He had so many plans but because I was a stupid punk who cared little about anything, he lost it. The night Charlie Miller accused me of vandalizing his shed, and my father stood up for me, betting the damn land I’d never do something like that—was the night my dad lost the acreage. The field still sits vacant, and it’s like a slap to my face every time I see it— I’d do anything to get it back. I scoff. I honestly shouldn’t be surprised Charlie had already paid Alyson a visit. He’s in everyone’s business.
Ten minutes later, with a scowl on my face and a fire in my belly, I push open the door to the Crow and spot Colin at a table.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask, when I see the empty bottles and shot glasses lined up in front of him.
“We should have just eloped,” he begins, “but noooo, Sara wants the big fancy wedding with the big fancy headaches.”
I chuckle. “And you want her to have that. You know you do.”
A smile touches his mouth, and he looks like he’s a million miles away when he says, “Yeah… I do.” His head lifts, and his glossy eyes meet mine. “Hey, I heard the new owner arrived.”
“Who told you?”
“Word travels fast, my friend. Did you get her digits?”
“I’m not interested in her digits. She’s like a goddamn newborn kitten with its eyes still closed. I’m not touching that.”
Colin puts his hand on my shoulder. “Bro, I’m telling you this for your own good. You need to move on, and it’s okay not to want to get into a relationship right now, but at least get yourself laid once in a while.”
“Agreed, but I’m not interested in Alyson,” I state.
“Alyson, huh.” He grins, and I just shake my head as he waves the server over and orders a couple more rounds. I’m pretty sure he’s had enough, but his place is within walking distance, and he has wedding issues, so I let it go.
“She’s not sticking around, Colin. She as much as said so.”
Our drinks arrive, and he holds his up. “What are we drinking to?”
“You getting laid before she leaves.” I shake my head and down the drink and chase it with a big swig of beer. We spend the next half hour talking about his upcoming wedding and choreography for the dance he wants his groomsmen to perform with him. I’d rather manscape my nut sack with shears than perform a choreographed dance for the guests. We finish our second beers—at least it’s my second—and he orders two more. Behind me, the pub doors bang open, and Colin goes still, his bottle halfway to his mouth.
“I don’t know who you’re looking at,” I say. “But you better pull your tongue back in. You’re as good as married, dude.”
He tips his beer bottle and points with the opening. “Is that her?”
I push back in my chair, and the legs scrape on the floor. “What are you talking about?”
The sound of heels clacking on the floor reach my ears, and I slowly turn. The second I set eyes on Alyson searching the pub like a little lost lamb, I curse—mostly to cover the groan threatening to rise in my throat. Jesus, now she’s in another one of Jack’s plaid shirts, and there is no way she should be making it look sexy. And those fuck-me heels. I’ll be glad when her suitcase arrives. I’m guessing she’ll probably be gone before it ever does.
“Yeah, that’s her,” I grumble and resist the urge to shift, to hide what’s going on between my legs.
Colin gives a low, slow whistle. “You’re a dead man.”
Yeah, I know.
“Talk about a baby fawn in the headlights,” he adds. “She still has her spots.”
“Yeah, she’s prey, I get it.” I glance around the pub to check for predators. We might have gotten off on the wrong foot, and I plan to keep her at arm’s length until she flees, but I’m not about to let anyone prey on her. There are some real assholes in this town. But something tells me beneath the glitz and glam, she just might be able to protect herself, that she might actually be stronger than she thinks.
Why doesn’t she give herself credit?
I lift my hand to wave her over—it’s the neighborly thing to do—and she gives me an odd little finger wave as she comes our way.
“Oh, hi. Everywhere I go, you’re there,” she says, a nervous little laugh