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Ty chuckled. “And I was also right that you’re attracted to her, wasn’t I?”

Tanner blew out a sigh. “Yeah, okay! I admit it. There’s just something about her. I was trying to figure out what it is.”

Laney grinned at him. “Well, if you’re serious, I can tell you exactly what it is.”

“Go ahead then, oh wise one.”

Laney laughed. “You’re always attracted to good looking women, and she is definitely that. In fact, if she were wearing the same outfit asher…” She inclined her head toward the blonde who Tanner had been chatting with earlier “… and had her hair and makeup done the same, I bet she’d look even more stunning. But your friend there, is just … She’s just … real. I mean, she could be one of us.”

Tanner looked over at her again. She looked a little self-conscious when she turned in their direction, obviously having noticed that they were all staring at her. He raised his hand and waggled his fingers in a little wave as he gave her a rueful smile.

Laney batted his hand down. “Don’t do that shit!”

“What?”

“You know exactly what,” said Luke with a grin. “You always do that cute little wave thing, and women eat it up.”

Tanner stared down at his hand, as if it were guilty of committing crimes he wasn’t even aware of. “I didn’t … I wasn’t …”

Ty laughed. “That’s the trouble, bro. You’ve done it so often for so long, that it just comes automatically to you now.”

“I guess. It doesn’t matter anyway; I need to keep moving.” He’d fixed their drinks and served them, Kolby and Callie, Janey and Rocket, and Ty’s girl, Shay, while they’d been talking. The bar was starting to get busy, and he needed to hustle.

~ ~ ~

Everly forced herself to drag her gaze away from the sexy bartender and his friends. She wasn’t thrilled that they were obviously talking about her, but it was no big deal. She looked down at her phone again – she was more concerned about being stood up. Sure, she’d held out some hope but the little bit that she’d had was quickly fading away. That heavy feeling in her stomach now felt like a ball of lead. She should be used to it – she was used to it; it had been this way for as long as she could remember.

Her heart started to pound when her phone buzzed in her hand, but it sank again when she saw that it was just an email notification. She set the phone down and took a slug of her wine. She’d been making herself sip it to make it last, but if she faced reality and admitted to herself that he wasn’t going to show, she could finish it off and leave.

She looked to her left when a cowboy climbed onto the empty stool beside her and greeted her with a smile.

“Are you ready for another?” he asked, nodding toward her glass.

“No, thanks. I’m good.” She reached for her phone again. She might as well read the email, and hopefully give this guy the hint.

She was aware of the bartender coming to serve him, but she didn’t allow herself to look up.

“What can I get you?”

“The usual, thanks, Tan. And another glass of wine for my friend here.”

Everly pursed her lips. Apparently, he wasn’t taking the hint. She looked up when the bartender said, “She’s not your friend.”

“What makes you think that?” the other guy asked.

The bartender winked at her, and Everly couldn’t hide a smile when he said, “Because she’s switching to soda after that glass of wine – and I know that because she’smyfriend.”

“Shit, sorry, Tanner. I didn’t realize … I didn’t …” The guy looked at Everly again.

She shrugged. It wasn’t difficult to guess why he looked so surprised. She didn’t even know the bartender – Tanner, apparently – but even she wouldn’t expect him to step in and claim her as his friend – if she looked like the blonde who’d been watching him closely ever since Everly came in then she’d understand it, but…

“No problem.” Tanner set a bottle of beer on the bar, and the other guy paid him, saying “Keep the change,” before sliding down from the stool and disappearing into the crowd.

Tanner braced his hands on the bar and leaned toward her. “You doing okay?”

She shook her head with a smile. “I am. Thanks. I could have handled him.”

“I don’t doubt it, but you shouldn’t have to. Besides, we wouldn’t want your date to arrive and find some guy hitting on you, would we? What time’s he coming?”