yeah, it was as fun as a barrel of monkeys.
“That’s where the locals hang out. They have a band tonight.”
“Can we go?”
Shea’s heart sank. “I figured you’d want someplace nicer. The Round Up is a dive bar.”
“Please? I don’t get to go out much, and I get my fill of all the nice places I can handle in the city. I’d love to experience something authentic.”
The guest was always right, so Shea dipped his head. “Of course. Whatever you like.”
He found a spot on the grass, and he and Jake hopped out of the truck and walked to the front. Shea spotted several friends from the neighboring ranches and raised a hand in greeting.
“Shea, dude. You back again? Make sure you leave some tequila for the rest of us.” Jeremiah slapped him on the ass.
“Funny man.” He knocked shoulders with his friend and hugged Bonnie, Jeremiah’s fiancée. “I need to buy you a medal for putting up with him for so long.”
“He has his good points.”
“You know you love me, darlin’.” Jeremiah chucked her under the chin and cast a friendly gaze at Jake, who stood at Shea’s elbow. “You gonna introduce us, Shea?”
“Oh, yeah, sorry. This is Jake Axelrod from New York. He’s with the retreat at the ranch this weekend. Came in late tonight and was hungry, so we’re gonna get him somethin’ to eat.”
“And you took him here? Man, I know you got bad taste, but the least you coulda done was bring him someplace nicer.”
“Oh, hush, Jeremiah.” Bonnie elbowed her fiancé and beamed a bright smile at Jake. “Hello, I’m Bonnie, and this big lug is Jeremiah. We work at the Moonbeam Ranch, about ten miles up the Pike. Nice to meetcha.”
Jake smiled, and Shea watched him shake their hands without hesitation. Sometimes they had people come who put on airs and didn’t like to mingle with the townsfolk, but Jake didn’t give him that vibe. He seemed like a regular guy.
“Shea planned to, but I told him I’d rather come here. I don’t get to go out much at home, and I have enough company dinners and meetings in ‘nice’ places.” He made air quotes. “I’d much rather sit and relax and have a drink with local people.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place, my friend. It don’t get much more real than the Round Up.” Jeremiah leaned in to whisper in Jake’s ear but spoke loud enough that Shea could hear. “Just keep Shea away from the tequila.”
Jake shot him a look, and with a grimace, Shea flipped Jeremiah the bird.
“Screw you. C’mon. Let’s go inside and grab a table.”
He turned away from his friends and left them. Jake’s long strides kept up with him, and as Shea pulled open the door, his ears were assaulted by the music and the crowd. He searched for a table and pointed to Jake. “Go on and grab that one over there, see it?” At Jake’s nod, Shea asked, “What’re you drinkin’? I’ll get it from the bar.”
“Jameson would be good. On the rocks.” Jake reached for his wallet, to which Shea shook his head.
“No, sir. Put your wallet away.”
Jake frowned. “I’ll get the next one.”
Shea pointed again. “What you better get is that table, ’fore someone else steals it out from under you.” He watched as Jake wove his way through the crowd and sat at the small wooden table for two by the wall, then pivoted, anxiously scanning the bar. He breathed a sigh of relief to see Dusty serving and not Toby.
“Dusty, gimme a double Jameson on the rocks and a bottle of Shiner Bock.”
The man pulled down the Jameson with one hand while scooping up ice in a tumbler glass with the other.
“Double-fistin’ it even after last night? Damn, man. I didn’t think you drank this stuff.”
“I usually don’t. It’s for the guy I came with.”
Dusty hit him with a sharp side-eye but said nothing until he placed the drinks on the bar. “Y’all aimin’ for a catfight?”
Shea cocked a brow as he fished his wallet out of his jeans. “What’re you talkin’ ’bout?”
“You bringin’ a date here when you know Toby’s still pinin’ after you. Ain’t nice, Shea.”
The last thing he needed was to be scolded. “Look. I know you’re mad at me ’cause you think I led him on, and I get that; you’re his brother. But it wasn’t my fault. I told him from the beginning it was never gonna be nothin’ more than friends with benefits. If he felt