Page 78 of Rough Ride

Liz appeared by my side and helped me fill all the orders we now had to make. Appleton accepted a beer, then wandered out into the crowd of adoring fans, taking more selfies and signing autographs.

Johnny and Eli were trying not to stare at me while I worked, but I could sense their gazes every time I turned away.

“All right,” I said, stopping in front of them and crossing my arms. “Just say it.”

“Say what?” Johnny asked.

“Say that you’re surprised I slept with Chris Appleton. Tell me you’re disappointed. Just saysomething, because I can hear you thinking about it, and it’s driving me crazy.”

The two men, my two lovers, shared a look. Then Eli slid off the bar stool and slowly walked away. I stared at him in shock, and a sharp stabbing pain pierced my heart.

But he wasn’t leaving; he was walking to the end of the bar, where he spryly ducked under the railing separating customers from the work area. I stood frozen in place as he approached, smiled warmly, and folded his arms around me in a supportive hug.

“It’s all right,” he whispered, and I felt my throat tighten. “This doesn’t change anything.”

“I’ve slept with much worse,” Johnny announced from the bar.

“He has. I’ve seen it,” Eli said, still not letting go.

I clung to him tightly and felt all the anxiety melt away. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear that. How my fling with Appleton had been hanging over my head all this time, poisoning every other relationship I had, even more than the failure of my long-term relationship with Trent.

“We’re not disappointed.” Eli finally pulled away and wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “I can’t promise we won’t tease you about it, though. Just a little bit.”

I laughed through the tears in my eyes. “I’d be surprised if you didn’t.”

“Hey!” Liz snapped. “You’re not allowed behind the bar!”

Eli let go of me and held up his palms. “I’m going, I’m going.”

Liz shook her head as he left, but then gave me a smirk. “That was really freaking sweet.”

“It was.” I retrieved the bottle of Yamazaki and held it up to Johnny, and then to Eli, who was retaking his stool. “Appleton bought theentirebar another round. And he didn’t put any qualifications on price.”

“Normally, I’d never drink something that fuckhead bought.” Johnny’s lip curled in a smirk. “But I think I’ll make an exception for that fine whiskey.”

Eli picked up his glass and tapped it on the table. “Cheers to that.”

As I refilled their drinks with the expensive brown liquor, there was movement in the crowd as Appleton made his way back toward the bar. The room was packed now, likely because other customers had heard that the reigning rodeo champion was in here buying drinks.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought,” Appleton said when he reached the bar. “And I’m mighty offended you called our relationship a fling.”

“I got something that’ll help with that.” I grabbed a box of tissues from underneath the bar and slapped it down in front of him. “Take as many as you need. On the house.”

Appleton had an audience now, and a few people laughed. Eli was one of them laughing, but Johnny’s face had gone dark as he stared into his whiskey glass.

“I’ll say one thing,” Appleton announced loudly. “You were a good kisser. You know how to pucker those lips.” He pressed his own mouth tightly together. “I reckon that’s the only thing I miss.”

Dozens of eyes were watching me, waiting to see how I would react. But I was on my home turf, here at Billy Bob’s. I was in charge. I laughed deeply and loudly responded, “I’d rather lickthe floor beneath your boots after dollar beer night. It’d probably be cleaner than your mouth, too.”

The crowd responded with jeers and laughs. Eli was looking at me with a new appreciation.

But Appleton’s smile turned cruel. “Aw, come on now. Just one kiss for old time’s sake.”

I looked out over the crowd of watching customers. “Did I not make myself clear? I’d rather French kiss a rattlesnake.”

Oos and aahs filled the room, louder than the music playing from the speakers.

Appleton turned around. For a brief, naïve moment I thought he was leaving.

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