Page 12 of Hard to Handle
By the time Saturday afternoon rolled around, I was ready for … something.I wasn’t even sure what, but I needed something to do.
Glancing over at Copenhagen, who was snoozing on the wood floor, I considered taking the dog out, playing ball for a while.We’d spent a good part of the morning doing that after we’d returned from Reagan’s, but Cope was always up for a game of fetch.
I clicked my tongue, but the dog didn’t move.
Okay, so maybe not.Poor Cope was probably hoping I would give him a little breather.
But I was antsy and I didn’t know why.That wasn’t like me.Not these days anyway.When I was younger, sure.I never could sit still, always looking for trouble to get into.
In a couple of hours, I could head over to Reagan’s to get a beer.That was what I looked forward to most nights and not necessarily for the beer, either.Nope.My reason for going over there had everything to do with Reagan.It had been my own form of hell for the past few years, it seemed.Knowing I couldn’t have her, yet still holding out hope.Yeah.I was pathetic.
Only now I needed to up my game.
Maybe I should send her flowers.
Or not.
That seemed weird.Especially since I didn’t think Reagan was much into flowers.Then again, I didn’t know all of her idiosyncrasies.Sure, I knew plenty about her, but admittedly, I had made a point to stay out of her business.Mostly.
With a heavy sigh, I flopped back on the couch.
Boredom was a bitch.
“Hey, boy,”Calvin greeted when I walked into Reagan’s a few hours later.“Where you been?”
I shrugged.“Took a nap.”
Wolfe’s father grinned.“Old age does that to ya sometimes.”
“Thanks,” I said when Amy delivered my beer to the table.I turned my attention back to my uncle.“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t ya?”
“Hey, I ain’t complainin’,” he replied.“Just be thankful I don’t take naps durin’ the workday.”
I laughed.I'd caught Calvin snoozing in his chair over at the store a couple of times now, but I didn’t say as much.Instead, I lifted my bottle and tapped it against his.
“Where’s Wolfe?”I asked, peering around the room.
“Had to do somethin’ with Rhys.Asked if I’d hang out for a bit.At least until you got here.”
That meant Wolfe wanted someone to keep an eye on Amy.I had to wonder why he hadn’t called me in the first place.My cousin knew I would’ve done it.
Calvin leaned back and looked around the room.“Looks like there’s not much trouble to be had tonight, huh?”
I sure as hell hoped not.One night a week was enough for me.Didn’t help that I was sleeping in my damn truck these days.What I needed was about eight hours in my own bed.And didn’t that make me sound old?At twenty-eight, I damn sure shouldn’t be planning how to catch somez’s in the middle of the afternoon.Shit.
Unable to help myself, I glanced over behind the bar.Reagan was there talking to a couple of guys, both from Dead Heat Ranch.She was laughing at something they said, and I suddenly wished I were the one to put that damn smile on her face.
I waited, knowing she would eventually make eye contact.That’s what we did.And every damn time, it was a heady feeling, leaving me reeling.
Wait for it.
Wait … for it.
There it was.
Reagan’s eyes lifted, darting over the one guy’s shoulder, coming to rest on mine.I didn’t smile, simply held her stare for a few seconds as I sipped my beer.Goddamn, the woman made me want things I had no business wanting.Not from her anyway.
“You made your move yet?”
