by Dylann Crush
“You’re in luck.”
Dwight’s voice jerked her out of the past. She scrambled off the bike, tucking her memories back where they came from—somewhere deep and dark inside.
“Charlie needs help at the Rambling Rose. She’s about big enough to pop and said she could use an extra body to pitch in behind the bar, maybe wait some tables and stuff. You up for it?”
“Yeah. Of course. Thanks. I really appreciate you making the call for me.”
Dwight squinted and looked away. “You want a ride? I may as well head on over there myself. They got a special on tamale pie today, and my belly’s been bitchin’ and moanin’ like a bobcat in heat.”
She cocked her head. Was that a thing around here? Bobcats in heat? She’d have to find out before she spent another night out in the wide open. “I’d love a ride. Thanks.”
“I’ll meet you out by the truck in two shakes, okay?”
Jinx nodded. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to get stuck in Holiday for a couple of weeks. The weather wasn’t bad. She could find a nice patch of grass somewhere and pitch her tent. Working at a restaurant and bar would make sure she didn’t starve, and she could make enough cash to get started on fixing the bike. Her backpack wiggled. Hendrix. He wouldn’t be able to tag along if she was waiting tables. She’d figure something out.
Hopeful she was on the right track, at least for the time being, she let Hendrix out so he could stretch his legs and take care of business as she walked toward Dwight’s truck. How bad could this Rambling Rose be?
* * *
Cash leaned over the fence of the pigpen to scratch Pork Chop behind the ears. The greedy sow knew he always brought a treat with him on the nights he worked security at the Rambling Rose.
“Hey there. Kenzie wouldn’t let me out of the house without these.” He tossed a few marshmallows Pork Chop’s way. The pig grunted and snuffled, drooling as she searched out the sugary treats.
The screen door creaked open, then slammed closed. Cash squinted, looking toward the back of the Rose.
“Don’t you go spoiling my pig.” Charlie stood on the wooden stoop. She looked like a balloon about to sail away. He hadn’t gotten a really good look at her since last week. His niece or nephew sure had grown since then. “I was heading out to fill up her water bucket. You want to take care of that as long as you’re standing over there?”
“Sure. Where’s Beck?” His brother-in-law had taken on even more around the Rose since Charlie got pregnant. He was usually the one left dealing with the pig.
“He had to meet a contractor over at the house. I sure hope the baby’s room is done before little Sully shows up.” She rubbed a palm over her belly.
“I thought y’all weren’t going to find out the gender?” Cash walked around the fence toward the hose. “You know for sure now you’re having a boy?”
“Nah. I just have a sense. Did Lori Lynne know she was having a girl when she was pregnant with Kenzie?”
Cash’s fingers paused on the faucet at the mention of Kenzie’s mother. Hell, Lori Lynne hadn’t had the backing of a loving husband or supportive family when she had found out she was expecting. She’d been strung tighter than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs by the time she told him she was pregnant.
He replaced Pork Chop’s water bucket and walked over to where his baby sister still stood on the step.
Charlie held her hand out to him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“Not really anything but bad memories when it comes to Lori Lynne.” He gave her a lopsided smile.
“Well, I should have known better. I just keep hoping you can find somebody like I did. Someone to make good memories with, you know?”
He knew, all right. But pickings around Holiday were fairly slim, especially once he ruled out all the girls his brothers had dated. That was one rule the five Walker brothers never broke—they didn’t go after each other’s girls, no matter how long it had been. Presley alone had worked his way through more than half the eligible female population in Conroe County. Unless Cash was open to dating someone with an AARP card or a recent high-school grad, he was out of luck. Besides, he needed to focus all his energy and attention on the one female who needed him the most—his daughter.
“I’m glad you and Beck found each other. It’s just not in the cards for me.”
Charlie put an arm around him, propelling him toward the doorway. “Never say never. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to open my heart again after Jackson died. But look at me now.”
He slung an arm around his sister’s shoulders. That was the truth. No one had thought she’d be open to love again after she lost her fiancé. Thank God Beck came along. Maybe she was right. He thought he’d found love with Lori Lynne. Looking back, he’d come to realize he’d been infatuated and just trying to do the right thing when she found out she was pregnant. But maybe there was someone out there who would be a good fit for him and Kenzie.
Charlie shrugged his arm off as she stepped through the doorway. “Now, how about something to eat before you start busting fights apart tonight?”
“You know I’d never turn down Angelo’s ribs.”
He followed his sister through the back hall and into the kitchen. Angelo, the head chef, had his hands buried in some sort of dough. He nodded in acknowledgment at Cash. “Fix you a slab, bro?”
“You know I’d love it.” Cash patted his stomach. Finger-licking didn’t begin to describe the way Angelo cooked up a slab of ribs.
“I’ll send an order out. Just give me a few.” Angelo turned his attention to the floured surface in front of him.
“What’s he working on?” Cash asked Charlie.
“New biscuit recipe. Why don’t you grab a seat? The food will be out in a couple of minutes. We’ve got the twins from Abilene playing tonight. You know they always draw a rough-and-tumble kind of crowd.”
