The yuppie laughed and then it struck Nix who the man was and why he was familiar. Brad Santiago, Melly’s ex. The blade drove deeper into Nix’s chest.
Swiveling on the stool, he rubbed his brow, then drank thirstily from his bottle. Drunk never looked good on a bastard so he needed to slow down.
“What can I get you boys to eat? There’s a special on T-bones tonight,” the waitress asked as she gave Nix an extra special smile of appreciation.
“Sounds great,” Jamison said.
“Sure does. I’ll take one, medium well, stuffed baked potato, baked apples, salad, sweet potato, and how about I get a slice of blackberry pie with a dollop of whipped cream.” When a man couldn’t do what he really wanted to do, he could eat, although he doubted it would ease any tension.
After their order was given, Jamison gave Nix a confused expression as he handed over the darts. “Where you going to put all that food?”
“In my mouth,” he grumbled, got up and tossed one dart. It missed the entire board.
“Whoa. Relax, man.”
The next two darts were just as humiliating.
Nix opened his mouth to give some lame excuse, but suddenly was bumped hard and shoved into the table, knocking over his bottle and the cold liquid spilled onto him…for a second time that night. He jumped and shot a cold stare around, ready to pummel the man who was so clumsy when his breath swished out of his lungs.
Cold, blue eyes took him in. He swallowed against the building constriction in his throat. Melly’s hand planted on her flared hip and he could see she was ready to unleash…
“Excuse me. Did I do that?” Her thin brow popped up over a heated stare.
“You know very well you did,” he moaned.
“Maybe it would have been safer for you away from the bar, or somewhere else entirely,” she said through clenched teeth. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“I was hungry and I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into a T-bone.” He winked.
“Liar. You came here to spy on me.” She crossed her arms over her chest and her chin jutted upward.
“To spy?” He chuckled. “Sorry, darlin’, you’re mistaken. I told you why I came here. Ain’t that right, Jamison,” he said to his buddy who was trying very hard to mind his own business.
“Hell if I know. You suggested this place and I’m the go-with-the-flow kind of guy.” Jamison planted his gaze on Melly. “Hi there, Miss Melly.” He tipped his hat.
“Thanks, buddy,” Nix griped.
“Hello, Jamison. How’s life treating you?” Melly gave the man a smile, one that Nix could only wish was directed at him. “How’s your daughter?”
“Very well indeed. I think I’ll go check out the little men’s room.” He excused himself leaving an angry Melly alone with a humored Nix.
God she was beautiful. He dropped his gaze over her blouse that fit nicely against her firm breasts to her dark skinny jeans to the fuck-me heels that made him salivate. Bringing his gaze back up, the artificial lighting caught the copper highlights in her hair that she didn’t have when she’d arrived on the ranch. The sun had worked wonders, even on her skin that had been pale and was now a bronze. Her curls bounced around her rosy cheeks and plump lips. He leaned in, wanting to sample those pretty morsels when the city slicker strolled up and wrapped an arm around Melly’s waist possessively, pulling her in slightly and nuzzling her hair.
Nix lifted his gaze to the man who’d done nothing but piss him off since he’d stolen the parking space. Hell, further back really. Nix hadn’t like the man since he saw his pic next to Melly’s online.
“Is this the friend you were talking about?” the man asked.
She looked uncomfortable, but she pulled herself together and out of the man’s grasp. “Yes, this is Nix Cade.”
“And you must be Brad.” Nix clenched his jaw and stuck out his hand. The ex shook Nix’s hand, firm and aggressive.
“Aw, so she’s mentioned me?” The city slicker’s dark eyes dazzled with appreciation.
“No, but I did read somewhere that you cheated.”
The man’s eyes widened and he looked exactly how Nix felt watching him touch Melly. Brad was stunned. Shocked. A little pissed off, but instead of responding angrily, he stared. Melly narrowed her gaze. “Ignore him, Brad He’s only joking. Aren’t you, Nix?”
