Page 17 of Thaw My Heart

“Well, aren’t you adorable?” Sadie pats Santa’s head.

I scoff, making a noise of complete disagreement.

She smiles, amused. “You hate him, don’t you?”

I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.

Everyone turns their heads and smiles in our direction when I push open the double barn doors to the bar. The floor is full of couples dancing under the warm rustic chandeliers. Half of the bar is full of men and women from the ranch. Typical for a Thursday night, seeing as it’s the best place in town for entertainment.

I glance at Sadie as she comes up close behind me, smiling in pure joy at the scene in front of us. Every table is full, and Averie Knox, a local singer, is on the stage playing lively music—Aspen Hollow’s darling celebrity. Her long, blonde hair shines in the light as it hangs down towards her silver glittering guitar. The sweet texture of her voice carries around the room.

Averie is a talented singer and performer whom I’ve met a handful of times. She’s the only woman I’ve ever seen leave Ryker speechless, and he’s a man who always has something to say with that big mouth of his. Speaking of the devil, I make eyes with Ryker, who waves at me from a table across the room. His face lights up when he notices Sadie standing next to me.

I’ve never hated him so much.

“I’ll get drinks. What do you like?” Sadie asks, standing close enough so I can hear her over the loud music. Close enough that I feel her hot breath on my ear, and it drives me wild.

“Ernest will know,” my voice catches in my chest as I nod to him behind the bar across the room. He waves back with a cheeky smile. Probably thinking that Sadie and I are on a date. Fucking great.

“Okay, Cowboy,” she winks, heading towards the bar.

I stalk towards Ryker with vengeance on my mind.

“Well, now. We all know who Sadie’s going home with tonight,” he muses. Ryker’s dark hair is gelled back with a curl hanging loose in front. Wearing a black western shirt with two buttons undone, leading to his usual silver military tags—a memento from his brother.

“You’re unbelievable,” I mutter, sitting beside him.

“So I’ve heard,” his mustache twitches with amusement. “But surprisingly, you’re the first man to say those words to me,” he grins, taking a drink from his beer glass.

My eyes narrow to slits. “Why’d you invite her?”

“You two look cute together.”

“Not going to happen.” Whatever ideas he has about Sadie and me need to stop. Nothing is ever going to happen.

“And why not? She’s hot. Or haven’t you noticed?”

“Yeah, I noticed.” You’d have to be dead to not notice Sadie, and even then, I’m sure the ghosts enjoyed watching her.

“You should be one hundred percent trying to make that happen.” Ryker glances up at the bar. “I mean, look at her,” he points.

I’m curious, so I look, finding Sadie laughing and flirting with a few cowboys around the bar. One of them is Blake, but I’m not one bit surprised. I’ve noticed the way he looks at her back on the ranch—the way all men look at her.

“If you don’t, someone else will,” he continues.

“She’s just my neighbor. And you know I’m not in the market for whatever it is that you’re suggesting.” He knew my story, and I didn’t want to repeat it.

“Well, maybe you should reconsider,” he smirks. “That hand of yours has to be gettin’ real tired. I mean, how long has it been?”

Long enough that just one squeeze of her hand had me imagining how it would feel wrapped around my dick. But that’s none of his goddamn business. “Why don’t you just worry about yourself?”

“Fine,” Ryker chuckles, turning his gaze back to the woman performing on stage. “Speaking of hot women. She’s really something, isn’t she?”

“Who, Averie?” Is this why Ryker wanted to go out so badly tonight? For local celebrity Averie Knox?

He leans closer to me. “Do you think she remembers me? You know, from when we met last year after her tour?”

Yup, this is exactly why we’re here.