Page 6 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“I think you already know, Cowboy.” I tilt my glass in his direction, giving him an exaggerated eye roll. He’s wearing his standard Cade Brooks uniform of dark wash jeans and a button down, and his light brown hair is disheveled like he’s been running his hands through it.
My irritation builds as a wave of sympathy, or maybe pity, washes over his features. His brown eyes narrow on me as he asks, “Does Paige know you’re here?”
“I wasn’t aware I needed to get a permission slip from my bestie to go out on a Friday night.”
“That’s not what I meant. Are you okay?”
Guilt swamps me as I take in his chastened expression. “Yeah, sorry. Just a long day.” I pop a handful of the sour treat into my mouth, instantly regretting my choice of beverage as the flavors mingle into something entirely unpalatable.
“I’m here if you want to talk about it.” He reaches out a hand, giving mine a quick squeeze. Cade’s not known to be affectionate unless it’s directed at his wife, so the gesture somehow seems incredibly significant.
“Thanks. But I’m all talked out for today. What is it with you bartenders trying to be therapists?” It’s a half-assed attempt at levity, but it falls flat.
“Just trying to be a good friend. Paige would murder me if I didn’t check on you.”
“Thanks, Cade. Really, I’m good.”
He nods and strides over to the next patron, leaving me to my ever swirling thoughts and a negroni that I’m fairly certain could be mistaken for paint thinner. A text message from Eviepops up on my phone. It’s a photo of Rylin and her son, Jaxon, with an entire colony of barn kittens. Rylin’s face is gleeful, and I can almost hear her giggles. It soothes some small part of me to know she has people in her corner who love and adore her almost as much as I do. Lord knows her dad isn’t one of them.
My thoughts drift back to the call from my lawyer earlier in the week. I’d been working on a commission in my studio when my phone rang. I’m not sure what I expected when I answered, but it wasn’t at all what came out of my lawyer’s mouth. Austin wants to take me to court for fifty-fifty custody, despite the fact that he never gave a shit about being her father in the first place. I’m not under any illusions that he’s suddenly had a change of heart. Austin needs to keep up appearances and play the innocent victim, making me out to be the villain in his story. If they only knew everything we went through to get away.
“Can I buy you a drink?” I’m brought back to the present as a man I’ve never met leans his elbow on the bar, his body nearly brushing against mine. I recoil at the intrusion. He’s not exactly unpleasant to look at, with tousled blonde hair and blue eyes, but something about him is unsettling. At my height, nearly everyone towers over me, and this man is no exception. He slowly rakes his eyes over my body, stopping a little too long on my chest, before finally meeting my eyes. My stomach roils at the unintentional eye contact.
“I’m good. Thanks though,” I respond, politely brushing off his advances. Judging by the clench in his jaw and his pinched expression, he doesn’t like being turned down. A few snickers come from a nearby table, triggering my involuntary eye roll.
“Come on, honey. It’s just one drink. I’m Matty, by the way.” He holds out a hand for me to shake, but I pretend not to notice as I dig through the bag of skittles, searching for the ever elusive red ones.
“I’m meeting someone,” I reply. It’s a lie, but at this point, I’m willing to do anything if it means he’ll fuck off and scurry back to his buddies. I get the feeling this guy won’t take no for an answer and it’s unnerving, to say the least. I scan the bar, reminding myself that I’m not alone as I spot Cade near the door.
The man who introduced himself as Matty stands straighter, a sleazy grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Playin’ hard to get, darlin’? What’s the harm in a little conversation? You seem like you could use a little fun.”
Standing my ground, I glare at the creep, my voice firm. “I said no.”
His expression darkens as he leans in uncomfortably close, the stench of alcohol wafting off his breath. “I’m not leaving ‘til you give me a chance.”
Before he can push any further, Luca materializes at my side, sliding a protective arm around my shoulders. “Hey baby. Sorry I’m late.”
Matty’s eyes flick between us, his false bravado faltering. “I didn’t realize —”
Luca smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Now you do. Move along.”
Matty hesitates briefly, as though assessing whether he could take Luca in a fight. No doubt realizing he would lose spectacularly, he walks back to his table to a chorus of laughter.
“You okay?” Luca asks, his voice softening as he releases his hold on me.
“Yeah, thanks. These fake fiancé services are very thorough. What do I owe you this time?”
“Consider this your free consultation. How about I buy you a drink?”
With a teasing tone, I reply, “What kind of hypocrite would I be if I letyoubuy me a drink and not that other neanderthal?”
“Should I be insulted that you just compared me to that guy?”
The playful banter has a smile tugging at my lips. “I don’t know, are you?”
“Yeah, a little.” He smirks, eyeing my bag of skittles. I quickly slide it out of his reach and glare at him. He laughs at my possessiveness and the sound goes straight to my pussy.
“That sounds like something you should unpack with a therapist. Hey Cade?” I shout, waving my arm in the air to flag him down. His eyebrows draw together in question as he approaches me and Luca at the opposite end of the bar. “Luca needs your services.”
