Page 18 of Hometown Cowboy

She sat there making small talk with people she knew as they came and went. The crowd thinned as the night wore on, reducing to a handful of people seemingly intent on milking their night out for all it was worth.

Darby looked at the clock over the bar. After midnight. Simon had replaced her untouched wine with a more acceptable soda water. She’d tried to get behind the bar and help out, but Max sensed her mood was off and made her sit back down on the stool.

Max kept glancing her way while he served more patrons, both locals and tourists. He placed a whiskey in front of someone and spoke in her direction.

“You miss Emma that much, eh? You’ve been moping around all night.”

Darby focused on him. “Yeah, I guess.” She spun the glass around on the highly polished bar. “Work has kept me busy, though.”

“They’re back tomorrow. You’ll have heaps to talk about since they’ve had crappy mobile reception where they are.”

“And you’ll have your Friday night barman back.”

Max laughed. Simon glanced at them from where he was replacing the clean glasses into the shelves beneath the bar.

“Hey, Gabe’s not the only attraction here, you know. Idoexist.”

“Yeah, but you’re married.” She motioned to Max. “He and Gabe were a huge drawcard for the single ladies for years. Now that Gabe’s off limits, Max will have his work cut out for him, fending off all the lovelies.”

Max grimaced as Simon moved off to serve a customer. “Yeah, nah. That’s not likely. I’m not as pretty as those two. Or Ryan. He and Gabe were a two of a kind. Where is Ryan tonight?” He glanced around the room. “He’s not been by as much while Gabe’s been away.”

Darby shrugged. “How would I know? Probably got himself some new toy to play with.”

Good one, Darby.

She almost cringed. She’d sounded jealous and snarky. She hadn’t seen him for a few days, and even though they’d messaged each other and everythingseemedfine, it had left her feeling out of sorts and at a loose end. Max noticed. He stopped filling the dishwasher and tilted his head thoughtfully.

“Well, see, that’s the thing. He hasn’t been hanging with anyone the last few weeks. Longer than that actually, now that I think of it. It’d be months since I’ve seen him with a woman. Do you think he’s sick or something?”

The question was asked sarcastically, but the strange light in Max’s eyes told her a different story. He was fishing.

Well, she wasn’t a damned cod.

“How would I know?” she said, repeating herself. “He’s a big boy, he can look after himself. Maybe he’s gone through them all.”

Max’s loud laugh erupted and caught the attention of a few patrons. He shook his head and leaned in close over the bar toward her.

“While that’s entirely possible, I don’t think so. I think something has happened. I think someonehas happened.”

Darby frowned. Max continued, “It’s interesting, don’t you think? That Ryan hasn’t been around much, and I noticed you’ve been pretty scarce for a few weeks too.”

Darby darted a glance at Simon as he came closer. “And? What are you trying to say?”

Max shrugged one shoulder. “Nothin’. But if Iwasto say something—there are far worse options out there than Ryan. He’s a good egg. He just has his ghosts, like the rest of us.”

Warmth washed through her that her oldest brother liked Ryan, and could possibly, maybe approve, if his words meant what she thought. Gabe was another matter entirely, but if she had Max’s support, then she would most likely have Simon’s, since he and Simon were really close, like her and Gabe.

“What do you mean, ghosts?”

Max looked at her like she was dense. “He’s had a rather rough go, don’t you think? First his dad nicking off like that when he was so little, then Britney. That on its own would be enough to make most men go hide in the bush and never even talk to a woman again, let alone be as happy and carefree as he seems. Then losing Lucy…”

The crushing sadness at hearing Max say Lucy’s name had lessened somewhat over the last few years, but it still had the power to bring her to tears.

She reached out and took his hand. “I’m so sorry, Max. I know it’s worse than useless, but I think about her all the time. And you. She loved you so much.”

Lucy had been the little sister Ryan never had. She’d fixated on him, imprinting like a baby duck from the time they’d started kindergarten. He’d pretty much ignored her for the first few years, but after that a strong friendship had grown. Neither had blood siblings of their own, so they chose each other.

Max’s face twisted, not in pain, but a strange wistfulness. “Yeah, Luce was one of a kind. She’s in a better place now. At least I tell myself that, because it makes it all less pointless somehow.”

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