“Hi,” I said, looping my arms around his neck.
“Hi,” he replied. “I’ve barely seen you today.”
“Girl gang time,” I said with a grin.
He rested a large hand on my hip. “I’m happy you’re happy.”
“But?”
He grasped my chin and pulled my face close to his. I thought he was going to kiss me, but he turned his head and said low in my ear, “But I want to be inside you.”
I let out an involuntary squeak.
“You okay?” Salem asked from the other side of the table.
“Fine,” I said, hoping my cheeks weren’t flaming with heat.
I attempted to get off Brooks, but he tightened his arms around me.
Wyn’s eyes dropped, and her mouth flattened into a line. She scooted out of the booth. “I’m getting another drink. Anyone need anything?”
“Another Shirley Temple,” Gracie said, raising her near-empty soda glass.
Everyone else shook their heads, indicating that they were fine.
“Where’s Archer tonight?” I asked.
“Coeur d’Alene,” he said and didn’t expound.
I played with the hair at Brooks’ nape as I watched Wyn. As she headed to the bar, several interested male gazes followed her. While she waited for one of the three bartenders to have a free moment to serve her, a cowboy slid next to her and started chatting her up.
He was attractive, and whatever he said to Wyn made her laugh, which only drew more attention to her.
She shook her head and then turned her gaze to Wade, who’d sauntered up to the bar in front of her. He reached over and shook the cowboy’s hand.
I touched Hadley’s arm. She turned to look at me.
“Who is that?” I asked, gesturing with my chin toward the bar. “The cowboy Wade is talking to.”
“That’s Garrett Calhoun,” Hadley said, her eyes quickly surveying the scene. “Gideon’s older brother.”
“Gideon as in, Salem’s ex from high school? That Gideon?” I asked.
Hadley nodded. “Is he flirting with Wyn?”
“I think so,” I said, my focus not having left the bar.
“Huh.”
“Huh what?” I asked, finally looking at her.
“Tell ya later,” she said as Wyn grabbed the two drinks and made her way back to our group.
“Make a new friend?” I asked as Wyn sat down.
Wyn was about to reply when Wade’s voice came over the microphone.
“Next up on tonight’s line up: Poet and the Peabodies singing ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls.”
