23. Evan
TWENTY-THREE
EVAN
“How the fuck did they talk you into this?”
Scotty walked toward me as I leaned against the large kitchen island in the lodge. He was dressed in a white pearl snap shirt, and his boots were as freshly oiled as mine.
“You covering us tonight?”
“Shit no. Last week Gemma told me about the barn party. I’m going.” His grin spread across his face as we shook hands. “Your tail is Rodriguez and Miller. Waiting on Gemma?”
“Yeah. She ran up to grab Val. We’re all going to head up there. I think a few of the guys plan to stop in too.”
“It’s a fun day. Nearly everyone from town will show up eventually.
All right, man. Find me and we’ll have a beer.
Stay safe.” He shook my hand again and swaggered off toward the back door.
I ran a hand down the front of my black pearl snap.
I grabbed my dark denim with the fewest stains on them and oiled my work boots.
It was a far cry from the tailored suits I’d gotten used to in Chicago.
Tonight I’d almost considered adding a belt buckle.
Almost .
After an eternity, I could hear Gemma and Val’s laughter float down the hallway, and my chest got tight.
They rounded the corner and my eyes crawled up Val.
Starting at her boots, pointy toed and high heeled, the supple brown leather stopped midcalf.
The dress was long but had a high slit that showed off her curves as it nipped in at the waist. Her long, tan legs went on forever until they met the bottom of the flowing dress with large embroidered flowers that barely covered her thighs.
The low V neckline had my mouth going drier than the desert.
In Gemma’s presence, I recovered quickly. “You ladies look lovely.”
Gemma curtsied. Her short denim dress was cute, with long sleeves and a high neckline. It even had a Southwest-style belt around it that made a tinkling sound as she moved. “Such a gentleman.”
I held out my arms to them both. “Shall we?”
They slipped their arms into mine, and Val gave my biceps a quick squeeze. Pleasure hummed through me as I led them to my truck.
Gemma hopped in the back, leaving the front seat for Val.
As she sat, the slit in her dress rode high on her thigh, and my palm itched to touch her.
I flexed my hand at my side to keep from reaching across the bench seat and feeling her smooth skin.
Thankfully, the girls kept the conversation going, and I focused on getting us across the county to the party.
As we approached, even I was shocked at how big of an affair the town of Tipp had put on.
A large gate was decorated in twinkle lights and led to a long gravel driveway edged in pine trees.
My truck bounced along the path, and I kept my eyes laser focused on the road in front of me and not on the way Val’s chest bounced along with it.
Down the winding path, cars and trucks began to pull to the sides and park.
The entire field was filled with rows of vehicles.
A large barn had both doors swung open, and the deep bass of music poured out.
Laughter and whoops and hollers filled the air.
I parked and hopped out, circling the hood to help Val.
I gave her a wink and enjoyed the slow blush that crept onto her cheeks.
Once Gemma and Val were ready, we headed toward the barn.
Rodriguez and Miller weren’t far behind.
I gave them an acknowledging nod, which was ignored.
They melted into the crowd but never strayed too far from sight.
“Isn’t this wild?” Energy radiated off Gemma as we walked into the barn.
I took care of the cover charge, and my hand found the small of Val’s back as we walked into the barn.
The dance floor was already flooded with people, all in step and doing the same line dance.
A large stage at the front of the room had a full band setup.
The name Colin McCoy and the Dirty Pidge Boys was scrawled on the bass drum.
Val leaned in close to talk over the music, and I let her citrusy shampoo wash over me. “We’re going to make a lap before we decide where to sit. Maybe get a drink. Sound okay?”
“It’s perfect.”
I grabbed two beers and a Coke for Gemma as I watched them lace through the crowd.
They passed tables and waved to people, pointing and taking it all in.
I noticed how the men in the room also appreciated the view, and a possessive grumble rattled in my chest. Val snagged an open table, and I headed their way.
Before I could sit down, Val grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the dance floor. “Come dance with me.”
“Not happening.” I dug my heels in further .