“Sure. You know how the media is. I just wonder how they photoshopped two people entwined at a restaurant. Technology is getting good these days.” Nix wanted to laugh at Melly’s enraged expression, but he didn’t think he should prod her too much. She might slap him.
“I’m running to the restroom. I’ll meet you back at the table,” Brad said, kissed her on the cheek and headed for the back of the room, keeping his gaze lowered.
“What is wrong with you?” Melly said in a hushed voice once they were alone.
“What do you mean what’s wrong with me? What the hell are you doing? Once a man cheats he doesn’t deserve a second chance.”
“That’s none of your business!”
“Really? Are you kidding me? I believe it does concern me. I thought you said you never wanted to see him again? That changed pretty damn quick,” he growled.
She tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear and he noticed the trembling in her fingers. Why was she so damn nervous?
“It’s a long story and not what you think.”
“Yeah, I must be reading too much into the hugs and pecks on the cheek.” He rolled his eyes. He’d never been one to chase after a woman or feel like a puppy on a leash, but he was starting to realize he’d do a lot for Melly that he wouldn’t do for just anyone. Not only did she carry his child, but his heart played an upbeat tune every time she was near. “You’re not the same woman you were when you were with the city slicker. You’ve changed and you deserve better.” His head spun slightly. Yeah, he shouldn’t have had that beer, and yet she deserved to hear what he had to say. The woman standing before him wasn’t the same woman he met four months ago, not even the same woman who walked on Shy Brooke with little knowledge on how to run the place. She had grown a lot, learned a lot, and she was the woman he’d fallen in love with. He couldn’t understand why she’d give the yuppie athlete the time of day. Maybe Nix was only seeing what his heart wanted to see. Had he read into the attraction between them?
“If I wasn’t so angry with you I might explain a few details, but you, Nixon Cade, are out of line!”
“Speaking of details, did you tell Mr-two-timing-son-of-a-gun that you’re pregnant?”
“Shush, Nix.” She looked around to see if anyone was listening. “No, I haven’t. Why would I?”
Nix lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because a man deserves to know.”
“Why don’t you just leave?” There was a pleading shine to her eyes.
“Am I cramping your style? Well, get used to it, sweetheart. For the next eighteen years you’re going to be seeing a lot of me. Like it or not, sunshine, this ugly mug will be there protecting you and our child.”
She blinked. “I don’t need your protection. There will be rules and you showing up stalking me will be on the not-to-do list.” She was now fuming.
“Stalking you? Really?” He dropped his hands on his hips. “I have half the mind to drag you over my knee and—”
“And what?” she seethed.
“I think you get a rise out of making me jealous. Does it make you feel good that I’m boiling?” He didn’t realize how much he’d divulged until her face softened and some of the warrior princess left her stance.
“What? Jealous? Why?”
“I thought you were smart. If you can’t figure it out, then I should draw you a map.” He blew out a long breath. Damn, he’d said too much, but he couldn’t hold his tongue.
“Why are you being so abrasive? Are you going to accuse me of having daddy issues again?”
He squinted. “I’m sorry about that. I went a bit too far. I know you have reason to be h
urt—”
“Don’t do that!” She rubbed her forehead.
“Don’t do what?”
“Think that you know me. A few romps in the sack and a baby in the oven doesn’t make you my psychologist,” she snapped.
His anger reared its head again and his jaw was so tight he thought he might break a few teeth. “You don’t need a psychologist. What you need is someone to kiss that spoiled brat right out of you.”
“Hey, you two. You’re getting some looks,” Jamison said as he returned to his stool. “You might want to call a truce or take it outside. I don’t want to get kicked out before I’ve had my steak.”
“You’re right, Jamison.” Melly didn’t take her gaze from Nix. “Looks like my dinner companion is back so I’ll join him. You two have a lovely meal. Don’t choke on it.” She turned and sashayed her way back across the room and Nix enjoyed the view of her tight bottom even when he wanted to swat it.
