Page 1 of Raised On It (Between the Pines #1)

Miles

T he Verdict.

There’s something about this place. Always has been.

Maybe it’s the glow of the neon light reflecting off the hardwoods of the beer-stained dance floor. It could be the ice-cold drinks or the artery-clogging fried foods, but I’m pretty sure it’s the people.

Eastlyn, Oregon, and the people who live here are what connects me to the real world. What keeps me grounded.

Any time my head starts to hit the clouds, somebody in this town is sure to pull me back down to earth until my feet touch the soil again.

That being said, one particular Eastlyn resident is starting to get on my last nerve.

“Scheana, you’ve checked your lipstick ten times already. What in the world has gotten into you? ”

“Be nice, Miles.”

“I am being nice. You’re a beautiful girl; you don’t need any of that crap. You never have. So why are you so decked out for a night of karaoke at The V with me of all people?”

Charlie Myers is blasting us with his rendition of “The Thunder Rolls,” just like he does every Saturday night, while Scheana and I wait our turn.

There isn’t much to do here in Eastlyn, but you’ll always find someone you know to share a beer with here at The Verdict.

Also known as The V, this bar is somewhat the epicenter of Eastlyn.

Where you go after a wedding shuts down and you want to keep the party going.

Where you go for an ice-cold beer and the best cheeseburger in Eastern Oregon.

It’s where you go to dance your blues away, sing your heart out, and meet up with old friends when they ask out of the blue.

Scheana’s mom and my mom were best friends.

We grew up together, just a year apart in school, and spent years listening to our parents sing along to classic country music.

This is why when we karaoke, our duets always start with “Islands in The Stream , ” in honor of our moms and end with the hip-hop classic “Dilemma,” in honor of the great Nelly and Kelly Rowland.

Sure, Scheana and I hooked up one time right after high school, but this isn’t shocking, considering my reputation.

Except for the girls in “The Crew,” there aren’t really many women in Eastlyn my age who I haven’t hooked up with.

What can I say? I am who I am.

Regardless, Scheana and I are nothing more than friends, and our inevitable one-time indiscretion was years ago and never affected our status as longtime family friends.

Tonight, she’s distracted, and the fact that her distraction centers around her looks has me concerned.

Scheana has never been insecure about the way she looks because, frankly, she has never needed to worry.

She’s adorable, but seeing her long black hair curled within an inch of its life, her face painted like she's about to go on a stripper stage instead of the karaoke stage, and her anxiety about how she looks in all of this war paint are giving me reasons to worry something is off with her.

I’m just about to lean over to ask her what’s up when she entwines her fingers with mine on one hand while her other hand leisurely starts caressing my leg.

Whoa!

“Uh, Scheana, whatcha doin?’”

“What?” she asks even more distracted than before. Her face is pointed in my direction but her eyes, her eyes are certainly not looking at me.

I stop her shaking hand on my lap when I place mine on top of hers. “Sweetie, you know I love you like family, but since when do we hold hands?”

Before she gets a chance to reply, I follow her gaze to see what has her acting so crazy, and the entire evening is explained in an instant. Standing at the bar with a collection of his fellow roughnecks is her ex Adam.

Sitting back in my seat, I give her that look a parent gives you when they’ve figured out a scheme you’re trying to pull over on them.

“Scheana, did you know Adam was going to be here tonight?” I sound like her dad, but I can’t help myself.

She bows her head in humiliation.

Lifting her chin with my index finger, I lift her sad eyes to mine, and her pain and desperation cut through me.

“I thought you guys ended things months ago?”

“We did.”

“And if I remember correctly, he broke your heart?”

“He did, but…”

“No buts. He told you he wasn’t ready to commit, so why would you want him back?”

“I know I seem pathetic, but we were together for five years, Miles. Five years! I ran into his sister the other day, and she said that he ended things after he lost his job because he didn’t feel he was good enough for me.

It turns out, it wasn’t that he couldn’t commit to me, but he just wanted me to have more.

Well, I don’t want more, Miles. I just want him. ”

Oh, you sweet girl. Suze better not be messing with you.

“So if you want him back, why do you want him to see you with your hands all over me?”

Again, she doesn’t need to say a word, her eyes say it all.

“Let me guess…if he sees you with a man-whore like me, his protective instincts will kick in, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get you away from me before I get you in my bed?”

The blush from her embarrassment is deepening with every word that comes out of my mouth.

“Why, you little vixen, I do believe you’re using me for my unsavory reputation with the ladies.” I bring my hand to my chest and feign my disbelief.

“Oh, my gosh. I am so sorry, Miles…” Her eyes glisten, and she gets up and rushes to the bathroom.

Shit. I didn’t mean to make her cry. I was just giving her a hard time.

Adam’s a good dude. He may go from one roughneck job to the next, but he’s not an asshole.

I can’t say the same for some of his friends, but Adam is a decent guy.

And he’s noticed us. He watched her rush to the bathroom, and he’s trying his best not to storm over here and tell me to keep my hands to myself.

It’s pretty clear he’s still crazy about her.

It must be real because I’ve never seen a man watch a woman walk away like he was watching her.

You can see the longing as well as the misery on his face from across the bar.

Damn, the asshole really does still love her.

Well, if she wants to put on a show, then we’ll put on a show.

Mission: Get Her Man Back is in full effect.

“Miles, will you take me home please? I’m sorry I thought this was a good idea,” Scheana says once she’s gathered herself and returned from the ladies’ room with a fresh coat of paint on her lips.

“Oh, sweetheart, we ain’t goin’ anywhere. He can’t take his eyes off you, and we’re gonna show him just what he’s missing.”

