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“What do you want to do now?”
“I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go meet Coop for dinner.”
“Great. I’m starved. Mind if join you?”
Son of a bitch. “Sure.”
Monroe
I spent last night watching the front door, certain Rhett would come in. He didn’t. Foolishly, I thought maybe he’d be waiting for me at work this morning with a hot cup of coffee. That didn’t happen either, and now I know why.
“Who’s the hot chick with Coop and his brother?” Sean asks, sidling up next to me behind the bar.
“No clue,” I lie. I knew who she was the second they walked in the door. I’d recognize her face from a million miles away. That pretty little blonde is the reason I lost the love of my life, and I can’t even be mad at him for bringing her here, because he has no idea the part she played in our demise.
“She’s been cozying up to Rhett all evening. Do you think they’re together?”
“Has she? I didn’t notice.”
Rhett and Coop walked in with her about two hours ago. They parked themselves in a corner booth—Rhett in the middle with Coop and her on either side—and they haven’t gotten up since.
Several times I’ve caught Rhett watching me, and each time he’s offered me a smile that I’ve politely returned despite the urge to spit in his drink, which is absolutely absurd because the man has done nothing wrong.
There’s no reason for me to be jealous. He and I aren’t together—haven’t been for quite some time—and my feelings for him are strictly platonic. Well, except for that fire in my belly I’ve been getting when he’s in the same room—which I’ll totally chalk up to indigestion related to my horrible diet—and the way my heart fluttered the other day when he took off his shirt. But any woman would react that way if she were staring at a half-naked Rhett, so I really can’t count that one.
“You’re a horrible liar,” Sean whispers.
“So I’ve been told.”
“He’s not touching her,” Sean adds. “Maybe they aren’t together. You think I’ve got a shot at that?”
He might not be touching her, but she can’t seem to keep her hands off him. Touching his arm while talking, leaning in close, brushing her thigh against his in the booth. That’s why I insisted Sarah take their table. I couldn’t watch it up close and not want to rip Blondie’s hands off of her pretty little body.
And she does have a pretty little body.
“Well?” Sean asks. “What do you think?”
With my hand on the tap, I turn a dry look to Sean. “Really?”
“What?”
“Men,” I mumble, grabbing the two glasses of beer for the ladies at the end of the bar. Once I check on all of my customers, I make a quick run to the bathroom. On my way back out, I spot Rhett sitting at my end of the bar. I’m shocked to find him alone. A quick look at the booth shows the woman talking with Coop, but her eyes are still very much on Rhett.
“What’s your poison?” I ask, nodding to the empty glass in his hand.
“Bud Light.” Rhett looks me in the eye. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?” I ask, refilling his mug.
“I don’t know. You just seem…off.”
He’s always been able to read me. Pisses me off as much now as it did when we were younger. “No, not at all.”
He nods, accepting my answer, but the uncertain look in his eyes remains. “Long day at Animal Haven?”
“Always,” I say, casting a glance down the bar. We’re relatively slow tonight, and my customers all seem to be drinking happily, which makes me not feel so bad about stealing a few seconds to talk.
“I was going to stop by this morning, but I got sidetracked.”
