Page 10 of The Trouble with Sexy (Rock Canyon, Idaho 0.50)

Mike came up behind Gracie, and they all gulped when Eric Henderson pushed his way through the crowd angrily. Eric was Buck’s son and handled the bar most nights, since his dad was semiretired. He looked from Gregg to Wayne and grunted. Looking around the bar, he hollered, “Who brought Wayne?”

Wayne’s brother Walter came forward, looking scared. “We came together, Eric.”

Eric nodded toward Wayne. “Get him up and out of my bar. And when he wakes up, let him know that this is the last time. He causes any more problems and he’ll have to get shit-faced somewhere else. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to throw him out. If your brother can’t handle his liquor, he should stop drinking.”

Walter swallowed hard, nodding at the much larger man. “Sure, Eric.”

Mike came forward to help Walter lift Wayne up and drag him outside. Eric turned his dark, intense gaze on Gregg, who stared back at the brawny bald man with the tree-trunk-sized, tattoo-covered arms. Ryan was afraid that Eric was going to throw Gregg out too when Eric asked, “I’m assuming you had a reason to lay out Wayne?”

Gregg looked Ryan’s way and said, “He was being grabby with Ryan.”

Eric looked toward Ryan and Gracie, shaking his head. His gaze focused on Gracie and he snorted. “I’m surprised you didn’t start this. It seems like anytime there’s trouble in my bar, you’re behind it.”

Gracie glared and started to open her mouth, but he’d already turned back into the crowd toward the bar, and the music started up again. Gracie turned to Ryan with a dark scowl. “I really hate that guy.”

Ryan laughed at Gracie’s expression, but her laughter died when she caught Gregg watching her with an intensity so out of character with his usual easygoing manner. Gregg broke the spell by clearing his throat.

“It’s late. I think I’ll call it a night.”

Gracie protested. “Oh come on, it’s not even midnight.”

Gregg smiled ruefully. “I have to get up early. It was great to see you, Gracie. This was fun.” He looked at Ryan with a heavy expression. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you.”

Gregg turned away from her to walk toward the exit, stopping when he met Mike at the door. She watched the two men say good-bye and her eyes followed his broad back as he disappeared outside.

Gracie nudged Ryan with her elbow. “Well? Aren’t you going to go after him?”

Ryan looked over at Gracie, nibbling on her lip. “Why would I?”

Gracie rolled her eyes. “Oh please. You were all pissed at me for not ca

lling him, and your eyes follow him everywhere he goes. You are totally into him.”

Ryan tried to form a denial. “No I’m not. He’s a good-looking guy, but we’re just—” She stopped and turned embarrassed eyes toward the floor. “Is it really that obvious?”

Gracie made an exasperated noise. “About as obvious as the way the man watches you. He is crazy for you, Ryan.” She gave Ryan a little push toward the door. “Seriously, the puppy dog stares are painful to watch. Go get him now, before I take all your sexy points away. And remember, attitude is sexy.”

Ryan smiled nervously at Gracie’s prodding and moved away from her to walk outside.

The cold air hit her like a ton of bricks and she shivered violently, searching the dark parking lot for Gregg’s Tahoe. Her eyes finally caught movement in the second row and she started toward him.

“Gregg, wait.”

He turned toward the sound of her voice, his face shadowed in the dim light. She walked carefully, afraid of tripping in her new boots. When she was a few feet away she stopped, wrapping her arms around herself. “I wanted to say thank-you. You didn’t have to step in like that, but I appreciate the gesture.”

Gregg’s expression was guarded. “The guy was all over you. I didn’t like it.”

Her breath caught a little. “Why?”

Gregg gave a snort. “Because you told him to stop and he didn’t. He needed to learn a little lesson in how to treat a lady.”

She stepped forward. “Is that it? You were just being the good guy?”

He shrugged. “That’s me. Just another knight in shining armor.” He noticed her shivers and shook his head. “Why don’t you go back inside and have fun? Enjoy your new look.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”

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