Chapter 6

Friday nightsin Big Bend were busy. The locals kicked up their heels, while the tourists who'd come to play cowboy on nearby ranches that catered to that sort of thing joined them. During the school year there was football to entertain, and in the summer, there was recreational baseball which a lot of men took seriously. Reliving the glory days of years gone by was a big deal for some. Taz wasn't interested in that. He wanted to talk about the Yankees, or the new turbo engine on the latest pickup truck. It gave him a break from Barbie and Paw Patrol.

He"d joined one of the teams a few years back when Mike Paul convinced him that needed to. The fact was, the team was terrible, and he was what they needed. As it was, since his mother insisted on taking the girls every Friday for a sleepover, he had one night a week to get up to no good. Usually, he hit up the Sundowner with the guys after their game and if he was seeing a lady, he'd spend the remainder of it at her place. Lately that particular lady had been Nikki Salter. They'd had some great times together, but he'd barely thought of her since last Saturday.

That was for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he'd had to head to Texas on family business and that had taken up entirely too much of his week. And secondly, a certain other lady had occupied his mind more than she should have. It was that second reason that had him reconsidering his acquaintance with Nikki. He didn't feel right visiting a woman if he had another one on his mind.

And it was time. She'd been texting non-stop since noon and the last message pretty much sealed the deal. He glanced at his phone and frowned.

Where are you??????

You're not messaging back

Did I do something wrong

Why are you not answering

Hello???????

Taz hesitated, trying to figure out the right answer.

There was no right answer. He sent a short text to let her know he'd just finished his ball game, and that he'd be stopping by afterward.

Within a few seconds she shot one back.

Been thinking of you all week. Can't wait for tonight.

Shit, he thought, frowning.

"You look conflicted my friend." Mike Paul stopped on his way over to his truck. "What's up?"

"Nothing," he replied easily. Taz wasn't one to discuss his private life. "I'll see you at the Sundowner."

Mike Paul gave a wave and headed to his own vehicle, while Taz hopped into his truck and drove in the opposite direction. He wasn't looking forward to breaking it off with Nikki, but his mama had raised him right, and he'd never avoided a tough conversation for the sake of making life easier. It was time for him to end things and she deserved a conversation.

He pulled up to her house, cut the engine and lowered his window. In the distance the last rays of sun were hitting the top of the Rockies, and the air was still. Too still. He slid from the truck and rolled his shoulders. Something was headed this way.

"Babe!"

Nikki flew out of the house and he winced. Babe? It was definitely time. A pretty girl with an infectious smile, she was easy on the eyes and would make someone a great partner. But that someone wasn't him.

"Hey, Nikki," he said as she stopped in front of him.

"What are you standing out here for?" She cocked her head to the side, a sly smile on her face. "Two of the kids are with my parents, and the other one is with his dad." She slid her tongue over her lips. "I've got a cold beer waiting for you inside."

"Hey, about that."

Her smiled deepened and she pressed against him. "I'll be naked by the time you finish it." She tried to kiss him, but Taz turned his head at the last moment and gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Nikki."

To her credit, her smile never faltered, though a cool shadow crept into her eyes. "What?"

"We need to talk."

"No." She shook her head.

"We do."

"Really?" she said, taking a step back. "We're doing this already? I thought we were having fun."

"We were," Taz replied.

"Then why?" She inched forward again and slid her hand up his chest. "I don't expect anything serious. I know the rules. You made them real clear."

But she did. It was in the slight tremor to her words, the way her eyes slid from his.

"I don't think it's good for either of us if we get deeper into this." He felt like shit, but he wouldn't use her, not that way.

"You've met someone else." Her voice was flat, but those eyes of hers were fired up. An image of Scarlett flashed in his brain, and he had to work to make it go away.

"No," he replied, thinking it was halfway the truth. Scarlett had made him think is all. "I don't want to hurt you, Nikki. You're a real nice lady."

She scoffed and moved away from him. "But not nice enough." She sighed and her shoulders slumped. For a moment she was quiet but then she nailed him with a direct look. "I take that back. I am nice enough. You're the one with a problem."

She was likely right, and Taz knew enough to let her have her say. He'd been down this road before and knew it was best to let Nikki direct the way it played out. He was fine letting her insult him, or call him an asshole, or whatever she needed to do in order for her to feel okay with him leaving.

"I've seen how you talk about your mother. I know you love her as much as you love those girls. More importantly I know you respect her." Her eyes narrowed as she regarded him, and she chewed on her bottom lip. "I'm guessing your father was a dick. Probably treated your mom badly. You've got daddy issues. Saw too much as a kid and I'm betting you'll never settle down because you don't know how to be in a relationship."

She wasn't too far off the mark, but Taz wasn't in a mood to discuss his shortcomings.

"Have you ever been with a woman longer than two minutes?"

