Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Town
Declan opened the door to the Copper Mule. The sounds of bluegrass and the smell of barbecue hit me and I took a deep breath.
“Oh, this is going to be so fun,” Hadley squealed, linking her arm through mine and marching us both inside. Declan and Bowman followed.
Wade was behind the dimly lit bar, along with a blonde I didn’t recognize. “Who’s that?” I asked, gesturing with my chin.
“That’s Chelsea,” Hadley explained. “Wade’s new girlfriend.”
She twirled a bottle of liquor, and then poured a few shots. Wade took the bottle from her, and then pressed a kiss to her cheek. She beamed at him, and then laughed at something a customer said.
“I hear wedding bells,” I quipped.
Hadley looked over her shoulder at her fiancé. “I’m taking Salem to the bar. What can I get you?”
“Whatever microbrew is on draft,” Declan said.
Hadley looked at Bowman who said, “I’ll have the same.”
He looked at me, his eyes dragging down my body. I was in a pair of old jeans that hugged me tight and boots that added another two inches. Bowman looked like bull riding perfection in a clean flannel, jeans, and his cowboy hat.
If I looked at him for too long, I’d definitely lose myself in him.
Hadley dragged me toward the bar, maneuvering through a group of people. It was busy and the tip jar was already half full.
“Where’s Gracie and Cole?” I asked.
“They’ll be here in a bit,” Hadley said. “This is fun. It feels good to be out and about.”
“Sorry you have to drink cranberry juice.”
She grinned. “I don’t mind. Besides, Declan will dance with me and that’s all I care about anyway.”
“You guys are so gross,” I teased. “But I’m happy for you.”
“I’m happy for me too.”
We got to the bar and Wade smiled. He reached over to give Hadley a one-armed hug, and then did the same to me.
“You guys came!” Wade said. “It’s good to see you! Lucy told me the news about Connor. I’m so glad to hear it.”
“Yeah, we’re celebrating,” Hadley said.
Wade’s girlfriend sidled up next to him and shot Hadley a smile. “Hey!”
“Hi, Chelsea.” Hadley gestured to me. “My twin, Salem.”
“Nice to meet you,” Chelsea said before she was called away by a customer.
“Jeez, you guys are busy,” Hadley remarked.
“You know when that video went viral for Sweet Teeth?” Wade asked.
Hadley nodded.
“Well, it kind of spilled over onto us. There are people here I’ve never seen before.”
“Rats, I hope people haven’t discovered our town,” Hadley said. “Small and quaint towns never stay that way after they get discovered.”
“Yeah, but who doesn’t love making money?” Wade remarked. “We can finally think about a new roof instead of having to patch this one again.”
“Blessing and a curse, I guess,” Hadley said.
The bluegrass song came to an end, and a moment later a classic country song started. Everyone in the bar cheered and clapped.
I looked at Hadley and grinned. “It’s nice to have things you can count on.”
“Right?” Hadley smiled.
“What are you guys drinking?” Wade asked. “Whatever it is, it’s on me tonight.”
“But then how will you afford a new roof for this place?” I teased.
“You plan on drinking that much?” Wade quipped.
“Hmm. We are celebrating,” I reminded him.
“Two microbrews on draft, whatever fun mocktail you feel inclined to make for me, and for Salem?”
“A Manhattan,” I said. “On the rocks.”
“Missing the city, are we?” Wade asked as he grabbed two pint glasses.
“Something like that,” I said.
Wade was quick and before I knew it, we had our drinks, along with a round of shots on a tray. Declan and Bowman had managed to score a table and I carried the tray toward them.
I passed around the drinks, and then took a seat by Bowman in the booth. Hadley slid in next to Declan and he immediately wrapped an arm around her.
Declan grabbed his pint and raised it. “To Connor.”
“To Dad,” Hadley said.
We clinked our glasses together, and then each took a sip.
“Cinnamon whiskey shots?” I asked, passing one to Bowman, and then Declan.
