“He gets into fights?” I gasp. What if he got himself hurt?
“I think that comes with the joy of being a bouncer.” Right. That should scare me, but scared is the last thing I’m feeling. “I can dig up stuff on him if you want.”
“Don’t,” I rush to say. “I want to learn as I go. Don’t people do that anymore? Like date?”
“Don’t ask me. I don’t date men around here.” She does a fake gag. “Everyone has dated everyone when you grow up in town. I’m not making out with someone I know that’s hooking up with someone else. No thanks.”
Glory doesn't like to travel far from home, but she also won’t date anyone from Kissme Bay. She clearly has no plans of ever dating.
“Will you go to the Tipsy Cow with me tonight?” I finally ask.
“Hell yeah. If you won't let me dig on him, then I want to see the man in action myself.”
I start to get excited.
She holds up a finger. “But as your best friend, Ames, I feel I should tell you. I don’t think men like Big date.”
“Has he slept with a lot of people around here?” The excitement in my stomach quickly sours. It shouldn't. He can sleep with whoever he likes. He doesn't even know I exist.
“Not that I know of, I'm just saying. Warning you.”
“Okay.” I know she’s looking out for me, but I have to see this through. I can’t stop thinking about him, and my curiosity is growing worse by the day. We can go in and take a look around the Tipsy Cow. That’s all.
That wasn't all….
2
Big
“Skim the till again, and you’re going to be out of a job. Got it?” I squeeze Clint’s shirt in my fist as I lift him off the floor.
“It was just once. Just once,” he squeaks. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you’ve had some rough times lately, what with Cindy leaving you and all, but that’s not an excuse. You need help, you come to me. End of. Got it?”
“Yes, yes. Sorry, Big. I’m sorry.”
“All right.” I put him back on his feet. “Now serve some drinks, and don’t let me catch you being a dumbass again.”
“Fat chance of that.” Ellie grabs a tray of beers from the bar and saunters to a table in the back.
I ignore her comment. Her smart mouth is just part of her charm, I suppose, and another reason why she’s here at The Tipsy Cow. I give people second chances. I figure if I got a second chance, why shouldn’t they have one, too?
Clint gets straight to work mixing drinks for the after-work crowd that’s starting to fill the place. I pull out my phone and turn the music up a hair, the lights down a hair, and check the thermostat. I keep it cool, seems to help people mind their manners a little better.
Everything seems to be running smoothly, so I bypass the front few tables and step outside into the brisk air. A cow lows in the distance. Typical Rosewood Ranch sounds that I’ve come to enjoy.
I breathe in deep, the clarity of the night air sinking into my lungs. It’s calming, centering, and so different from what I’m used to. My new home is really starting to feel like a forever sort of place, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
“Big.” Laurence, one of my regulars, walks up. “How’s it going?”
“Good. Come on in. We’ve finally got that White Claw on tap, like you’ve been asking for.”
“Seriously?” He lights up.
“Seriously.” I shrug. It took Beau a while to get the taste right with carbonation levels, but I suppose it was worth it. Laurence hasn’t been the only one after that damn drink. I prefer a solid whiskey over any beer, but Beau has to cater to his customer’s whims—it’s that or have no customers.
“I’m going to text the guys, get them over here sooner rather than later.” He grins as he walks in, his phone in hand.
The door closes behind him, and I lean against the glass windows beside the wide wooden door. Beau, the bar owner, texts me to see how it’s going tonight. I send him a thumbs up and pocket my phone. He trusts me to handle shit when he’s otherwise occupied.
More regulars show up, some of them the rowdy sort, some of them I’ve had to boot before. But when they’re sober, they’re fine. I let them come, but if one of the troublemakers so much as looks at me wrong, I’ll bounce them out on their asses.
“Dancing tonight?” Holt asks as he saunters up.
“Maybe later. Let people get a buzz before you show your stuff.” I wave him in. He’s the line dancing king of this part of town.
I don’t have to do too much bouncing this time of night. People don’t get fired up till later, but I still enjoy standing here to let everyone know that if they want to cause trouble, they’re going to pay for it.
“Judge.” I dip my chin as Judge Garvey arrives with his wife on his arm. “Come on in.”
“Thanks, Big.” She smiles at me as I open the door for them. They’re an institution at the bar, and a damn life goal for me. In their 60s, still in love, and still having fun. They’ll take over a pool table in an hour or so and beat everyone that challenges them.
That’s the thing about this town. Everyone has a story. Even if it’s a simple one about life on the farm. But around here there’s time for those stories to be told. In the city, not so much. Once again, I’m glad I changed the pace.
A brisk wind blows past as I watch the sun drop below the trees at the back edge of the pasture across the street. More customers show up and start to fill the bar.
I’m about to go inside and have a look around when I see two people walking from the parking lot. Something about one of them has me standing still and waiting.
They get closer, and I realize why. It’s the blonde. The one I only catch glimpses of here and there when I’m in Kissme Bay next door. The girl I see but can never quite pin down.
My heart starts thumping harder against my ribs as she gets closer. She’s coming to me. Right for me. Holy hell, she’s turning toward the bar.
“Hi,” the woman beside the blonde chirps.
“Evening.” I can’t take my eyes off the blonde.
She looks up at me with big blue eyes, her cheeks pink from the wind. “Hi.”
“I’m Big.” I realize how dumb it sounds after it leaves my mouth.
She smiles, and my heart beats double time. Jesus, this girl is gorgeous. Even prettier than I thought.
“So, um, Big?” The other one points at the door.
The door I’m blocking. Fuck.
“Sorry.” I back up and open the door for them. “Come on in.”
“Oh, and I’m Glory, and this is my friend Amethyst,” she says.
“Right. I’ve seen you around, I think.” I only glance at Glory before returning my attention to Amethyst. “That’s a beautiful name.”
“Thanks.” She walks past me, and I catch the faint scent of something warm and sweet, like a sugar cookie.
I follow her in, unable to take my eyes off her now that I’ve actually seen her up close. Led Zeppelin thumps in the background as Mrs. Garvey expertly puts away two stripes at once. The place is almost full now, too many people for me to keep count.