Page 17 of Any Cowboy of Mine
“That’s good, right? I mean, you can always make more money. What you can’t do is get any time back once it’s gone. Any thoughts on what’s next?”
Brad was relaxed around her, as long as no part of her moved or touched him, that is. Then he was a ball of nerves firing emotions and visceral responses to his brain.
“Yeah, actually. My friend, Jackie, told me about a boutique firm position that opened up just between here and the city and honestly, that sounds more like me than the job I had.” Sophie pointed to the woman she’d been sitting next to earlier, who was still deep in conversation with Steve, their heads almost touching. “And you’re right. It doesn’t pay what the firm did, but I know I’ll be happier there, helping people and knowing what I do matters.”
“You know,” Brad said. Sophie leaned in to hear him. “I don’t know the whole story about why you left, but it sort of seems like this was supposed to happen to you now. Like maybe you’re heading for something better.”
“I feel the same way about you,” she replied, pressing closer to him as more wedding guests piled in around them, crowding the bar. Their bodies were touching from their shoulders to their knees. Brad didn’t mind in the least. If only he could catch his breath.
“I hope so.” He breathed in her plumeria, overwhelmed with the desire to kiss her, which of course would be wildly inappropriate. “Um, can I get you another drink?”
“Sure. Alaskan Amber. And thank you.”
“Of course,” he told her. “Steve, how about you?” Steve put up his pointer finger, not bothering to turn around. Brad tried again, a subtle wink and chuckle directed at Sophie who grinned, conspiratorial.
“Not now, bro, I’m serious,” Steve said. He didn’t even turn around a fraction of an inch.
Sophie laughed.
“Wow. I guess they’re hitting it off.”
“Yeah, and don’t tell her this, but I’m not surprised. He’s sort of got a way with women.”
“Her too, with men, I mean. She’s like a dude magnet. I hope he isn’t expecting anything serious. She doesn’t do ‘dating.’”
Brad laughed, waving over the bartender, Sam, who Brad had worked with in Helena during their college years.
“Neither does he. These two might actually be good for each other, then. Give the other a run for their money.”
“If they don’t break each other’s hearts first.”
“That would presuppose Steve used his, all evidence of which points to the contrary.”
Sophie giggled. “I feel bad talking about them like this, but honestly, I’ve never seen her actually interested. Look at her. She hasn’t missed a word he’s said.”
“Why do I have a feeling we’re gonna have to keep an eye on them tonight?” Brad joked.
“Two words. Open bar. Oh, well, that and the fact that we’re literally in a hotel. Not a good combo.”
“Funny. That’s why I brought him—to keep an eye on me, not the other way around.”
Brad thought about how quickly the night had shifted moods. As long as Sophie didn’t mind talking to him, he didn’t care what Steve did. Good thing, too, since it looked like his friend wasn’t going to be any help to him any time soon.
Sam took their orders and was back with two Ambers in seconds.
Sophie spoke up. “Excuse me, sir?” Sam stopped halfway toward the other end of the bar, where Brad recognized one of Julia’s shallower, stuck-up friends, Barb, waiting with an impatient look on her face, her fingers loudly tapping the bar top with acrylic nails. Barb had once turned in a teacher at their high school for sexual harassment only to brag to Julia later that she’d done it because the young man hadn’t given her the grade she’d wanted. Luckily, the vice principal had been in the restaurant booth behind her and her friends and stopped the girl’s destruction before the male teacher could be fired. The more he thought about it, he realized he had half a dozen stories like this from his past that somehow included Julia and her crew.
“Yes, ma’am?” Sam asked.
“Can we get two lemon drop shots?” she asked, and winked at Brad.
Never mind that he secretly loved traditionally girly shots like the lemon drop, or that it would be good to have at least one strong drink before the ceremony, but the fact that she’d winked at him had him reeling.
What was it about her?
Sam placed the shots in front of them, and Barb mouthed “finally” when the bartender got to her.Well, she’s still as pleasant as ever.
“To the bride and groom,” he said, turning his focus back to the stunning woman at his side.
