Alex was about as subtle as a freight train. “Why don’t you just come out and ask me how things are going with Ali?”
“I would, but I saw her this afternoon and got the scoop. She thinks you’re messing with her.”
I frowned, my forehead drawing together. “Messing with her? What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
“She thinks you’re just interested in her because she’s here, she’s part of your past, and you’re being nostalgic. Or some shit like that.” He slowed as we approached a huge building with bright neon letters on the side. “I know the truth, though. She’s scared. She doesn’t remember how to trust, and she’s afraid you’ll hurt her again.”
“I’llhurther?” A pinprick of guilt pierced my chest. “The fuck? Who’s the one who changed the plan at the last fucking minute? Who’s the one who decided I wasn’t important enough to leave her precious farm?”
“Whoa there, dude. Don’t kill the therapist. I’m just telling you what I think. Maybe if you understand where she’s coming from, you two can figure out where to go from here.”
“We don’t go anywhere from here. Except we’re both Bridget’s parents. She’s the only thing we’ve done well together, and even then, we almost screwed up. Ali told me today that we need to stick to being parents only, for Bridget’s sake. Maybe she’s right.”
Alex found a parking spot in the back. I checked out the small groups of girls who clumped together around the lot, dressed in short skirts, tight tops and boots. Then there were the guys who were checking out the girls, tipping back longnecks and slapping each other on the shoulder.
Oh, yeah, I was back in Georgia.
Alex and I made our way inside, waving to a few people who shouted out greetings to us as we passed. I noticed more than one girl flash an invitation to me with her eyes, and one who was either braver or drunker flashed more than an invitation.
“Now that’s class.” There was laughter in Alex’s voice. “Nice to see you haven’t lost your touch.”
“Thanks. But no thanks. I’m just here to let off some steam and hang out with you. And maybe get a little wasted.”
The atmosphere inside was surprisingly upscale for Burton, Georgia. The circular bar dominated the huge room and was already surrounded by people ordering or waiting to order. To the left of the bar, tables circled by chairs filled the space, and to the right was the dance floor. A band was setting up on the stage that ran along the back wall.
Alex and I pushed through to the bar. A tall guy with black hair and a shorter, bald man were waiting on patrons, moving with between the people and the liquor with relaxed grins that belied their speed. I was impressed by how laid-back they both seemed to be, considering how many people were calling out, demanding attention and booze.
“Hey, Mason!” Alex cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered. “How’s it hanging, dude?”
The black-haired man turned, and catching sight of Alex, grinned. “You son of a bitch, you back in town again? You sure you really live in Atlanta? I’m thinking of calling bullshit on that.”
Alex spread out his hands. “What can I say? The charms of Burton keep luring me home.” He hooked a thumb in my direction. “Mason, do you remember Flynn Evans? He’s back in town, too.”
“Evans.” Mason extended an arm over the bar, and I shook his hand. “Long time, no see. Heard you got out of Dodge, too. What brought you back?”
I laughed. “Too much to get into with this many people around. Let’s just say, a death brought me back and a birth kept me in town. For now.” I waved my hand in a circle between us. “Great place you have here. Seems like you’re packing them in.”
“Every weekend, bro.” Mason nodded. “We bring in some hot new music acts, serve good liquor at decent prices, give ’em a place to dance.” He leaned closer to be heard when he lowered his voice. “Dance floor is for the ladies, of course. All of them told me they had no place to dance until we opened. They come and they bring their boyfriends, or they come here to hook up, so plenty of guys want to be here, too. It’s a win-win.”
“Works for those of us not looking for ladies, too. Some of us come to dance and pick up hot dudes.” Alex wiggled his eyebrows, and I was happy to see Mason throw back his head and laugh. Most people in Burton accepted Alex as he was, but there were always a few rednecks ready to give him shit. Nice to see Mason wasn’t one of them.
“Touché, dude. Absolutely, we don’t discriminate on the basis of sex, race, coolness or who finds who attractive.” He glanced over his shoulder at the other bartender. “So what do you guys want to drink? First round’s on the house.”
“Hey, you don’t have to do that. But thanks.” Alex cast his eyes upward, thinking. “I’ll have boilermaker.”
“Make it two. Thanks.”
Mason pulled our beers, poured the shots and slid them all across the bar to us. “Bottoms up, guys. Have a good time tonight.” He started to turn away and then stopped, staring over my shoulder with big eyes and whistling low. “Holy shit. Check out the legs that just walked in.”
I followed the direction of his gaze, grinning when I spotted what he saw. Yeah, he wasn’t wrong. The platform just inside the door was raised above the rest of the floor, so her face was hidden by all the people between us, but those legs . . . fuck. Her feet and ankles were covered by heavily overstitched black cowboy boots, but the expanse of skin between the top of the leather and the hem of her very short flowered dress was smokin.’ Lightly tanned, ultra-toned and . . . bare. I poked Alex in the ribs, but the look on his face stopped me from saying anything.
“God almighty. Shit just got interesting.” A broad smile spread over his mouth, but he was still looking at the legs. No, he was looking at the body that went with the legs. The crowd had parted just enough for us to see the rest of her, and my heart thudded deep into my stomach when I saw the face.
“What the hell’s she doing here?”
Alex shrugged. “Looks to me like she’s getting her party on.” He wagged his head, grin still in place. “Damn, I forgot how good our girl cleans up.”
He wasn’t wrong. Her light brown hair was down, falling in fat curls over her shoulders. That was about all that covered her shoulders; the little dress she wore had the tiniest straps, making me wonder how it was staying up, because her tits were definitely on display.
