Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
That wasn’t even her drink, was it?
“Is that your drink?” he asked.
“What? Uh, no. Ice?”
“No, thanks.”
She stared down at her hand, then groaned. “I didn’t even think about cleaning my hand first. What is wrong with me?” She put the ice cubes back. “I’ll go get some clean ice. Wait here.”
Clean ice?
Tanner watched as she moved through the crowd of people to the bar, flagging down the bartender.
Raid shot him a questioning look, but he just smiled back at him. He was good.
He thought.
When she returned, she held a glass of ice. “I am so sorry.”
He shook his head, then popped some ice into his mouth. “It’s all good, darlin’. Just an accident. They happen.”
She sighed. “With me more than anyone else. Can I get you anything else?”
“How about you tell me your name?”
“Oh, it’s Lilac.”
“Hey, Lilac, I’m Tanner.” He held out his hand to her.
“Nice to meet you, Tanner. Are you here in Hopesville for the rodeo?” she asked.
“Yep.”
“Are you entering?” she asked.
“Yeah. Tomorrow afternoon.”
“I have to get back to work. Will you come back tomorrow night?” she asked, looking hopeful.
“You working?”
“Yep.”
“Then I’ll be here, darlin’.”
2
Two nights later . . .
“Hey, there, cowboy. What’re you doing in a joint like this?”
Happiness filled Tanner as Lilac slid into the chair next to him. “Well, I heard it has this really gorgeous, amazing, sweet . . . beer.”
“Beer! What?”
“Why? Were you expecting me to say something else?” he teased.
“Yeah. I thought you might’ve been talking about Harry.”
Tanner glanced over at the bartender, who had a huge beard that finished halfway down his chest and not a single hair on his head. He had that look of a man that had seen a lot, done a lot, and could only remember half of it. “Hmm, strangely, facial hair doesn’t do it for me.”
“No?” she said in surprise. “Darn. And here I was going to let mine grow out. I’m sick of shaving it every morning.” She touched her chin, giggling.
“For you, I’d make an exception.”
“Yeah?” She looked excited but also nervous. Slightly tense.
He felt like he was getting mixed signals. She seemed into him, but skittish.
Yeah, that was the word he’d use.
“Yep.” They’d spent all of last night chatting and flirting while she worked. She was easy to talk to. Tanner wished she had tonight off as he wanted to spend the entire night with her.
“What time are you working to tonight, darlin’?” he asked.
She wrinkled her nose, which might be the most adorable thing he’d ever seen. “Midnight.”
Fuck.
“When’s your next night off?”
“I finish early this Saturday and then I have Sunday off.”
“Yeah?” It was only Thursday, but it was something. “Well, save your Saturday night for me.”
“Your wish is my command, cowboy,” she teased.
“I’ll remember that.”
One of the waitresses walked past and shot her a dirty look. Lilac jumped to her feet. “What can I get you?”
“Nothing, darlin’. I have to go soon. I’m in the rodeo tomorrow.”
“I wish I could come watch.”
“Why don’t you? You’re not working in the morning, are you?”
“Oh no. Just . . . other things going on.” She moved off before he could question her.
Hmm. Something going on with her, but it wasn’t like he had the right to question her.
Someone else slid into her seat and he glanced over at Raid, who grinned at him.
He groaned. Fucking wonderful. “What are you doing here?”
“Came to look for my baby brother, of course. Three nights in a row, huh?”
“Maybe I just like the beer and atmosphere.”
“Right. The atmosphere. Yeah, the atmosphere is really, really nice.” Raid glanced over at Lilac.
“Don’t look at her.” Tanner scowled at him.
Raid held up his hands. “Whoa. Sorry. I didn’t mean anything bad.”
“I know . . . just . . . don’t.” He didn’t want anyone looking at her. Including his brother.
“Remember that you just met her,” Raid cautioned. “You don’t really know her.”
No. But he wanted to know her better. To spend time with her.
“We’re spending Saturday night and Sunday together.”
“We leave Sunday afternoon,” Raid pointed out.
“We can go on Monday. Right?”
“Sure,” Raid said slowly. “I mean, Alec is gonna want to know why and I don’t think you falling for the waitress is going to make him happy.”
“Her name is Lilac and she’s more than just the waitress. She’s the girl I’m going to marry.”
Partly, he said it to rile Raid up. But also . . . yeah, it didn’t feel wrong.
Raid groaned. “Are you kidding me?”
“Nope. She’s the one.”
Raid started muttering under his breath. “This is just fucking great. You’re not supposed to find ‘the one’ yet. I haven’t found mine! Butch hasn’t even found his.”
“It doesn’t have to go from oldest to youngest,” Tanner told him.
“It has so far. And I don’t want to find my ‘the one’.”
Tanner just rolled his eyes at Raid. No one said that he couldn’t find his girl first. Raid would just have to suck it up.