Chapter 14
An hour later, Reid still couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that Tara was sitting at a table with him at Tilly’s. He’d lived in Cloud Valley for a little over a year, and not once had she left their hometown in Indiana to visit.
Not once had she felt comfortable enough to put that much distance between her and their toxic father.
A hundred questions spun around his brain like a tornado, but a chance to discuss what had caused her to act so impulsively hadn’t presented itself.
Tara bobbed her straw up and down in her cola and took in the atmosphere. “This place is awesome. I feel like I stepped onto some movie set with rugged cowboys waiting to sweep me off my feet.”
“I’m sure Richard would love that.” Tara’s tortured expression made him wish he could take back the words as soon as he said them. But now that the happy-go-lucky mask had slipped, he might as well push through the rest of her walls. “Why are you here?”
She tapped the tip of her finger against the table, her gaze fixed on a trio of giggling women about her age taking shots at the crowded bar.
“After we talked last night, I really took a hard look at my life. I’m exhausted, Reid.
Completely overwhelmed and miserable. Every time my phone rings I’m terrified of who’s on the other end.
If it’s Dad, he’ll want money or to pour on the guilt or tell me about the latest stupid mess I have to clean up.
If it’s Robert, he’s pissed about something.
I’m constantly walking on eggshells. I can’t do it anymore.
I’m afraid of what I’ll turn into if I do. ”
Reaching across the table, he rested his hand on top of hers and squeezed.
Leaving his hometown had been what he’d needed for his own mental health, but he regretted how much it had placed on her shoulders.
“I’m sorry. I hate that you’ve been the one dealing with this for so long.
You deserve better. And if you need me to kick Richard’s ass, just say the word. It’d be pretty damn satisfying.”
The side of her mouth ticked up. “He’s not worth the trouble. Not yours and definitely not mine.”
“So you two are done for good?”
Tears misted her eyes, and she wiped them away. “Yeah. What a waste of time. I guess I should be grateful he never got around to proposing.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, the reason you’re here sucks, but I’m happy to see you.” He was even happier he’d given her a key and open invitation to visit the last time he saw her. He lifted his own soda in cheers then took a sip, his gaze seeking Eve as she bustled from table to table.
After his initial shock at finding Tara in his apartment, she’d been excited to tag along with him and Eve to Tilly’s.
As much as he wished he could stay glued to Eve’s side as she hustled around the crowded bar and grill, there was no way to keep up with her.
She’d agreed to stay behind the bar, coming out only to help deliver a drink or two.
He and Tara set up at a table where he could get to Eve in a second’s notice. His senses were on high alert, but with everything he’d learned about Tyson Brown, he understood the bastard was a coward at heart—he waited to pounce on his prey when they were alone or vulnerable.
He had to hang on to the hope that he wouldn’t break pattern tonight when Tilly’s was packed with locals and tourists waiting to dance along with the live band. At least Madden planned to join him once he was done keeping guard at the rodeo.
“So what’s going on with you and Eve?” Tara asked.
He tracked Eve as she moved behind the bar and filled two pints with the local ale before giving them to Becca to serve. “She’s a client. Some shit’s happened the last couple of days. I’m keeping an eye on her until things settle down.”
“You don’t look at her like she’s just a client. You look at her the same way you looked at Gabby Shaffer when you were in high school.” Tara wiggled her eyebrows and grinned.
He couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of his high school crush. “Big difference between Eve and Gabby. Eve and I are friends. Gabby wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
“Not from lack of trying.”
He wadded up the paper from the straw and tossed it at her. “Nobody here knows about my tragic past with Gabby Shaffer. I’d like to keep it that way.”
A heavy hand on his shoulder had him whipping his attention up to Madden’s wide grin. “I want to know about your tragic past. Hi, Tara. Didn’t know you were visiting.”
“Hey, Madden. Long time no see.”
“Yeah, it’s been a while. Good to see you again.” Madden skirted the side of the table to give her a quick hug then placed his hand on the small of Lily’s back. “This is my fiancée, Lily. Lily, Tara is Reid’s sister. She lives in Indiana, and I believe this is her first time to Cloud Valley.”
Lily offered a wave. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well. And yes, first time here and I’m loving the vibe. Is this place always so packed?”
