by Ava Grace
“Hey, Al,” I said brightly. “Why don’t you let me buy you a drink, huh?”
He looked at me for a moment with confusion in his eyes then asked, “Who the fuck are you?”
It seemed that Al and Arlene were cut from the same cloth.
“I’m Libby,” I said, taking hold of his arm and leading him towards the bar. “Come on, let’s get that drink.”
Al looked me up and down then sneered. “You’re that new piece of ass who stole Arlene’s job from under her nose.”
Well, I’d been called worse.
The need to defend myself was strong, but that wouldn’t have diffused anything. “Come and get that drink,” I said still tugging him in the direction of the bar. “We can have a quiet chat over a nice cold beer. How does that sound?”
He looked hesitant to follow me, but evidently, in the end, the prospect of a free beer won out. Mario must have been listening to the conversation because when we got to the bar, there were already two beer bottles sitting on the counter waiting for us. I perched on a bar stool then slid one of the beers towards Al, before lifting the other and taking a sip. Al did the same only when he came up for air, his bottle was half empty.
“Now, I haven’t known Coop for very long,” I started, “But he seems like a good man, the kind of person who would be a fair boss.”
Al inclined his head. “Always has been up ‘til now. That’s for sure.”
I nodded then took another sip. “Also seems to me that Coop knows which side of his bread is buttered.”
“I’d say that’s about right.”
“So Coop wouldn’t fire his very best waitress for no good reason, would he? I mean, if Arlene has been…” I didn’t want to use the words ‘shoving that shit up her nose,’ like Coop had done and since I didn’t know exactly what Arlene was taking I tried to be more diplomatic. “Having some problems of late then I’m pretty sure Coop would have helped her out all he could.”
Al sighed. “Coop has been good to her in the past, I’ll give him that.”
“But he has to draw the line sometime, doesn’t he? I mean, I’m sure Coop would forgive a lot, but how long can he honestly put up with someone stealing off him?”
The bottle was halfway to Al’s mouth when his hand stilled and fire burned in his eyes.
“Say again?”
“I said, he has to draw the—“
“Not that part, the part where you said Arlene had been stealing.”
I sighed. “I guess you didn’t know about that part, huh?”
Al swiveled in his seat. “Coop!” he shouted across the room. “Arlene been stealing off ya?”
“Yeah,” Coop returned.
Al muttered a curse. “How much she take?”
Coop shrugged. “Couple hundred.”
Al downed the rest of his beer then placed the bottle on the bar. “Thanks for the chat, Libby,” he said. “And thanks for the drink. I’ll be seeing you around I don’t doubt.”
He got up then walked over to Coop’s table. “I’ll get that money back to you,” Al said. “And don’t worry, you’ll get no more grief from me or Arlene.”
Coop nodded his thanks. “Appreciate that. I’d appreciate not having to deal with a visit from your brothers too.”
“Don’t you worry about that. They won’t hear about any of this.”
Coop inclined his head.
I pulled a ten dollar bill out of my apron and slid it across the bar. “Thanks, Mario.”
I picked up my tray then went back to the business of collecting glasses and taking orders for drinks and food. When I walked passed Coop’s table, he, Luke and Dev, were all grinning at me like the proverbial Cheshire cats.
What the heck?
Chapter Ten
It had been hotter than Hades all morning. I’d made the trip down the mountain to pick up the spider repellant I needed to spray Libby’s yard and I’d done a few jobs around the house. Other than that, I hadn’t wanted to do shit. It was just too damn hot to move. I ambled from room to room wondering where Duke was as he usually didn’t move from his bed in this kind of heat, but then I remembered that there was somewhere else he was hanging out now.
Still, it wouldn’t hurt to check that he was at Libby’s place. Duke was at home on this mountain, but if he’d taken a tumble he could quickly die of heat exhaustion. I grabbed the spider repellent then headed up the mountain to Libby’s place. After wrapping my knuckles against the wood, I caught sight of the busted lock from the day before and made a mental note to fix it later.
We didn’t get much crime in Creede so it wasn’t likely that anyone would come up here to break into the cabin, but you couldn’t be too careful.
“Hello?” I heard her shout from somewhere inside the property.
I frowned. Why couldn’t she just come and open the door?
“Libby, it’s Mason,” I shouted back.
A moment later, the front door opened and Libby stood in its wake and damn was she a sight for sore eyes.
The white concert tee she wore was form fitting, showing off her curves to perfection and she’d paired it with a pair of cut-off denim shorts that were just long enough to cover her modesty.
My dick got instantly hard.
I cleared my throat. “Uh, hi. I got the spider repellent for your yard. I just wanted to check if Duke was here before I sent out a search party. It’s too hot for him to be out on the mountain.
When a half-hearted bark sounded from behind the couch, Libby’s cheeks filled with color.
“Yeah, he’s here. I hope you don’t mind. I’m not enticing him here with treats or anything,” she said. “But he seems to keep coming back anyway. If it’s a problem, then maybe—“
“No, no problem. Not that I wouldn’t like to see my own damn dog now again,” I said loudly looking towards the couch as if he could understand what I was saying. “I’m glad he has a new friend. Guess I’m not always good company for him.”
