“I didn’t realize I was so out of shape.” Jewel smiled ruefully.
“There’s a lot of running around,” Carrie Ann agreed. “But with the way they were tipping, I think it’ll have been worth the pain.”
“Amen to that.” Jolene patted her pockets. “Maybe I can make my house payment after all.”
The others laughed.
“Your man is still waiting out there for you.” Big Al finished drying the last of the beer mugs and slung his towel over his shoulder.
Her man? Jewel felt her face heat.
“Poor Colton.” Jolene nudged Carrie Ann. “He probably only had three beers all night.”
“Is he driving you home?” Sarah asked.
“Yes.”
“Ketchups all refilled,” Big Al announced. “Salt and pepper shakers?”
“Done.” Carrie Ann grinned. “I’m thinking we might get out of here fairly early tonight.”
“Early?” Jewel glanced at the clock. She had to stifle a yawn. More than an hour had passed since closing time. “Three-thirty in the morning?”
“Seems mighty early to me.” Still grinning, Big Al pushed through the swinging doors. “Come on, y’all. Let’s get out of here so I can lock up.”
The scent of smoke still overpowering her nostrils, Jewel followed him, her gaze immediately going to the back table, looking for Colton.
The table was empty.
Stunned, she turned a slow circle. No one but the employees occupied the bar.
“Looking for me?”
She felt a rush of warmth at the sound of his voice behind her. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t heard his approach, or detected his scent. But then her ears were still throbbing from the sound of the band’s amplifiers and all she could smell was smoke.
Instead of answering, she flashed him a grateful smile.
“Are you ready?” At her nod, he took her arm and led her to the truck. She held herself stiffly, a hundred questions swirling in her mind. Only when he’d started the engine and pulled out into the road did she open her mouth.
“Who was that man?” she asked, trying for nonchalance and aware she failed mightily. “The guy you were sitting with at table fifty-three?”
“Fifty-three, huh?” Colton smiled. “That was an old buddy of mine. We used to work together down in Houston. He’s trying to get me to go back to my old job.”
She let her shoulders sag with relief. “He looks like he could be one of Leo’s associates.”
“Roy? Don’t worry about him—he’s harmless.” Giving her shoulder a brief squeeze, Colton turned up the radio. The strains of a soft country ballad filled the cab.
On the drive home, she must have dozed. The next thing she knew, Colton was shaking her shoulder, his breath warm on her cheek.
“Wake up.”
Blinking, she sat up and dragged her fingers through her hair. “Are we there already?”
“Yep.” Climbing out, he crossed to her side and opened her door. As she slid down, he steadied her, and she fought the unreasonable urge to slide into his arms, belly to belly, chest to chest.
His swift intake of breath told her he somehow knew.
“Good night,” she told him, shaking off his touch and staggering toward the house. When she reached her room, she peeled off her smoke-scented clothing and fell into bed, grateful for the feel of the clean sheets.
