“Went to Paris, then pretty much started working full time for my father. Went to Montana for a bit, other than that, haven’t been up to much. You?”
“Well, I met someone in college. We got engaged and he decided he liked sticking his dick in other girls. By the time I found out, I’d already moved to Seattle with him and we had rented a house. I had a great job at a great school district that I had to walk away from.”
“Why did you have to walk away from it?”
Her lips parted as she stared at me like I had just grown two heads. “Well, I couldn’t very well move out and get my own place on my salary. New teachers don’t make that much, ya know. Daddy said I could come home and stay with them until I could afford to buy myself a nice little house. That’s my plan.”
Bringing the Coke bottle up to my lips, I nodded and said, “Good plan.”
“I think so,” she said as she squared off her shoulders. “What about you? You still a partying guy or are you ready to settle down? Rick mentioned you had some land that you got from your daddy.”
Good lord. This girl was on the hunt for her next keeper. “Nah, I’ve got a few years before I want to settle down with anyone.”
Her hand came up and landed on my chest as she laughed and shook her head. “Jase, you always did know how to make me smile.”
I lifted my eyebrows and finished off my Coke, motioning to the bartender for another. “Not sure what I said to warrant a smile on your face, but glad to be of help.”
We sat there and talked for a few more minutes before Jill busted out and said, “So are you going to ask me to dance or not?”
Setting my drink down, I held my hand out for hers. As we walked out to the dance floor, Rick smiled and slapped my back.
“She’s in a dress . . . easy access.”
I gave him a push and said, “Shut the fuck up, asshole. It’s nothing like that.” The last thing I wanted to do was hook up with Jill. Especially when every waking moment was consumed by thoughts of Taylor.
With a smirk, he replied, “If you say so, Morris. If you say so.”
Pulling Jill into my arms, I cursed under my breath when the song changed to a slow one.
“Great,” I mumbled.
Jill looked up at me and smiled. “I know. Perfect timing.”
Forcing a smile, I pulled her closer to me so I didn’t have to talk to her. The sooner this night was over the better.
Taylor
“It’s packed in here!” Lauren shouted as Colt held her close to him. The moment Lauren told Colt she was pregnant, I thought he was going to jump through the roof he was so happy. I had been sworn to secrecy until she got further along. I don’t think I have ever seen them both so happy.
“Wow, this place is huge. It’s deceiving from the outside,” I said looking around.
“Come on, let’s get some drinks,” Lauren said pulling Colt and me toward the bar. She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Well, I’ll take water, y’all can drink.”
Colt ordered a Coke since he was driving. I went ahead and ordered a beer. I hardly ever drank and couldn’t really hold my alcohol, so I always played it safe by ordering a beer and sipping on it all night.
Lauren took a drink of her water and turned to Colt. “Let’s dance!”
Jumping up, she pulled him out to the dance floor as I chuckled and continued my people watching.
The song changed from a fast song to a slower one. Oh, it’s Dan and Shay. I love that group. Scanning the dance floor, my eyes came to a halt.
“Jase,” I whispered as I watched him dancing with some girl. All of sudden the lyrics to the song played loudly in my ears.
He wasn’t talking at all to her, but he held her close to him. “Bastard,” I said out loud as the guy standing next to me at the bar looked at me shocked.
“Oh shit, did I cut in front of you?”
Pulling my eyes off of Jase and the girl, I took in the sight in front of me.
Cowboy. Tight jeans, nice body, boots, and a smile that would knock any girl off her feet. Any girl . . . but me.
“Nope, sorry that wasn’t directed at you. The guy who asked me to dance is dancing with someone else.”
I pouted as he smiled bigger. Good lord . . . when did I learn how to flirt?
Reaching his hand out for mine, he winked and said, “His mistake just became my gain.”
With a flirty grin, I set my drink down and placed my hand in his and let him lead me to the dance floor. The last place Jase would ever expect me to be is a bar in Llano. I had to admit when Lauren mentioned this place, my heart began to race at the idea of maybe seeing Jase. I just hadn’t planned on seeing him with another girl.
Lucking out, the next song was another slow one. Spinning me around, the guy pulled me closer and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Taylor. Yours?”
“Brad.”
Oh yuck. Why did he have to have the same name as my dad? Crap.
“Nice to meet you . . . um . . . Brad.”
“Pleasure is all mine, Taylor. I can promise you that.”
Ugh. Men.
He pulled me closer and I was praying to God this guy had something in his pocket and it wasn’t what I thought it was poking my stomach.