“What. The. Fuck. Are you doing, my friend? I’m sure you were there when we got the invisible rules in the academy. No tampering with evidence and no screwing around with the boss’s daughter. Once can be forgiven, but you jumping in might be the one that pisses Carson off. Don’t you think you’re in enough heat from what happened with the informant?”
“It’s a long story. One I’d rather not retell now.” He chugged his beer and slammed it down to the table. His buddy was right. He’d crossed lines, but he’d done the right thing by confessing everything to Carson. So, why hadn’t he admitted everything to Melly? About the set up? The cancer? Carson shouldn’t be stalling.
Jamison shrugged. “Fine by me. The less I know the better I am.”
“Well, well, if it isn’t Nix Cade.”
At the sound of the sweet, soft voice, Nix turned and narrowed his gaze on the voluptuous blonde in the tight red dress that landed high on her thighs. She wore a smile that promised naughty things. “Hi, Hope. Long time no see.”
“Not since I spent the night.” Her large teardrop earrings dangled around her cheeks.
Nix could have sworn he heard Jamison gasp. Hope was sexy, enticing, but she wasn’t Melly. Didn’t even come close.
She pursed her red lips and looked him down from hat to tips of dusty boots as if he were an open buffet. “You here alone, handsome? I figured you’d be hitched by now after the way I saw you sprint for that squirrely redhead who showed up at the door.”
There went that gasp from his buddy again. Nix didn’t even look. The story was too long and he wasn’t about to say too much, not when that pretty little redhead sat across the room nailing him with her angry blue eyes.
Chapter 16
MELLY COULDN’T BELIEVE her eyes. There she was, that same blonde she saw half naked at Nix’s cabin. Melly reached for her ice water and was at a cross between wanting to drink it or splash it in Nix’s smiling face. The gall of the man! To follow her here and then…then what? Just as she’d told him he couldn’t tell her what to do, she didn’t have a right to get angry if he chatted up the sexy blonde who had her hand on his shoulder.
She had thought she was over the morning sickness, but suddenly she wasn’t feeling well. She drank half the water and looked over the rim at Brad who was staring inquisitively. Placing the glass back on the table, she jerked herself on track. “I’m glad you came to see me.”
“I must say, when I got the call I had hoped you were going to tell me that you’ve changed your mind and wanted to give me a second chance, but after seeing the scowling cowboy at the bar and the heated discussion between you two, I realize we aren’t getting back together.” Brad grinned and leaned back in the chair.
“It’s not like that…”
“Really? I’d say if we had half that amount of heated spark and sexual tension between us, you and I would still be together. Come on, sweetheart. We’ve known each other too long to beat around the bush. Why am I here?”
This wasn’t easy, but she had no choice. She rolled the tip of her finger around the rim of the glass, choosing her words carefully. She couldn’t tell him too much, but if she didn’t tell him enough he wouldn’t help her. “When I left you, I left everything, the condo, the furniture, everything. You offered to pay me my share—”
“Melly—”
“No, let me finish please. I need some money.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “Sure, sweetheart.” He reached into his back pocket, withdrew his wallet and sifted through the stack of cash. “How much do you need?”
Acid crawled in her chest. “Fifty.”
“Fifty dollars?”
“Fifty grand.”
He blinked, folded his wallet and pushed it back into his pocket. “Melly—”
“Brad.” She interrupted him again. “I’m asking for way less than what the condo is worth. We bought it together and my name is on the deed. I haven’t pushed you into giving me what I’m owed.”
He folded his large hands on the table and he lost some of his charm. “I can’t…”
“Think about it.” Her bottom lip trembled.
“It’s not that I don’t think you deserve it, but I don’t have it, not right now. I told you I’ll have to sell the place, and I just bought a new BMW—.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. What was she going to do?
“Look, I’ll call the realtor come Monday morning,” he said. “The place will go lquick.”
She lifted her eyes. “Sure, but I need the money now.”
“You didn’t really think I could hand over that much cash, did you?”
