Chapter Two Ashley #2
“You really believe that’s possible,” I scoff, laying my head down on the table.
“There hasn’t been any new talent at Grizzly’s for a long time.
Same old guys who are either nearly seventy and holding up the bar, or in their twenties and looking for a quick one-and-done for the night.
This thirty-five-year-old woman is not interested in guys with a small dick and a big ego.
I’ll pass, thanks.” I groan at the way everyone thinks the life I live is so tragic that I’m somehow desperate for a man.
I’m not.
“Alright, we’ll pass on the sex, but you are coming out drinking and forgetting about all your troubles. You are either dressed and ready when I get to your place, or I will drag your pretty little ass into my car, wearing your overalls that are probably still covered in blood and guts.”
The determination I can hear coming down the phone tells me I have no choice, because she means it.
“You know I hate you, right?” I mumble into the phone.
“Yeah, yeah, love you too. One hour, time’s ticking, Ash, go get your dancing shoes on. See you soon.” Tiff hangs up, and I’m left pushing myself up off my desk and shaking my head at Rosie, who’s snoring peacefully on the floor.
“I’m so jealous.” Leaning down, I give her a pat on the head and get her into the cage for the night, then make sure she has water and food until tomorrow, when Susan, our high school helper, comes in and cleans out the cages and spends time with all the patients who are still here over the weekend.
Dragging my sorry ass out to my car, I know this is a bad idea, yet I’m doing it anyway.
After driving to the B&B and dropping off the spare keys for Wade, I call and thank him, apologizing profusely for my pushy friend.
Finally, I’m standing in my bedroom, looking at the vision of myself I don’t get to see very often.
I’m wearing a long, flowing ankle-length brown skirt with flat sandals because I doubt I could handle heels tonight, and a floral shirt in all shades of autumn colors.
My brown hair is down, hanging loosely around my face, which has just a touch of makeup to give me that feminine feeling I miss most days.
“Okay, you don’t get these nights off very often, so don’t waste it,” I tell my reflection, then pull my shoulders back, pick up my bag, and make my way out to the car as it crunches over the gravel.
Seeing Tiffany in the passenger seat and her brother driving, a little sigh escapes before I get to the door.
Tonight’s about to get messy.
“You look hot tonight. Ready to let your hair down?” Tiff says as she links her arm through mine and we walk in through the back door of Grizzly’s, the band already in full swing.
“Yes,” I reply but shake my head signaling no, which only brings laughter from both of us.
“I’ll take that answer.” Stopping at the edge of the room, Tiff spots an empty table near the bar and starts dragging me over toward it.
The bar is busy, but then again, it is a Friday night.
Plenty of people wave to us as we pass and, looking toward Tiffany, I ask, “What are you drinking? I’ll get the first round.” At least I can start out slow that way.
“Let’s start with a tequila shot, followed by a margarita.” She flashes me that devilish look she gets when she’s ready to let loose and slides into a chair.
“I don’t know if I’m going to survive tonight.
” Rolling my eyes at her, I head to the bar and run into a solid wall of muscle.
Arms wrap around me to stop me from falling as I wobble on my feet.
I can tell he’s tall, because my face is buried in his flannel-shirted chest. I can’t help but take a deep breath of that mix of man sweat and cologne with a spicy hint of orange and sandalwood.
“Shit, sorry, I didn’t see you there.” His voice rumbles through my head as I realize I have been resting there longer than I should have.
Then suddenly my brain catches up to the rest of my body as I register I’ve heard that voice before.
Pushing back hard, I immediately put distance between us.
“Whoa, steady there,” he says as I look up from under my hair that has fallen across my face. “Oh, it’s you, the little farm girl.”
I’m so not in the mood for this tonight.
“Just leaving, are you?” I won’t give him the satisfaction of reacting to his comment, even if it has me seething on the inside.
“I was, until someone clumsily fell into me.” He smirks back. Jerk.
Don’t react, don’t react, don’t react, I repeat over and over again uselessly in my head.
“Well, the door is clear now, so I suggest you use it.” I gesture to the old wooden door just to my left.
“I hope you aren’t the town welcoming committee, because you’d suck at your job.” The smile on his face just got bigger, and goddamn it, a little dimple appears on the right side of his lips.
Ughh, why does he have to be so good-looking but have the personality of an asshole.
