Page 93 of Beat around the Bush
I pocketed my phone with a chuckle. “No. If she was, I wouldn’t be standing out in this round pen freezing my ass off. The leasing company may let me purchase the Tumbleweed Feed building from them.”
His eyebrows shot up, a big grin spreading his lips. “That’s great news, Len!”
I smiled. “It is. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I haven’t seen their offer yet.”
He waved me off. “Whatever it is, we still need to celebrate. Watering Hole tonight?”
“I don’t know, Beck–”
“Come on. All of us at the bar, just like old times. We don’t all have enough nights together anymore. Even if it’s not a celebration, just come to hang out with your brothers,” he practically begged.
“Fine, but I’m inviting Oakley.”
He held his hands out wide. “The more the merrier.”
***
I swung by Oakley’s house after she got off work and dropped her car at home, then drove us to Outlaw’s Watering Hole to meet with Callan, Beckham, Reed, Bailey, Lettie, and Brandy.
The neon sign outside the bar illuminated the snow falling from the sky. The clouds had come out of nowhere, bringing inches of snow that clung to the ground.
I helped Oakley out of her coat, draping it over the back of a chair by the pool table, our usual spot here at the Watering Hole. Cal and Beck were deep in a game of pool while Bailey, Lettie, and Brandy hung out by the bar, nursing their drinks.
“Want a drink?” I asked Oakley as she stuffed her gloves in the pocket of her coat over the chair.
“I can get it. What would you like?” She was looking over to where Lettie and Brandy were. I didn’t blame her for wanting a little girl time.
“Beer is fine, baby. Thank you,” I said before pressing a kiss to her temple.
“Be right back.” She gave me a quick smile and then headed toward the bar, crossing behind the rows of line dancers two-stepping to some pop country song.
I made sure she made it to the three of them, then turned to Reed, who was sitting at the table watching Cal and Beck’s game.
“How’s work?” I asked him as I took a seat.
“Same old shit. Asshole horses and oblivious owners,” Reed grumbled.
A lot of the horse owners in Bell Buckle knew what they were doing and trained their horses well, but there were always the preppy ones who thought their horses could do no wrong and never worked with them. Reed had been broadening his clients to get his name out there, which meant working with tricky horses and even trickier owners.
“Any of them knock the grumpy out of you yet?” I joked.
He shook his head, a slight smile curling the edges of his mouth. “What about you, asshole? How’s work?”
Good ol’ affectionate Reed.
“Got an offer to buy the building today,” I told him.
I’d viewed the file once it came through, and they were cutting me a hell of a deal. I almost thought it was fake.
He faced me, brows raised. “Really? That’s good, man. I’m happy for you.”
“What’re we happy about?” Beck asked, coming over with Cal, cues in hand.
“The offer,” I reminded him.
Beck stuck a finger out at me. “That’s right! Good terms, then, I take it?”
I nodded as Oakley and the other three approached, beverages in hand. “I almost wonder if they’re tricking me into something.”
