Page 19 of Piece Of Me

The shadows lifted a bit, and she closed the distance between them. Nikki stared up at him, a tinge of sadness in her gaze, then gently pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I think you’re a good man, Taz. And Lord but you know your way around a woman. I don’t regret one single night you’ve spent in my bed.” She made a face. “Even if my neighbor Marge has kept the entire town informed on that matter.”

She took one step back. “I hope one day you find yourself some kind of happiness, because those girls of yours will grow and they will move on.” She took another step. “And you’ll be alone.”

“Some folks are meant to be alone,” he replied.

“That’s true,” Nikki said, turning toward the path. “But you’re not one of them.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You took the time to come here and tell me the truth. Do you know how many men just stopped texting me back? How many of them ghosted me when they got what they wanted, or met someone they wanted more?” She glanced over her shoulder. “You’re one of the good ones and you don’t know it. You have a big heart, and you care too much.” She attempted a smile but failed. “I was hoping to keep all of that to myself. Hoping to change you. I guess I wasn’t the one, but I sure hope you meet the right lady. Because it would be a damn shame for all of that to go to waste.”

With that she ran back to her house, leaving him alone with all that unease and restlessness inside him, as dark and heavy as the clouds now gathering over the mountains. He slid into the truck and revved the motor, thinking he should just go home. Things tended to go off when he felt like this. But the thought of sitting in his house, with no one around for miles wasn’t appealing.

Slowly he backed out of Nikki’s driveway, undecided, then after a few seconds gunned the engine. Screw it, he thought. Taz pointed his truck toward the Sundowner and in less than ten minutes was parked in the back corner of the lot, in the only space available. The place was packed, and the joint was thumping, the music loud and infectious. Even out here in the dark he could tell a band was on stage, the bass was hard to miss, and he heard the crowd singing along to some honky-tonk song about rebel rousing and heartbreak.

Taz made his way inside and spied his team almost immediately. The guys had claimed their usual table in the back corner, and he stopped by the bar to order up a round. He knew the barkeep, Jennifer, and she flashed him a smile as he found a spot near the cash register to pay her.

“I’ll bring over the jugs in a second. Let Mike Paul know the wings will be up in ten.”

“Will do.” He grabbed himself a frosty mug and headed toward the table, mindful of the crowd that hugged the perimeter of the dance floor. He found a seat and sat down, happy to let Mike Paul fill his mug with the last of the jug.

The Sundowner was at capacity; there didn’t seem to be an empty table, let alone a spot to stand. The band, a local group known as The Haybales, were a favorite, with their eclectic mix of bluegrass, country and rock. They were winding down their set, the guitarist playing a low, soft melody as the folks on the dance floor coupled up and began to sway. It was hot, the air heavy with dark and delightful things, but Taz’s mood was darker.

He took a sip from his mug and sat back.

“You break it off with Nikki?” The question came from Mike Paul. Surprised, and more than a little annoyed, Taz ignored him for a few moments, then shrugged. What was the point in denial?

“It was time.”

Mike Paul leaned forward, eyes on the dance floor. “You ever think we’re missing out on that?” He pointed to their teammate Johnny Pearson and his wife Lacey. The two of them had been together since their sophomore year of high school and looked as loved up as a Hallmark card.

“I’m going to get real acquainted with this here mug of beer and not think about anything else.”

Mike Paul raised his. “Probably the smart thing to do.”

Mike Paul was one of the first guys Taz had met when he’d moved to Big Bend. He’d liked him right away. He was easy to be around. And though he was known for his reputation with the ladies, he’d been on his own for a while now. Taz figured he knew the reason.

“I guess you haven’t heard from Ivy?”

“Nope.” Mike Paul sighed. “I thought giving her space was what she wanted.” He scratched his head. “Hell, it’s what she told me.”

“They don’t always mean what they say,” Brent Lickers joined in. “Take my wife for instance. Two days ago, she tells me she doesn’t want me coming along to her doctor’s appointment. How in hell was I supposed to know that was code for, you better have your butt planted in the seat beside me when Doctor Waters gives me the news.”

“What news was that?” Mike Paul asked.

Brent grinned. “That I’m going to be a daddy.”

“That’s great,” Taz held his mug aloft. “Cheers.”

“Yeah, well, she’s not talking to me right now on account of the fact I was buying a new tractor instead of accompanying her to the doctor’s office.” Brent made a face. “I can’t win for losing.”

“Women are complicated,” Taz murmured, turning away from the men as he looked around the bar.

“You got that right.” Mike Paul muttered. “It makes wanting them a hell of a lot harder than it needs to be.”

“Mike Paul, you’ve never wanted a woman for longer than a minute and you know it.” Lacey Pearson joined them, her face flush from dancing with her husband.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you just insulted me,” Mike Paul replied with a lazy grin.

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