Page 109 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

I kicked out a stool for him. This early in the evening, the bar remained mostly empty.

“Why not?” He sat down, and Sam filled a glass for him and slid it in front of him.

“Thanks.” I downed a drink, praying for the numb I-don’t-give-a-damn feeling it would bring. “Sam has been telling me about all his ideas for a start-up.” I wrapped my arm around Myles, bumping him enough that he spilled his drink a bit. “Picture this. Hatching rubber duckies. You put an egg in your bath water and out comes a rubber duck. I think we should invest.”

“Kids would go crazy over them.” Sam dried a cup behind the counter.

“Solid idea. You know who I think would really like them?” Myles tossed another drink down his gullet.

“Who?”

“Angie.”

“Awww. Why’d you go and mention her?” My words slurred now I’d almost reached an optimal alcohol intake. “We were having a good time.”

“She gave you the cold shoulder today. I take it you weren’t successful in getting her to see your side of things.” Myles set his glass down, and I slid another one to him. “I’m good.”

“Drink.”

“Two is enough for me.” Myles held his hand up to Sam, indicating he wanted him to stop filling the empty shot glasses lining the counter.

“The woman I love will never talk to me again, and you refused to get smashed with me?”

Myles closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Here we go.” He took the glass and gulped down the contents. “At least you have enough money to break away from your family. Texas Bros: a place for all your extreme sporting needs, here we come!”

We clinked our glasses together and downed the liquor. The usual excitement at the mention of our store didn’t fill me. Without Angie, any dream was hollow.

“We need music.” I went to the jukebox and pushed some buttons.

The next few hours blurred together. Lots of singing. Myles and I performed a duet on the table. Somehow, the tie I’d given Sam ended up strapped around my forehead. I leaned my head on the cold bar and closed my eyes for ten seconds.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder. I rolled my head to see Myles snoring with his head leaning on the bar. I swiveled around on the stool. “What?” I blinked my eyes. “Blake?”

“Myles. Blake’s here.” I shook my friend awake. “Hey! New daddy. Have a drink on me. Drinks all around for the Richardson twins!” I shouted.

The patrons in the now-full bar cheered.

“I don’t need a drink. Just had to come see for myself how pathetic you are.”

Flapping my lips together, I waved my hand at him. “I’m not pathetic.”

“You’re going to give up?” Blake towered over me with his hands on his hips.

I jumped to my feet, causing my head to spin. “Whoa.” I held my palm to my forehead. “I tried everything! She. Hates. Me. With a capital H.”

“With how much time and energy you invested in buying Angie’s farm …”

I slumped lower with every word Blake said. My treacherous mind went back to our dirt bike kiss. To my hands holding her, teasing her, my lips on her neck, her abdomen. Then it moved to holding her while she sobbed, cradling her while she slept.

If only I could have more kissing. More cuddling. More of her.

“I thought you’d fight harder for her,” Blake finished.

“We’re leaving tomorrow.” Myles looked at his watch. “Oh shit. Our plane leaves in five hours.” He rubbed his eyes. “What is he going to do? Buy her farm back? His cut wouldn’t even come close to being able to do that.”

My mind started whirring, fighting against the alcohol in my system. Buy it back. It was impossible. My father and Matthew were very specific about owning the entire property, including the house. They didn’t want the aged farmhouse affecting sales. But what if I used my money to buy something else?

Jolting upward in my stool like a lightning bolt struck me, I slammed my hand on the bar. All three of my friends jumped.

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