“Next door to the McFarlands’.Good to meet you.”He didn’t offer a hand and neither did Riley, but they nodded at each other.
Riley settled in, ignoring completely Davis’s attempts to get him to leave.He parked himself there, a big fat interruption in whatever game Davis was playing.
Finally, ignoring Riley in turn, Davis asked Letty to leave with him.Before she could answer Riley said, “She can’t.”
The cowboy glared at him, obviously annoyed.“Why don’t we let Letty answer that question for herself?”
Letty stared at him with her mouth open.“He didn’t ask you, Riley.You have no say in what I do.What is with you?Why are you even here?And why are you acting like you’re my brother?”
“I’m not your damn brother.”He barely stopped himself from grinding his teeth.
“I know.”She drained her drink and slapped it down on the counter, sliding off the barstool as she did so.“Come on, Bud.Let’s go.”
“I don’t think so.”Riley took hold of her arm.To Davis he said, “Can’t you see she’s drunk?She’s coming with me.”
“I’m not drunk!And even if I was, it’s none of your business.”
“You’re making a scene,” Riley told her, unperturbed.She looked like she was about to explode.Or punch him out.
Davis frowned and said, “I’m going to take off.This is way too much for me.Call me if you change your mind, Letty.”
Letty jerked her arm out of Riley’s grasp and watched the man go, an angry expression coloring her face.“Thanks for running off the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
“You’re welcome.Come on, let me take you home.”
“I’m not leaving with you.I’m mad at you, you jerk.”
“Fine.You can yell at me at your place.But you are leaving with me,” he said, taking a firm hold of her arm again.
She didn’t wait.She got in his truck and reamed him out the whole way to her apartment.Which, thank God, wasn’t very far away.
*
Riley parked andgot out of his pickup.Letty had jumped out of the truck the minute he pulled to a stop.He followed, catching up to her at her door.
“Go away.You’re not coming in.”
“Come on, Letty.Don’t be childish.”
“I’m not childish.I’m annoyed as hell.”After wrestling with her key, which made him wonder if she wasn’t more impaired than she let on, she managed to get her door open.She stomped inside, tore off her coat and threw it on a chair.
“What’s wrong, Letty?”
“What’s wrong?”She parked her hands on her hips and glared at him.“Gee, I don’t know.Maybe I’m upset because I was having a good time and didn’t need you to—to harsh my mellow.”
He laughed.“I haven’t heard that expression in a while.”He took off his coat and laid it on the same chair that held Letty’s coat.He sat on the couch and patted the seat beside him.“Come on.I know something’s wrong.You can tell me.”
After crossing her arms over her chest and still frowning, she sat down.“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.I don’t need a big brother interfering in my life.”
“I’m not your brother.”Damn, he hated it when she or anyone else said that.“I’m a friend.That guy was putting the moves on you, or didn’t you notice?”
“Of course I noticed.I’m not an idiot.And I was well on the way to doing exactly what I set out to do.”
“Which was what?”
“I wanted to forget.And Bud was willing to help me.”
He felt a flash of anger, lined with jealousy.“Willing to get in your pants, you mean.”
