Page 22 of Whispers of Sweetwater

‘Hi, you two,’ she finally returned, proud that her voice didn’t waver.

‘You been here long?’ he asked, casual but focused.

‘Long enough to enjoy the food, a little too much of it though.’ She gestured to the plate of brisket bones and crumbs. ‘I feel like I’ve inhaled half of Sweetwater’s livestock.’

Gavin snorted. ‘That’s the way it should be. No one ever made good memories eating salads.’

Molly laughed. ‘Hear, hear.’

Hayden gave his mate a quick sideways glance, silent yet somehow full of words. Then turned his attention back to Brianna, his expression instantly unreadable.

‘Do you sing, Bri?’ Gavin asked suddenly.

‘What?’ She almost spat out her mouthful of beer.

‘You heard me.’ He tapped the guitar on Hayden’s back. ‘This one’s up in a bit. Thought we might rope you into a duet.’

‘Oh no,’ she laughed, raising both palms. ‘I’m strictly a shower-and-steering-wheel kind of singer.’

‘Oh trust me, I’ve heard the worst of the worst,’ Hayden said. Then he added with a small smirk, ‘Gavin being the worst.’

Gavin laughed like a man who’d never been insulted in his life. ‘True. But what I lack in talent, I make up for in enthusiasm.’

‘Sounds like a precarious combo,’ Brianna replied, smiling all the way from her disobedient heart.

Oh lordy, Hayden Pierce had powers she’d never experienced before, without even trying to. She didn’t want to want Hayden, but here he was, with his muscles, sexy tattoos and dimple-clad slow and easy smile, easing his way into the contours of her life with every shared glance and subtle conversation as if he’d been born to do so.

Molly burst the bubble as she rose and dusted off her long bohemian skirt. ‘I’m grabbing another drink. You kids want anything?’

‘I’m good, thanks, Molly,’ Hayden said.

‘Some red wine, please, if they’ve got it,’ Brianna added.

‘I’m already loaded up.’ Gavin raised his two beers. ‘But cheers, Molly.’

As Molly headed off, Gavin made a dramatic bow. ‘And now, I’m going to bid you both farewell because I’m going to see if I can convince old Kev to let me sing “Down Under”.’

Hayden shook his head. ‘Ha, good luck, mate, old Kev is pretty protective of his microphone.’

‘Well, all I can say, Pierce, is if you hear dogs howling, it’s probably because I talked him into giving it over to me for a bit.’

Gavin spun on his boot heels and disappeared into the crowd. And instantly, the air between Brianna and Hayden shifted. More open. More electric. Hayden lowered himself onto the ground beside Sherlock, who sniffed him briefly then allowed a scratch behind the ear.

‘You’re a good-looking border collie, buddy,’ Hayden said, nodding towards Sherlock.

Brianna chuckled. ‘He sure is.’

‘They say dogs are like their owners. I reckon he’s a good fit for you, Bri.’

And there it was again, that gentle confidence, the way he could flirt without it feeling sleazy or forced. Her heart leapt and then stumbled when he flashed her a quick, natural smile, before focusing back on Sherlock, who was bonding with him like he’d known Hayden forever. And while Hayden didn’t know she was drinking him in, she looked at him. Really looked. There was no pretence in his body language. No games. Just sincerity and natural gallantry. The music swelled nearby, some cover of a country ballad echoing through the night air. And Brianna found herself so caught up in this man, in this moment, that she almost, in that instant, blurted out that she liked him.

What the hell was she doing?

Molly returned, arms full of drinks and eyes wide. ‘What did I miss?’

‘Nothing,’ Hayden said, rising and brushing the grass from his jeans. ‘Just saying g’day to this handsome pooch.’

Brianna stood as well, smoothing down her knee-length floaty dress. As Hayden turned to head towards the stage, she reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing his wrist – just a featherlight touch, but it was enough to make him pause.