Page 22 of Back in the Saddle

A smile formed on his lips at a mere thought of her and their meeting earlier at the cancer centre. The almost-kiss in the elevator. The way his body reacted to her in some kind of sweet oblivion. Maybe it was because he hadn’t been with anyone for months now. Despite what Buck believed, he had left the rodeos and buckle bunny days behind. Thinking about it now, it must’ve been what, five months? Six?

He furrowed his brow. Definitely longer than he had thought.

He didn’t have a habit of sharing details of his ‘dates’ with Mitch. As sincere as he was in speaking about his father and everything else, this was a more private part of his life. Something he didn’t like discussing.

Not in the last five years.

Hunter shook his head, pushing the thoughts away before they had a chance to take root and ruin the rest of his evening. There was no point in mentioning Caroline, not yet. Not to Mitch, not to anyone else. He knew that his family – and Mitch – would make a big deal out of nothing.

Maybe there would be no reason to mention her at all. Though, damn him, he hoped she would text him.

He was already wary of the influence she had over him, based on just two brief meetings. He thought about her beautiful green eyes, her lips, her soft dark blonde hair. Even the two scars on her face, one on her cheek and another on her temple. He wanted to know where they came from. He wanted to know what made her laugh, what made her sad.

He wanted to know her.

Pulling his mind back to the hazy club and Mitch’s suggestion on changing venue, Hunter waved his hand dismissively. ‘Let’s just stay here. Next round of drinks on me. You can get yourself a club soda or coke if you don’t want to drink.’

‘Sounds good. I might get a single beer. I don’t have to be at the ranch until ten.’

Hunter smiled genially and stood, walking off towards the bar. He weaved through the sweaty bodies on the dance floor, coughing once or twice as overwhelming floral scents assaulted his nostrils. Someone had gone a bit overboard with the perfume.

He reached the bar, flagging the bartender and ordering two beers. As he watched the glasses being filled, he felt a small hand on his bicep.

‘I could use another drink, too,’ a sweet female voice said.

Hunter turned and looked at the woman who had squeezed his arm.

She was attractive, with luscious black waves and light eyes. The shimmering gold dress hugged her figure, the plunging V neckline leaving little to the imagination. Her red-painted lips turned in a seductive smile. ‘You could buy me one.’

Hunter smiled back but shook his head. ‘The only person I’m buying drinks for tonight is my friend.’

The woman tilted her head, still eyeing Hunter. ‘A friend or afriend?’

Hunter paid for the drinks and grabbed both glasses. ‘Friend. One I’m getting back to. Excuse me.’

She pouted but moved, letting him pass. ‘Enjoy your night.’

Hunter tipped his head in response before navigating the mess of a dance floor back to the booth.

Mitch was typing on his phone when Hunter reached the table. He sat back down, sliding one of the beers towards Mitch.

‘Thanks man.’ He nodded, his eyes glued to his phone’s screen.

Hunter grinned. There was only one person who could elicit the stupidly happy and goofy expression on Mitch’s face.

‘What’s Eve up to tonight?’

Mitch looked up with a smile. ‘She’s in Galveston. There are three more shows before the tour wraps up.’

‘I bet you can’t wait.’

‘Yeah. It’s been four months. I know I saw her in Stillwater last week, but it isn’t the same, you know?’ Mitch put his phone back in his back pocket. ‘The band is there and all these other people. She’s busy and I feel guilty pulling her focus away from work.’

‘How long will she be home for?’

Mitch shrugged, reaching for his beer. ‘No idea. Think they want to record a new album.’

Eve was a tour manager for an up-and-coming country music star, Lionel Webster. Grandson of country music legend, Ritchie Webster. Mitch had met her two years ago when she’d brought in an injured deer to his practice. They got together soon after that. It had been nice, seeing Mitch happy and in love, even though at times it drummed up a hint of jealousy in Hunter.