“Who’s Rhys?” Sky just looked at her. Recognition dawned on the woman’s face. “You mean that guy? The big tipper? Holy crap, I know I should have stopped you from talking to him. What did you do?”
Sky turned to her friend and told her everything, ignoring the way Joleen’s eyes bulged out of her head as she went on about that night with Rhys. She only stopped short about the part about him seeing her almost naked.
“Listen.” Joleen put down the unrolled napkin in her hand. “Men like Brock…when they find that right woman, they don’t just let her go. You’re that right woman for him. Everyone can see it. Jax himself said that Brock wouldn’t be spending time with you if you weren’t his true mate.”
Sky laughed. “His true mate?”
“Never mind,” Joleen quickly said, grabbing a knife from the dish rack sitting on the bar. “The point is that you need to tell Brock what you want. Make it clear. Whatever you’ve done, he’ll forgive you, but he needs to know what you want. Put your foot down and stand your ground. If you don’t this could all drag out for another few years.”
Sky winced. She didn’t like the sound of that. “All right. Dammit, I’m going to do it. I mean, that was my plan the last time I saw him. He was the one who stormed out.”
“Luckily it wasn’t your last chance.”
“Hopefully not.”
Joleen chewed on her bottom lip. Obviously, there was more.
“What?” Sky asked.
“You’re the one for him,” she quietly responded.
Sky giggled. “You’re more certain about it than I am. Is this about the true mate thing?”
Quickly, Joleen straightened her shoulders and went back to her silverware. “Forget about it.”
“I understand,” Sky said, not ready to admit what she knew.
Joleen winked at her, and Sky wondered if the other woman got the second meaning behind her words. There was something else she wanted to share with Joleen, something that had been weighing heavily on her mind for a while. It was the biggest secret Sky held, bigger even than the story about her scar, and she was getting tired of keeping it in. Not only that, Sky had the suspicion that Joleen was harboring the exact same secret.
Suddenly, Joleen’s eyes went wide. “He’s here,” she whispered, eyes transfixed on the front door.
Sky sat up straighter. “Brock?”
“No.”
Sky turned in her seat.
Rhys.
The saloon had opened only five minutes ago and he was their first customer. The way they left things that night, she had to assume beer and fries were his reason for today’s visit.
Sky had a feeling they weren’t.
She already told him she was interested in someone else, so why was he there yet again?
If he leaves me a two thousand dollar tip I’m going to throw it in his face. I can’t deal with this anymore.
She slid off the stool and walked over to him. He was dressed more casually than he usually was, in a t-shirt and jeans. Still, each piece of clothing fit him perfectly, and his hair was neatly combed back.
“Sky.”
“Hi Mr. Dillon.” Maybe some formality was still needed to get the point across.
“Can I speak to you outside?”
Sky turned and took a peek at Joleen who fluttered her hand, giving her the okay to go ahead. Sky almost wished she hadn’t. She didn’t have anything more to say to Rhys. An excuse to stay inside and work would have been more than welcome. “Sure. I’ve just got five minutes. Let’s go.”
Sky squinted her eyes against the daylight when she got outside. Rhys stopped near the edge of the parking lot and Sky crossed her arms, oddly uncomfortable as she waited to hear what he had to say.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Fine. What’s going on?”
“I had a great time the other night,” he interrupted.
“I did too, but I told you…it can’t happen again.”
“I’ll cut to the chase, Sky.” He peeked down at her through his long lashes. “I don’t care if you’re in love with someone else. If that guy made you happy, you wouldn’t have agreed to come out with me. He’s not worth it.”
“And you are?”
“I’m here…telling you exactly what I want. Not afraid to look like your well-dressed neighborhood stalker. That’s got to count for something.”
“I’m sorry if I led you on,” Sky said, the words rushing out. “But what I said is true. I’m in love with another man, and even if it doesn’t work out with him, it’s going to be a long time before I’m ready to date again.”
Sky stopped talking and pulled her arms tighter across her chest. She hadn’t thought much about what would happen if she and Brock stopped seeing each other, Mentioning the possibility out loud scared her.
How would she move on?
I wouldn’t. There’s no way. There’s no one else for me.
“I understand that,” Rhys said thoughtfully. “I’m not saying I accept it, but I hear you.
Sky shook her head. “Look, I’ve got to go…and can you do me a favor? I work here. It’s probably better if you don’t come back.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Sky pursed her lips. The guy was persistent. She had to give him that. It was kind of flattering, in a way.