born. He’d found a steady job at the feed store and come home to Kelsey’s cooking every day. He didn’t spend much time with Katie, but Kelsey thought parenting was the woman’s job.
Then the feed store had shut down and instead of finding another job, Mike had left his family for the rodeo road. Said family life was too “confining.” He’d married too young, he said. He needed to “have a good time.”
Sarah wanted to kill him. He’d left Kelsey with a two-year-old daughter and Kelsey started the single mom struggle for yet another generation of the Landon family.
She threw back another slug of beer as Lane hailed a waitress who was edging through the crowd with a tray full of oversized shot glasses. Grabbing one, he shoved it at Sarah.
“Drink up,” he said. “I’m driving.”
She sniffed the amber liquid and the scent of tequila almost knocked her head back. A shot was the last thing she needed. She’d already loosened up way too much, kissing Lane in the alley, letting Mike get her steamed. Or was she already drunk—on Lane, on all the testosterone he put out? Could pheromones make you dizzy?
Maybe. He gave her a smile and a wink that made the rage ebb a little, raising his beer in a toast.
“Come on, it’ll do you good,” he said. “You’re a little tense. I’m afraid to get back in the truck with you.”
She didn’t blame him, but there was nothing to worry about. She’d spent all her anger and adrenaline on Mike, and now she felt like she was made of glass and might shatter any second.
Bringing the glass to her lips, she tilted her head back and drank. The liquor traced a fiery path down her throat and coiled in her belly, spiraling up to warm her from the inside out. She set it on the table and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Dang. What a redneck move that was. But Mike had already blown her cover, and Lane didn’t seem to care. He grinned and draped an arm over the back of her chair.
“See? Having a good time isn’t such a bad thing.”
He had a point. She let herself lean into him a little. It felt good to have a big, muscular man beside her. And Lane really was trying to show her a good time.
That kiss. Now that was a good time.
She turned and scanned his face, wishing she could just give in to the urge to nestle into the crook of his arm, tuck her head under his chin, and enjoy the music. But what must he think of her? He didn’t know Mike had walked out on her sister. He probably thought the guy was an old boyfriend. He must think she was a total bitch.
As a matter-of-fact, a lot of people thought that. And maybe they were right. When had she changed so much? She just wanted security, financial and otherwise, for herself and for Kelsey, but most of all for Katie. She didn’t want her niece growing up with the same doubts and uncertainties she’d had.
But sometimes it seemed like her ambition had taken on a life of its own. It was eating up her life and her personality until she’d become a woman she barely recognized—and one she didn’t like very much.
She wouldn’t blame Lane if he let her go, but he pulled her a little closer and she went limp, tucking her head under his chin and resting her cheek on his chest. She felt safe for the first time in years.
“That guy,” she said. “It’s not what you think.”
He shrugged. “Whatever. You don’t have to tell me anything.”
“No, I do,” she said. “I’m not what you think.” She hailed the bartender. “Bring us another shot.”
Chapter 10
Lane sat back as the waitress in the tight Cuervo T-shirt and denim short-shorts slid two more shots across the table. “On the house,” she said with a flirty little curtsy. “Just let me know if you need anything, Mr. Carrigan.” She winked and walked away, twitching her tight little behind.
The glasses skidded on the moisture glossing the table. One almost landed in Sarah’s lap, but she caught it deftly and downed it in one easy motion.
“So,” she said. “Let me tell you everything.”
“Everything?” He grinned. “You’re giving me whiplash.”
She arched an eyebrow. “The kiss was good, buddy, but I’m not buying you a monkey.”
He laughed. “Not that Whiplash. Emotional whiplash.”
“You’re right.” She sighed, staring down into the empty