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“It’s fantastic. I always said Burntwood needed something other than the Rusty Nail.”
“Shoot, that hole in the wall is still going strong. All our parents can’t get enough of it.” He elbowed me playfully.
“Shelby?” Jake appeared and gripped my elbow possessively. “Who’s this?”
“Travis Davis, good to meet you.” He extended his hand, and Jake shook it, but I could tell he was reluctant.
“I went to school with Travis and his older brother, Diesel.”
“Except Diesel is Cade’s age. Have you seen him? The shit is all tatted up and badass now. The rancher we knew went bye-bye.”
Jake growled beside me, his nails digging into my skin. “Where’d your sister go? We need a table.”
“Sorry, the tables are all occupied, but there’s room at the end of the bar.” Travis pointed. “Liv’s over there waving like a maniac. Looks like she scored you some stools.”
“Great. Bring me your best bourbon and she’ll have a vodka martini. Topshelf,” Jake told him and nudged me to move.
“Since when do you drink martinis?” Travis shouted.
“Keep walking,” Jake said.
“But I want a beer.” I jerked out of his grasp, turned around, and glared at him. What had gotten into him? Better yet. Had I let him treat me like a child before? It seemed now that I was home in Burntwood, my rose-colored glasses were off, and I was actually afraid to confront my reality. “Excuse me.”
“Fine.” He moved aside. At least he had a speck of intelligence. In Hotshots, at least a dozen men would come to my rescue if he got physical with me.
I marched back to where Travis had been, but he’d gone behind the bar. “Hey, Trav. I’ll have one of your craft beers. What do you recommend?”
He considered me a long second, then looked to his right at where Liv and Jake were at the end of the bar. “No martini?”
I shook my head and steeled my emotions. “Nope. Gimme something dark and decadent.”
“You got it. We have a new porter with notes of espresso and chocolate. Perfect for after dinner.”
“Sounds amazing. What’s it called?”
“Perfect for After Dinner.” He pointed at the large sign behind him on the wall. Sure enough. It was listed under porters and stouts. “How long have you two been together?”
Ugh, I didn’t want to talk about Jake. “A couple of years.”
“Damn. That’s long.” A look of pity skirted across his face, but he quickly recovered. Just not quick enough for me not to notice. “Will there be a wedding soon?”
My heart stopped. “God, no.”
Travis cocked his head and set my beer in front of me.
“I mean, we’re content with the way things are.”
“That’s cool. No judgment.” His attention went behind me. “Bro, come see Shelby!”
I turned around and smiled at Travis’s older brother. Diesel was a year older than Cade and Travis was a year younger than me. In a small town of less than three thousand people, we only had a primary school for students in kindergarten through eighth grades, and one high school. It had been impossible to not be close to the people you grew up with since birth.
“Holy shit! Shelby Belle!” And for the second time tonight, I was lifted off my feet in a bear hug by a Davis man. A mighty large man, I might add.
“Where have you and Travis gotten all your muscles? I think you grew three times bigger since I last saw you.”
He set me down. “Weightlifting, darlin’. What’s it been, six years?” Diesel took me in from head to toe. “You’re more gorgeous than ever.”
“It’s that California sun.” Travis winked, then… “Incoming. Unhappy boyfriend on your three, bro.”