He glanced away, uncomfortable with the turn of conversation. For a good long while neither one of them said a thing, and then he shrugged. "The simple truth is that this thing between us had an expiration date. We both knew that going in. I don't like stringing things out. I don't use people." He watched her. "I won't use you, Nikki, because you're right. You deserve more than what I can give you. You are good enough and one day you'll find that someone else. I'm just not the man for you."

The shadows lifted a bit, and she closed the distance between them. Nikki stared up at him, a tinge of sadness in her gaze, then gently pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I think you're a good man, Taz. And Lord but you know your way around a woman. I don't regret one single night you've spent in my bed." She made a face. "Even if my neighbor Marge has kept the entire town informed on that matter."

She took one step back. "I hope one day you find yourself some kind of happiness, because those girls of yours will grow and they will move on." She took another step. "And you'll be alone."

"Some folks are meant to be alone," he replied.

"That's true," Nikki said, turning toward the path. "But you're not one of them."

"Why do you say that?"

"You took the time to come here and tell me the truth. Do you know how many men just stopped texting me back? How many of them ghosted me when they got what they wanted, or met someone they wanted more?" She glanced over her shoulder. "You're one of the good ones and you don't know it. You have a big heart, and you care too much." She attempted a smile but failed. "I was hoping to keep all of that to myself. Hoping to change you. I guess I wasn't the one, but I sure hope you meet the right lady. Because it would be a damn shame for all of that to go to waste."

With that she ran back to her house, leaving him alone with all that unease and restlessness inside him, as dark and heavy as the clouds now gathering over the mountains. He slid into the truck and revved the motor, thinking he should just go home. Things tended to go off when he felt like this. But the thought of sitting in his house, with no one around for miles wasn't appealing.

Slowly he backed out of Nikki's driveway, undecided, then after a few seconds gunned the engine. Screw it, he thought. Taz pointed his truck toward the Sundowner and in less than ten minutes was parked in the back corner of the lot, in the only space available. The place was packed, and the joint was thumping, the music loud and infectious. Even out here in the dark he could tell a band was on stage, the bass was hard to miss, and he heard the crowd singing along to some honky-tonk song about rebel rousing and heartbreak.

Taz made his way inside and spied his team almost immediately. The guys had claimed their usual table in the back corner, and he stopped by the bar to order up a round. He knew the barkeep, Jennifer, and she flashed him a smile as he found a spot near the cash register to pay her.

"I'll bring over the jugs in a second. Let Mike Paul know the wings will be up in ten."

"Will do." He grabbed himself a frosty mug and headed toward the table, mindful of the crowd that hugged the perimeter of the dance floor. He found a seat and sat down, happy to let Mike Paul fill his mug with the last of the jug.

The Sundowner was at capacity; there didn't seem to be an empty table, let alone a spot to stand. The band, a local group known as The Haybales, were a favorite, with their eclectic mix of bluegrass, country and rock. They were winding down their set, the guitarist playing a low, soft melody as the folks on the dance floor coupled up and began to sway. It was hot, the air heavy with dark and delightful things, but Taz's mood was darker.

He took a sip from his mug and sat back.

"You break it off with Nikki?" The question came from Mike Paul. Surprised, and more than a little annoyed, Taz ignored him for a few moments, then shrugged. What was the point in denial?

"It was time."

Mike Paul leaned forward, eyes on the dance floor. "You ever think we're missing out on that?" He pointed to their teammate Johnny Pearson and his wife Lacey. The two of them had been together since their sophomore year of high school and looked as loved up as a Hallmark card.

"I'm going to get real acquainted with this here mug of beer and not think about anything else."

Mike Paul raised his. "Probably the smart thing to do."

Mike Paul was one of the first guys Taz had met when he'd moved to Big Bend. He'd liked him right away. He was easy to be around. And though he was known for his reputation with the ladies, he'd been on his own for a while now. Taz figured he knew the reason.

"I guess you haven't heard from Ivy?"

"Nope." Mike Paul sighed. "I thought giving her space was what she wanted." He scratched his head. "Hell, it's what she told me."

"They don't always mean what they say," Brent Lickers joined in. "Take my wife for instance. Two days ago, she tells me she doesn't want me coming along to her doctor's appointment. How in hell was I supposed to know that was code for, you better have your butt planted in the seat beside me when Doctor Waters gives me the news."

"What news was that?" Mike Paul asked.

Brent grinned. "That I'm going to be a daddy."

"That's great," Taz held his mug aloft. "Cheers."

"Yeah, well, she's not talking to me right now on account of the fact I was buying a new tractor instead of accompanying her to the doctor's office." Brent made a face. "I can't win for losing."

"Women are complicated," Taz murmured, turning away from the men as he looked around the bar.

"You got that right." Mike Paul muttered. "It makes wanting them a hell of a lot harder than it needs to be."

