Country Storm

by Cheyenne McCray

  He’d heard something from the direction of her bedroom and had walked down the long hallway to her open bedroom door.

  When he saw her on the bed, another man between her thighs, he’d gone cold. She’d seen him and her eyes had widened, and she’d looked frantic, like she knew she’d made a huge mistake.

  He’d just turned around and left, a cold, cold feeling in his gut.

  That had been around four months ago or so, and thoughts of it still made him sick. Jennifer had begged and pleaded for him to take her back, but he’d continually put her off until she finally got the message.

  Bear had an easy nature, but he’d only let someone cross him once. After that, he’d be polite, but that was as far as it would go. He might be what his brothers called a softy, but he wasn’t a fool.

  A nudge to his ribs had him cutting his gaze to Colt. “What’s up, little brother?”

  Bear shrugged and took the focus away from himself by asking, “How’s Alice?”

  Colt groaned. “Hell if I know. One day she was all over me and the next she didn’t return my call and I haven’t seen her around.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to chase her down, so if I hear from her, I hear from her.”

  Bear gave a slow nod. He’d never had a good feeling about Alice, but he hadn’t said anything to Colt. That wasn’t his place. All he could do was hope he was wrong and hope for the best for his brother.

  Rae approached them and Bear straightened on his stool. Colt jabbed him in the ribs again with his elbow, a clear indication that now was the time to make his move.

  Bear smiled at Rae. “You’re keeping mighty busy.”

  Rae pushed away a strand of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail away from her face. “It’s slowing down a little. But I shouldn’t jinx myself like that.”

  He looked around the bar. He hadn’t noticed the crowd had thinned. How late was it? He glanced at his watch, surprised to see it was after ten.

  “It’s about time for the late rush,” Bear said. “Do you have anyone to relieve you?”

  Rae nodded. “Patty just got here, so after I take care of you two, I’m going on break.”

  Patty had been with Mickey since the man had opened the place, some twenty years or so earlier. Bear had been just a kid.

  Colt elbowed him again and he shot his gaze to his brother. Colt mouthed, “Ask her.”

  Heat flushed over him as he looked back at Rae. “It’s hot in here and I could use some fresh air. Mind if I join you on your break?”

  Rae hesitated, then smiled. “Sure, Bear.” She glanced at the neon Budweiser clock above the bar. “Five minutes from now should do it.”

  “I’ll be ready, Rea,” Bear said.

  She looked at Colt, then Bear. “Need another cold one?”

  Colt shook his head and raised his bottle. “Still sucking this one down.”

  “I’m good,” Bear said.

  “Hold on, Bear, and I’ll see if Patty can cover for me now.” She smiled and turned away.

  Damn, but he liked the way she said his name.

  “Good job.” Colt slapped his shoulder. “Fast thinking on your feet.”

  Bear rubbed his ribs. “With a little reminder.”

  Colt laughed. “Any time.”

  Five minutes later, Rae waved to him and he left his stool to join her at the far end of the bar. She seemed so shy and sweet as he looked down at her. He hadn’t realized just how petite she was until that moment. He must have been too focused on her face back at the clinic.

  “Come on.” She inclined her head toward the kitchen. “We can go out back.”

  He walked at her side, keeping his strides short so she could keep up with him.

  Rae and Bear headed through the kitchen where Manny was cooking up pretty good bar food. They continued to the back door. He pushed it open and held the door until Rae had walked through.

  Outside was cooler. The desert usually cooled down significantly at night, enough that it was a relief after a hot day. The Phoenix area had so much concrete, asphalt, and glass absorbing the heat during the day that it never seemed to cool off there after the sun went down.

  Bear shoved his hands in his front pockets as he stood beside Rae. She bit her lower lip before meeting his gaze. “It’s been a heck of a busy first day.”

  Bear smiled. “I didn’t know it was your first day working for Mickey.”

  She nodded. “I was late because of Arthur, but thankfully Mickey was understanding and let me miss the first part of my shift.”

