Blah.
For a few seconds I totally forgot why I had agreed to dance with him. I quickly looked around until I spotted Jase. He looked miserable and somehow that comforted me.
“So, you couldn’t possibly be from around here.”
Turning my attention back to the cowboy, I smiled. “No. Fredericksburg originally, but I live in Austin now.”
His brows lifted. “Austin? What do you do?”
“I’m a financial analyst.”
“Fancy.”
With a slight chuckle, I shook my head. “Not really.”
His smile was nice, warm almost. I’d give anything to have it affect me in some way.
“What brings you to Llano?”
I glanced around for Lauren and Colt. “My best friends live in Mason. They wanted to check out the band playing here tonight.”
With a nod of his head, he accepted my answer. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jase walking by. Turning my head in his direction, I watched him as he walked up to another guy. They talked for a few moments when the girl he had been dancing with walked up and stood by his side. My chest tightened as I watched them.
“It’s actually kind of cool you live in Austin.”
Without taking my eyes off of Jase, I asked, “Why’s that?”
“I live there too. That means if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to talk you into dinner one night maybe.”
Trying not to be rude, I glanced up at him and grinned. “What brought you to Llano?”
“Hometown. Visiting the parents.”
I pressed my lips together to keep my smile back. For some reason I thought it was kind of sweet he was home visiting his parents. Why, I had no idea.
“Well, if we both live in Austin, I guess that means never say never,” I offered.
Brad’s eyes lit up while I quickly moved my attention back to Jase. The girl was talking to him and placed her hand on his arm. I couldn’t help but notice his reaction when he stepped back, shook his head and said something to her. The look of disappointment on her face was evident.
The song ended as Brad and I stepped apart. “Thank you for the dance,” I said with a grin.
“I hope it won’t be our last for tonight.”
Glancing over Brad’s shoulder, I watched as Jase headed out of the bar . . . alone. It was time for me to do a little bit of research. Putting my attention back to Brad, I nodded. “Same here. If you’ll excuse me, I need to get a drink.”
Before he had a chance to offer, I quickly walked away and headed straight to the girl who Jase had been dancing with. Not having a clue as to where I was getting my courage from, I made a mental note to let Meagan and Grace know. The two of them wouldn’t believe what I was about to do, even if I told them.
As I stepped up to the bar next to her, I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation.
“Jesus, Rick. You told me he was in a funk, but you didn’t tell me he was in that big of a funk. He barely even looked at me.”
I turned to see her talking to a guy my age. He was tall with blond hair and looked to have been raised on a ranch with the way he was built.
“I told you, Jill, he’s hung up on some girl. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some fun to make up for.”
Rick walked away as Jill turned and stared straight ahead. I motioned to the bartender and sat down next to her. I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was I wanted to know who this girl was.
“Is anyone sitting here?” I asked.
Turning to look at me, she shook her head. “No.”
After placing my drink order, I glanced around for Colt and Lauren. Smiling, I watched the two of them dance. I wanted a love like theirs so desperately.
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand men.”
My attention was drawn back to Jill. My head was spinning with different reasons why Jase left alone. I only allowed myself one brief second to think it might have had something to do with me. “Join the club,” I said with a chuckle.
She shook her head and took a drink. “I practically threw myself at an old boyfriend tonight only to be turned down flat.”
The feeling of relief swept across my body when she said Jase had turned her advances down. I let out the breath I hadn’t even realized I had been holding when she started talking. “Did he give you a reason why?”
With a sour expression, she replied, “No, but I’m guessing it has something to do with some girl he spent the summer with.”
“Are they a couple?” I asked, even though I regretted it the moment the words were out of my mouth. There was no reason for me to play at this game like I was.
Pinching her brows together, she slowly shook her head. “No. Well, honestly I have no idea. It’s hard being turned down though, ya know?”
With a curt laugh, I agreed. “Tell me about it.” Taking a small sip of beer, I set it down on the counter. “Will you keep after him?”