“Not for me,” Declan said. “I’m driving.”
“Salem,” Hadley warned.
“Just this round,” I said. I turned to Bowman. “It’s just you and me.”
He raised his glass, stared into my eyes, and then downed the shot.
I did the same.
Gracie and Cole showed up and after they got a round of drinks, they joined us at the table. Gracie and Hadley began chatting about all things baby related, and Declan and Cole were discussing Cole’s job as a smokejumper.
Bowman leaned his head close to mine and asked, “Are you interested in what they’re talking about?”
“No.”
“Dance with me,” he commanded.
I grinned at him. “You dance?”
“I do.” He winked.
“Well, this, I have to see.” I slid out of the booth and Bowman followed. Hadley momentarily looked at us before returning her attention to Gracie.
Bowman headed for the vintage jukebox which still took coins. He pulled out a quarter from his pocket and fed it into the machine, and then he pressed a few buttons. A moment later, the sound of a fiddle blasted through the speakers.
I let out a laugh and took Bowman’s offered hand. He led me toward the center of the room and several people who congregated in the area backed up when they saw us take the floor.
I wasn’t sure if it was the bourbon or the way Bowman smiled at me while we line danced, but my head was light and happiness bubbled inside me. Others joined and soon we had a herd of customers on the floor with us.
When the song ended, I attempted to catch my breath. Bowman grabbed my hand and dragged me to the bar.
“Shots?” I asked.
“Why not?” he said.
“Don’t tell Hadley. She thinks I can’t hold my liquor.”
“No?”
“Wine yes, liquor no.”
“I won’t tell her.”
“Good man.”
Bowman signaled to Chelsea who poured us two shots of rye whiskey.
We downed them quickly.
“Another round of shots?” Chelsea asked.
“No way,” I said, touching my heated cheeks. “But maybe another Manhattan?”
“And I’ll take another beer,” Bowman said, reaching for his wallet.
“Put that away,” I said to him. “We’re drinking on Wade’s tab tonight.”
Once we had our drinks, neither of us seemed inclined to hurry back to the table. Bowman’s eyes held mine as he took a drink of his beer.
“You’re a good dancer,” I said.
“I’m better at slow dances.”
His voice was deep and raspy, and it made me shiver.
I loved the idea of him pulling me close and holding onto me. I was taller than the average woman, but Bowman towered over me and it made me feel protected. Cared for.
He took a step toward me and brought his hand to my hip.
I didn’t push him away.
I moved ever so slightly closer.
“Powell.”
“Bowman.”
A customer bumped into me from behind, sending me face first into Bowman’s chest. “Oof,” I muttered, as my Manhattan sloshed onto his shirt. I placed a hand on his pec to steady myself.
He took my drink and set it on the bar before grabbing a stack of bar napkins.
“Sorry!” the man said behind me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.”
I took the napkins from Bowman and blotted the spot on his shirt.
“Did I get you wet?” the man asked in contrition. “Can I buy you a drink to make up for it?”
“No, I’m fine, but you did get my friend wet.”
“Sorry, man,” the guy said.
Bowman raised his eyes. “What, no drink for me?”
“I’m not trying to sleep with you,” the guy announced with a drunken smile.
Bowman’s muscles bunched beneath my hand. I curled my fingertips into his shirt. “Hey, let it be.”
I looked over my shoulder at the guy who’d bumped into me. His cheeks were ruddy and his eyes were glassy. “Did you drive here?” I purred.
His gaze widened and he nodded.
I dropped the soiled napkins on the bar and turned toward the man to give him my full attention. “Can I have your keys?” I asked, holding out my hand.
He fumbled in his pants pocket and extracted a key ring and plopped the set of keys into my palm.
“You gonna drive us, sweetheart?” he asked.
I flashed him a grin. “Wade!”
A moment later, Wade appeared behind the bar. “What’s up?”
I handed him the keys and pointed to the drunk man. “He’s not allowed to drive home.”
