“Thank you,” she murmured, taking his hand and stepping down from the SUV.
Just his touch sent fire zinging through her veins. She was out of control right now, and she didn’t know how to rein herself back in. Her only salvation was that he couldn’t hear her thoughts, didn’t know what was going on in her head, or realize that her heart was pounding as he gripped her hand.
Misty knew she should tug her fingers away, but they felt so warm and secure tucked against Bryson’s that she couldn’t.
She was in deeper trouble than she’d realized. She wasn’t just falling for this guy; she was falling hard. When she finally hit the ground, she’d be lucky not to shatter into a million pieces.
They walked through the front doors, and Misty was immediately charmed. Though the building hadn’t looked large from the outside, it was surprisingly roomy once they stepped through the doors, and it sported log furniture and red-and-white checked tablecloths. Various rodeo pictures hung on the wall, along with several signed photographs from country music stars. A band was setting up on the stage.
“A lot of musicians come through here,” Camden said. “Some of them well-known. It’s a local secret.”
“How can you keep it a secret if it’s someone famous?”
“Because the people of the town treat the bands like neighbors instead of celebrities, and they get to play a gig at a place like one they may have started at. We get a treat of great music, and they get to be regular guys and gals for the day. They never say when they’re coming, and our people never leak it out once they’re here.”
“That’s pretty neat. I’d never have thought this the type of place to attract a big musician. I mean, it’s nice, of course.” She didn’t want to put his choice of bar down. “It’s just kind of small and out of the way.”
“That’s what makes it so great,” Bryson jumped in. He’d been coming to the place for years.
“Hi, Camden,” said a woman as she approached. “You picked a great night to come in.”
“Hey, Alyssa. Can we get my favorite table tonight?”
“Of course you can. If someone was there, I’d just make them move.” She threw him a flirtatious smile, then turned toward Bryson and Misty. “It’s been a while, Bryson,” she said, stepping right up and throwing her arms around him.
“Sorry about that, Alyssa,” he told her, genuine affection shining in his eyes.
“Well, just don’t let it happen again. You go and get all busy with the FBI and forget all about us in the backwoods.”
“If I recall correctly, Alyssa, you had a hankering for the big-city life, doing cover shoots all over the world,” he countered.
“Yeah, yeah, that went real well.”
“You did great. I found that cover from your fitness magazine, and no one has ever done that rag such justice.”
“It was short-lived, but I sure grew up.” Something had obviously happened to hurt her during that time.
“Some people never get to live — just remember that,” Camden said, his words hitting Misty like a loaded shotgun. “But we’re being rude. This is a friend.” He paused, making sure to get her name right. “Magnolia.”
Misty was taken aback when Alyssa gave her a hug. “Any friend of the boys is a friend of mine,” the woman said with a genuine smile.
“It’s great to meet you,” Misty replied, her throat suddenly tight. How would it feel to make friends so easily, to have a real friend to share with? She feared she’d never know.
“We need to quit standing in the doorway gabbing,” Alyssa said, and she led the way to a nice corner table in the back of the room.
Misty noticed only about six other people in the place.
“The special is Doc’s meat loaf and loaded mashed potatoes with a heaping side of grilled asparagus,” Alyssa said as she started to write on her pad. After the men ordered, she looked at Misty and waited.
“Um, that sounds good.” There was no way Misty could eat that much food, but the guys had automatically chosen the special, and her leftovers would be good the next day, and possibly the day after that.
“Do you like your drinks virgin or with a bite?” Alyssa asked Misty.
“Um…with a bite,” she said hesitantly, expecting to get a list of choices.
“I’ll bring out your salads and drinks,” Alyssa said instead, and then left.
“We didn’t order drinks,” Misty said to the guys.
“Sorry, darling,” Bryson said. “We’re both so used to coming here. Alyssa knows our drinks. Plus, first-timers always get a free special drink. You’ll love it.”
Misty shrugged, though the use of an endearment dropping so easily from his tongue made her tingle a bit. “When in Rome…”
Alyssa brought out the drinks and the boys were right — hers was exceptional. It had a tangy, zestful flavor, and before she knew it, the first one was gone and another one was in its place. Within half an hour, her worries were pushed back to the farthest reaches of her mind, and she was laughing softly as Camden and Bryson told old “war stories” about the bar.
“Did you grow up here, too, Bryson?” she asked, her eyes slightly droopy, but her body relaxed. She munched happily on her dinner salad.
“Yes. Born and raised.” He tipped an imaginary cowboy hat.
“Is your family here?”
“Yep. You know about my little sister. She is hell on wheels, literally. She races dirt bikes, and gives me a heart attack every single time she goes on one of those tracks. The stunts she pulls — criminy. I don’t think I’ll live to be an old man.”
Misty loved that he was an overprotective big brother. What would her life have been had she been raised with a brother? That is, if Damien really existed other than as a name scribbled on a piece of paper.
“And then I have an older brother. He’s a good man, the fire chief here, actually. He’s done it all, including firefighting in NYC. He finally got sick of the big city and came home a few years ago. My mom and dad, who still live here, were happy to get one of their kids home. I’m in and out, but gone a lot for work. They keep hoping I’ll eventually take a field office job and stay here. I haven’t found a reason to yet,” he said, and then looked into her eyes.