“Come on, spoilsport.” Val bit her lower lip and shimmied her shoulders in what I assumed was her version of the bad white-man dancing she’d teased me about before.
“You’re not the kind of woman to hear ‘no’ often, are you?”
She smiled, knowing she had clearly won. “Nope.”
She tugged me toward the dance floor as the music shifted to a slow, bluesy song.
Damn, that dude can sing.
I spun, pulling Val closer and settling my mouth just outside her ear. “That’s fine. I like giving you what you need.” My fingers dug into the fabric of her dress at her lower back.
Val melted into me as I led her around the dance floor. I loved the way her body moved with mine.
We fit.
I leaned my head toward hers, breathing in the fresh citrus of her hair. “I could go a thousand lifetimes and never forget how good you smell.”
Val leaned away, and her honeyed eyes looked into mine. No one had ever seen me the way it felt like Val could. I couldn’t imagine this kind of unwavering acceptance from anyone else. I pulled my forehead down to hers and made a silent vow.
I will be the man you deserve.
Val sucked in a delicate breath and tightened her arms, as though she’d heard my thoughts. We were so different, but I had to find a way to make this work.
When the next song picked up, I carefully transitioned us to a two-step. Her eyebrows shot up, and her bright smile crinkled at her eyes. “Smooth moves, cowboy.”
“I’ve picked up a few things. Growing up in Montana and all.” I winked at her. When I fumbled a few steps, we both laughed and I shrugged. “It’s a work in progress.”
Val shimmied and twirled with impeccable rhythm, and when someone asked to cut in for a dance, I shot him a murderous glare—tensed and ready to go.
Val simply rested a hand on my chest. “Sorry. I’m here with someone.”
That’s right, asshole. She’s here with me.
“I like the sound of that,” I said, pulling her into me again. Not caring who was around and tired of keeping secrets, I lowered my mouth to hers. Tentative at first, I teased the corner of her mouth.
Val’s eyes searched mine, and I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I can’t pretend anymore.”
“Pretend?” Her voice was light but urgent.
“I can’t pretend that when you walk in the room, the temperature doesn’t shoot up twenty degrees. Or pretend that the ache in my chest isn’t from watching you walk away.”
“Evan, you can’t say things like that.”
“I can and I will. You deserve to know.”
It was Val who pulled me into her, crashing her mouth to mine. I pulled her close, my hands gripped at the back of her dress. She opened for me, her tongue sliding over mine, confirming I wasn’t the only one tumbling.
No connections to your former life.
I ignored the warning bells. The only thing that mattered was that Val was there, in my arms. I knew when she left, she’d be thousands of miles away, but I’d still be tethered to her.
When the song ended, we broke apart. I brushed a thumb over her cheekbones, memorizing the flecks of caramel and brown in her eyes. I led her back to our table to catch our breath. Gemma had wandered off and was a table over, deep in conversation with the guy who ran the little shop she loved.
Val perched on the stool, letting her knee rest against the outside of my thigh. My arm draped possessively on the back of the chair as we both looked around the large barn.
“Did you know places like this actually existed? It’s like a movie.”
“Very different from Chicago.”
Val clinked her bottle against mine, but a look I couldn’t explain swept across her features. “About Chicago?—”
“Guys!” Gemma nearly crashed into the table as she leaned across it. “You have to come outside! They’re doing a lumberjack competition. Ev, you have to do it!”
“A what?” Val’s laughter floated across my skin.
“No.” I crossed my arms and planted my feet wide. No fucking way.
“Dude, come on,” she whined. “First prize is a whole spa package, but it includes goat yoga!”
My face twisted. “The fuck is goat yoga?”
Gemma rolled her eyes. “It’s yoga, with a baby goat . Oh my god, it’s all over Instagram. Do it for me. Do it for charity !”
Val bit her lips to keep from laughing and tipped an eyebrow in my direction. I knew I was fucked.
When I sighed, both women cheered in unison.
Gemma clapped her hands. “Yes!”
“You got this, big guy.” Val patted my back as we walked toward the exit and out into the warm almost-summer air.