Chapter Four – Lilibeth
Lilibeth
“Lilibeth?”
My head jerked up to see Ensley staring at me. “Did you say something?”
She laughed. “I said a whole bunch of something. Where are you at tonight?”
I glanced around the table and tried my best to smile. Moreen sat across and to the left of me, and Ensley sat directly across. It was our weekly girls’ dinner, and we were at one of our favorite restaurants. The only one missing was Emeline, who’d gone off to Lake Tahoe to get married.
“Something is for sure off. You were late to work on Friday, and now you’re woolgathering.”
“Woolgathering?” Ensley asked.
Moreen nodded. “Yeah, like daydreaming. I read it in a historical romance novel and fell in love with that saying. I’m so glad I was finally able to use it.”
I chuckled. “I wasn’t daydreaming.”
Ensley rolled her eyes. “Please, you were totally off somewhere else. Want to tell us where?”
“The store.”
“You were daydreaming about the store?” Moreen asked with a slight frown. “We really need to get you out on a date.”
Ensley laughed. “Agreed! If you’re thinking about your store with that dreamy face, we should be worried.”
“Dreamy face?” I said with a laugh. “I did not have a dreamy look on my face.”
“You totally did,” Ensley retorted.
“We should go out tonight,” Moreen decided as she changed the subject.
Ensley leaned back in her chair. “Nope, not this girl. I’m exhausted.”
Moreen looked at me, one brow raised.
I shook my head. “It’s been a crazy two days. How are you not tired?”
“Maybe it’s the adrenaline, but I don’t want to go home and just sit tonight.
I want to dance! Flirt with some guys and just not be alone.
We can go to Granby. Hit one of the bars there.
Guys, come on! I’m depressed, and I don’t want to be.
I’m super happy for Emeline, but her getting married this weekend has put me in a funk.
I need to meet a guy I won’t ever see again and just cut loose! ”
I looked at Ensley, who suddenly looked interested in the idea.
“Granby, you say?” she smiled. “It might be kind of fun to go somewhere else besides River Falls. A little bit of innocent flirting might be what we all need.”
As much as I wanted to crawl into my bed and go to sleep, I knew they were right.
I was positive the funk I was feeling was because Emeline had found her happily ever after.
At this point in my life, I was pretty sure I didn’t want to be a thirty-year-old virgin.
I was ready to just have a meaningless one-night stand.
Nodding, I said, “Okay. Let’s do it. Let’s go out, flirt, and cut a rug!”
Moreen clapped. “We’re already dressed for going out. Let’s go now!”
“I’ll be designated driver, since I have to get up earlier tomorrow to reshoe some of the horses on the ranch,” Ensley said.
“It has been a long time since I’ve gotten tipsy,” I said with a giggle.
We paid for our meal and were soon climbing into Ensley’s Ford F-250 and heading toward Granby. By the time we got there, Moreen had us all pumped up to have a good time.
“Moreen, are you sure about this place?” Ensley asked, as we stood outside the bar.
“Sure. I heard my brother talking about it. The locals all come here, so you know it’s good.”
Glancing at the people walking toward the entrance of the bar, I bumped Ensley’s side, nodding my head for her to look.
“Oh my,” she whispered, as three very handsome cowboys approached.
“You ladies lost?” asked a man with the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.
Moreen stepped forward. “We aren’t, but thank you for asking. We live in River Falls and were told this is the place to come for a good time.”
I rolled my eyes. A good time? Did she really say that?
All three of them smiled. “You’re at the right place.”
Ensley spoke up next. “Then that means you boys are buying the first round?”
The tallest one walked up to Ensley and held out his arm. “We sure are.”
Ensley winked at me before allowing the guy to walk her into the bar.
The shortest of the three made his way over to Moreen. “I’m Jack.”
Moreen held out her hand, and he took it and kissed the back, causing her to giggle. “Moreen.”
“Shall we then?” he asked, leading the way into the bar.
Moreen practically skipped alongside him. I watched as they both left me behind as if I wasn’t even with them.
Turning to face Blue Eyes, I smiled and gestured toward my long-gone friends. “Okay then.”
He laughed. “The name’s Mike Nelson. And don’t worry, we’re all police officers here in Granby, so don’t think your friends left you with some kind of creep.”
I tilted my head. “I’ve met creepy cops before.”
He smiled. “I can promise you, I’m not one of them.”
“A creepy cop would say that very thing. And your friends?” I asked, jerking my head in the direction everyone had just gone.