“I can handle it.” Might be good to have to break up a few fights tonight. He’d been pissed off all week and could use a way to blow off some steam. Since his folks kept Kenzie at the big house on the nights he helped out at the Rose or had to pull an evening shift, there’d be nobody to notice if he came home with a bloodied nose or a few scrapes and scuffs.
Charlie stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Oh, I need to introduce you to the new bartender.”
“You finally found someone to pitch in?”
“Yeah. Crazy thing. Dwight brought her over. She’s been working here the past couple of days.”
The muscles in his shoulders bunched up, tense, waiting to round the corner and get his first look at the new bartender. Charlie couldn’t be talking about Jinx. The last place that woman would fit in was the Rambling Rose, the oldest honky-tonk in Texas. She’d be more at home at one of the raves he’d broken up at the abandoned grain mill in the next town over.
But there she was, commanding the space behind the bar. Teal hair spilled over her shoulders.
Bare shoulders.
A hot-pink Rambling Rose tank top clung to her frame like it had been spray-painted on. The scoop neck dipped low—too low—revealing an appealing glimpse of cleavage.
All the blood drained from his face to his crotch. Last time he’d seen her, she’d been covered in a black leather jacket that was at least two sizes too big. Now all he could see was skin. Skin covered in ink. Ink with swirls, drawing his gaze over her arms, her collarbone, her chest.
As he stood there staring, silently willing the blood to stop gravitating downward, she looked up. Her eyes locked with his. A flare of surprise flitted across her face, then she looked away.
“Wait. Do you two… Have you met her already?” Charlie squeezed his forearm, her attention bouncing back and forth between him and Jinx.
“Yeah. I ran into her earlier this week. Her bike broke down, and I gave her a lift to Dwight
’s.” He faced his sister. “You hired her? What do you even know about her situation? She was evasive when I tried to talk to her. Didn’t want to answer my questions. Could be trouble, Charlie.”
She dismissed his concern with a scowl. “There you go again. Did you try to have a conversation with her, or did you grill her like a cop? You always think the worst about people.” Charlie moved toward the bar. Toward Jinx. “She’s on her way to New Orleans. Just needs to make some money to get her bike fixed up. It’s too bad she’s not planning on sticking around permanently though. She seems to know her way behind the bar, and with Beck spending more and more time on his craft brewery, I could use the help.”
Cash reluctantly followed, moving closer and closer to Jinx with every step.
Jinx looked up, nudging her chin his way. “Hey.”
Charlie twisted to face him, waiting for a response.
“Hi. Uh, looks like you’re working here now.” He tucked his thumbs through his belt loops, rocking back on the heels of his boots.
Jinx reached for a glass from the rack overhead, giving him a good look at the ink covering her triceps. Some sort of quote or something. “What gave it away? The fact that I’m standing behind the bar in a Rambling Rose tank top? Or did you think I sneaked back here to try to steal a beer?”
“Look, I’m in law enforcement. I’m suspicious of everyone.”
“Cash…” Charlie drew his name out while she clamped her hands to her hips. “What did you do to Jinx?”
“Nothing.” That was the truth. He hadn’t done anything to her. Couldn’t blame him for being a little leery of her though. Folks like Jinx didn’t settle in tiny towns in Texas.
“Whatever he did, please forgive him. He takes after the bumpkin side of the family. He’s just not sure what to make of a city girl like yourself.” Charlie whirled around to face Cash. “And you”—she thrust a finger in his face—“you watch your step around here.”
He rolled his eyes, snatched her finger, and flung an arm around her. “Don’t be making idle threats. Jinx and I are just fine. Right?”
Jinx swept a trio of empty mugs off the bar and stacked them in the bin below. “Sure. We’ll be just fine as long as you stay out of my way, ’kay?”
“My pleasure.” He took off his hat, bending into an exaggerated bow, then backed away toward a table to wait for his dinner. Charlie was such a bleeding heart, she’d give a complete stranger the clothes off her back if they looked like they needed them more. He’d have to keep an eye on Jinx. His gut told him she was hiding something, and he’d be damned if he’d let her take advantage of his sister’s hospitality.
The ribs arrived, and he managed to get his fill before the band started. Jinx must have felt his gaze on her. She kept glancing his direction, that swoop of hair falling over her eyes. The guys sitting at the bar seemed to appreciate the new view. The regular bartender, Shep, was good at pulling a beer, but he didn’t provide much in the way of eye candy.
Jinx, on the other hand, had all her assets on full display. The way the good ole boys nudged each other when she bent down to retrieve something behind the bar made his blood heat up a few degrees. Made him want to take off his shirt and throw it over her shoulders. Made him want to punch something.
Jinx looked like the kind of girl who could handle herself. As long as she didn’t cause trouble and kept her hand out of the till, he’d let her bide her time here until she could get her bike fixed up and get out of town. Before he did something he’d regret, he headed out front to make sure the bouncer was actually carding people this week.
The night wore on. The band hardly left the stage. The beer flowed, and the crowd erupted into a few fistfights and borderline brawls, keeping him busy straight through to last call. By the time he made it to the bar for a water, there were only a few die-hard drinkers left.