Her hopes were dashed. She had less than twelve hours to get her hands on fifty grand. She didn’t have enough in her savings to cover it.
Her gaze naturally slanted toward the bar where the blonde had sidled up closer to Nix, so close that her double ds were pressing against his arm. Melly wanted to throw up. Nix was smiling from ear to ear, of course he would be.
“Are you in trouble?”
Hearing the question, she dragged her attention from the fuckery at the bar and onto the man who she’d just asked for money. Clearing her throat, she placed her palms on the table and prepared herself to lie, something she’d never been good at. “N-no trouble. I-I just need it.”
The area between his brows scrunched. “Fifty grand is a lot of money. And considering you didn’t ask your dad makes me a little suspicious.” He reached over and laid his hand on hers. “Although you and I are history, I did care for you once upon a time, Melly. I just wasn’t ready, I guess. Can you forgive me?”
The blonde now had her fingers in Nix’s hair. Why would she have her fingers in his hair? Was this his way at getting back at Melly?
“Melly?”
“Sorry. I do forgive you. Neither of us were ready and you couldn’t see yourself ever living here in Wyoming and wearing a Stetson. Some heads are just not made for a cowboy hat.”
He squinted. “My head isn’t made for a cowboy hat?” He touched the top of his head.
“No, sorry, it isn’t. Anyway, you wouldn’t want to hide all that pretty hair, would you?”
“You do make a good point.” His smile returned.
“Thank you for coming, but I should be going.” Tears burned the back of her eyes and she could barely breathe.
“Already? Before we eat?”
“You stay and eat.” She stood, grabbed her purse and stuck it under her arm. “They do have a great steak.”
He looked up at her. “If you’re okay.”
“Yeah, I’m great. I must be coming down with something.” If pregnancy could be considered coming down with something. Giving Nix one last glance, she said goodbye to her ex and headed for the door through a throng of people that didn’t make her exit easy. At the door, her gaze automatically glanced toward the bar, but Nix and the blonde were no longer sitting there. Her stomach twisted.
Outside, she took in fresh air and strolled across the parking lot toward her car.
“Do you know how many people in this town own a
silver Lexus?”
The rich, husky voice stopped her in her heels. Looking up she saw the sexy cowboy leaning against the hood of her car, his ankles crossed and his hands pushed into his front pockets. He could certainly sell a few hundred Lexus’ with that body and smile. “No, I don’t, but if I had to guess I’d say one and that’s me.”
“That’s my guess. I like the flamingo air freshener hanging from the mirror.” He smiled wider.
Melly scanned the lot. “Where’s the blonde? Are you two playing hide and seek?”
“Hope? I don’t have a clue. She had plans.” He pushed off the car, dragged off his Stetson and a lock of hair dropped to his forehead, making him look younger.
“That didn’t include you and a sleepover?”
“What the hell? It wasn’t me having dinner with an ex. By the way, where’s the yuppie at?”
“Oh, I’d gander he’s eating his steak and drinking a margarita.” She fumbled in her purse for her keys and clicked unlock.
“So, it looks like we’re both alone tonight.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“I see the for-sale sign in the window of the car. You’re really wanting to get rid of the Lexus?”
“I need something that can get around in the winter.” She looked him down from head to dusty boots. In all honesty, she couldn’t imagine wanting to be anywhere more than with him, but that put her at risk for telling him about her visitor who was trying to bleed her out of fifty grand. If she confessed, Nix would be in danger along with their baby. Being the daughter of a lawman, she knew crooks barely made a threat they didn’t mean. Nix pushed off the car and wobbled slightly. “Looks like one of us is tipsy.”
“Drinking isn’t healthy for the baby.”
“I’m not referring to me. I had water.”
“So, the getting back together thing didn’t work?” He was beside her now, still smelling like heaven and masculinity.
“It is possible that two people who have dated in the past can get together over dinner just to chat.”
Seized by the Lawman (Lawmen of Wyoming Book 3) Page 15