“Hey!” the drunk man whined.
Bowman sidled up next to me and draped an arm across my shoulder. “Be thankful she’s taking care of the problem and I’m not.”
The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze darted from Bowman back to me. “So, you’re not going home with me?”
“Nope,” I said.
“Take my number.”
Bowman’s arm tightened around me.
“No,” I said. “But thanks for the offer. Wade?”
“I’ll take care of it.”
I turned in Bowman’s embrace. “Come on. I need some air.”
Bowman and I trailed our way through the throng of people until we got to the door. We went outside and I breathed in the warm night.
“The fucking audacity,” Bowman grumbled.
“What?”
“That guy. Trying to get you to go home with him right in front of me.”
“Hmm. They don’t call it liquid courage for nothing.”
“True. I’m impressed, actually.”
“With what?”
“With how you handled that.”
“Handled what exactly?”
“You got him to give you his keys without a fuss. And you shut him down without causing a scene. A lot of men get shitty when a woman tells them no.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice.”
He glowered.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, my brow furrowing. “I live in Manhattan. I go out a lot. It happens, okay?”
“You take any of them up on their offers?”
“Getting personal, are we?”
“More personal than we’ve already been?”
I cocked my head to the side, rye humming through my veins.
There was something about Bowman. Even though he’d seen me vulnerable, he didn’t lord it over me. He didn’t use it to manipulate me.
I felt safe with him, I realized.
He’d never use my feelings against me.
“Bowman?”
“Yeah, Powell?”
“Are you going to kiss me or what?”
“Kiss you? Out here? Where anyone could see?”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” I took his hand and led him around the side of the bar to the back of the building.
I leaned against the brick wall and waited.
He stared down at me. “You’re not drunk.”
“No,” I agreed. “I’ve had a few, but I’m in my right mind. And I can even do this . . .”
I held out my hands and alternated touching my nose with a finger on each hand.
He stepped forward, grasped both my hands, and lifted my arms, pinning them, and me, in place. His body was warm, solid. And I wanted to feel it moving against me.
In me.
I thrust my breasts forward.
“No regrets tomorrow,” he warned.
“None,” I agreed.
His head dipped and his mouth grazed mine, ever so slightly.
“Bowman,” I growled. “Stop teasing me.”
His tongue plunged into my mouth and I opened to him. Lust exploded between us. I strained forward, but he still held my hands captive.
Bowman moved, sliding his thigh between my legs and gently pressing against me.
Desire pulsed in my core and I was greedy, desperate for more of him.
But Bowman would not give, proving that he was in control and would dole out pleasure at his own leisure.
While his tongue ravaged my mouth, he kept moving his thigh, easing back only to press forward once again. He edged me closer, stopping when I was on the verge of coming.
“Beg me for it,” he growled as he stared down at me.
His face was contorted with desire and moonlight.
“Beg me for it,” he rasped again. “And I’ll make you come.”
“Please, Bowman.”
He shook his head slowly.
I frowned in confusion, but then understanding dawned.
“Please, Cas. Make me come.”
He pressed his thigh and began to move it between my legs. The friction of my jeans, combined with expert pressure had me tumbling over a cliff.
I shuddered against him and clenched my thighs around him. I rode out my pleasure, wave after wave.
A long shaky breath exhaled between my lips, stirring the hair at his temples.
He turned his head and placed a gentle kiss below my ear. “Good girl.”
I trembled with aftermath and closed my eyes.
He let go of my arms and they flopped to my sides like noodles. They prickled as feeling returned to them.
His fingers clasped my chin.
“Open your eyes and look at me.”
My eyes flipped open and I peered at him. His gaze was glittery, dark.
Searching.
He leaned forward and kissed my lips. Brief. Chaste. A footnote on the chapter that had just closed.
Because he was no longer Bowman.
Bowman was a veneer, a facade. A persona he showed the world.
But with me, he was Cas.
And I was Salem.