Page 30 of Sweet Whiskey
Brielle snorts. “At least it’s not far. You know the only gas station in town.”
Spearing her with an amused look, I drive to that one gas station, pulling up to one of the twopumps available. I frown, seeing the long line of trucks and trailers parked along the road.
“That must be the parade Susanne was talking about. Wait, look at the name, Kinsey.” She points to the truck parked on the pump across from us. Two men linger near the back of it, talking to each other and waiting for the gas.
Asha Haven is printed on the side of the truck, a silhouette of mountains and a horse underneath. I suck in a breath and walk toward them before Brielle can even protest.
“Excuse me. Do you work at the ranch?” I ask, pointing at the logo.
His brown eyes sparkle with mischief as he looks at me, then they slide over my shoulder. He stands straighter, a more focused enticement clearing up his gaze. Brielle steps up to my side, sizing him up before narrowing her gaze.
He clears his throat, holding out his hand for me first. “Sure do, sweetheart. Name’s Cooper and this is Duke.” He points with his thumb to a man walking back from the corner store.
His face turns to us with a flirty smile, and my eyebrows knit in confusion while I pull my hand back, a little uncomfortable now. I had been attracted to Dallas, but I wasn’t feeling it this morning. Did he lie about his name? Is that how he picks up women at the bar? “He told me his name was Dallas.”
Cooper laughs, exchanging a look with Duke/Dallas. “Uhh. Yeah, I’m sure he did.”
“We’re identical twins,” Duke says.
Brielle snorts, and then bites her lip before shaking her head. “Ignore me. That was an inside thought.”
Duke smirks. “Thinking of taking a trip to Paris?”
My stomach curls. Not at the thought of Brielle with Duke, but Dallas. Which is strange because they look exactly the same.
Cooper punches him on the shoulder. “Dallas told you to stop saying that. You know he doesn’t do that.”
Relief surges through me, and I can breathe a littleeasier. Brielle sighs, twisting a lock of her hair. “Do you two?”
Both of the men stare at her with wide eyes, a blush working over their faces. My best guess is that they’re not the type of men who are used to women who flirt back, and they’re left stunned by my forward best friend. Brielle has never shied away from sex, even during her heats. She made it a point to find different partners. I cycled through the same ones because I trusted them and they knew what I liked. The servicing clinics are supposed to eliminate the awkwardness of trying to find a pack, and they did, mostly. Nothing could get rid of the embarrassment of stripping in front of a stranger for the first time.
“I think you broke them,” I whisper loudly; no point in trying to be subtle.
Brielle grins. “What a shame. At least I found out they were all talk before taking them for a ride.”
Cooper blinks and then scowls. “We’re not blushing virgins. It was just your beauty?—”
“Save it, cowboy. You wasted your first impression,” Brielle says, waving herhand.
I grab her arm and look at them with a tight plea. “Asha Haven? You work there?”
Duke crosses his arms. “Why?”
My heart plummets in my chest, and my shoulders slump. I’m so sick of explaining this story.
“We’re looking for someone, and we were told we could find him at the ranch,” Brielle explains for me. My fingers dig gently into her flesh in thanks, and I let her go.
Cooper groans. “Fuck. Are you knocked up? Mav won’t be happy if it’s one of the newer ranch hands.”
“Especially since Colt told Wyatt last time to pack it up after the whole scene with Cindy,” Duke says with a grimace.
“Wait, Colt? Like dark eyes, gloomy with a beard and a cowboy hat, Colt?”
They both look at me more critically. “Yeah. He’s the ranch’s manager.”
Brielle inhales sharply, and something inside me breaks a bit. I’d shown Colt the photo, and heacted like he didn’t know him. It’s possible that Levi isn’t there, but it’s more likely that Colt lied.
“I met him at the bar,” I say in a weak explanation.