Swinging her out in front of me and then twirling her back into my arms, I two-step my way with her to the dance floor, and we proceed to dance our asses off for the next thirty minutes.

We pass on “Islands in the Stream” this go round and sing “My Boo” instead when our names are called for karaoke.

This seems to be the last straw because I can see Adam’s jaw clenching from the stage.

When the song ends, I excuse myself and pretend I have to use the facilities, but what I’m really doing is giving him an opening. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll take it, and if she knows what she’s doing, she'll leave with me and let him stew for the night.

After wasting what I hope is sufficient time in the john, I make my way back to the dance floor only to find the two of them slow dancing.

That’s what I’m talking about.

I know at the moment she’s going to want to kill me, but I also know what I’m doing, and it’s the right thing to do if she really wants to get him back.

Tapping on Adam’s shoulder, I clear my throat. “Excuse me, but I think I’d like to cut in and dance with my date if you don’t mind?”

Her eyes are pleading with me not to interrupt their moment while his warn me that if I’m not careful, he may just try to kick my ass.

He can try, but it will never happen.

“Sorry, Adam, but I’m a firm believer in that whole dance with the one you brought. So if you don’t mind, I’ll finish this song up with the one you let get away.” I wink in Scheana’s direction, and she catches on .

She takes a step away from him, and he turns around dejected. He heads back to the bar, leaving me to fill the space he’s left behind.

“I know you probably want to kill me right now, but trust me on this one, okay?”

She nods.

“What did he say?”

“That he missed me.”

Kissing her on the forehead, I whisper. “Good. He’ll be yours again by morning.”

“You think so?”

“Yep, we’re gonna finish this song, and then we’re gonna walk out of here together. You’ll have a text waiting for you when you wake up.”

We’re making our last trip around the hardwoods when the bar door opens, and the music, neon lights, and all of the people filling the space around me fade away.

She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

She’s not from Eastlyn, this I know for certain.

If she were from Eastlyn, she’d be mine.

I know this body and soul.

Yes, she’s tall, blond, and beautiful, but there is something more filling the atmosphere. I have no idea what it is exactly, but for some reason, I feel like the trajectory of my life has just completely changed.

“Miles, the song is over. Let’s go.”

No, no, no, no! Not now!

“Right, time to go.”

Shit. Here’s hoping I can take Scheana home and get back here before my mystery woman is gone.

Scheana puts her hand in mine, and we walk across the dance floor for the entire bar to see. Making sure everyone sees us leaving together.

Shit! Why now? !

My mystery woman takes a seat at the bar, and when she does, she takes a look around, clearly feeling like a fish out of water and trying to get the lay of the land.

As her eyes peruse her surroundings, our eyes connect for the briefest of moments.

Her cheeks turn pink, and even with the distance between us, I see something flash in her eyes, but when she looks down at my hand holding Scheana’s, she immediately looks away.

We leave the bar and jump in my blue Dodge parked across the street, and I can’t start the diesel engine fast enough.

“Do you really think this is going to work? He looked pretty pissed.”

Knowing how insane I feel over possibly not meeting the stranger who just walked into my hometown bar, I can’t even imagine how tortured Adam has been for the last hour.

“It’ll all work out, Scheana. He’ll see the light.”

“God, I hope you’re right. Why do I get the feeling this is going to backfire?”

“Nah, I know men, and you’re it for him.”

She falls silent, and in two minutes, we’re parked in front of her place.

Always the gentleman, I get out and run around to open the door for her.

I may be a man-whore, but it doesn’t mean I wasn’t raised right.

She hops out of the truck, but I swear she takes the steps to her front door in slow motion.

Either that, or I’m ridiculously anxious to get my ass back to the bar.

Once she’s finally up the five—yes, I counted them in my desperation—stairs that lead to her front porch, I’m ready to watch her walk through the front door and listen to her lock it behind her so I can bail, but by the way she’s bouncing on the balls of her feet and looking at me like Puss in Boots with those big eyes of hers, she has something to say.

“Miles, thanks for tonight. I really appreciate it.”

Taking the keys out of her hands, I unlock her front door, hoping she’ll get the hint. “No problem, darlin’. Keep me posted, okay?”

Not budging, she speaks again. “I will.”

“Okay, well you sleep well and lock up. I want to hear that deadbolt.” I kiss her on the cheek and back up until I’m on the top step.

“Miles, did you get an invite to Brittany and Jason’s wedding?”

“I sure did.”

“Do you have a date yet?”

Shit.

“Uh, hadn’t even thought about it yet. I just opened the invite a couple of days ago.”

“Wanna go together? I just can’t imagine going alone if Adam’s there too. It won’t be a date or anything.”

“Sweetie, you two will be back together by then, and you won’t need a plus one, but if for some reason that isn’t the case, then of course I’ll take you. Now go get some sleep and stop worrying about everything.”

Finally stepping across the threshold, she says over her shoulder, “Thank you so much, for everything.” Then ever so slowly, she smiles and waves and thank Christ finally shuts and locks the deadbolt.

I’m down her front steps in a flash and flipping a bitch in the middle of her street to get my truck headed back in the direction of the magnetic woman I’m pretty sure just changed everything.

My truck feels like she’s driving through mud, and the two-minute drive feels like it’s taking forever.

A voice from within that I’ve only heard on a couple of different occasions is shouting at me to get back to the damn bar, and when I finally push open the bar door and find her laughing at what must have been one of Beau’s legendary bad jokes, my heart starts working overtime.

I swear I can feel the blood thumping through all four chambers of my heart at once.

Goddammit, she finally found me.