14. Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Colt
I don't know how in the hell I let Brooks talk me into coming to town to go to Bessie's tonight. I swear I was half asleep when he knocked on my door tonight. I was just getting ready to crawl into bed with my book and call it a night. Instead, here I am. Sitting at a table with other ranch hands, Brooks, and Blake.
This place is packed, just like I would expect on a Friday night. I am sipping on my beer when I forget how to swallow. Whitney comes in the bar doors, she is beautiful in her dress, but the real showstopper is the girl she is pulling in behind her.
Brynn is wearing a short jean skirt and a baby blue shirt tied to show off her toned stomach. My hands itch to touch her, to slide my fingers under her t-shirt and find out how smooth her skin is. Her long muscular legs are on full display in that tiny skirt. Her hair is down and flowing, every guy in the bar is staring directly at her .
She looks to Whitney like she is not sure what she should be doing. She absolutely hates the attention; it is written all over her face. Brooks turns and his eyes widen as he takes in the sight in front of him. I don't know if he is more pissed about his sister showing off skin or Whitney. "These girls need to learn how to dress."
"They are grown women. Leave them alone," Blake says as he holds up a hand and waves the girls over.
Every eye in the place follows them as they walk to our table. Most of the eyes are glued to Brynn's ass and I want to take my knife and poke every single motherfucker in the eye. I have no clue where these possessive tendencies over a girl I barely know are coming from.
"Hey boys," Whitney says as she takes a seat by Brooks. "Sit," she commands to Brynn as she looks around for an open seat.
I see her roll her eyes when she realizes the open seat is right beside me. "C'mon Firecracker. Have a seat, promise I won't bite."
"I don't make the same promise," Brynn says as she sits. She crosses her legs one over the other and the skirt rides up even more. Holy fuck. My body is reacting as if this is the first time I have ever seen a woman's thigh before.
Why does this woman wind me up with her snark and sarcasm? I swear I am a glutton for punishment. "That's okay. I won't mind," I say with a wink .
Brynn rolls her eyes and looks at the bar. Her eyes scan each table, not sure what or who she is looking for, but she seems to relax after making a sweep. "I need a drink." She stands and pulls the skirt down over her strong thighs.
I hop up quickly, "I can get it for you." I would hate to have to beat up every motherfucker in this bar for staring at Brynn while she orders a drink.
"I am perfectly capable," she quips.
"There is no doubt in mind that you are more than capable of getting your own drink. I saw you walk in; how uncomfortable you were when every head in this place turned to check you out."
Her eyes widen as if she didn't mean to give away how she felt being ogled. "Fine, but don't try any funny business with my drink."
"I don't need to use drugs to pick up a woman," I say as I leave the table and head toward the bar.
I can feel her eyes on my back. She is watching my every move. Shit, I forgot to ask her what she wanted. Guess I am about to take a shot in the dark and guess what she would like. "Rum and coke, and a whiskey neat," I order as the bartender stands in front of me. While he is making the drinks, I take a look around the bar.
I haven't been here a lot, only on a few occasions with the guys. There are mismatched tables and chairs, tons of black and white photos on the walls. Televisions are mounted on the wall above the bar, and there are brightly colored Christmas lights hung throughout.
The bartender hands me my drinks, and I pay him with cash, putting a tip in the old pickle jar. I head back to the table and put the drinks in front of Brynn. "Whiskey or rum and coke?"
"Is it diet?" She asks as she scrunches her nose.
"Hell no," I say as I sit back down.
"Good, I'll take it then." After taking a sip, she hums in satisfaction.
That little sound makes my dick jump. Get it together, man.
"How do you like being back in Cedar Creek?" I ask as a man with gel in his hair comes up to the table.
"Hey guys, nice to see ya," he says to Blake and Brooks. They both just stare at him, and he fidgets. "Hey Brynn. I was hoping I would run into you again."
"Hopefully not literally. I am enjoying this drink," Brynn snaps, her eyes going as cold as the arctic. Damn, this man is more hated than I am. "Go away, Steven."
Steven? The man who ran into her and made her spill her coffee at the airport? I size him up, I could definitely take him. By the looks of him, he's never worked a day of hard labor in his life. He looks like the epitome of a nepo baby. Do they even have those here in Cedar Creek ?
Matt, the ranch hand, vacates the seat beside Brynn, and Steven takes that as a cue to sit down in the open seat. I track his every movement. He puts his elbow on the table and leans closer to Brynn. She stiffens.
Her body language says to fuck right off, and he is not going anywhere. "The lady told you to go away, not get closer," I growl. Brynn looks in my direction and I can't tell the expression that comes across her face before her mask is back in place.
"I thought we could go somewhere and catch up. I just live one street over," Steven says as he reaches his hand out to touch her face.
Brynn leans away from his touch, and she shivers. "C'mon baby. Let's talk about this."
"Talk about this?" Brynn says, finding her backbone. "I haven't spoken to you in almost fifteen years. What the fuck makes you think I want to talk to you now?"
Brynn is fuming. She folds her hands in between her knees, but not before I notice them shaking. I can't tell if she is anxious or trying not to punch him in his ugly ass face. Honestly, probably a mixture of both.
I lean in toward Brynn, making sure this douche can hear me. "I think she has made it clear she doesn't want to talk to you. You need to leave," I command.
"What are you gonna do cowboy? Go tend to the cattle," he scoffs .
I see red. Brynn's eyes widen as I stand up, my chair scratching against the wooden plank flooring. Every head in Bessie's turns to look at me. Shit. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, you are leaving this table and never speaking to Brynn again."
Steven stands to his full height, which he quickly realizes is several inches shorter than mine. His eyes roam over my shoulders, down my arms to my closed fists. "What's it gonna be?" I ask as I fold my arms across my chest, being sure to flex every muscle in my upper body.
"I. I. Uh. Sorry. I'll just go," Steven stutters before he rushes to the door and leaves. Everyone cheers and gets back to their drinks and conversations.
Whitney comes over to Brynn, "Are you okay? Are you ready to go home?"
Brynn nods her head once and stands but immediately falls back into her seat. "Brynn?" Whitney eyes Brynn and then looks to me.
"Brynn, are you okay?" I ask, squatting down so I am eye-level with her.
She answers with a small shake of her head. "Do you need medical attention?" She shakes her head no again. "Do you want me to take you home?" This time she nods her head in agreement, and I pull her up and be sure she is steady .
"What the fuck is happening right now?" Blake demands to know.
I look him in the eye and try to convey to shut the fuck up. I think Brynn is on the verge of a panic attack. Brooks pulls Whitney to the side and starts questioning her about what is going on. "Let's get you home, Firecracker."
Blake helps me get Brynn in my truck and makes sure she is buckled. "We will meet you at the main house." I say before I close the passenger door.
"No!" Brynn yells, tears in her eyes.
"How about we meet at the cottage?" I question, and Brynn nods. I close the door and look at Blake. "I don't know what is going on with that guy, but it sent her into a panic."
Blake says he will get Brooks and Whit and meet me at the cottage. I get into the driver's seat and look at Brynn; she is leaning her head against the seat and trying to focus on her breathing. "It's okay Brynn. You are safe with me."
She looks at me, a thankful expression across her face, and nods before she closes her eyes and exhales.