Page 45 of Ride Me Cowboy

“You know, she warned me off you,” I say, then regret it, like I’ve broken a confidence.

But his eyes zing to mine and my stomach swirls. “Serious?” His lips quirk in a grin. “She thinks she has to look out for me.”

“Does she have to look out for you?”

“Do I look like I need looking out for?”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

He huffs out a sigh. “I think I can handle you, Beth.”

I sip my drink, then realize it’s empty.

“Allow me,” he says, standing, but I shake my head.

“It’s okay, it’s my turn.”

“Nah, that doesn’t seem right.”

“Cole, please. I can buy a round of drinks.”

He seems ambivalent but I leave the table before he can say another word. It’s only when I reach the bar, I realize I haven’t asked what he wants. For that matter, I haven’t paid attention to what anyone else is drinking.

“Hey,” I say, when the bartender approaches. “I don’t suppose you know what that table over there had?”

He looks over his shoulder and grins. “Sure do. Another round?”

“Yeah, thanks,” I say. As he sets about opening bottles and pouring drinks, I glance down at the bar. It’s glass topped andbeneath the glass there are dozens of photographs, some faded, some newer looking. One shows a little boy sitting on top of the bar, and I can tell it’s this guy who’s serving me drinks.

The photo beside it makes me pause. “Who’s this?” I ask, tapping the picture, because it’s so familiar to me.

“That there’s Cole Donovan. Junior’s dad.”

“Junior?” I almost choke.

The bartender grins. “Don’t let him hear you call him that, though. No one’s been game since he was about six.”

“Good to know.”

“You’re working out there?”

I nod. “Just temporarily. I’m taking over for Reagan.”

“She had another kid, that’s right.”

He rings up the drinks and I tap my credit card to pay for them.

“You good with those?” he asks, eyeing the tray full of drinks skeptically.

“I’ve got it,” I say. But before I can so much as lift the tray, Beau’s there, taking it with a wink and a ‘thanks, ma’am’.

“Watch that one,” the bartender warns me of Beau.

“Oh, I will, don’t worry.”

Cole

It’s late and the crowd’s thinned out. Usually, I’d have left by now, too—I’ve gotta be up early tomorrow, to check the herd,before we move them. The rest of the guys have headed back to Coyote Creek, but for some reason, Beth and I are still here, sharing a bowl of nachos, watching the last of the dancers shuffle around the floor. Across the room, the mic is deserted, after a vigorous work out during karaoke.