Page 13 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Duke

‘I’d rather chew through a jean jacket,’ I deadpan at Montana as I pour the cocktail I’d just been whipping up into four tall glasses with precision.

‘Oh, Duke, come on,’ she whines, stamping her foot. ‘The bar could use a bit of a shake up, get some new customers in here for once.’

My eyes roll by their own accord. I like the customers we already have, and they like the way I run the bar. Why change things when everyone’s happy?

‘I still don’t think speed dating is the solution.

’ I reach for the cherries in a nearby tub and hang a couple over the rim of each glass, adding the finishing touch to my signature cherry-flavoured porn star martini.

‘Everyone knows everyone in Willow Ridge already. An extra two minutes talking to the quarterback from high school ain’t gonna magically make them more interesting. ’

With a saccharine smile I place the cocktails on the tray in front of Montana and nod towards the table of four middle-aged women getting shockingly drunk for a Wednesday afternoon.

Happy hour doesn’t even start for another few hours.

So far, they’ve toasted to the signing of a divorce, to sexual freedom, and to all of them finding boy-toys , the latter resulting in the lady dressed in nothing but leopard print winking at me as she gulped down her third cocktail.

I might have offered a shy smile had she not been the mom of one of my football teammates in high school. Instead, I had to suppress a shiver.

But this just proves my point – we have plenty of interesting customers already.

‘Ugh,’ Montana huffs, rolling her eyes, before spinning around and stomping off. She mutters to herself, ‘Sue me for trying to bring some excitement into our boring small town.’

My eyes suddenly catch on Cherry, who’s cleaning one of the tables nearby and struggling to bite down on her grin, clearly having listened in on the whole conversation.

I narrow my eyes at her when she glances up, her cheeks reddening.

Not as dark as her lipstick though, the same deep purply-red as the cocktails Montana just carried away.

Making sure my gaze doesn’t linger too long, I quickly turn to grab another bottle of beer for Billy, a sixty-something who always comes in after babysitting his grandkids on Wednesday mornings.

Usually, he’s chewing my ear off, telling me every little thing the troublesome twins do, but today, he seems far too interested in the divorce party across the room.

He doesn’t so much as give me a thanks as I slide his bottle across the bar to him.

Part of me is glad he’s found something else to be excited about, but I do kind of miss getting to hear his story. Listening to the locals is one of my favourite things about this job. It’s how people know me – I’m the one they can always come to, that they can always count on to be around.

I’m not sure if I could ever give that up.

That’s why I should turn down that offer that’s been on my mind. The one I still need to reply to, but for some reason, can’t quite seem to say no to yet. Or yes.

It’s not long before Montana is marching back, determination hardening her features, and she hooks her arm around Cherry, dragging her over to the bar too.

They exchange whispers as they approach.

Taking a step back and leaning against the counter behind me, I cross my arms, awaiting the next round of arguments.

‘Cherry also happens to think we should do the speed dating,’ Montana explains, nudging Cherry with her hip.

I just wave my hand in a rolling motion to say, go on then.

‘It is on my bucket list,’ Cherry admits, nibbling her thumbnail.

Something shiny paints a glittery slice across the tops of her cheekbones – a new kind of makeup she’s started wearing, I think.

The neon signs and twinkling fairy lights keep reflecting off her cheekbones, making my fingers itch to grab a napkin and pen so I can draw her, emphasising the raised glow and delicate, shadowed hollow of her cheeks.

‘Wait a second.’ Montana leans an elbow against the bar. ‘ Duke knows about the bucket list?’

‘Um—’ I start to explain.

‘He’s, uh, supposed to be helping me with it too,’ Cherry confesses, tucking her hair behind her ears as she avoids my gaze.

Supposed to? I thought I’d already started with the roller-skating.

Though, it’s not like I didn’t notice the way her face dropped when she discovered I’d cowardly invited the rest of our crew along, instead of being left alone with her beyond the realms of the bar.

Man am I glad I had the others there as some sort of buffer though, especially when Cherry went flying into me and I had no option but to press my thigh between hers to keep us both from toppling to the ground after spinning her around.

Feeling her roll her hips against me when we were so close, hot breath mingling in the little space between us, had me forgetting for a second that we weren’t alone.

And then scolding myself for even thinking about these things. I’m sure it’s just a symptom of loneliness, but still. My manhood got the brunt of the fall that happened seconds later, but I probably deserved it.