“Not creeps either.” He held his arm out for me to lead the way. “That drink?”
I smiled, feeling giddy for the first time in ages. Before I turned to walk into the bar, I held out my hand to shake his. “Nice to meet you, Mike Nelson. I’m Lilibeth Asher.”
He shook my hand. “That’s a beautiful name.”
My cheeks heated. “Thank you.”
When I turned to start for the door, Mike put his hand on my lower back and gently guided me in.
I had to admit that the feel of a man’s hand on my body felt insanely good.
Not as good as Caden’s single stupid finger, which made my entire body tingle, but I refused to give him a second thought. Tonight was about me.
Once we got inside, I felt the high energy and my mood was lifted even more.
“Lilibeth!”
I turned to see Moreen pointing to a table.
“Looks like they found a table,” Mike said. “What can I get you to drink?”
“I appreciate the offer, but I have a rule that I get my own drinks when I’m out.”
He nodded at me and smiled. “I can respect that. How about you come with me to the bar and order your drink, but let me pay?”
“That I can do.”
After we each got our drinks, we made our way to the table that Moreen had secured. The bar was packed with people. It was twice the size of Billy’s Honky-Tonk back in River Falls.
Almost as soon as we were sitting, Moreen was being led out onto the dance floor by Jack. Ensley was in a conversation with the guy she’d walked in with.
He paused to introduce himself. “Steve Nelson.”
Looking between Steve and Mike, I asked, “Brothers?”
“Cousins,” Mike replied, as he took the seat next to mine.
Steve and Mike told us a little bit about Granby and how long each had been a police officer. Once they learned Ensley was a farrier, they began asking her a million-and-one questions. But before long, Mike must have noticed I looked bored, because he stood.
“Dance with me?”
Smiling, I placed my hand in his. “I would love to.”
“Can you two-step?”
I laughed. “Yes, I can manage.”
Mike drew in close, and we started dancing to the slow song that was playing.
“You can more than manage a two-step.”
“Thank you. I started dance lessons when I was three. You’re not a bad dancer yourself.”
He smiled, and I wished like hell it made my body react the way it did when a certain grumpy cowboy looked at me. If Caden ever smiled at me the way Mike was, I was pretty sure I’d expire on the spot.
After a few trips around the dance floor, the song changed to a faster one. It was fun dancing with Mike, and he was easy to talk to. When the song ended, we turned to head off the dance floor—and I came to an abrupt halt.
My eyes had landed on a couple, and I couldn’t pull them away.
“Lilibeth? Is everything okay?” Mike asked.
I blinked a few times to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. It was Caden, talking to a woman, his fingers twirling a strand of her long hair as she looked up at him, smiling.
Was that the woman he was rumored to be sleeping with here in Granby?
“I’m fine. I saw someone I know, that’s all.”
Mike looked in the same direction. “Do you know Caden or Millie?”
Millie. So the rumor was true.
“Um, Caden. He’s my best friend’s brother. How do you know him?”
He glanced back over. “We’ve known each other since high school. We played football in high school, and our football teams were combined because of how small our schools were.”
“And Millie is…?” I asked, not sure I really wanted to know.
He motioned for us to head back to the table. We walked through the crowd, and when we sat down, he went on. “Millie’s a waitress here at the bar. They kind of have a…thing…going on.”
“A thing? Like they’re dating?”
Mike shook his head. “No, theirs is more like a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Caden doesn’t come around often, but when he does, he usually leaves with Millie when she gets off work.”
When I didn’t say anything, he frowned. “Are you and Caden a thing?”
It was my turn to laugh. “God, no. He doesn’t like me, and I’m not really a fan of his, either.”
“He’s a nice guy. Why don’t you like him?”
I screwed up my nose. “Where to even start.” I waved my hands and said, “You know what, it’s not worth talking about. Enough of that. Did you always want to be a cop?”
“I have, yes. There’s never a dull moment here, even though we’re not a big city. With all the tourists, it keeps us on our toes. I’m sure River Falls is a lot quieter. I’d love to work there, but it’s such a small police force that it’s hard to get in.”
“You don’t know anyone who can get you in?” I asked.
Winking, he replied, “My father is best friends with the River Falls chief of police, but it would be frowned upon if he fired one of his officers to make room for his friend’s son.”
“I would say so,” I laughed.
As the night went on, Mike and I got to know each other better, and I hardly saw Moreen and Ensley.
They would occasionally come to the table, get a drink, then head back to the dance floor.
