Page 2 of Hazy Shade of Winter

Our sister Tessa has embraced her new role as the bar's event coordinator. Now that our parents have fully retired from the family business, Tessa has taken over our mom's position. She handles the entertainment and party side of the business, while my brothers Tanner, Tucker, Travis, and I manage the everyday bar side.

"That, my brother, is the newest edition to the nursing staff at the hospital." I follow Tanner's arm as he points to the most beautiful woman I've ever seen standing on the stage, sounding more like a dying cat than a human.

With her long black hair, pale skin, and ruby red lips, she looks like Snow White, my favorite Disney Princess, come to life. Unfortunately, her singing voice leaves a lot to be desired. But you have to give it to her to be brave enough to stand up on the stage and sing with the confidence she's showing by attempting to hit every note with the enthusiasm of a captain whose ship is under attack but fails to wave the white flag in surrender.

"She's beautiful." I stare at the dark-haired angel singing her heart out on the stage with a voice nothing like an angel's and fall instantly in love, knowing she's not perfect.

"Yeah, well, don't get too attached to her," Travis lifts the case of beer off the bar with ease, hauling it to the closest cooler. "Daleannounced her as one of the traveling nurses, and you know those travel nurses never stick around once they realize how far away we are from any big city. They need the action of big city life—not the quiet small town life." I don't fault Travis for joining our conversation—reminding me of his own bad luck with Grace, who was also a travel nurse over the summer.

"Don't listen to him. He's a fool for letting Grace go without telling her he loved her. The poor girl was so heartbroken by his indifference when she questioned him about their relationship—I don't blame her for hightailing it out of here as fast as she did." Tucker adds, heaving another case of beer onto the bar. "I heard her name's Hazel, but everyone calls her Hazy." He nods to my girl, who's still singing her heart out on the stage, the light from the spotlight making her glow like the angel she is.

Damn, I've got to pull myself together—nothing can come from this attraction. Travis is right. Wintervale might be a fun little town to visit, but not to live the rest of your life in unless you grew up here or were lucky enough to find a girl willing to relocate to our small town.

"You know they don't all leave." Tucker says, taking a quick glance at Sky, another one of the travel nurses who hangs out at our bar and as usual her eyes are on Tucker's.

Those two have really got to do something about their attraction to each other. Sky has been coming into the bar for the last three months and every time her eyes never stray from Tucker. And he's just as bad, pouring the wrong drinks or mixing up orders because he's more focused on Sky than what he's supposed to be doing.

Last I heard Sky extended her contract with the hospital for the next year. Hopefully by then these two will have worked up the courage to finally say at least two words to each other.

"Yeah, and you'd better lock that down before someone snatches her away from you." Tanner slaps Tucker on the back. "I'm so glad I'm not a love sick fool like the rest of you."

Tucker shrugs off Tanner's hand, "I wouldn't be too cocky just yet. There's a new batch of travel nurses every three months. You might finally find the one."

"And give up my perfect bachelor lifestyle—no thank you."

"What bachelor lifestyle? If you mean hunting, fishing and playing poker with your friends every Thursday night—that's far from perfect. Don't you want to have someone by your side, to marry and have a family with?"

Tucker's words of having a wife and family hit too close to home. Instead of sticking around and listening to my brothers bicker about life, I grab two bottles of our craft beer and wander to the side of the stage where Dale has his Karaoke equipment set up and hand him one of the opened beer bottles.

"I see the nurses are at it again with their initiation." I casually nod at Hazel, trying not to stare but damn if she isn't the prettiest thing I've ever seen.

"Yeah, I wish everyone had the singing voice that Grace had. At least they're nice to look at, even if they can't sing a lick." Dale wiggles his eyebrows causing his cowboy hat to shift with themovement. "It's a good thing Molly has me locked down, or I might take a run at this one."

A growl escapes my mouth before I can stop myself—Hazel's mine—even if I can't claim her. Luckily the music and Hazel's singing are too loud for Dane to have heard me growl. Or so I thought.

"Oh so it's like that now is it?" Dale smirks, "Do you want to go next?" He motions to the stage where Hazel is finishing her song. "I can play 'Another One Bites the Dust' for you if you'd like."

Before I can correct Dale on his assumption, the song comes to an end and the crowd roars as the angel I've been fantasizing about, steps off the stage handing her microphone to a smirking Dale.

Our eyes meet and she stumbles in to my arms with a gasp. Her lush curves press into my body as I bite back a groan, "Sorry." She says as she steps out of my arms, leaving me feeling empty.

We continue to stare at each other, neither one of us saying a word. Thankfully Dale breaks the awkward silence, "Turner this is Hazy, the newest travel nurse at the hospital. Hazy, this big lug is Turner Thompson. His family owns the bar."

"Hi." I stammer, feeling tongue tied.

"Hi." She tips her head down tucking a piece of her ebony hair behind her ear—a stark contrast to the siren I watched strut her stuff on the stage only seconds ago.

"All done, Hazy? Or maybe the two of you would like to sing a duet." I ignore Dale's snicker, I offer Hazel the other bottle of beer as Dale turns away from us and helps the next singer pick out a song.

"Here. I thought you might like something to drink after that performance."

Her husky laughter goes straight to my cock, "I probably should have had it before I sang." She takes the bottle from my hand. As our hands touch I feel a spark shoot up my arm. My eyes search hers needing to know she felt it too. From the surprised look on her face, I know she felt it.

"You sounded," I pause, not sure if I should lie, but I don't want to hurt her feelings either.

Before I can finish she holds up her hand. "Please, don't." She laughs again, a full, deep, rich genuine sound—not the fake giggling from most women looking for a quick hook up. "I know exactly how I sounded. I'm surprised I didn't run all of your customers out."

"It's usually the opposite, they drink more to forget the performance." I joke, causing Hazel to laugh even more.

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