Page 12 of The Talk Around Town

Emma waited while Darby and Amy extricated themselves from the booth, then shimmied along the bench seat to the end. They both linked their arms through hers and walked her out the doors, laughing as they exited.

Chapter Five

Gabe dumped thecase of whiskey onto the counter behind the bar, the bottles clinking against one another in protest at the rough treatment. He glanced in the mirrored wall to try and catch a glimpse of Emma, but couldn’t see her. Frowning, he turned. The booth was empty.

So was the dance floor.

“You scared her off, Brother Bear.”

Max’s voice reverberated in his ear. He turned to look at him.

“I didn’t do any damned thing.” He shrugged a shoulder, trying to appear nonchalant when his insides were still churning from that fight with molten lava they were calling a kiss. “It was nothing.”

Max’s eyebrows rose so high Gabe thought they’d fly right off his face and into his hair.

“Is that what you’re calling it? Suit yourself. If it was so much nothing, why run away so fast?”

Gabe shot a dark look at him. “I didn’t run anywhere. I went to restock the bar.”

The side of Max’s mouth twitched. He looked like he was trying hard not to laugh. That just ratcheted Gabe’s annoyance up to a higher degree.

“So you did. They took her, if you’re at all interested,” Max said, pouring a beer and placing it in front of a customer. He turned and leaned against the counter.

Gabe frowned and paused in the middle of placing bottles of scotch under the counter. “Who did?”

Max’s grin slipped free and he pointed at Simon. “Our crazy sister and his wife. I’m guessing they went back to Darby’s. Who knows what mischief they’re cooking up now.”

She’d already left, and he couldn’t go running after her to apologise. He’d look like an idiot. He looked around to find his brothers grinning at him like fools.

“So, she’s not your type? ’Cause to me and the rest of this place it kind of looked the opposite,” Simon said.

Gabe shook his head in disgust. “No, she’s not. I don’t care what it looked like.” He glanced at Simon. He shook his head again, then narrowed his eyes as Max’s smile widened. “You lot don’t have to look so amused. I didn’t think it was that funny.”

Max chuckled. “That’s because you were on the receiving end.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Them? They thought it was hilarious. I ought to give her a medal or something to show our appreciation. I sure didn’t see that one coming.”

“You and me both. Damn Darby. She’s only known Emma for half a day and she’s already running off at the mouth.”

Max’s face lost its humorous expression. “It’s only because she likes her. I can see why. Emma seems like a nice girl.” His eyes saddened. “Don’t write off whatever you’re feeling. Half the town’s in here tonight. I think ninety-nine per cent of the men are a little infatuated and happy to admit it. She’s nice. She made an effort to meet everyone, as horrified as she was to be the centre of attention. She’s kind. She sat down with Old Pete and had a drink with him. It made his night.

“If you weren’t attracted to her, I’d be really worried. At least you still appear to be human—I was concerned about that.”

Attractedwasn’t the word Gabe would have used. More like in lust, but he was damned if he’d tell his brother that. Gabe’s lips twisted upward in a wry smile.

“Ninety-nine per cent, you say? I take it you’re the other one per cent?”

Max had kept to himself the last few years, ever since he’d lost his wife to cancer; keeping his head down, working hard to make his business take off.

“No. I’m right in there with them. I think she’s great. I was talking about you.”

Chapter Six

Emma groaned atthe presence of the bright light and stuck her head under her pillow. Daylight wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Perhaps she was really a vampire. At least that would give her a legitimate excuse to hide from the brilliant rays crashing through her floor-length windows.

Oh, my head.

It served her right. It was out of character for her to drink so much. She felt so seedy she lifted the blanket, checking her feet for roots. Darby had explained the reason behind Gabe’s strong reaction to her misunderstanding and what she’d meant by him not liking women. At least partially. Apparently, she and Gabe had something in common—ex-partners who’d both been cheating bastards. Darby hadn’t gone into detail, but once Emma had heard the word cheated, she’d understood.

She rolled over and moaned into her soft blanket again. The bed felt too good to get out of, but if she didn’t take something her head would explode and then she’d have to clean that up too.

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