"Mike Paul, you've never wanted a woman for longer than a minute and you know it." Lacey Pearson joined them, her face flush from dancing with her husband.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you just insulted me," Mike Paul replied with a lazy grin.

Johnny Pearson snorted and Lacey shook her head, eyes on Mike Paul. "One of these days someone is going to put a bee in your bonnet and all hell will break loose."

"Good thing I don't wear bonnets."

Just behind Lacey were a couple of gals Taz knew, Donna and Presley. He nodded a polite hello and nearly turned away when, a few feet behind them, he spied the one woman he wasn't prepared to see. Or speak to for that matter.

Because damn, she took his breath away.

He straightened and cleared his throat, eyes on Scarlett Bridgestone as she chatted with a young man too stupid to know she was a heck of a lot more woman than he could handle. Her hair was loose, waving down her shoulders, a silken mess the color of aged cider. It framed a face that was perfect, heart-shaped with creamy golden skin and a sprinkle of freckles that fell across a nose so cute he wanted to kiss it. Her eyes were incredible, the lids smoky, and her lips were full, shiny with gloss. She wore a plain white T-shirt that fit like a glove, emphasizing breasts that were more than a handful, which in fact was just how he liked them. It stopped about an inch above the waistband of her jean skirt, and a glimpse of smooth skin was visible. The skirt fit her curves like it was made for them, and skimmed about mid-thigh. On her feet were a pair of well-worn white cowboy boots, scuffed from dancing but otherwise presentable. A bangle of silver was on her wrist, while a long silver chain hung from her neck, an intricate cross dangling from it.

She was the perfect mix of urban and country, a minx with eyes full of promise and a mouth made for sin.

Taz stepped forward without realizing it, because in that moment he was very clear on a few things. Scarlett Bridgestone was the kind of beautiful that was more than physical. It was a state of being. It was in the air that surrounded her, and the spirit that was inside her. It was the way her nose crinkled when she smiled. It was the kind of beauty a man didn't forget, and he was pretty damn sure he'd be thinking about her long after tonight.

He took another step until he was inches from her and impatient, moved so that he was in her line of view.

"Taz," she said breathlessly, a faint sheen of sweat making her skin glow. Tendrils of hair clung to the side of her neck, and he wanted to finger them away, then kiss the skin they'd touched. She looked between the two men.

"This is Danny Billings."

"I know who he is." He turned to the young buck and made no bones about his intentions. "Time for you to leave, bud."

"Hey, now—" Danny replied in a rush.

"I'm not asking." The two men stared at each other for a few seconds and then Danny turned away, muttering under his breath.

"That was rude," Scarlett said as she watched Danny disappear.

"Yeah," Taz said slowly. "It was."

"What are you, some kind of neanderthal?"

"Only part time."

"I don't like to be told what to do," she retorted, clearly irritated with him. "And I definitely don't need some man telling me who to talk to either."

Taz leaned so close he could smell the light fragrance that kissed her skin. "You smell good."

If she was shocked at his words, she didn't show it. She angled her head back and studied him for a few moments, eyes as shiny as glass.

"Don't try to sweet talk me, it won't work."

"Just stating a fact." He waited a few moments, unsure if he should do what it was he wanted to do. All around them folks jostled and talked and laughed, but it felt as if he and Scarlett were the only ones in the entire bar. "Let me buy you a drink."

"I'm good," she said slowly, watching him from under hooded eyes.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

"That's a leap."

"Think so?"

"Asking me if I want a drink to going back to your place is a more than a leap."

"I didn't say anything about my place, but if that's what you want I'm more than happy to take you there."

A ghost of a smile played around her mouth, but she remained silent.

"You didn't answer the question."

"Which one?" she quipped, that smile now prominent.

He liked this flirting thing. "Do I need to repeat it?"

"No, Taz Pullman, I don't want to get out of here. I've been stuck at home all week."

Someone bumped her and she stumbled, her arms landing on his chest to stop her from falling. The touch was light as a feather, but he felt it like a hammer. She didn't pull away, and she sure as hell didn't stop him from pulling her closer. He whispered in her ear.

"What do you want to do then?"

"I can tell you what I don't want to do."

"I'm all ears."

"I don't want to stand here for one more minute while my favorite song in the world is playing."

Another slow song filled the air, and he took a moment to listen. It was a Cal Bridgestone classic, Fall Into Me.

"You asking me to dance?" Taz said, watching her carefully.

"You saying yes?" she shot back, one eyebrow raised dramatically.

That was it. He was done with the flirting. He reached for her hand. "I guess I am."

With that he led her toward the dance floor, his entire body on fire with the kind of need that was going to be a problem. Because Scarlett Bridgestone was the kind of trouble he generally tried to avoid. The kind of trouble that could hang a man if he let it.

And yet, Taz pushed all of that aside, because right now she felt like heaven and damned if he was giving that up. At least not tonight.