Even so, I don’t like knowing I might have disappointed her.

‘Well, why didn’t you say so?’ Montana smiles, shaking her head at Cherry. But then her eyes suddenly flash bright and wide. ‘Woah, does that mean he’s helping you with—’

‘The first half!’ Cherry shrieks, cutting her off as that rosy blush spreads further down her neck and chest. She explains again, nodding at me for further confirmation, ‘ Only the first half.’

Wanting to reiterate such for everyone, especially Cherry, I repeat, ‘Right, only the first half.’

Montana holds up her hands, eyes flicking between the two of us with one brow slightly perked. ‘Okay, well, in that case, Duke, you have to agree to the speed dating.’

‘Not sure I do.’

‘But it’s on Cherry’s bucket list.’ Montana presses, then throws her arm around Cherry’s shoulders. She pats Cherry on the cheek, making her giggle, the sound sending a zap of dopamine to my heart. ‘Don’t you want her to be happy?’

You have no fucking idea.

But speed-dating? Literally hosting an event for the girl I’ve been trying to protect for her older brother to go on multiple dates with multiple guys in one night? That’s not what I had in mind.

‘Sure,’ I grit out, locking eyes with Cherry, who watches me coyly.

‘Yay!’ Montana claps.

‘Wait.’ I hold up a hand. ‘That wasn’t me agreeing—’

‘Then it’s settled. I’ll start making some flyers in my break – shall we do next Thursday? Oh! This is gonna be so much fun.’ Montana completely ignores me, having decided that despite being her boss, my opinion on the matter is irrelevant.

Just as Montana throws both her arms around Cherry to continue the unnecessary excitement, the bar door swings open and Sawyer struts in, head to toe in denim, along with a white T-shirt, brown boots, a faded cowboy hat that I swear he’s had since high school, and the new moustache he’s sporting.

His face immediately brightens when he sees us hanging at the bar, brown eyes becoming even more animated as he passes the middle-aged divorcees who greet him with flirtatious waves too. He tips his hat towards them, making them all giggle like they’re forty years younger when he says, ‘Ladies.’

For a second I think he might head over to their table first, knowing that his internal compass usually directs him to wherever he think he’ll get the most attention, but he must decide the three of us are enough for now. Probably because Montana is here, and he’s always trying his luck with her.

Sawyer slaps a hand on the bar as he almost stumbles towards it. ‘Whoops. What are we celebrating?’

‘Were you limping?’ Cherry asks, raising a brow. I hadn’t noticed, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s still busted up after that bull got him at the rodeo.

‘Nice to see you too, little one.’ Sawyer brushes off the question and gives Cherry a condescending pat on the head. She shoves him off, rolling her eyes, which makes the corners of my mouth twitch.

Sawyer turns to me. ‘Alright, man?’

‘All good. You staying long? Want a drink?’

Sawyer eyes the liquor bottles on the shelf behind me, mulling over his decision.

Since his father was an alcoholic and he’s eager to avoid going down the same road, we have a secret three drink rule – if he orders anything after his third drink, I’ll make sure it’s non-alcoholic, while everyone else is oblivious.

Though, something tells me anything alcoholic might be off the table since the news his father is in hospital.

‘Nah, better not. I’m off on the road soon. Just thought I’d pop in to say hello to my favourite bartender. Got a competition in Kansas this weekend.’ He twists to face the girls, pumping his brows up when he shoots a grin at Montana. ‘Now, what was all the fuss about?’

‘We’re organising a speed dating night,’ Montana enlightens.

Sawyer barks out a laugh. ‘You’re joking?’

‘Apparently not.’ I shrug, giving him a hopeless smile.

‘No joke.’ Montana hooks her arm through Cherry’s again. ‘We’re gonna find Cherry a hunky man to take care of her.’ She then ducks her head to whisper into Cherry’s ear, though I catch every word, ‘ And to help you finish the second half of your bucket list.’

The words land sharp, unexpected blows to my stomach.

I quickly grab one of the limes nearby and a knife to start cutting it up, giving my hands something else to do besides curling into fists at the thought, while I try to keep my mind focused on the lyrics of the Kashus Culpepper song playing in the background.

Because, fuck , I hadn’t really considered that just because I said I wouldn’t help Cherry with all those sexual items on the list, doesn’t mean she isn’t going to find someone else to.