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Taz offered his hand. “Mills and I hang out a lot.” Emphasis ona lot.
Cal’s face gave nothing away. He took Taz’s hand and shook it slowly. “Is that so.”
“I guess you could say we’re together.” He flashed a smile at Millie Sue. “Sound about right, darlin’?”
Startled at the direction the conversation was already headed, Millie could only offer a small smile in return and nod.
Cal withdrew his hand and moved toward Millie. “I’ll take a draft.” His dark eyes never wavered from hers.
“You still like Bud?” she responded, glad she’d gotten rid of the frog in her throat.
“Still like a lot of things.” A pause. “Bud being one of them.”
“Mike Paul should be here soon.” She nodded toward the only unoccupied table in the place. “That’s his.” She hoped like hell Mike Paul had gotten her text and that he’d back up her bullshit story.
“Nah, I’m good.” Cal took the draft from her and leaned against the bar. “Grab one for your buddy here. I’d like to get to know him.”
Cal’s tone had Millie’s Spidey sense on high alert. He wasn’t going to make this easy, and she had half a mind to up and leave. But she was in this now. Committed. She took a deep breath, ignored both men, and grabbed another mug from the counter behind her as she glanced up at the clock. Not even seven.
It was going to be a long night.
CHAPTER8
Cal Bridgestone was havinga hard time keeping his shit together. First off, jet lag had settled in something fierce, and the two beers he’d downed since he got to the Sundowner, on an empty stomach no less, didn’t help.
It was how things had been shaping up. He’d left the ranch in a bad mood, partially because he was sick of Ryland’s attitude, but mostly because he understood it. Ry was right. Calhadcut and run and never looked back. He’d used that last argument with his brother as an excuse. Told himself they didn’t need him and that they’d all be fine. That Benton would look after things. What did that say about him? He’d all but abandoned his family. In some ways, Cal was no better than his father.
Frowning, he leaned against the bar and listened intently as Pullman chatted to a fan about his former career. The bull rider was some kind of a big deal, and Cal made a mental note to hit up Google and find out just how much of a deal he was.
He wanted tonotlike the guy, but truthfully, he seemed okay. He came across as amiable and easy, and as far as Cal could tell, it was true to life. Other than the fact he seemed to be all up in Millie Sue’s business, Cal had nothing bad to say about him.
They’d been cozied up to the bar for almost thirty minutes when Mike Paul appeared.
“Hey,” he said, looking from Taz to Cal. “I see you two have met.”
“We sure have,” Cal replied dryly. “Millie was just telling me all about her bull rider.”
“Right.” Mike Paul scratched the back of his head. “It’s been a long day, and I need to fill the tank. I haven’t eaten since ten this morning.”
“You hungry?” Cal asked Taz, only because it seemed the polite thing to do. He might think the guy was okay, but that didn’t mean he wanted to break bread with him.
“Nah. You guys go ahead. I’m happy to stay here and keep Mills company.”
“I’ll send Jennifer over to take your order.” Millie Sue turned away, and just like that, he was dismissed.
With a curt nod, Cal avoided the pointed stares from the group of ladies to his right and made his way through the bar until he reached the empty table with a Reserved sign in the middle of it.
Mike Paul slid onto the chair across from him, smiled at someone who said hello in passing, and Cal did the same. For a few seconds, Cal worked to rid himself of the tension that had a grip so tight, he felt out of breath.
“What’s this Pullman guy’s story, and why have you never mentioned him?”
“Not even a hello?” Mike Paul’s voice was light. At Cal’s raised eyebrow, Mike Paul settled back in his chair. “You never asked.”
“Seems like it’s something you could have told me.”
“Why in hell would I do that? What Mills does and who she does it with is her own business. You gave up any right to keep tabs when you left her behind.” Mike Paul’s eyes narrowed a bit. “I’m not being an asshole or anything. You did what you felt you had to do back then, but don’t put me in the middle of your current shit. Don’t ask me to pick sides, because I won’t.”
Fuck. Cal felt like an idiot because his friend was right.
