7
The Purple Deer
“S hit,” Meg moaned as she bent to slide on her black pleather pants. “My ass. God, and my quads,” She struggled to wrangle her pants up her legs.
“Right?” Belle quipped as she straightened her chin length glossy black hair. “I hope we don’t die tonight trying to dance at a bar.”
Quinn stared down at the high heel shoes she’d just pulled from her case and contemplated whether or not she could handle the torture on her already fried leg muscles. Finally having succeeded in getting her pants on, Meg sidled up to Quinn and looked down at the strappy sexy shoes. “Do it. Once we get a couple of shots in us, we’ll be golden.”
“Right, good point.” Quinn laughed.
“I can’t believe it’s our last night together already,” Belle said forlornly as she put on her signature Charlotte Tilbury glossy red lipstick.
“Yeah, but we’re gonna have a blast tonight, find some cute guys, have some shots, and dance… Maybe not all in that order.” Meg laughed. “But it’s gonna be epic. I can feel it.”
Belle and Quinn gave each other a knowing look. Megs always thought a night out at the bar was “epic.” In fairness, the girls did always have a great time when they went out and partied.
“There are only three bars in this town, so let’s hope there is life in at least one of them,” Meg said as she turned on her heel and strode back out of the first bar as fast as she’d gone in.
The next bar they went to looked like an old saloon aside from the neon sign above the door that read, The Purple Deer. Judging by the packed parking lot it appeared as if the entire town might be in it.
“This is more like it,” Meg announced as they walked in. There was a live band playing and they had the dance floor filled. The place was buzzing with atmosphere.
The three women manoeuvred their way through the crowds of partygoers to the bar. Drinks were the first order of priority.
“Ladies, ladies, you’re just in time!” A ruggedly cute guy in a plaid button-up shirt—who’d clearly already had a few—was standing at the bar with a pile of shots lined up in front of him. Megs, not missing a beat, sidled up beside him.
“What are we celebrating?” she asked as she helped herself to a shot glass and raised it to the guy who was offering them up.
“I’m celebrating that you finally got here.” His tone was flirty, and his eyes were glittering on Meg. “I’ve been waiting for you all night.” He grinned slyly under his scruffy blond beard, taking his shot and then boldly putting his face right in front of hers.
She grinned back and took her shot. “Guess the wait is over.” She eyed him coyly, throwing the ball back in his court.
He passed her another shot looking impressed and took one for himself.
Belle and Quinn stood back, watching the exchange in rapt fascination. The two were eyeing each other as if it were some kind of flirty showdown. After watching the pair chuck back another shot, Quinn finally tore her gaze away and turned to the tall lanky bartender.
“Can I get two vodka crans please?”
“Doubles?” he asked.
Quinn glanced over at Meg, who already appeared tipsy and was clearly having a flirty, fabulous time. “Sure. Doubles.” Quinn nodded, ready for her own tipsy, fabulous time and perhaps a little distraction from her achy legs. Maybe she’d find some hottie to flirt with, too.
It was quiet for a Saturday night, Alex observed as he headed to the town’s hot spot for a quick patrol before the end of his shift. Striding into The Purple Deer, he noted the heavy scent that hung in the air. A well-worn potion of perfumes and colognes laced with sweat and alcohol. The place was packed. He should have known this was where the town would congregate the Saturday before Christmas.
As he wound his way through throngs of people, he automatically scanned behaviours and kept a lookout for anything suspicious or out of the norm. Nothing caught his radar tonight—not even the flirty long-eyed looks from several women as he made his way towards the back bar.
Alex was a pro at ignoring lass’s advances. Some women were extremely forward trying to vie for his attention, but he was a disciplined professional. Occasionally, one would catch his eye. Some lasses were attractive to him, he’d not deny it, but women did not fit into his current life plans. It was easy to ignore their overtures especially while he was in uniform.
Some lasses downright ogled him as he passed by them, but he was used to it—immune. And it wasn’t just the lasses. Occasionally, there were men too. It was part and parcel with him being a six-foot-four muscular cop at a bar with varying states of inebriated horny people.
It was a good night if he didn’t get his arse pinched. He could make a fuss about that sort of thing, but it wasn’t worth his time or energy. Instead, he stayed focused on his purpose, watching for anything suspicious. Seeing an intimidating cop walk through the bar was a good little reminder to behave and not do anything stupid aka illegal.
“Barnes, Hanson.” He nodded, acknowledging the two constables who already stood along a back wall surveying the crowd.
“Sergeant,” they greeted him with a quick nod.
“Full house,” he commented.
“Tame though,” Barnes responded. “We got it covered, Sergeant,” he assured his superior.
“Aye, well, I’ll leave you to it then.” Alex smiled and turned to head out, but his eyes were drawn to the dance floor. It had thinned out when the band played a slower song, and he watched mesmerized as a lass swayed to the music. She wore a sheer lace blouse and a short black ruffled skirt that sat high on her curvy thighs. The way she moved was sensuous yet completely carefree, and she appeared utterly oblivious to anyone watching. Alex felt his jaw tick from the tension strung through it. Many eyes were watching her. Not just his. Quinn West. Again.
Calen was a small town, so it shouldn’t surprise him that he seemed to keep running into her. Yesterday, he’d been feeling really good right up until he’d crossed paths with her. He’d just received his Christmas bonus which was substantially better than he’d anticipated. It was the end of his shift for the evening, and he planned to head to the grocery store to load up on food and drink for the holidays as he was no longer going to be heading home to Scotland. The idea of staying in his cottage over Christmas had begun to appeal to him more and more.
As he’d come out of Vy’s cafe, he noticed Ms. West immediately. When the lasses were friendly with him, he thought he could maybe make up for being a bit of an arse the day before, but no, she’d gotten under his skin in a matter of seconds. He didn’t know how she managed to do it. And now, here she was in his sights again, and God only knew why he couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away from the infuriating woman.
“Lookin’ a little distracted there, Sergeant Mackenzie,” Barnes teased him, tilting his gaze towards the dance floor.
“I gave her a speeding ticket recently,” Alex responded, bluntly dismissing Barnes's intent. He didn’t need the guys razzing him about a lass, especially not this one.
“Mm-hmm.” Barns grinned knowingly, and Hanson seemed to be enjoying himself too. Alex had a reputation. They all teased him for years that women drooled over him while he always stayed cool. Sergeant Mackenzie was immune to women, but the two constables seemed to think they’d discovered a chink in his armour.
“Ah boys, even if I was looking, which I’m no’, that one is far too much trouble.” Alex nodded in Quinn’s direction.
“I thought cops are always looking for trouble?” Hanson challenged with an arched brow.
Alex grinned. “No’ this cop,” he said as he straightened his cap and headed towards the door. Fighting the urge to glance toward the dance floor, he called back over his shoulder, “Have a good night, lads.”
Aye, Quinn West was the kind of trouble he had no wish for.