas? Like the Dallas Cowboys football team? ”
He indicates the seat, asking if he can sit. I roll my eyes. “Whatever, just answer the question, cowboy.”
He slides onto the stool and I definitely don’t notice the way the denim of his jeans tightens around his thighs as he props one foot on the bottom rung of the stool. His other foot remains on the floor and he looks so at ease I want to pull his hair out. If I tried to sit like that I would definitely fall off the stool. My feet barely rest on the bottom rung, let alone reach the floor.
And god, those thighs. I press my own together.
“It’s a nickname,” he says, dragging my attention away from his legs, which is probably for the best. “My name is actually Dean, but all my life I wanted to be a cowboy and the name kind of stuck. I thought I’d left it behind when I moved here, but I was betrayed.”
“Betrayed?”
“Yup.” He sighs. “By the person closest to me.” He places his hand on his heart like he’s been mortally wounded.
I roll my eyes and force away another smile. I don’t want to find him cute, but I do. I most certainly don’t want to find him hella hot. Which I also do.
“So, what brings you to town?” he asks.
“Oh, we aren’t doing that are we?”
He shrugs. “We don’t have to.”
“Good.” I take a final swig of my drink and set the glass down, the ice cubes clinking. “Can you keep a secret?” The bad decisions keep on rolling.
He leans in closer, his strong, tanned forearm flexing against the bar. “What kind of secret?”
“One that’ll serve you well, if you can keep it. ”
His eyebrows shoot up. He makes a ‘go on’ gesture.
“If you can keep your mouth shut and follow the rules we might be able to continue this elsewhere, without the small talk obviously.”
“The rules?”
I nod and hold up two fingers. “One is that you tell no one. Not a soul. You don’t even talk to people in this town about me, not a single mention.”
He eyes me as though I’m crazy, and I probably am for even entertaining this idea. As far as bad ideas go, this is right up there with my worst. An employee at Constellation Station is not the guy I should be going to for scratching an itch.
“I can do that,” he says after a pause.
“The other rule is that it’s a one-time deal. No repeats, no do-overs, especially no feelings.”
“Man, someone did the dirty on you, huh?” It’s the sort of line that should make me bristle, but the way he says it I know he doesn’t mean to be a jerk.
Besides, he’s not wrong.
“Yeah, this hellhole town and cocky-ass cowboys like you.”
He leans back and surveys me. His eyes track down my body, taking in my blonde hair falling over my shoulder, the tight white knitted sweater, and jeans that I know hug my ass like they’re a match made in heaven.
“I can live by those rules,” he says, leaning in to speak into my ear. “I don’t have a lot of time for prissy city princesses either, so as good as you look in those jeans, a one-time deal suits me fine.”
I place my hand on his shoulder and push him back so I can look him directly in the eyes. I can’t quite tell what colour they are in the dim bar lights but they’re fringed with dark lashes.
He stares at me, a cocky smirk curving his lips. I can’t wait to feel them on my skin.
“You’re toeing the line,” I say, warning in my voice but also curiosity about how he’s going to play this out.
“You sounded like you wanted a cocky-ass cowboy. I can do that for you, princess.”
Oh god. I want to melt at his feet.
“I’m going to the bathroom. Finish your drink … slowly.” I drag out the word. “Maybe I’ll see you outside.” I stand and slide the strap of my bag over my shoulder, turning for the corridor at the back of the room.
His hand catches my wrist. “What’s your name?” His voice is hoarse, eyes bright. He licks his lips. I want him to lick me.
I trail my fingers up his arm and across his shoulder as I lean in to him. I’m almost certain he shivers and I love the rush of power that gives me.
“Maybe if you’re real good, you’ll find out.”