Page 43 of Honey Bee Hearts

I nod. “It seems like Steele births excellence. Which means I could use some of that,” I laugh, looking toward the dance floor. A few girls are out in front, teaching everyone to dance to the song. “So, which of you is gonna show me how to line dance?”

Trent immediately turns away and heads over to the bar. Unlike the long lines of everyone waiting, the bartender literally passes one to him without a word so he can skip waiting. Somehow, he finds an open seat with a straight line of sight to the dance floor before any of the guys can answer.

Colt shakes his head. “I got two left feet, so not me.”

“I can,” Rhett offers with a grin. “Gunnar can dance a little, too.”

I smile and glance toward the stage in the back of the bar. “Then let’s go. The band is coming on.”

Cheers erupt in the club when the band steps up on stage and starts talking. Plenty of people were already on the dance floor, but when the band gets up there, more flood it, structuring themselves into lines and waiting for the band to play their first song.

“Welcome to the Boot Skoot everyone. Some of you may have heard already, but the Green River Revival was signed just this morning!” Cheers and whistles fill the room at their announcement and the singer beams. “This wouldn’t be possible without all of you, so to say thank you, we’re gonna play your favorite song,” the singer says into the microphone. Hoots and hollers go up before the singer adds, “Boot Skoot, this is the Bootlegger’s Ballad.” The band launches into a tune and their music fills the bar.

Almost immediately, I realize I’m not great at line dancing. Once upon a time, I might have been okay at it, but I’m clumsy on my prosthetic as I try to follow the advanced movements of the girls dressed in their short shorts and cowboy boots. They seem to know every beat of the song, so they’re able to add dips and spins and all manner of things. The dance floor gets so crowded, it’s hard to even move, let alone dance, but it seems like I’m the only one not getting it.

“Follow my lead, Wild West Barbie,” Rhett tells me when he sees me struggling, and immediately shows me a simpler version of what they’re doing, cutting out the more advanced moves. I’m able to follow him long enough before he adds his own flavor to it and grabs me, spinning me around and dipping me before placing me right back in line. I laugh, enjoying myself as the songs switch and everyone just seamlessly moves into another dance. The bar girls lead everyone through it, sometimes a simple dance and sometimes a complex one, and we all followdown the line. At some point, Gunnar hands me a beer. And then another. I lose count of how many I’ve had after the third.

I don’t know how long I’m on the dancefloor before my leg starts aching. My eyes catch Trent’s where he sits off to the side, his beer in hand. He’d been looking around the club, but when our eyes meet, I pause before I tip my beer toward him. He does the same to his and I decide I’m gonna head over to him and take a break, but I’m across the club and I can’t cut through the dancing lines.

“I’m gonna take a small break,” I tell Gunnar as I step out of line and head for the nearest break in the crowd. Sweat is making my curly hair even curlier, and my leg is starting to ache the longer I’m on it. I’m gonna need a break before I make it to the other side where Trent sits.

Gunnar nods when I tell him I’ll be okay by myself and keeps dancing, him and Rhett having a blast. The moment I’m off the dance floor, I find an empty stool and lean heavily against it.

“Is this seat taken?” I ask.

A woman with a bright blue streak in her hair and dressed in all black smiles brightly at me. “Not at all. Go ahead and have a seat, girl.” When I’m off my feet, the aching in my leg immediately eases and I sigh in relief. “I haven’t seen you around before.”

I smile at the woman. “I’m staying at the Circle Bee.”

“Oh!” she exclaims, smacking a blonde woman beside her. “Naomi! This is the woman renting out Circle Bee.” At my look of surprise, she laughs. “Sorry. Small town. Everyone talks. I’m Kate by the way. This is Naomi. We’re from Steele Mountain.”

“I’ve heard a lot about Steele Mountain Ranch,” I say, smiling. Gunnar had told me all about it, about how Steele is named after their family. “My name’s Fable. So, you’re the Steele family?”

Kate laughs. “Well. . . yes and no. Dakota Steele is the family,” she says, pointing to a man sitting further down the table. “Him, Wiley, and Levi own it.”

“I just work there,” Naomi adds with a bright smile. “Kate here is probably gonna marry into it though.”

Kate flushes and I smile at the way she glances over at the other end of the table, but I can’t tell which one of the men she looks at.

“So, you’re dating Dakota Steele?” I ask, smiling. “That’s so cool.”

She shrugs and takes a sip of what looks like whiskey. “I’m dating all of them.”

I blink. “What?”

“It’s not exactly a secret anymore. Everyone talks out here,” she says.

“Sometimes too much,” Naomi grumbles. “I was about ready to punch Regina Lane right in her nose for what she said.”

“And they just accept it?” I ask. All I’d learned about small towns was they tended to be on the conservative side.

“Accept is a strong word,” Kate laughs. “More like they don’t get a say in what I do with my life, and Steele Mountain is a huge part of the Green River Basin.” She wiggles her perfect eyebrows at me. “Why? You thinking of roping the Circle Bee guys?”

“Me? Oh no. I’m just a guest,” I argue.

She takes another sip of her glass. “Mmhmm,” she replies. “That’s why every single one of those men keep looking over here to check on you every five seconds?” She leans closer. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Trent Coldiron here. Granted, I’ve only been around since Spring, but I was under the impression he doesn’t socialize.”

I follow her gaze over to where Trent frowns at his beer bottle, clearly uncomfortable. “I, uh, haven’t really thought too deeply about it.”

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