“Don’t say that,” Libby said with a frown. “Duke loves you, I’m sure of it. Maybe it’s just the novelty of me being around here.”
I shrugged. “As long as he’s okay.”
“Would you like to come in for a while?” Libby asked, standing aside to allow me entrance into her house.
I should have said no.
It had been so long since I’d spent any real time in company that my conversation skills would have to be lacking. Plus, Libby looked so damn good in her short shorts that I didn’t trust myself to be so close to her without making a fool of myself. It had been years since I’d had a woman in my bed that a certain part of my anatomy might do the thinking for me.
“Sure,” I agreed readily, stepping over the threshold.
Crap.
“Can I get you a glass of lemonade?”
“Yeah, that’d be good.”
I headed to the couch and peered over the back of it to see my traitorous dog sprawled out on a blanket. He lifted his head to look at me then promptly went back to sleep. I shook my head in disgust as I took a seat on the couch. Libby brought over a couple of drinks then handed me one. I took a sip.
“Mmm, this is good. Did you make this?”
“Yeah, homemade always tastes so much better than the stuff you get at the store.”
“It does,” I agreed “Especially when it’s made like this.”
She smiled sweetly and averted her gaze and I got the impression that Libby wasn’t used to getting compliments. Interesting.
“I like what you’ve done with the place,” I said, glancing around the room.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t do much, just added some color here and there.”
“Looks good,” I said again. “How is your job at The Shack going?”
“Good. The work’s easy, the tips are great and Coop is a good boss.”
There was a sarcastic comment on the tip of my tongue, but I refrained from saying it.
“Do you like it here in Creede?”
Her
face lit up. “Yeah, I do. It’s everything I hoped it would.”
“And what’s that?” I asked.
“Beautiful. Peaceful and the people are all so welcoming.”
“How long are you planning on staying?”
“Forever,” I hope.
Her answer caused a warm feeling in my chest that had nothing to do with the temperature in the room.
I grinned. “I might know a dog who’ll be delighted to hear that.”
She threw her head back and let out a peal of laughter and the sound was infectious.
“Be sure to tell him if you see him,” she said with a chuckle.
Right on cue, Duke stepped around from behind the couch causing us both to laugh. Duke sat between her legs and put his head between her knees, staring up at her like she hung the moon.
“I think someone might be a little bit in love with you,” I observed.
“Her eyes were warm and gentle when they next landed on me and my dick seemed to like them as much as me because he all but sat up and waved hello.
“The feeling is entirely mutual,” she said scratching Duke behind his ears.
I cleared my throat then downed the rest of my lemonade. “Right, well, thank you for the drink. I’d best get started on the yard.”
I had to get out of there before I did something crazy like asked her to have my babies.”
“You’re welcome,” she said before taking my glass then walking it over to the kitchen.
I’m ashamed to admit, I watched her ass move from side to side with every step she took and couldn’t help but imagine what it would look like naked, with my hands spread out across it as I entered her from behind. If my dick had been hard before, I could have used it now to pound in the nails in my deck. I turned and made a hasty retreat before I followed her into the kitchen then bent her over the table.
“Thanks again for the drink!” I shouted as practically ran through the front door.
Chapter Eleven
Apart from the unexpected visit I’d received from Mason, which had been a welcome surprise, I’d spent all morning making a new set of throw pillows. I tossed the last one onto the couch before crossing to the front door and poking my head outside.
“Mason, can I get you another glass of lemonade? You look like you’re wilting out there.”
He’d been out in the yard spraying all around the property for the past twenty minutes and it was a real scorcher today. The white wife-beater t-shirt he had on was covered in wet patches and when he looked up at my question, he ran his forearm across his brow before replying.
I think I might have drooled a little.
“Sure, that would be great. Thanks.”
I went into the kitchen and grabbed the jug of lemonade out of the refrigerator, adding a couple of ice cubes into the glass before pouring it, then took it out to him. As I worked, I tried not to think about how good he looked covered in sweat, but it was impossible not to imagine him covered in sweat for an entirely different reason. The idea of him naked and sweaty in my bed filled me with excitement. I could imagine us moving together, our limbs tangled as he grunted out my name.
Dear God, I wasn’t going to be able to look at him without blushing now.
I needed to get a grip and stop fantasizing about him.
I’d just made it out onto the porch when Mason pulled his t-shirt over his head and tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans. I just about swallowed my tongue. Did he have any idea what he was doing to me?
I could do nothing but stop and stare at the magnificence that was his bare torso. It was so perfect it could have been sculpted out of marble or ice. With thick strong arms and a wide, pumped up chest that led down to well-defined abs, his body was the stuff dreams were made off. My body tingled in all the right places.
I tried not to stare too hard, but it was difficult to ignore him when he looked as good as he did. The sweat gleaming off his body did funny things to my stomach. It made me imagine doing so many things to said body—things I should not be thinking about doing to any man at the moment, but especially not to Mason Young, my gruff neighbor, who as it turned out was not so gruff after all.
