Page 37 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

“I figured she must be. I was just seeing if I could get a rise out of you. I could tell last night – for one thing she was hanging out with your family, and for another,youwere different. Tell you what, I’ll cover for you if you want to finish early.”

Tanner narrowed his eyes. “What’s the catch?”

Brody laughed. “Dammit, Tan! There’s no catch. Can’t I do you a favor without there being a catch? I’ve never seen you like this before. I like it. There’s something special about this chick. If this ends up going somewhere, I want to say that I lent you a helping hand at the beginning.”

All Tanner could do was stare at him. “Thanks. I… I don’t know, bud. I like the idea of it going somewhere, but I don’t see how it can – she’s only here for a week.”

“Maybe so, but I know you; you won’t let that get in your way if you don’t want it to.” Brody finished adding soda to the drinks in front of him. “But we can’t stand around here gossiping; we have thirsty customers to keep happy.”

Tanner came back to the moment with a bump. Brody was right; the bar was lined with people who were all trying to get their attention so that they could order their drinks. He got back to work with a big smile on his face.

By the time they’d served almost everyone who was waiting, Tanner waved when he saw Ty and Shay come in with Laney and Luke. Once they were settled in their usual spot at the end of the bar, Tanner made his way to them.

“Where is she?” Laney asked with a frown.

“On her way,” said Tanner. “And by the way, hi,” he added with a laugh.

Laney shrugged. “Hi. I wasn’t dismissing you, I’m just excited to see her again.”

“How did it go today?” Luke asked.

Ty laughed. “Pretty damn well, if you ask me. He brought her over to the ranch.”

Luke raised his eyebrows, but before Tanner could say anything, Shayna chimed in.

“And it wassocool. You know what the guys are like,” she told Laney. “They were all trying to give him shit, and Everly kept standing up for him.”

Laney grinned. “I like it. I mean, the poor girl’s misguided if she thinks that you need anyone to stand up for you, but I like that she wanted to try.”

“Yeah,” said Tanner. “Are you all having the usual?”

They nodded, and he started to fix their drinks while he spoke. “You’re right that I don’t need anyone to stand up for me, but I’ve got to say that I liked it.”

The others looked puzzled, but Luke met his gaze and nodded. Luke had been Tanner’s best friend since kindergarten. Tanner didn’t think that the others were aware of it, but he’d always felt a little adrift within the family. The rest of them were all paired up. Ty and Kolby, and Laney and Janey, had always had each other. It was a twin thing. Ford and Wade were only a year apart in age, and they were close. It left Tanner as the odd man out in the middle. Their eldest brother, Cash, was quite a bit older than the rest of them, and he’d left the ranch when Tanner was just a kid. So, although Tanner felt like he and Cash had a special bond – that Cash went out of his way to make sure that he wasn’t left out in the cold – he still felt like a bit of a loner.

He shrugged, not necessarily wanting to explain that to them. It wasn’t as though he needed anyone.

After a few moments, Laney smiled. “I get it. I can’t say that I’m sorry that I kind of stole this guy from you.” She slung her arm around Luke’s neck. “But I get it.”

Tanner nodded as he finished making their drinks.

“Did she hear from her dad today?” Shayna asked.

“No. At least, she hadn’t heard anything when I dropped her back at the Remington place. I think she was going to give him a try this afternoon.”

Shayna shuddered. “I hope he had a good excuse for not showing up.”

Ty frowned. “I know what you’re thinking, sweetheart. You shouldn’t worry so much.”

“What’s up?” asked Tanner.

“She’s worried about Zeke. Travis still hasn’t heard anything from him.” He gave Shayna a reassuring smile. “But I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Did Trav talk to Eli?”

“He did. Eli said that Zeke left Salt Lake yesterday morning. Apparently, he had something he needed to be back here for last night. Eli’s absolutely convinced that he wouldn’t have started drinking again. He thinks it’s more likely that he’s taking his time coming back here because he doesn’t want to face whatever he has to do.”

“What does he have to do?” Laney asked.

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