Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Sure, I never took Miles for a virgin. Hell, no. He has a past. So do I. I just never expected it to be thrown in my face like this.
I reach my car and my stomach lets out a growl. A couple lettuce leaves didn’t do much for my hunger and I didn’t have a chance to eat any of the meal Chance offered. The clock on my dash flashes seven. I can’t go home. My bed sheets smell like Miles. Of what we did together.
I drive away from Bridger Ranch, away from Bayfield, ending up in Silverton. I pull up in front of the all-too-familiar roadside bar. Maybe I’m a masochist because this place also reminds me of Miles. But Tracy is working tonight and I could use my BFF.
When I pull into the lot, it’s clear Saturday night is bustling at Jody’s, as usual. I grab an empty seat at the bar.
“Hey, Sadie.” Desiree, one of the bartenders, slides a cocktail napkin in front of me. “What sounds good tonight?”
Miles Bridger on a platter. If he weren’t such a dickhead.
So then maybe just his head.
“Nothing too strong. I’m driving. How about a glass of Chardonnay?” I glance around. “Where’s Tracy?”
“Right behind you.”
I turn on my stool. “Hey, Trace!”
Tracy gives me a quick hug and then turns to Desiree. “I need three vodka tonics, Des.”
“You got it.” Desiree pours me a glass of Chard and then gets to work on the drinks for Tracy’s table.
I take a sip of the crisp oaky wine. “I need one of your burgers.”
“You got it. Medium rare with all the fixings?”
“You know it.”
“I’ll tell Andy. By the way, did you happen to see the new bartender?”
“Just Desiree.” I gaze down the bar. “And Hank.”
“The new guy must be on break.” Tracy smiles and waves her diamond ring in my face. “If I weren’t spoken for, I’d be all over him.”
“Good thing you’re spoken for.”
“Well…he’s also gay. And awesome. Oh! Here he comes. Let me introduce you.” She nods to a dark-haired man who appears behind the bar. “Hey, Jake. Come here.”
Jake ambles toward us, a rakish smile on his handsome face. “Tracy, how’s our most beautiful waitress tonight?”
Tracy blushes. She’s engaged and madly in love with Troy, but she fucking blushes, even if she doesn’t stand a chance with the guy.
But when I take a long look at Jake, I can’t say I blame her. He’s muscled and gorgeous, and he’s wearing a yellow button down. And damn if it doesn’t work for him. If he’s got a boyfriend, that guy is one lucky man.
“I want you to meet my friend Sadie. Sadie, this is Jake Garcia.”
“Hey, Sadie.” Jake holds his hand across the bar.
I give it a firm shake. “Nice to meet you, Jake.”
“I’m putting in an order for a burger for Sadie,” Tracy says. “Will you make sure she gets it when it’s ready? She’s my bestie and I want you to take good care of her.”
A wink accompanies his smile.
“Absolutely,” Jake drawls. “I’ll take real good care of you, Miss Sadie.”
Tracy leaves and Jake cocks a hip on his side of the bar and studies me.
“Man troubles?” he asks.
My eyebrows wing up. “How can you tell?”
“I’ve had them before myself. I know the look.”
I sigh. “Let’s just say I thought I caught a good one, but I had to set him free.”
“Catch and release, huh?”
I laugh. “You got it.”
One of the cooks appears behind the bar. “Got a burger here, medium rare with everything plus fries.”
Jake takes the plate from him. “Got it. Thanks. This one’s yours, right?” He places it in front of me. “Need another drink to go with that, gorgeous?”
I glance at my wine glass. It’s almost empty. “Just water. I’m driving.”
“You are one good girl, aren’t you?”
“Yup, I follow the rules.”
“No adrenaline junkie then.”
“Jake, my whole life is about adrenaline. I’m a cop.”
His brows nearly jump off his forehead. “No way.”
“Way.” I take a bite of my burger. A little juice drips down my chin and I swipe it away with a napkin. “Which probably explains why I follow the rules.”
“You don’t look like any cop I’ve seen.” His dark gaze rakes over me.
“You want to see my badge?”
He grins. “I bet most men want to see your handcuffs.”
I shove another bite of burger in my mouth as I roll my eyes. Jake has no idea. While Miles wasn’t interested in restraints, I could see him getting kinky. That night was so hot. And amazing. I frown.
“Let me take care of a few drinks and I’ll come back and you can tell me all about this guy of yours.”
13
MILES
* * *
“I’ll have some more of that MacAllan now,” I tell Chance, once I’m able to think straight after that damned text.
“Where’s Sadie?” Austin holds up his glass of scotch.