I’d had one too many beers and was starting to feel tipsy.
When the waitress came back with some shots, Ensley grabbed one for herself, then pushed another in my direction.
“I don’t think I should. I’m starting to get a serious buzz.”
“That’s why we’re out,” Ensley insisted. “To get wasted!”
I frowned. “No, we came out to have a bit of fun. I don’t want to get wasted, and you’re supposed to be the designated driver, Ensley!”
“Ensley, maybe you should slow down. You said you have to work tomorrow, remember?” Moreen added. She, herself, had been knocking them back, but she could clearly hold her liquor better than Ensley and me.
Ensley pouted, but she put the shot down and pushed it away.
Steve returned to the table, and when I looked up at him, the room spun.
“Whoa,” I giggled. “I think it’s kicking in.”
“How did you get here?”
The voice sounded familiar, but it wasn’t Steve’s or Mike’s…not even Jack’s. When I looked around, I asked, “Who said that?”
Ensley giggled. “Hey, big brother! Here for your monthly date with your fuck buddy?”
I giggled again—but not because seeing Caden made me the least bit happy—as I looked from Ensley to a very angry-looking Caden. I’ll blame it on the alcohol for sure because seeing him up close was the last thing I wanted.
“Are you serious right now, Ensley?” Caden asked.
Ensley pointed to Mike and Steve. “Look! It’s Mike and Steve. I didn’t even know who they were at first, but I’ll be goddamned if they didn’t know you from football.”
Caden exhaled. “Thanks for coming to get me, Steve.”
“I’ll give Lilibeth a ride home,” Mike said.
Before I could decline myself, Caden said, “You let them get this drunk and you actually think I’m going to let you take them home?”
“He’s a police officer…er…er,” Ensley said with a laugh. “He can be trusted. Right, Mike?”
Mike remained quiet this time.
“Can you help her out to my truck?” Caden asked Steve, who quickly helped Ensley stand up.
“There you go, sweetheart,” Steve said, as Ensley struggled to get her balance. I hadn’t realized she’d drunk so much.
“Why, thank you, handsome!” Ensley replied, as she leaned against him heavily.
Mike reached out a hand to help me stand—although I didn’t need any help—when Caden shoved himself between us. “I’ve got her. Thanks, Mike.”
Lifting his hands in surrender, Mike stepped back. “Sure thing.”
Caden took me by the elbow and started to guide me through the bar.
I tugged my arm away. “I don’t need any help.”
It was such a shame I didn’t see the chair in my way before I said that, which caused me to trip and fall to my knees.
“Damn it all to hell, Lilibeth,” Caden said, picking me up and carrying me as if I weighed nothing.
“I can walk!” I protested, as I attempted to get out of his arms, but to no avail. Once we got outside, I figured he’d put me down. Instead, he carried me through the parking lot and to his truck.
“Put me down, Caden!” I shouted.
Once we were at his truck, he carefully put me on my feet. I was about to yell at him again, but my stomach lurched—and I swiftly covered my mouth with my hand.
Caden stared at me, then closed his eyes. “Please tell me you’re not about to throw up.”
When he opened his eyes again, I nodded, then quickly turned and started to hurl.
Caden was suddenly there, holding my hair back as I threw up repeatedly, until all I had left were dry heaves.
When those finally stopped, it felt like all the energy had been poured out of me. I stood and swayed. Caden produced a bottle of water from God knows where.
“Here. Rinse your mouth out, Lilibeth.”
I took the bottle with shaking hands. It was strange how I suddenly felt a bit sober. Maybe it was because I’d just thrown up every ounce of alcohol I’d consumed.
“Moreen? Ensley?” I called out, attempting to look around without getting sick again.
Caden put his arm around my waist and guided me to the open door of his truck. “They’re in the back seat already.”
He held out his hand and helped me into the passenger seat.
“I really appreciate you guys doing this,” he said. I looked over and saw Jack and Steve standing behind him. “I could just have my brother drive me over tomorrow to pick up Ensley’s truck.”
Jack waved him off. “It’s not a problem at all. We’ll just follow you.”
I dropped my head back against the headrest and willed my stomach to settle down. If I got sick in Caden Wilde’s truck, I would never hear the end of it.
Caden got in, started the vehicle, and began to drive off. I could hear someone already snoring lightly in the back, and I closed my eyes, willing myself not to get sick again. I thought the truck’s motion would make me throw up; instead, it lulled me to sleep.