Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Zane
A tiny cloud of dust kicked up around my boots as I crossed the dirt and gravel parking lot. The one and only beer joint in this nowhere town seemed packed to capacity tonight. I could hear the music thumping through the walls and had a pretty good idea what I’d find when I opened that door.
Ranchers from all over the county, blowing off steam after a long work week.
Young, single women showing off in barely-there tops and skin-tight jeans.
And of course, there would also be some not-so-young women, who were also not-so-single, trying to do the same.
Deep down I was hoping to avoid all of that tonight.
I’d had one hell of a day, and all I wanted was to be left alone with a few ice-cold beers.
But for the life of me, I couldn’t get that snarky brunette from the diner out of my head—all attitude and smartass comments, like she’d rolled into town just to piss me off.
Hell, maybe she had. She’d looked at me like I was dirt under her designer shoes—like this town and the people weren't good enough for her.
And yet…
All I could seem to focus on through my own fury was that mouth. The way it curved around her words, soft and sinful even when she was throwing verbal punches. Especially when she was throwing verbal punches.
It was infuriating.
I didn’t have time for drama, and I sure as hell didn’t have time for some big-city snob with a chip on her shoulder and mouth made for—
Nope. I needed a beer. Maybe three. And the full damn strength of my willpower to forget the way her voice got under my skin like a splinter I couldn’t dig out.
“Hey, Zane, wait up!”
I paused and looked over my shoulder as my younger brother, Luke, jogged to catch up.
“What the hell were you doing back there?” I asked, more than a little impatient.
He fell into step beside me. “Just giving myself a final once-over before we go in.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are so vain.”
He gave me that trademark cocky grin of his. “Can’t help it. When you look this good, it’s hard not to admire the view.”
I knew he was joking, mostly, but there was some truth to it. Luke was a ladies’ man, always had been. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a steady relationship. That’s where we differed. Luke liked to keep things light. Me? I’d always wanted something real. Someone to build a life with.
I almost had that.
Damn. That’s the second time today I’d let one stray thought open the door to memories I’d been trying hard to forget for the past year.
“Come on, big brother,” Luke said, clapping a hand on my back and dragging me out of my thoughts as he grabbed the door handle. “Let’s go have some fun.”
We stepped into the dim bar and were hit by the usual wall of noise, laughter, and the thick scent of beer and fried food. Bodies were packed in tight. Boots scuffed the floor. Glasses clinked, and the jukebox wailed in the corner.
“Damn, this place is packed,” Luke said, craning his neck to look around. “Hey, there’s Cody and Troy by the pool tables.”
I followed his gaze to the back wall, where our friends were locked in a game of eight ball.
“Wanna head over there?” Luke asked, and I heard the idea tucked into his tone before his next words even left his mouth. “See if we can play them off the table? Maybe walk out with a little extra cash?”
I gave him a nod. “Sounds good. Why don’t you grab us a couple of beers first? I’ll meet you over there.”
“On it.” He tipped his hat toward a brunette on his way to the bar, giving her an appreciative once-over. I didn’t even have to look to know she was blushing.
“Holy shit!” Cody’s unmistakable voice cut through the noise.
I’d had a shitty day but, even so, I couldn’t help the small, tired smile that tugged at my lips.
“Do my eyes deceive me,” Cody said, cue stick resting on the floor, “or is that Zane McKade walking through the crowd?”
“In the flesh,” I said, shaking his hand.
“It’s been a long time, man,” Troy said, gripping my hand in a firm shake.
“Too long,” Cody added. “What’ve you been up to?”
I gave them both a shrug and a sigh. “Just...laying low.”
They didn’t press. They knew why I’d gone off the radar for a while, and while I was sure they would’ve handled things differently, neither of them seemed to blame me for needing space.
“We’re just about done here,” Cody said. “You want in on the next game?”
“Yeah, definitely. You want to play doubles? Luke’ll be back in a minute. He just ran to the bar to get us beers.”
Troy and Cody exchanged a knowing look and laughed.
“What?” I asked, leaning my hip against the pool table.
“There’s a decent chance your brother gets sidetracked,” Troy said as he lined up his shot. “Nine ball, side pocket.”
I frowned, confused, until Cody nodded toward the bar. “Fresh meat. And if there’s one thing Luke can sniff out, it’s a pretty new face.”
I turned to look. She had her back to us, focused on filling drink orders.
Tall. Slender. Long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, black tank top clinging to a figure that—yeah, okay—was hard not to notice.
She looked like she was trying to blend in, but she didn’t carry herself like one of the regulars.
Didn’t flirt with the customers, either.
Just kept her head down and worked fast.
I told myself I didn’t care. That she was just another warm body surrounded by hungry cowboys.
But I didn’t look away, either.
Something about her—maybe the way she seemed unaware of the attention she pulled, or knowing Luke wouldn’t be able to resist circling like a vulture once he saw her—had my pulse ticking up for reasons I didn’t like. I crossed my arms and leaned against the pool table again, scowling to myself.
Nope.
Not going there.
Pretty never meant safe. I’d learned that the hard way. And I wasn’t in the market for complications, especially not the kind that probably had a dozen smooth-talking guys trying to make her laugh on any given night. Been there. Done that. Still wearing the scars.
Still, I watched my brother start weaving through the crowd and figured I had about five seconds before I had to go drag him away, before he got too distracted for his own good.
I let out a low growl and rubbed my jaw.
Tonight was supposed to be simple. No distractions.
No headaches. But here I was, already having to go reel my brother in before he made a damn fool of himself—or forgot the drink he owed me for getting my ass stranded earlier.
I pushed off the table, shooting over my shoulder to Cody and Troy, “I’ll be right back,” and stalked toward the bar.