  “He’s a good man,” Bear said. “I see his dog, Hamburger, at my clinic.”

  “Hamburger?” Rae laughed. “That’s his dog’s name?”

  Bear grinned. “Hammy is a rescue—a teenager at the adoption center had started calling him by that name. It stuck and Mickey figured Hamburger was as good a name as any.”

  “I like Mickey.” A light breeze teased the loose hair that had fallen from her ponytail. “I could tell he would be a good person to work for.”

  “Where did you come from?” Bear asked.

  Rae’s expression shifted. Only slightly, but it made him wonder why.

  “Lake Havasu City.” Her throat visibly worked as she swallowed. “I needed a new start and I decided a small town would be a better fit for me. Marlee has been bugging me to move in with her forever.”

  It seemed like there might be more behind what she’d told him, but he’d wait til he got to know her better—at least he hoped he would.

  Before he could ask her another question, she said, “What about you?” She tipped her head to the side. “What’s your story?”

  He shrugged. “Born and raised around here. I’ve got a big family and we’re all over this valley.”

  It was now or never. He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you’d like to meet me for coffee at Heidi’s tomorrow. Say, maybe ten in the morning?”

  Rae smiled. “I’d love to.” Her expression shifted and he had the impression she wanted to take back her acceptance. But then she blew out her breath and straightened her shoulders. “I need to do laundry in the morning, so ten is good with me.”

  What was it he kept seeing in her eyes? Something like a haunted look. Had he been reading her all wrong and she wasn’t who he’d thought she was? He mentally shook his head. No, he was certain he knew the kind of woman she was.

  She was running from something, though, and he’d find out what it was sooner or later.

  Their gazes connected in a way that seemed to lock them into place. He couldn’t move. He wanted to kiss her, to hold her, to make her feel like everything in the world was good and whole.

  The door opened behind them and they lost the connection they’d just shared. Jane came through the doorway and she held open the door. “I need a break, Rae. Can you fill in for Patty so she can cover me?”

  “Sure.” Rae nodded. “I’ll take care of it now.”

  Jane just seemed to notice Bear. “Hey, Doc.”

  “Hi, Jane,” he replied with a nod.

  Rae cast a smile at him, and he followed her back into the kitchen and then the bar. He joined Colt while Rae took her place behind the bar.

  “You ask her out?” Colt asked the moment Bear slid onto his stool.

  Bear gave a nod. “Coffee at Heidi’s tomorrow morning.”

  “It’s not dinner and dancing, but it’s a good start.” Colt folded his arms and leaned forward on the bar. “You’re scoring better than me tonight.”

  Bear picked up his drink. “What went on while I was gone?”

  Colt shook his head and laughed. “Alice came in. She’s with some out-of-towner. You can tell by the way he dresses that he’s not from around here. City slicker if I ever saw one.”

  Bear looked around the bar. After a moment, he spotted Alice with a guy that definitely did not look like he was from King Creek. Polo shirt, slacks, loafers, and a big gold watch. Yeah, definitely not from around here.

  “You’re better off without
her.” Bear turned to Colt and said what he’d told himself he wouldn’t say. “I never had a good feeling about Alice. There are a lot of great women out there, and you deserve someone who’ll be good to you.”

  Colt studied him for a long moment. “You’re right.” He sighed. “One day I’ll meet her. Not giving up until I do.”

  Bear turned his attention back to Rae just as she placed three fruity drinks in front of a trio of women.

  She glanced at him and smiled before moving to the next patron at the bar.

  Bear took another swig of his beer. He was more than looking forward to tomorrow.

  Chapter 3

  Rae felt reenergized after her break outside with Bear. It didn’t feel like she’d been on her feet for hours.

  Every now and then she would glance in Bear’s direction. Not too long after their talk outside, he’d left his seat and she hadn’t seen him again. Cody had stayed and talked with people around him, but no one had sat on the stool Bear had previously occupied.

