“We’ll take two longneck bottles of Coors,” he said.
“No, you won’t,” Knox said from the shadows. “Brandon McKay, your mama will take a switch to you if she finds out you are in a bar. Bo, this is Tommy and Clarice’s son. He goes to church with us, and he and his dad helped me build the new parsonage. He’s not even out of high school yet. And I believe this young lady is Gabby Owens. She and my sister take care of the church nursery.”
Bo set the two bottles back in the refrigerator. “Sorry, you two. You can dance, but you cannot drink in here.”
“Come on, Knox,” Brandon said. “Can’t you look the other way just this one time?”
“He might,” Bo said. “But I won’t. If my brother-in-law, Gunner, stops by and finds me serving any kind of liquor to minors, he can shut down the place and take my license.”
“Then we’ll leave and go to the river with the other kids to party,” Gabby smarted off.
Bo shrugged. “Drive safely.”
Brandon grabbed Gabby’s hand, and they stormed out, spewing words that could turn ice into flames.
“Thanks, Brother,” Bo said. “I should have recognized both of them. If you ever want to leave the construction company, I’ll hire you as a bouncer.”
“I don’t think so,” Knox told her and made his way behind the bar. “I’m perfectly happy building houses, and besides, you have been designing one for a few months that you want me to build here in Nocona. I can’t be a full-time bar bouncer and construction feller at the same time.”
“Maverick and I’ve been looking at property, and we just about have the house plans drawn up. Nothing fancy. Just a three-bedroom ranch style with a wraparound porch,” Bo said. “When you get done with what you are working on now, we’ll be ready for you.”
Lottie listened to the lyrics of the third song she had chosen, “I Feel a Sin Comin’ On.” She swayed to the words that said there was sweet temptation all over the place. Sheglanced across the room at Knox.Oh, yes, I’ll have to fight the desire with every fiber in my body.
The sound of crunching gravel filtered into the building from the parking lot, and several customers arrived just as the song ended. In a matter of minutes, the barstools were full. The tables had filled up, and several folks were line dancing to “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”
With a tray of beers in her hand, Lottie wove her way through the dancers to a corner table. She set the tray down, and half a dozen guys each reached for one. The line dance ended, and one of the men pushed back his chair and stood up. “I’m in love with you. Dance with me, and then we’ll elope to Las Vegas.”
Lottie bit back a giggle. “I don’t even know your name.”
He did a sweeping bow, took her hand in his, and kissed the knuckles. “I am Rusty Matthews, and I’m serious.”
Not one single, little bitty spark caused a minor ripple in her hormones. She definitely did not feel anything that resembled a sin coming on. Besides that, he was so short that if he held her close for a slow dance, his nose would be buried up in her breasts.
Maybe that’s what he’s aiming for, the voice in her head whispered.
She pulled her hand free from him and resisted the urge to pat him on the head like a little boy. “You are a day late and a dollar short, Rusty. See that tall guy over there behind the bar? That’s my boyfriend, and he doesn’t take too kindly to me dancing with other men.”
“The offer has no expiration date,” Rusty said. “But know that my heart is broken and might never mend.”
A slow two-stepping song made it easier for her to weave her way through the dancing couples back to the bar. She set the empty tray down and was loading it with margaritas to serve at a table with a bunch of ladies when Knox kissed her on the cheek.
“Do I need to go kick that guy out for flirting with my woman?” he asked.
Lottie smiled at him and said in an icy-cold tone. “I am not your woman. I am your…” She stopped herself before she let the cat out of the bag by sayingfake.
Bo’s ponytail swung back and forth when she did a perfect head wiggle. “You tell him, girl. Calling us ‘woman’ is fighting words.”
“Well…par…don…me!” Knox’s eyes twinkled.
“I can take care of myself, no matter how tall or short a man is,” Lottie told him, and then patted his cheek. “That’s to convince Rusty that I’m taken.” She picked up the tray and headed to the table of women who were eyeballing the men in the corner.
“Y’all want me to introduce you?” she asked as she set the margaritas in front of them.
“No, but that little feller who was making passes at you sure is cute,” the one with brown hair and eyes answered.
“Stand up, please,” Lottie said, “and tell me your name.”
“Rosalita, and why would I stand up?” she answered. “Ifyou are wanting to know how tall I am, it’s five feet on the dot, and I like short guys.”
