Page 30 of Now and Forever
"Oh my God, Victor looked directly at me again and gave me alook," Lydia emphasized and tried to recreate the look for Golden.
Golden grinned. Trying her best not to be too obvious, she looked through the crowd of people and back over at the bar, which was not so busy anymore, to see both Joel and Hayden looking at them. Golden swiftly turned back to Lydia who tried and failed to stifle another fit of gleeful laughter.
Too bad the Heathens weren't the only ones paying attention to them. For the third time in the past hour, a short guy wearinga badly stained band t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans came over to the jukebox. And each time he put on a display that he was selecting a song all while trying to make eye contact with them.
Sadly, this time he mustered up the courage to speak. "Hey there," the man shouted.
Lydia's smile faded and she shared a look with Golden. Together they looked at the man and gave him a strained smile that hopefully conveyed how little they wanted him there.
The message was not received. Emboldened, Stained Shirt Guy walked closer to their table, smiling in satisfaction as he eyed them both.
"You guys must be new around here. Where you from? Stardust or Fort Mason?" he asked.
He just listed the only two other cities in the area. Theoretically wouldn’t they have to be from either one? Annoyed and wanting to say something catty, Golden forced herself to drink her drink instead.
Thankfully a familiar figure appeared next to Stained Shirt Guy.
"Hey there, Dan," Victor said, putting his hand on Dan's narrow shoulder. "I heard Steve is over there waiting to kick your ass," he said pointing his other thumb over his shoulder at the pool tables in the back.
Dan's eyes lit up and he looked to both girls and back toward the pool tables. Whether it was his ego or both her and Lydia's desperately combined prayers to God to make this man leave, Dan turned and left.
She and Lydia let out an obvious sigh that made Victor laugh. Sitting down in an empty chair, Victor gave them a smile that could melt a woman's panties right off her body. Looking over to Lydia, Golden nearly busted out laughing at her friend's not-too-subtle lust written all over her face.
"So, what brings two beautiful ladies all the way from Stardust to our little town?"
To see youwas practically buzzing at Golden's lips. Dammit, was she drunk? If she wasn't careful, she was going to end up being an awful wingman.
"We're here so my friend can drink away a broken heart." Lydia said, gesturing to Golden.
Golden blinked in shock. How did she get mixed up in this?
But Lydia was too far gone staring into Victor's dark eyes to even glance at Golden.
"Oh really," Victor flicked a gaze at Golden, letting it linger for only a second before looking back at Lydia.
"Yeah, so if you think about it, Mr. Rosebank is the reason for us being here," Lydia giggled. Okay, she was drunk, Golden thought with a frown.
"Did someone say Rosebank?" The remaining chair next to them was suddenly pulled out and Joel sat down. His blue eyes practically glowed with excitement.
Victor chuckled. "These two are here because…" he paused and looked at Golden expectantly.
Golden blinked and finally caught on. "My name is Golden."
"And mine is Lydia," Lydia quickly interjected.
Victor smiled warmly at them both and looked back at Joel. "Because Golden here is heartbroken over Rosebank."
Golden shook her head. "Wait, I-"
Joel held up his hands shaking his own head in confusion. "Wait, you can't be talking about Grant Rosebank. That man is obsessed with his wife and his wife, Whitney, would have cut your throat while you slept. Who the hell are we talking about? Grayson?" he looked at her expectantly.
Golden felt her face heat and shot a scathing look at her friend. With both men staring at her, she shifted in her seat and tried to explain but Joel's grin grew even wider as he got his answer from her discomfort.
"Aww the straight-laced bastard, of course." Seeing her confusion, Joel relaxed in his chair and nodded as he took out his phone. "I play poker with them on occasion. They're moderately good," he conceded.
Victor gave him a deadpan look. "Last month you lost twenty-four acres of our land to Grant."
A muscle ticked in Joel's jaw. "I'm going to win it back," he growled.
