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“So he’s magical in bed,” Jewel said. “And now he’s running scared. But you obviously want a repeat.”
“I wouldn’t argue with a repeat.” I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I thought about the look in his eyes as he’d climbed over me that first time. “That’s what I thought we’d agreed on.”
“I’m sure he’s freaking out about sleeping with the nanny,” Piper said.
“The much younger, hot, sexy nanny,” Jewel said.
“The whole keep-it-secret bit proves it,” Piper added.
“My opinion?” Jewel leaned her elbows on the table and sat up straighter. “This is too much worry over a temporary thing.”
“It is,” I easily agreed. “But I can’t help being a little upset and medium offended.”
“Justified.” Piper patted the back of my hand. “Sorry, hon.”
“I’m sorry too. The best remedy is to have fun tonight,” Jewel said. She scanned the room. “Plenty of age-appropriate guys here. I’m thinking we should dance with a few of them.”
“If you feel like it,” Piper said empathetically. “Let’s be real. We don’t need guys to have fun.”
That was something I wanted with all my heart to get behind. I raised my glass. “Here’s to girls’ night with the bestest friends ever.”
“Love you, girls,” Piper said as we all clinked.
“Yeah, screw that boss of yours,” Jewel said with a grin.
“Screw him,” I said with absolutely no conviction. Because I knew, if Knox made any opening at all to me, I’d take it and screw him for real. There was no reason whatsoever to turn down a repeat of level-ten sex.
But when a good-looking, age-appropriate guy in a cowboy hat asked me to dance five minutes later, I made myself say yes. Knox was a short-term good time that was apparently over, and I didn’t need to waste any more time pining.
CHAPTER21
KNOX
As I walked from the far back of the parking lot to the main entrance of the Barn Bar, I wondered what the hell I was doing. I had no business—and very little interest in—wasting an evening at an overcrowded bar among people half my age.
Holden had convinced me to join him for a drink. I’d never been here before but had driven past it a few times in broad daylight. I’d had no idea what I was getting into.
As I neared the back of the building, I spotted a couple against the outside wall, kissing, grinding against each other, oblivious to everything but each other, not noticing—or caring—they were illuminated by the security light and the nearby shrub did nothing to hide them. Nor did they seem bothered that the temperature was dipping down toward the forties. Even when I was in my twenties, I didn’t remember ever losing my mind so much over a girl that I couldn’t make it to privacy with her.
Ahead of me, a group of five young women, barely of legal drinking age, decked out as only females on the hunt for mates could be decked out, made their chattery way to the door. There were so many threads of conversation among the five I didn’t know how anyone could make sense of any of it, but I did gather that the redhead hoped Shane, whoever that was, would show up as he’d promised, and the blond was sure he would.
They turned the corner to the front of the barn, and I gave serious thought to hightailing it back home. I’d told Holden I’d be here though.
After an evening with him and Chloe, Hayden and Zane, my father and Faye, plus Harrison and Juniper, I felt like I’d made some progress with half of my family. On the way home from Nashville, Holden had suggested we have a drink sometime. Chloe, who was six months pregnant and said it was past her bedtime, encouraged us to do it tonight. I’d agreed as long as I picked up my SUV from home first, and here I was.
When I opened the main door, the roar of a crammed bar on its busiest night smacked into me. All I saw at first glance was a crowd of about two hundred more people than I usually spent time with. And didn’t I sound just like the old man Quincy teased me about being?
The lights were low and drinks were flowing as I walked through the clusters of people toward the bar. Holden had texted me he was saving a seat at the counter, on the right side, so I headed that way.
Once I neared the bar, I spotted him easily. As I made my way to him, he called out to someone at a pool table, then joked with the bartender, then made a comment to the guy sitting next to him, all in the thirty seconds it took me to reach the empty stool on the other side of him.
“Hey, bro,” he said, his voice inviting and jolly like only Holden could be. He gestured to the bartender. “This is Donovan. This is my half-brother, Knox.”
Donovan and I exchanged greetings.
“What can Donovan get you?” Holden asked. “This one’s on me.”
I sat down and ordered a Rusty Anchor beer, impressed they carried Holden’s brand. “Thanks.”