  She’d been disappointed he’d left, but at least she’d see him tomorrow.

  A couple of hours later Bear returned, and she’d realized she was smiling again.

  Rae had tried not to look in his direction all night, but she’d failed in that regard, repeatedly.

  During one of the moments she forced herself not to glance at him, she grabbed a bar towel and wiped down the bar top. She shouldn’t feel so excited about a coffee date when starting a relationship was a bad idea. Especially since she’d be moving to Albuquerque once the trial was over.

  She wiped away a spill on the bar top. Marlee kept encouraging her to stay in King Creek, but it wasn’t far enough away.

  The thought of moving sobered her some, but she pushed it away. Meeting Bear was a bright spot in the gray her world had become since she’d killed a man.

  Her throat tightened and she couldn’t get rid of the feelings of doubt and pain that encased her again. She refused to look in Bear’s direction, in case he saw how she felt written all over her face.

  Why couldn’t she enjoy something as simple as a relationship?

  For one, her plans all along had been to flee to another state when the trial was over. And two, she didn’t need to burden anyone else with what she was going through—Bear certainly didn’t deserve that. There was an even bigger reason. What if she was convicted and she went to jail?

  Then there was a big fat reason: she’d killed someone. What man would want to be around a woman who had taken someone’s life?

  Steve sure hadn’t. He’d dumped her not long after it had happened and had gone so far as to imply that she had encouraged the man that led up to the “incident.”

  Tears threatened behind her eyes. She faced away from the bar and stared at the shelves of liquor bottles around a large mirror as she swallowed hard.

  What she needed was to go forward with her plans and start a new life, get away from the haters and online bullies. She’d closed down all of her social media accounts, but there were still the newspapers and constant recognition that had driven her away from her home and from her career. Who wanted to buy a house from a murderer?

  She held her hand to her belly. It hadn’t been murder—it had been self-defense. Everything would be fine, as long as the jury didn’t find her guilty.

  Yes, a new start was everything.

  “Bartender.” A man’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts, and she whirled to face the person currently leering at her.

  Bill. She couldn’t deal with him if he was going to treat her like he had earlier. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—put up with it.

  She forced a smile and walked to the end of the bar where he stood.

  His gaze dropped to her breasts. “Hey, sugar.”

  “Up here.”

  He raised his head, his eyes meeting hers. “Huh?”

  “My eyes are right here.” She pointed to them and spoke as calmly as possible. “I don’t see with my breasts.”

  He gave her a grin that was meant to be sexy. “Who says?”

  She wanted to punch him. She wasn’t in an emotionally stable place to deal with this crap. Of course, she should have thought of that before she decided to take a job tending bar.

  “What can I get you, Bill?” It amazed her how she managed to keep calm as out of control as her emotions were right now. “Like I told you before, other people are here for drinks, too.”

  He leaned one forearm on the bar. “What do you say to pizza at Louie’s tomorrow night, just you and me.”

  “Even if I wasn’t working tomorrow night, I would say no.” Restrained anger edged her voice. “As a matter of fact, you could be the last man on earth and I’d still tell you to go have pizza by yourself.”

  Bill laughed. “We’ll see.”

  Could anyone believe this guy?

  “Last chance.” Clenching her jaw made it hard to get the words out. “Do you want to order or not?”

  “Gimme a Bud.” He grinned at her. “Add an order of fries with the works.”

  She gave a single nod and turned away to take care of his order.

  When she took him his beer, she refused to meet his gaze and slammed the Budweiser down in front of him. It was a wonder she didn’t slosh it over the edge of the bar top and onto his lap.

  After taking care of a couple who’d ordered a Crown and Coke and an import, she finally glanced at Bear. He was watching her with something like concern. Clearly, he’d seen she was upset, even though she’d tried not to show it. She wasn’t surprised he’d be intuitive like that.

  She moved to him and did her best to smile at him and Colt. “Anything I can get you two?”