When he looked up and caught me staring at him, the mother of all blushes spread across my cheeks like wildfire. Mason’s lips twitched, but he mercifully didn’t make a comment and for that, I was grateful.
“Um, your drink,” I said lamely, holding it out to him.
“Thanks.” He took the glass from me then downed about half of the contents in one go. “I needed this.”
I’d been about to ask him if he’d finished spraying the yard when the sound of approaching Harley pipes cut through the peace and tranquility of the valley. A moment later, Coop rode his bike into my yard. He pulled it right up to the steps of the porch then stopped in front of us and cut the engine. After taking off his helmet, he glanced between Mason and me, a frown appearing on his brows.
“Hey, Coop,” I greeted, wondering about the reason for his unexpected visit. “What’s up?”
Coop lost the frown and the trademark grin that he always wore returned to his face. “You ready?”
I blinked. Ready? “For what?”
His eyebrows lifted and he looked at Mason again, taking in his state of undress before turning his attention back to me. “To go to the barbecue I invited you to last night.”
I felt rather than saw Mason’s body tense beside me.
Now it was my turn to scrunch up my brows.
“Barbecue? Coop, I said I wasn’t going to come to that.”
He stared at me a beat. “No, you said ‘thanks for inviting me,’”
I sighed. “Sure but that wasn’t the end of the sentence. Actually, I never got to finish the end of the sentence because Al showed up looking like he wanted to commit murder and after I sat and had a beer with him, I forgot all about the barbecue so I didn’t get to tell you that I wasn’t coming.”
Mason, who had been watching the exchange with interest, got a huge grin on his face. He took another sip of lemonade. He seemed totally relaxed all of a sudden as if he’d just settled down on his couch at home to watch his favorite show on television.
Coop shrugged. “No harm, no foul. Just grab your purse and shit and we can get on the road.”
I went over what I’d just said.
Hadn’t I told him that I wasn’t going to the barbecue? Because that’s what I’d been trying to say. I scratched the back of my head, trying to think of a way to turn him down without offending him.
I couldn’t think of anything.
This was my own stupid fault for not having the talk that I’d been meaning to have with him.
Why the heck had I put that off?
I opened my mouth to speak, but Mason got there before me.
“She just said she doesn’t want to go with you. Are you deaf or something?”
I swung my head around to glare at Mason. “Hey! That was rude!”
Mason and Coop both ignored me.
“Yeah? What the hell do you know? No one asked for your opinion anyway. And what the fuck is this?” He pointed to Mason’s naked torso. “You trying to impress her by walking around half naked, ‘cause I’m pretty sure she can see right through that.”
Oh boy.
Mason’s jaw got tight.
He leaned closer to Coop and curled his upper lip. “If I wanted to impress her, I wouldn’t need to take my clothes off. I’ve got plenty of attributes other than my body, you on the other hand…”
Coop’s eyes got dark and I sensed the coming explosion.
“Enough!” I shouted, getting in between them. Coop had been ready to throw a punch. I’d been fairly certain of it. And I got the feeling that once the first punch had been thrown, there would be no stopping them.
“What the hell is your problem?” I fumed, gesturing to each of them in turn, “Because whatever this is, I want no part in it. Don’t you dare involve me in your petty pissing contest!
Mason�
�s eyes widened.
“And don’t talk about me like I’m not standing right next to you, either! Coop, I already told you but I’ll tell you again—in plain English so that you get it this time. I’m not coming to the barbecue with you.”
A grin started to form on Mason’s face, but I cut it off with a finger pointed in his face. “And you can quit it! Thank you for spraying my yard, I appreciate it, I do, but you’re my neighbor, not my damn husband. I don’t need you to defend me or to speak for me. I can speak for myself. Now, I want you both to leave.”
“What?”
“Say again?”
If I hadn’t been so darn angry I might have laughed at the expression on their faces—shell-shocked was one term that came to mind. Seriously pissed was another. Either way. They didn’t budge.
“I said leave!” I shouted. “Both of you.”
I grabbed the empty glass out of Mason’s hand, turned on my heel then stormed back into the cabin before slamming the door closed behind me.
Let them digest that.
Grrr.
“Annoying. Childish. Idiots!”
Duke let out a woof of agreement. I sat down on the couch next to him and patted him on the head before scratching him behind the ears, just the way he liked it.
“Good job I’ve got you, boy,” I said to him. “Who needs men anyway?”
It was only after he sat down on my feet so that I could really go to town with the scratching that I remembered the fact that he wasn’t my dog at all.
Crap.
Chapter Twelve
I refilled Violet and Andrea’s wine glasses before topping up my own.
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything else, Faith?”
She shook her head. “Water’s fine, honestly.”
We were sat around the scarred pine table in my kitchen, our bellies full of chicken caesar salad and white wine. Faith had offered to be the designated driver so that Andrea and Violet could have a drink and we promised to have dinner at her place next so that Andrea could return the favor and be the chauffeur.
Both Andrea and Violet had brought a bottle of wine with them and Faith had given me a bunch of purple and white wildflowers which were sitting in a vase on my kitchen countertop. They were pretty and unassuming, just like her. I loved them.