Come Closer, Cowboy. Debbi Rawlins

He turned to go but then paused. “We leave the kitchen door unlocked. You remember how to get back?”

      Gunner nodded.

      “Drive carefully,” he said as he headed for the door. “Lots of deer are on the roads after dark.”

      Drive carefully.

      Yep, Ben had changed.

      Gunner tried to remember how long it had been since Ben had left Hollywood. Over a year for sure, but not all that long considering how well he’d settled into his quiet new life.

      Like Ben had said, part of it was Grace. Gunner had hauled ass from California to make it in time for Mallory’s opening night. So he’d only met Grace an hour before the three of them had come to town. But he’d liked her right off. She seemed to be straightforward, had a good sense of humor and a street-smart air about her. And she was pretty.

      Come to think of it, she reminded him of Mallory.

      So if Ben and Grace could make a go of it...

      There was a big difference. Ben and Grace didn’t share any history. The only things she knew about Ben was what he’d told her. Mallory knew everything about Gunner, warts and all as the saying went. And he had some pretty damn ugly warts in his past.

       4

      MALLORY KICKED AN empty box to the side and studied the stack she hadn’t opened yet. Most of them were marked by room, but where the rest belonged was anyone’s guess. At least she had plenty of space in the two-bedroom rental. Yes, she supposed it was small by most standards, but to her it was a palace. She’d never lived in a house before.

      Not only that but the rent was crazy cheap. Way lower than she’d been prepared to pay. And talk about convenient...she was just off Main, an eight-minute walk from the bar. Six, if she was in a hurry.

      Gunner wasn’t going to believe—

      She stopped the thought cold.

      Things were different now. She wouldn’t be telling Gunner about every stupid little thing that happened in her day. In her life. When had they started doing that anyway? Hanging out at the Renegade on slow nights, huddled at the end of the bar, just the two of them, talking about nothing? Sometimes, shooting pool in the back and making crazy bets. Or calling each other at odd times just to let off steam?

      She’d never had a real friend before Gunner. Not even in high school because the girls her age had only wanted to talk about boys and clothes. Although it was just in the past two years that she and Gunner had started to test the waters, throwing out tidbits of personal stuff. Nothing big, but she was going to miss all of that.

      She was going to miss him.

      Dammit.

      Why had he shown up here? Seeing him last night was like ripping off a scab before the wound had healed. Of course she was to blame. She should’ve answered his calls. Pretended the best she could that nothing had changed. Then done the only thing that had a chance of solving her problem...moving as far away from him as possible. With the expired lease and ridiculous rent hike she’d had the perfect excuse to relocate.

      Instead she’d shut him out and ran. Out of fear. Out of embarrassment. But most of all, she’d fled for self-preservation. None of it mattered now. She would have to face him and explain why she’d behaved like the silly school girls she hadn’t wanted as friends.

      Well, no, not exactly. Mallory knew an explanation was unavoidable, but she was perfectly willing to play fast and loose with the truth. She’d have to be an utter moron to admit that she’d gone and done the stupidest thing ever.

      She’d developed feelings for Gunner.

      Her friend.

      The guy who would hotfoot it all the way to the moon rather than be tied down to any one woman. Let alone her. Someone he expected to know better than to mistake sex for anything but sex.

      And if that wasn’t enough to make her want to disappear from the face of the earth, jealousy had her by the throat. Her. She was supposed to be immune to that sort of pettiness.

      Oh, she’d guessed after that night she might have a problem with the way women threw themselves at him. It was another reason she’d run. But watching how women had reacted to him last night was so much worse than she’d imagined.

      She drew in a deep breath and glanced around. She had a lot to do. Her new living room was narrow but clean and rustic, and she loved having a fireplace. She didn’t even mind that it took up a third of the brick wall. But it was the wraparound porch with a perfect view of the Rockies that had stolen her heart. The owners had even left a swing and a wooden rocking chair. If she didn’t have so much unpacking to do, she’d be out there right now, lounging on the swing and sipping an iced tea.

      Boy, that was a hard image to picture. Much too homey and so not her.

      She would never let Gunner see the place. For sure he’d think she’d lost it. The possibility wasn’t too far out there. What else would explain her decision to start moving in now? She was paid up at The Boarding House Inn for two more days and she was still wiped out from last night. If she believed Sadie, and it seemed the woman was never wrong, the Full Moon would be packed tonight again.

      Luckily, Mallory had a woman wanting part-time work coming in later to talk to her. Elaine had vouched for her. It would simply be a matter of agreeing on schedules.

      She ripped the tape off a box and then heard her phone. It wasn’t in her pocket. She listened, thought the ring might be coming from the kitchen. By the time she found her cell under a pile of newspapers, the caller had been sent to voice mail. But she recognized Dexter’s number and saw that he’d also called forty minutes ago.

      Mallory listened carefully to his awkward message and sighed. She disconnected and looked at the time. If she’d understood correctly, he’d be delivering the bull in about ten minutes.

      Great. She had no one to help her unload and set up. Damn, she couldn’t even call Ben now that Gunner was staying at the Silver Spur. Hopefully, Dexter was bringing someone with him.

      She made it to the bar just as a pair of brawny cowboys climbed out of an old blue truck parked at the curb.

      “Mornin’,” the taller man said, touching the brim of his hat. “We heard you might need some help?”

      “Yes, but how would— Sadie?”

      He grinned and nodded. “I’m Brady. This here is Tom.”

      “Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Tom said and yanked off his cowboy hat, revealing a buzz cut.

      “I’m Mallory.” She stepped forward and shook their hands. Both men were about her age, she guessed, and looked nice and strong. “I appreciate this so much. Of course I’ll pay you for—”

      “No, ma’am. We volunteered.” Tom seemed offended.

      “It’s our day off.” Brady lifted his hat and swept back his longish blond hair before resettling the hat on his head. He was kind of cute. Great smile. And he seemed familiar. “We’re on our own time and just wanna help.”

      “Oh, well...” She studied him more closely. “You were here at the opening last night. Sitting near the jukebox...” She took a guess. “Both of you...”

      They nodded, clearly pleased she remembered them. “We’re real glad you opened the place,” Brady said. “The Watering Hole is okay but it gets old.”

      The sound of a sputtering engine had her glancing over her shoulder. “I think this might be Dexter,” she said, shading her eyes and watching the ancient pickup slow down. “Look, guys, if you won’t let me pay you then I’m giving you free drinks for a week. Sound fair?”

      “No need—” Brady protested.

      “Good. It’s settled.”