Page 5 of The Cowboy's Unlikely Love

Of course the bar was busy – it was Friday night. Weekend nights were always busy. Tanner hustled ass as usual, but he didn’t waste any time on the attractive women in the crowd like he usually did. Instead of spending his quiet moments flirting, he headed back to check on Everly every chance he got.

She seemed fine. It was after nine o’clock now. Tanner didn’t think that she was still holding out any hope that her date might show – but he didn’t know for sure.

He hurried over when he spotted Luke standing at the far end of the bar by himself. “Are you ready for another round?”

“No – Kolby’s getting the drinks. I just came to check in with you.” He looked down the bar to where Everly was still sitting. “What’s the deal there? What’s going on?”

Tanner gave him a wry smile. “Damned if I know.”

“She’s here by herself?”

“She was supposed to be meeting someone – he didn’t show.”

“And now she’s waiting for you to finish?”

“I said I’d give her a ride.”

“A ride? Where to? She’s not staying here?”

“No. Apparently, she’s staying at the Remington place.”

Laney appeared at Luke’s side and smiled at Tanner. “So, you’re going to go for it?”

He shrugged. “I …”

Laney raised her eyebrows.

“Don’t look at me like that, sis. I don’t think I can.”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? You can’t bring yourself to make a move on a girl like her?”

He let out a short laugh. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’d love to, but it just doesn’t seem right.”

“Why not?” Laney asked, looking skeptical.

“She’s been stood up.”

“So? I hate to say it, your ego’s already big enough, but if some guy just stood her up, she might see it as a good thing if she gets to go home with you instead.”

Luke shook his head.

“What?” Laney asked. “You know I’m right.”

Tanner chuckled. “Normally, I’d agree with you, but you don’t know the full story.”

“What story?”

Tanner glanced back down the bar at Everly. He scowled when he saw yet another guy trying to hit on her.

Laney laughed. “If you don’t make a move, someone else will.”

She had a point, but … “I already told her that I’ll give her a ride back to the Remington place, but …”

“But what?” Laney asked impatiently. “What’s the big deal?”

“The guy who stood her up? She said that he’s the love of her life.”

Laney looked at Everly. “She doesn’t seem particularly brokenhearted.”

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