Page 12 of Healing Her Cowboys (Silver Creek Ranch #6)

Chapter Twelve

“ W hy don’t we go to Rocky’s?” Brik said after his exercise session with Reese. As much as he tried to turn it into another fun session, she held her ground and made him work out.

He grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and handed one to her.

“Who’s Rocky?” she asked, taking the bottle.

“Rocky’s,” Atlas said before grabbing his own water and joining them at the kitchen table. “It’s a bar we go to. Not too crowded, since it’s mostly locals.”

“A local bar.” Reese twisted her water bottle on the tabletop as she thought about what they’d said. “Wait. Are you asking me out on a date?”

“Isn’t that what couples do these days?” Brik asked.

“Sure, but there’s three of us,” she said. “Wouldn’t a date be awkward?”

Brik could see the nervousness building up in her. It was different when it was just them on the ranch, but he needed her to know he wasn’t ashamed to take her out.

“You’re with us now, Reese,” Brik said. “I don’t care who sees us.”

“Agreed,” Atlas said. “Besides, the people at Rocky’s know us. They wouldn’t dare make you uncomfortable.”

Brik nodded. “If they do, we’ll kick their asses out of there.”

Reese broke into laughter. “Please don’t kick anyone’s ass for me. The last thing I want is to start a fight. I’ll go if you promise to stay out of trouble.”

Brik wanted to say no promises were guaranteed if anyone messed with her, but he wanted her calm and happy so she could enjoy a good night out with them.

“Fine. I’ll behave if they do.”

She must have known that was the best she was going to get out of him, because she agreed without further protest.

When she came down in a red dress that hugged her curves and showed legs for days, Brik was tempted to drag her back upstairs. It showed a hint of her chest, but he knew the full mounds that hid underneath. She was going to make that night hard on them by wearing that dress.

Her black boots and matching sweater completed the look, but even a blind man could tell she was gorgeous with or without the dress.

The clouds stirred and seemed to darken as they drove to the bar. It looked like a storm was fast approaching, but Brik didn’t let is dampen his good mood. If it rained a bit, so be it if Reese was with them.

Rocky’s was lively, which was common for a Friday night.

Still, it wasn’t full enough to make him and Atlas uneasy, which they both appreciated, since they hated enormous crowds in small spaces.

It was just one effect of coming back home.

They were always on guard over their surroundings and aware of all exits in the building.

Just because they were out of the military didn’t mean being a soldier ever left them.

Country music from the live band floated in the air and mingled with the hum of laughter. People filled in the tables and booths, while others took their fun to the dance floor.

They kept Reese close to them, making sure they were the only two people she touched.

“Wow! This place seems like a good time,” Reese said.

“I think we all deserve to have some fun tonight,” Atlas said. He pointed over to the bar. “First round is on me.”

“Good. I get her first,” Brik said.

“Get me first?” she asked.

“I get your first dance.” Brik chuckled and pulled her over to the dance floor.

“Okay, but you know I’m not great at dancing with others.”

“As long as you’re next to me, I don’t care how you dance.”

Reese grinned and let him lead her onto the dance floor. When the music started, he moved her around to the beat that had them gliding around the room. They swayed and twirled to the upbeat music until her laughter mixed with his as they kept pace with the rhythm.

Brik wanted her to not worry about steps and just enjoy her time with him on the dance floor.

Atlas ordered a round of drinks and sat them down on a table close to where they were dancing. After the song ended, they joined him and clinked glasses before downing their beers. The hard work of ranch life seemed to fade away under the warm glow of the bar’s lights and soothing country tunes.

This was the place they always came to wind down after a hard day’s work. Now, they got to share it with Reese. Letting into more of their world felt damn good.

“My turn for a dance,” Atlas said before pulling her up to her feet.

Reese looked over at Brik, who nodded his acceptance before they moved to the dance floor.

Seeing them together didn’t flare up any jealousy this time.

Instead, he was glad to trust Atlas to watch over her when he wasn’t.

He watched Atlas pull her in for a slow dance as they moved in time with the change in music.

She leaned into him, letting her body relax.

When the song finally ended, they headed back, only to be stopped by a man who stumbled up to them. His eyes glazed over from having one too many drinks.

He looked Reese up and down with a leering smile that had Brik up on his feet in an instant. He could barely make out what the man said.

“Want to dance with a third partner, little lady?”

“I’m good,” Reese said back.

“You gonna dance with those two pretty boys, but want to leave me hanging?”

“She’s not interested,” Atlas said.

Brik was almost to them when the man grabbed Reese. Before he could clock him, Atlas knocked him to the ground with one quick punch to the face.

“Damn,” Brik said. “Wasn’t that supposed to be my play?”

“No one touches her,” Atlas said. “No one.”

Unlike him, Atlas held a scary calm to it. If you weren’t careful, you’d miss it.

It was rare to see Atlas angry, but Brik understood. No one was allowed any hands on her unless they had plans to lose that hand. It was one reason he was still going to talk with Tony when he got the chance. Their help needed to know Reese was off limits, even if it was a joke.

“No one’s going to mess with you as long as we’re around,” Brik told her.

She laughed hard.

Brik shared a look with Atlas, who only shook his head in confusion.

“What’s so funny, baby?” Brik asked.

“I thought you were supposed to be the hothead,” she said. “I didn’t know I had to keep my eyes on both of you.”

Brik smiled at that. “Now you know. With you, neither of us can be trusted.”

They joined in the laughter with her, letting it lighten the surrounding mood.

Brik’s phone vibrated before he could take another swig of his beer. He showed the caller’s name to Atlas. It was their friend David, who didn’t live too far from the bar.

He listened with one hand over his free ear to block out the noise. “David said the storm is coming in faster than he thought,” Brik said after hanging up. “They’re not ready for it and need a few extra men to secure their livestock.”

“I’ll come with you,” Atlas said.

“No, get Reese back home safe. I got this. You should head back to make sure everything is secure there for the worst of it. David is giving me a ride over.”

“Will you be safe?” Reese asked, concern etching the corners of her eyes.

“Of course, beautiful. I need to get back home to you, don’t I?” He pulled her in close and gave her a kiss that he hoped reassured her.

The feeling of her only made him more determined to help and get back to the ranch as soon as possible. No storm in the world could keep him away from her.

She could bet on that.