AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The apartment manager, Jim Abrams, came by her apartment that evening, having heard from the custodian about the bug-infested flowers, but Allie assured him she wasn’t bothered by the prank even though it grossed her out. When nothing else happened by the weekend, she put the disgusting bouquet out of her mind and got ready to go out. It was always a relief to shed her business persona and become herself after work. After donning a multicolored calf-length peasant skirt and sunshine yellow gauzy blouse, she slipped on her jewelry and sandals and left for Casey’s. She breathed a sigh of relief seeing Ricky’s car gone. With luck, he’d found someone else and they could return to enjoying a casual friendship.
Penny and Laura were meeting Allie at Casey’s tonight, and, with Celia on a date, she was left driving the long stretch of road out to the club by herself. During the day, she enjoyed the solitude and scenery when making the drive to Eagle’s Nest to visit her family or shopping at Ina’s. But, when night fell, cloaking the countryside in eerie darkness, the distant howls from wolves and coyotes always creeped her out, reminding her of the old slasher movies she used to binge on as a teenager.
To keep her imagination from picturing her as a lone woman stranded in the middle of nowhere and ending up mutilated in the field, she thought about the upgraded position she applied for at work, and what she could do with the substantial pay raise if she got it. When she finished that wish list, she tried not to think about Brett and concentrated on the few guys she wouldn’t mind getting to know better starting tonight if she saw them again. But, as had happened all week, it was Brett’s rugged face and deep voice that kept plaguing her.
I’m not supposed to think about him tonight.
Allie repeated that reminder as she reached Casey’s, refusing to search for his big truck in the parking lot as she went inside. Tonight was about cutting loose and having fun with someone else, someone who wanted to hang out with her, not Mr. Fuddy Duddy. She was proud of herself when she sought an empty table without looking for Brett among the crowd, instead searching for one of the guys who had shown interest in her last week.
The blond with dark brown eyes spotted her first, coming up to the table with a hopeful smile. “Nice to see you again.” He held out a hand. “Mike Carlisle. Can I buy you a drink?”
She clasped his hand, noticing no callouses or even rough skin like Brett’s then kicked herself for the comparison. “Allie Sauer, and yes, you can. A light beer, thanks.”
“Be right back.”
She watched him wade through the crowd toward the bar, wishing she could drum up as much enthusiasm for spending time with Mike as she had for Brett’s company. Vowing to give the guy a chance, she kept an eye out for Laura and Penny, waving them over as soon as they arrived.
“Have you been here long?” Laura asked, taking a seat.
“Long enough to have a drink coming.” She nodded at Mike approaching with two beers.
Penny grinned at him as he set Allie’s beer down and took a swig of his brew. “Damn, girl, you work fast.”
“Hey, I learned last week you snooze, you lose with Allie.” Mike lifted his head toward the dance floor when the song changed to a boot-stomping country tune. “I watched you two-stepping last week. Care to join me?”
“Sure. Be right back,” she told her friends, taking Mike’s hand. His congenial manner was a refreshing change from Brett’s cool reluctance to engage with her. Or so she told herself.
Line dancing didn’t call for close contact or low conversation, but Allie loved the faster pace and found Mike a fun dance partner. She was having such a good time, she didn’t notice Stephen, the jerk from last week, maneuvering toward her until he slipped in between her and Mike.
“Hey,” Mike growled, glaring at the rude intruder without disrupting the line’s flow.
Stephen ignored him to wink at Allie and say, “Save the next slow one for me, baby.”
Before she could say no way, he stepped away from the group dance and stood to the side, waiting. Allie shrugged at Mike’s questioning look. “Not interested in him,” was all she said, but it was enough to appease him. The last thing she wanted was another altercation with that creep.
Brett arrived later than usual at Casey’s, having been delayed obtaining a restraining order against his new client’s ex. The poor woman hadn’t been home with her mother twenty-four hours, still bruised and battered from his beating, when the bastard showed up with more threats. There were times he wished he could skip the legal channels and take matters into his own hands, this being one of those times. With luck, the court writ he’d slapped against the perp’s chest and his threat to see him locked up if he violated it would do the trick. In the meantime, he would pay for a temporary bodyguard for both women, the relief and appreciation etched on their faces when he left enough compensation for him.
If he weren’t in such dire need of a stiff drink, he would have turned around and left Casey’s parking lot when he spotted Allie’s car and was hit with another adrenaline rush of anticipation. Aware of his obligation to his brothers, he sucked it up and went inside, not sure if he dreaded her flirty come-ons or his unwise attraction the most. Like a magnet, his gaze zeroed in on her having a good time dancing, that flirtatious smile aimed at the man keeping up with her.
There was no way that cramp in his abdomen was jealousy, he insisted, pivoting toward the bar then groaning in disgust at seeing Gina waiting for him.Shit, could this night start out any worse?
“Go away,” he told her, taking the only unoccupied stool and signaling Jordon at the end of the bar.
“Is that any way to greet your wife?” Gina ran one finger down his tense forearm, cocking her head and giving him a coy smile.
Brett shook his head, disgusted by her two-faced, insincere wiles. His gaze slid to the dance floor again, just a quick glimpse of Allie still twirling, laughing, and having a good time before he looked down at Gina’s now scowling face. She never could stand it when he ignored her, whereas it appeared Allie had taken the hint and was moving on as he’d requested.
“You’re not my wife,” he told her bluntly, “and if you don’t want me banning you from here, listen to me when I say again, go away. Surely you can find someone else to sink your claws into.”
“I haven’t signed yet, so, legally, I’m still your wife, and you used to like it when I dug my nails into you.” Jordon came up to them just then, and she thrust her empty glass at him. “A refill, and make it strong.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled with a sarcastic inflection Brett found amusing and Gina ignored. “How about you, Brett? Beer?”
“Whiskey, straight.”
Jordon’s lips twitched. “Got it.”
“I didn’t drive you to drink before you filed for divorce,” Gina stated smugly.