  Bear shook his head. “I’ve had enough for tonight.”

  “Same here.” Colt checked the clock over the bar. “Looks like it’s about time for the bar to close.”

  Surprised, she glanced at the clock, too. “I didn’t realize it was so late.” She’d missed it if Jane or Patty had shouted last call. Relief flowed through her. Thank goodness this day would soon be over.

  When she looked back at Bear, he was studying her. “Are you okay, Rae?”

  She took a deep breath then exhaled. “Just tired. It’s been a long day.”

  “If you need me to have a word with Bill, let me know,” Bear said quietly. “I might be able to talk some sense into him.”

  Rae wanted to laugh. “You can’t talk sense into a man like Bill. They don’t know how to shut it off.”

  “I can have a conversation with him,” Bear said.

  Rae shook her head. “It’s fine. If it comes down to it, I’ll take care of him.”

  The last man who’d harassed her in a bar had ended up dead, so maybe those weren’t the best words to use.

  She tried again. “I’ll be fine, Bear.”

  He gave a slow nod. “Just the same, I’ll walk you to your car when you get off work.”

  She sighed and offered him a smile. “Okay.” She glanced at the clock. “But it’ll be fifteen to thirty minutes after the bar closes before I can get out of here.”

  “I can wait,” he said.

  “Thank you.” Rae left to take care of other patrons. Since the bar was closing soon, she would be cleaning up rather than making drinks.

  Rae stopped wiping down the bar when she heard Patty calling her name. Rae hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to Patty because they’d been going non-stop since the woman arrived.

  She turned and faced Patty, whose mascara dotted her skin under her eyes like punctuation marks. Her lipstick was crooked and her skin weathered like old parchment. She looked as if she’d smoked for decades and like she’d had a hard life.

  “Been a while since you’ve tended bar, hasn’t it,” Patty said like a statement, not a question. “It shows.”

  Rae’s skin prickled at the way the tall woman looked down at her like she was a beetle she wanted to squish with her fist.

  “It’s been a few years,” Rae said.

  Patty
snorted. “Looks like it’s been longer than that.”

  Rae’s skin burned. She didn’t need this belittlement from Patty, but she would have to sit here and take it, regardless. She needed this job.

  “Is there something in particular that I need to work on?” Rae asked as calmly as she could.

  “Everything.” Patty pointed to the bar top. “Get that cleaned up so we can get out of here.”

  Rae bristled. As far as she knew, she didn’t answer to anyone but Mickey. Still, she turned away and started working on spots like she could carve into the wood with the rag.

  “You’ve done great today.” Jane stood beside Rae as she set down a stack of tickets. “For a first day, you rocked it.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder in Bill’s direction. The man was downing a final swallow of beer. “And you survived that hick.”

  Rae smiled at the kindness Jane showed her, unlike Patty’s treatment. “I appreciate your help with my questions. You made it easier on me.” She looked at the almost empty tables. “You’re good at your job.”

  Jane shrugged. “It’s nice working for Mickey.” She leaned in close and spoke so only Rae could hear. “Don’t let Patty get to you. She’s like that to everyone.”

  “Honestly, that’s a relief.” Rae relaxed her shoulders. “According to her I did a terrible job.”

  Jane patted her shoulder. “Patty is another one who can’t shut it off.”

  Feeling slightly better, Rae glanced in Bear’s direction to see he and Colt no longer sat at the end of the bar. They’d probably gone outside. Maybe Colt was leaving, and Bear had walked him out.

  Mickey returned and helped close up the bar.

  “I didn’t get a chance to check in on you tonight,” Mickey said as he helped her put chairs on a table. “But I hear from Jane that you handled everything that came your way. Good job.”

  She’d seen Patty talking with Mickey, too, and had been afraid the woman would make her look bad. The relief she felt at his praise was like a weight off her shoulders. “Thanks.”

  “Go on home now.” He waved his hand to the door and raised his voice. “Go on now, all of you.”