Page 9 of Big Bad Wolf

But he did need to talk to Macy. Life on his own required cash, and Macy’s order was a big one. He took a deep breath, stealing himself, before opening the door and entering the din of the bar.

He was hoping he could slip in and find Macy without causing too much of a stir. But his hopes were immediately dashed when every head in the bar turned to look at him.

Well, fuck.

He considered turning and fleeing but someone at the table to his left filled with three grizzled old men called out to him before he could move.

“Hey, bub,” one of the men said, with a nod.

Rafe gave him a silent nod back, hoping that would be enough to get him in the door. No such luck.

“You from around here? Haven’t seen you before.”

The two other men at the table sized him up from under their trucker hats.

“New to town,” Rafe said. “But I’m born and raised in the County.”

The man’s wrinkled face cracked into a smile. “Ah, I thought so!” he said as though he could tell where Rafe was from. As though being from the County could tell him anything important about Rafe. “I knew you weren’t one of those flatlanders coming up here to pretend to fish!” He cackled and the other old-timers joined him.

“Come join us,” he went on. “I’m Tom, and this here is Kev, and Gil.”

The way he said it, patting the booth beside him, Rafe understood he didn’t have a choice. Not unless he wanted to piss off the townies. Which he definitely did not.

“Ruby, sweetheart!” Tom hollered. “Bring our new friend here a beer! On me.”

Ruby.

She looked up from where she was pouring a pint behind the bar and her gaze crashed into his. Her eyes widened; her red lips popped open in surprise.

Fuck.

Rafe’s entire body responded. He had to grip the bench beneath him to stop himself from striding over to her. He needed to be next to her immediately.

What was happening to him?

Ruby shook herself like she needed to recover from the shock of seeing him again. He watched as she composed herself, as she finished serving the customer she was with, as she came around the bar and walked toward him.

He couldn’t look away.

She was dressed in a black tank top and black skirt; black tights covered her shapely legs, and he imagined what it would be like to peel them off.

She’d probably kick him in the shins with the black boots she was wearing before he had the chance. He almost smiled at the thought.

Almost.

But then she was in front of him, a hand on her hip.

“Ruby, this young man…” Tom said, patting Rafe on the shoulder. “What’s your name again, son?”

“Rafe.”

Tom smiled. “Rafe here is new to town.”

“We’ve met, actually,” Ruby said.

“Is that so?”

“Yep. Just last week. Wasn’t it, Rafe?”