“Oh, I’m the head of the committee, and it’s my job to scare off the trash that comes into town.” I stand up straight to give off the confidence that I don’t actually have, but fake it till you make it, they say.
“Nice try, but I’m here to stay in Abbey Falls. By the way, how’s that fence repair going?”
That’s it, time for him to leave.
“Fuck off,” I reply, pushing open and signaling for him to walk through the front door.
“That’s what I thought. Maybe if you spent less time socializing and more time working, those broken fences would be mended by now. Have a nice evening.” He brushes past me as he walks out, and I’m left with my mouth hanging open in shock staring after him.
Watching his perfect ass in well-worn jeans, with his shirt stretching across his broad shoulders, and his medium brown hair that’s curling just a little over his collar as he strides across the parking lot. His looks fry my brain and that’s a problem.
His quick turn as he pulls open the driver’s door on his big maroon truck has him facing me, and he catches me staring at his ass.
Then he winks.
Fucking winks—who the hell does he think he is!
I spin around, pulling the door closed behind me and stomp to the bar. “Four tequila shots and two of the strongest margaritas that you can legally make.” I slam my card down on the bar, and Regina, the barmaid, just smirks at me.
“Coming right up.”
When I set the tray of drinks down on the table, Tiff beams up at me.
“Want to tell me what the hell that was all about? Because that tension between you two was vibrating the air like I’ve never seen before. And I’m all here for it.”
Lifting up a shot glass, I just glare at her. “The only energy you saw was the one that had me wanting to knee him in the balls . . . hard.”
I clink my shot glass against hers. I toss my drink down my throat, and the burn has my body shaking all over.
“Let’s do this.” We both pick up our second shots, slamming them down too, and the buzz has my muscles starting to loosen up and my head spinning already.
Good, that’s what I need to erase the last ten minutes.
But instead, all the alcohol does is make me spill every detail to Tiffany about my not-so-cute meetings with him, and that’s the worst thing I can be doing.
Because the more I talk, the bigger her smile gets.
I knew I would regret tonight.
Jake
“Fuck me,” I mutter, running my hand through my hair as I pull up to Heatherbrae.
Who the hell is that woman?
The first time I saw her, she had me so furious I kicked every rock on the way back across the pasture.
But watching her stand up and take me on in our little verbal spar tonight triggered me in all the wrong places. Which I shouldn’t be interested in.
I’m here to take care of Gran and get the vineyard back to its prime. And I can already tell that woman is going to be a thorn in my side.
“Did you have a nice time down at Grizzly’s?” Gran asks as I slump onto the sofa across from her.
I want to ask her about our little fiery neighbor, but I’m not that stupid. I might not have grown up here, but I know how small towns work. The minute I ask Gran, she will be on the phone to Lesley and Margie, her best friends, and before I wake up in the morning, half the town will know I asked.
“It was good. Ran into Anthony that we used to hang out with when we were kids. I didn’t know he moved back home after his mom got sick.” I kick off my boots and stretch my legs out in front of me. My body sinks deeper into the sofa and relaxes for the night.
“Yes, I’m glad she’s all better now, and that Anthony and his family loved it here so much they decided to move home permanently. So much better for the kids than living in one of those big, stuffy cities.”
Watching her crocheting, starting a new blanket for some lucky soul, it always amazes me that she can do it so fast and without looking at her hands. Instead, her eyes are fixed on me, as if she’s trying to tell me I should do the same as Anthony and make this a permanent move.
“Now, I have something to talk to you about. Well, I need to talk to all you boys, actually. Can you do one of those video things on your computer so we can see them and I can talk to everyone at once?” Her hands start waving around in the air like a FaceTime call is some kind of mystical magic.
I suppose at seventy-nine years old, trying to understand technology is hard.
“This sounds serious, Gran.” I glance at her, trying to gauge her demeanor, but she looks just as happy as usual.
“No, I just don’t want to have to repeat myself.” She smiles, continuing to weave her crochet hook in and out of the blanket on her lap.
“Okay, give me a minute and I’ll grab my laptop and set it up.” Pushing myself up from the sofa, I head to the bedroom I’m staying in until I can get the barn fixed up and message the group chat as I walk.
Jake: You guys around for a FaceTime with Gran? She wants to talk to us all together, won’t tell me what it’s about.
Declan: Is she okay?