“How’d your night go?” He leaned against a stool while he filled a plastic cup from the giant cooler of water Charlie kept on the edge of the bar.
Jinx looked up from wiping down the counter. “You talking to me?” She glanced around, obviously giving him a hard time, since no one else was within five feet of them.
“Look, I don’t know what it is about me that’s got your panties twisted into knots—”
“Chill out, cowboy. There’s nothing about you that’s got my panties or any other part of me in knots. You’re not my type.”
Cash laughed. He might have been rusty, but she sure as hell sounded like she was yanking his chain. Two could play at that game. “Why not? Because I don’t have enough ink covering my torso to reprint the Constitution? Or because I’ve never let someone poke my body full of holes?”
She leaned across the bar, close enough that he could look down her shirt if he wanted. Too close. “You might just like some of my holes, cowboy.”
Chapter Five
What in the hell was wrong with her? Jinx backed away from the dark-eyed distraction at the bar. The last thing she needed to do was get on the wrong side of local law enforcement. Although, based on her limited interaction with Deputy Do-Good, she couldn’t tell if he actually had a right side. He finished his plastic cup of water, smashed it in his fist, and tossed it into the trash can. Jinx finished wiping down the bar top and made her way to the back room to take Hendrix out for another potty break.
“Hey, buddy.” She shrugged on her jacket, then unfastened the latch of his crate. He wasn’t inside. It had been a long evening, and she hadn’t been sleeping well, but surely she would have remembered if she hadn’t shut the door. “Hendrix?”
A scratching sound came from a dark corner of the room.
“Hendrix…” Jinx half whispered. All she needed was for someone to find out she had a contraband Chihuahua in the storeroom. “Where are you?”
Nails click-clacked on the ancient hardwood floor. She turned around to find Hendrix covered from head to toe in something white.
“What did you get into?” She made a grab for him, but he dodged her and raced back to the corner. Jinx followed, peering under the floor-to-ceiling shelf to try to find him. “Hendrix. Get over here.”
He snorted and continued working on whatever he’d gotten hold of in the corner. Jinx dropped to her knees and reached a hand under the shelf. Her fingers closed around the dog’s thin torso, and she pulled him out. His nails scrabbled on the floor as he tried to wriggle away.
“What are you doing? Don’t you know we need to keep a low profile?” She held him up in front of her to get a better look.
Something white and gooey covered his head, face, and paws. Smelled like…marshmallows? She swiped a finger across his nose and held it up to hers. Yes, definitely marshmallows. The little fiend was a sucker for sweets and could usually sniff them out if she tried to hide a piece of candy in a pocket. But this was the first time he’d gone after marshmallows.
“Let’s get you rinsed off and back into the crate so I can finish cleaning up.”
“Who are you talking to?” The storeroom door eased open. Dixie, the waitress who’d covered the restaurant tables tonight, stood in the doorway with a broom in her hand.
“Oh, no one. Just myself.” Jinx held Hendrix behind her back and leaned against the wall, hoping the dim light from the bare overhead bulb would conceal the fact that she had a stowaway.
“I do that all the time too.” Dixie moved past her to return the broom to its holder. “I’m heading out. Need a ride or anything?”
Hendrix nibbled on her fingers. “Nope, I’m good.”
Dixie moved toward the door. “I’m glad you’re here, Jinx. It’s nice to have someone pitching in.”
A high-pitched yelp came from behind her back.
“What was that?” Dixie turned back to face her.
“Um, me?” Jinx smiled.
“I don’t think so.” Dixie took a step toward her. “What are you hiding?
”
“Nothing.” Hendrix resumed licking his paws. For something so tiny, he sure did make a lot of noise when slurping marshmallow cream.
“Are you sure? Won’t do you any good to lie about it.”
“What do you mean by that? Why do you think I’m lying?” Jinx swallowed the rock that seemed to be lodged in her throat.
Dixie crossed her arms. “My gram always says little lies are what cause the biggest problems.”
Jinx tried to divert Dixie’s attention. “Great words to live by. Hey, did you happen to refill the napkin holders on the bar? I noticed we were getting low.”
“Distraction won’t work with me. But just know that you’re doing yourself in.” Dixie’s shoulders rose and fell again in a shrug.
Jinx scoffed. “What are you talking about?”
“Karma.” Dixie’s curls shook as she nodded her head.
“Karma?”
“Sure. You tell a lie and put bad mojo out into the world, and that’s what’s going to come back to you.”
“I’m not putting bad mojo out into the world.” Jinx winced as Hendrix lapped at her shirt. Her backside was probably covered in marshmallow goop by now.
“Then what do you have behind your back? If you’re doing something funny in here, I’m going to have to tell Charlie.”
“Would you please chill?” Jinx brought Hendrix out from behind her back. “It’s a dog. Or should I say a traitor?”
“Oh my gosh, it’s so tiny.” Dixie reached a hand out, and Hendrix licked her fingers.
“He got into something behind the shelf. I think it’s marshmallow fluff.”
“Probably so.” Dixie ran her hand between Hendrix’s ears, the only place on him not covered in goop. “Charlie keeps it around as a treat for Pork Chop.”
“The pig?”
“Yeah, she goes nuts for anything sugary.”