Reid continued his constant perusal of the room. Every table was filled, and the crowd at the bar grew. Music blasted from the jukebox, competing with the sound of pool balls bouncing off each other and the constant stream of chatter.
“Not like this. The rodeo’s in town, and tonight’s the annual line dancing. A band will play soon and there are a ton of tourists. Speaking of which,” he said, eyes on Madden. “I’m surprised you’re here. Figured you’d be with Dax and Ben for a little longer.”
Madden pulled out a chair and waited for Lily to take a seat before settling in the one beside her.
“As you can see, people were shifting their focus. Wanting to get here early. Ben and Dax are finishing up at the fairgrounds and will be on their way here soon, so I figured you could use an extra pair of eyes here sooner rather than later.”
“Appreciate it,” Reid said. “I don’t like Eve being so far from my side, and the more the crowd grows, the more anxious I get.”
Lily clicked her tongue then smoothed her hand over her blond ponytail. “Can’t say I blame you. Maybe we can convince her to sit with us and grab dinner before things really get crazy.”
“You think she’ll sit and eat while her staff is busting their asses?” Reid asked, eyebrows raised high.
Lily scrunched her nose. “Absolutely not.”
Another group of women wearing short dresses with cowboy boots walked through the door, catching the attention of the two men playing pool. A man in a tan cowboy hat stalked in behind them, his head angled toward the floor.
Reid shot to his feet and pushed through the crowd toward the man. “Madden, go to Eve. Now.”
Without further explanation, Madden jumped up and moved toward the bar.
Reid wove between tables and shimmied past laughing partiers, his eyes never wavering from the tan hat that stormed forward. The worn jean jacket disappeared around a pillar, and Reid’s heart jumped to his throat. He shoved past anyone who stood in his way, ignoring shouts and curses in his wake.
Rounding the pillar, the jean jacket reappeared, the man within arm’s reach as he approached the bar. Reid lunged forward, gripped the collar of the jacket, and yanked the man backward.
The man’s arms flailed out before he spun around, escaping Reid’s grasp. His blue eyes were wide, his clean-shaven face pinched in anger. “What the hell, man?”
Relief seeped into every pore in Reid’s body, and he held up his palms. “Sorry, dude. I thought you were someone else. Enjoy your night.”
Muttering under his breath, the man shook his head and continued to the bar.
With his pulse still racing, he made his way to where Eve stood with Madden, her fear louder than the old country song blasting through the room. Tara’s unexpected arrival had thrown him off his game.
He couldn’t let that happen. Eve’s life was on the line. He didn’t care if she was working and didn’t want him to hover. Didn’t care if she’d rather he sit in the corner and watch from a distance. For the rest of the night, he’d be by her side.
And if he was being honest with himself, there was nowhere else he’d rather be.
The steady beat of the drums and crisp notes of the guitar cut through the noise in the room.
The singer behind the microphone tipped his cowboy hat at a jaunty angle and moved his hips along with the words about women and whiskey.
The temporary dance floor was filled with couples swaying and laughing, leaving empty plates to be bussed on the deserted tables.
Eve stayed behind the bar, filling glasses and pouring whiskey faster than she thought possible. Thank God Reid had stayed close as the crowd had grown. She’d put him to work on the tap to free Becca and Nellie to ferry food from the slammed kitchen.
A lull hit, and she leaned against the long counter that displayed bottles of liquor. Her feet ached and her stomach growled as she watched her patrons enjoying the live music.
This was one of her favorite nights of the year. Yes, the hours were longer and bar busier, but there was nothing like the joy of seeing the place she loved packed and thriving. Even if her world outside these walls was in chaos, everything inside was perfect.
Reid tilted a pint glass and filled it with amber liquid from the tap. He handed it over to an older man who preferred a bar stool to the dance floor but tapped his foot along with the beat. Reid wiped his palms on the thighs of his jeans then shot her a grin. “This is fun.”
She snorted out a laugh. “Glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
He leaned against the counter beside her, his shoulder resting against hers. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m exhausted. I don’t know how you do this every day.”
Keeping her eyes on the dance floor, she shrugged. “It’s not always like this, but it’s always hard work. It is fun, though. And we aren’t the only ones enjoying ourselves.”
He followed her sight line to where Tara danced with Dax in the middle of the crush of people. “Dude better watch where he puts his hands.”