Tonight, his olive-green T-shirt said ARMY across the front, and his cap read Silver Ridge FD. Because he liked everyone to know his business at all times.
“And speaking of new faces,” Callum muttered, lifting his chin and gesturing to something behind us.
Somehow, I already guessed what I would see.
Piper sat with a few of her girlfriends at a table. And there was Emma. She had on the same casual clothes as this morning, but her hair was down and curled. Her profile was visible, a smile brightening her blue eyes.
I couldn’t see the blue from here, of course. But I knew they were blue. Just like I could smell her sweet floral scent from across this crowded brewery.
The woman was inescapable.
“The new music teacher.” My little brother’s voice was laced with innuendo. “Ashford’s been pissy about her the last week, but I really don’t see the problem.”
I bristled, swiveling back to frown at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Judson sipped his porter. “I think Callum’s referring to her many pleasing physical attributes.”
Elias snorted into his rum and coke. “Watch out, Ashford. If your little brother doesn’t snag her, this cowboy wordsmith over here will.” He nudged his elbow at Judson.
“Nobody’s going tosnagEmma.” I crossed my arms, elbows thunking on the bar top. “And if they did, it’s nothing to do with me.”
The three of them exchanged amused glances.
Why had I come here again?
Judson was in fact our resident poet, though he tried to deny it. You’d never know it looking at him. He was six-foot-six, a former defensive tackle on our high school team. They used to call him The Wall because nobody could go through him.
That talent had extended to a college football scholarship and a blink-and-you-missed-it stint in the NFL. These days he was a rancher, having taken over his family’s cattle business. Their property was out in the valley about a thirty-minute drive from town.
Elias was slightly smaller than Judson but a lot mouthier. He had shaggy dark-blond hair and a trimmed beard that didn’t quite hide his dimples when he smiled. Elias and I had both been on the high school wrestling team. Much cooler than football, in my opinion. Elias didn’t have the black belts I did, but he could almost rival me at grappling when we sparred.
He also owned Flamethrower Burgers & Brews right up the road. Most nights, you could find him behind the counter. Tonight was a rare time we were all out together. But Elias didn’t mind us coming to Hearthstone, even though technically they were his competition. No such thing as too much beer in Colorado.
Callum grabbed some empty glasses and stacked them in the dishwasher. “Uh huh. So you really have zero interest in the gorgeous woman sharing your space every day.”
“She’s way too young. I’ve got eleven years on her. She’s only twenty-three.”
“So? She’s running a small business, just like you. People like her classes a lot. I hear she’s great with Maisie, too. Prettyandsweet. What more do you want?”
“How do you know so damn much about her?” I grumbled.
“Because Callum is popular with the local moms,” Elias muttered, drink in front of his mouth. Judson snickered.
Callum flipped them off, his smile not breaking, then turned back to me. “Then I take it you’re one-hundred percent not going to make any moves on Ms. Jennings.”
“A hundred and ten percent. It’s not happening.”
“Good.” My brother glanced at his watch, the G-Shock I’d given him for his birthday five years ago. “My break is in ten minutes. I’m going to introduce myself to her, since I haven’t had that pleasure yet.”
A hot flash of anger pounded my temples. “You’re not screwing around with the woman who stole half my lease.”
“She didn’t steal anything.Youmissed your opportunity.” Callum pulled a dish towel from his jeans pocket. “Just like you’re about to do now.” He walked to the other end of the bar to serve another customer, leaving me fuming.
Judson and Elias were quiet. But I could still hear all the shit they weren’t saying.
“Why is tonight all about judgingme?” I asked. “Can’t somebody else serve as the whipping boy?”
Elias finished his drink and pushed the glass away. “We all know Judson likes to keep his love life to himself. As for me, I’m still the pathetic guy who’s trying to get over his divorce. If I start spilling my guts about my problems, it’ll just depress the hell out of the rest of you. I don’t want to be responsible for that.”
