Page 22 of Forever To Me

Walker

Red’s in my bar again, and I can barely think straight as the night goes on. Every so often, I hear her laugh, and I can’t focus on whatever I’m doing at that moment. As much as it fucking irritated me when she said she wanted to forget everything that happened, I can’t help but replay the night we had together. Her mouth on mine, my cock buried deep inside her. Fuck, I had the time of my life with Red. It felt like more than just a night to me. But I guess it didn’t to her if she’s willing to forget it and move on like it never happened.

She’s something else. She’s changed the entire energy in my bar. Everyone seems to love her, and she fits right in here, despite me wanting to keep my distance.

Red doesn’t seem to be the woman who sticks around a place like Bridger Falls. No one sticks around here, mostly they pass through. And that’s exactly why I picked this place fifteen years ago. I wanted to start over in a place where it was quiet, and I could live a quiet life with my kid.

However, there’s nothing quiet about Red. She’s a pure fireball bottled up, and she’sincredible.

Cash comes back up to the bar with a tray full of empty glasses.

“Are you cool with them setting up karaoke, Boss?” he asks, and I freeze as I bend down to put glasses in the dish bin.

“What?” I straighten.

“Karaoke,” he points across the bar to Poppy, Cami, and Red with a box and speaker. “They’re all excited, boss.”

Oh, hell no.

“We don’t do live music in the bar, Cash. You know that.” I groan, but I feel like a jackass as the words come out of my mouth.

“Until now. They’re passing the boot around for Wilder Ranch. It was Jack’s idea, but he wants to keep it on the down low. Ollie and Cami’s ranch is struggling, and they need some funds. So, all tips from tonight and the live music goes to helping the ranch,” he says as he looks at me like I’m a total asshole if I say no.

I exhale, and he knows he’s got me. I’d do anything to help them. Cami and Ollie have been good friends with everyone in this town. Cami’s a little nuts, but she’s a good person. Loyal and fierce like a momma bear. Cami used to babysit Mack when she was younger. They’re all good people. Except for Teresa’s ex-husband. But that’s another story. I look over to see Cami and Jack sparring again at pool. If she found out Jack was passing the boot around, she’d probably kill him. Mental note to keep my eyes on them tonight. I don’t need any trouble there.

Red and Cami get set up with the karaoke machine and stools in the middle of the bar under the light. She begins to sing, and people smile and listen intently. She looks nervous, but she sings beautifully, and Cami...well, Cami does not. But they look like they’re having fun. Eventually, Cami gives up, and Red sings. And she quiets the entire bar with her velvety rich voice. The crowd calls out songs they want her to sing, andsoon it just becomes Red singing and entertaining the bar. She seems to become more confident the more she sings.

“Alright, anyone have any songs they want to hear?” she looks over at me and smiles.

I don’t smile back. In fact, I’m going back to my office to catch up on paperwork as soon as Cash has things under control up here at the bar. But my feet aren’t working right now. I’m frozen in this spot.

I want to go back to my office. Hell, I’d even go catch up on the dishes right now, but I still can’t move.

She’s gifted, I’ll give her that. She hits every note like they were made for her. I wonder how good she is with that guitar I saw in the motel room.

The crowd adores her, and people dance, and the energy is great. It’s a great night, and Red made it even better.

I take out the trash, desperate to get out of here, and catch my breath in the cold, crisp air. Tonight, in the bar, every ounce of my patience has been tested. And I’m not passing any of these tests. Not even close.

The door swings open, and Maggie strolls out, looking relieved when she sees me. She pulls out a cigarette and lights it, then shakes her head. “She doesn’t know who you are, honey.”

“I wish you’d quit that,” I say as I look away. I also hate she reads me so well.

My body is riddled with tension; she rubs my shoulder. “She doesn’t know. But I told you that you both had more in common than you might realize.”

I blow out a puff of air and nod. Only Maggie knows about my past. I think. I’ve suspected some figured it out, but no one has directly asked, and Maggie keeps a lid on this town and keeps us protected from outsiders.

“What’s she even doing here in Bridger Falls?” I ask.

Maggie looks at me and looks over at the front of the bar,where a few patrons are leaving for the night. “She went through some things back in Nashville. She’s trying to start over. I don’t really know what happened. She doesn’t want to talk about it.”

That makes my blood boil because I know what it feels like to have things go down in Nashville. And I wonder what happened. Part of me wants to find out because I know how the music industry can chew people up and spit them out. But I also know that I can’t take that on. I can’t help her and risk exposing who I am. And while I know Maggie didn’t invite her here on purpose, I’m in a vulnerable spot here if Red were to figure out who I am. Everything would be a mess.

The night passes by in a blur. Red leaves with Maggie, and I hide in my office like a coward and wait until she leaves to head out. I can’t take looking at her and thinking about those songs.

I drive home, and my thoughts are everywhere. Everything was neat and safe, and nobody bothered me here in Bridger Falls. Then I feel like Red arrived, and everything is fucking with me. And I don’t know how to deal with this.

I’m off for a few days. Relieved to get out of here, I realize I need the break. I need to get her out of my mind.

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