Page 28 of Hard Rain Coming
Dallas grunted a response. Brad’s family owned the local hardware store, and as far as Dallas knew, Sam worked for them. They were decent men. Though he’d known them his entire life, Dallas considered them acquaintances at best, and that was using the term loosely. He only had time and energy for a certain number of people in his circle, so it wasn’t a personal thing. It was more of a practical thing.
He avoided eye contact and, therefore, conversation, though he did have to suffer through theirs on account of the close proximity. Brad sounded like a lot of married men he knew and complained that he wasn’t getting sex from his wife. To which Sam responded that maybe if Brad didn’t spend four nights a week at the Sundowner, it might not be a problem.
Sam might have a point there.
Brad then pointed out that Sam hadn’t gotten laid in nearly two months because no woman in their right mind would give it up for him. Sam chuckled and slammed his beer down on the bar. “Three weeks, my friend, and that last time was in Austin. There were two of ’em.”
“So you say,” Brad scoffed.
“It was a two-fer. You’re just jealous.”
“Whatever,” Brad muttered, clearly annoyed.
“Holy hell,” Sam said. “She’s still looking good.”
“Who?” Brad turned his entire body around for a better look and then wolf-whistled. “Them Bridgestones got some genes, that’s for sure.”
Dallas kept his face averted, but he knew. Damn, he knew. His body thrummed with a new kind of energy. The Vivian kind of energy. He angled his head a bit more and raised his chin so that he could look in the mirror on the wall behind the bar. He found her almost immediately. Hard to miss a woman like her.
Vivian walked through the Sundowner, her arms linked with those of a man who decidedly did not belong in Big Bend. He was tall and…elegant was the word that came to mind. His clothes alone screamed money and city, and his leather shoes wouldn’t cut it out here. Too shiny. Too new. He was older, with a thick head of snow-white hair and the kind of handsome features that were more delicate than masculine. A pretty boy who’d managed to keep his looks.
Vivian was laughing at something he’d said and then looked up suddenly, catching sight of Dallas watching her through the mirror.
He didn’t look away as the smile slowly faded from her face, and when she lifted that right eyebrow in a way that said fuck you, he grinned. He knew she’d left the ranch. He just wasn’t sure he was happy she was back.
The two of them crossed the room and claimed a booth near the back. He relaxed a bit when she was out of sight and when Jennifer, the manager who ran the place when Millie Sue wasn’t around, came over.
“Nora is still in the kitchen deciding between velvet cake and a raspberry lemon with white chocolate. I’ll have Kelli bring out your food when it’s ready.”
“Thanks.” He paid for his order and slid off the stool. Who in hell would have thought a place like this would employ a cook who could create desserts that would make a Michelin-star chef proud? He glanced toward the kitchen and then over to the booths, and before he could tell himself it was a bad idea, strode toward the one woman he should avoid.
Vivian glanced up when he stopped by their table. Her eyes were shiny, her cheeks were flushed, and that damn hair was a wild mess around her shoulders. She licked her bottom lip and met his gaze with a bit of defiance.
“Fancy seeing you in town,” she said.
“I get out every now and again.”
“I bet you do.” She looked across the bar at Kelli, then back to her companion. She took a beat. “This is Dallas Henhawk. Dal, my good friend Jack McDaniel.”
“Nice to meet you,” Dallas said, offering his hand for a shake. You could tell a lot about a man in the way he shakes a hand. Jack’s grip was strong, his eye contact direct.
“You as well,” Jack replied, sitting back down. “Would you care to join us?”
He caught the look she sent her friend, and it was clear Vivian didn’t want that. If he didn’t have Nora to think about, Dallas just might let his contrary nature come through and make her move over.
“Thanks, but I have to be heading back to the ranch.”
“Yes, the ranch. I can’t wait to see it. I’ve heard a lot about it and have read up on ranching in Montana. It’s quite a life.”
Dallas studied the man for a moment. He had questions. A lot of them. But he reminded himself that Vivian Bridgestone was none of his business. Not anymore. And what she did and who she did it with was her business. Not his.
“The Triple B is the second-largest working ranch in Montana. There’s a lot to cover, but I’m sure Viv won’t mind showing you around.”
“I’ll look after you, Jack.” Vivian grabbed his hand and squeezed. The movement left a shit taste in Dallas’s mouth. This here was wrong. What’s worse, it was wrong that it bothered him.
“Here’s your order, Dallas.” Kelli with an ‘i’ handed him a paper bag with his order inside, and he thanked her for it.
“Are you coming back to town this weekend?” Kelli’s eyes were hopeful, her breasts still perky, and her meaning was plain to them all.