She played with one of the ringlets in her hair. “I don’t ever do anything with my hair either.”
“Now you’re just teasing me.”
Flynn shook her head. “I’m not. I’m the least girly-girl you’ll ever meet.”
I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. “I work for the CIA, sweetheart. I can guarantee you I’ve met plenty of women less ‘girly’ than you.”
She looked away. “I had to go buy this dress today. I didn’t have one.”
“Flynn?”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go back in, get something to drink, and dance some more.”
“I should just go home. I have to get up really early to start breakfast.”
“One more dance. Please.”
22
Flynn
I flopped down on the bed, unable to wipe the silly grin off my face. Tonight had been magical. The giddy feeling that warmed my body from head to toe would probably keep me awake all night, but I didn’t care. Tomorrow I’d be floating on air.
For the first time in my life, a man noticed me, paid attention to me, held my hand, held me in his arms. While I’d hoped he might try to kiss me at some point, the fact that he hadn’t, didn’t damper my happiness.
The only thing that might’ve, if I’d allowed it to, were my brothers Porter and Cord. Was it really necessary for them to be so outwardly shocked that I was wearing a dress and comment on it no less?
Thankfully, all Holt did was find us to say hello in between his sets. And Buck—he was too distracted by Stella to even notice me.
The other thing I wouldn’t allow to creep in was my insecurity. Paxon was probably just being nice, without any idea that tonight marked a kind of milestone for me, beyond what I’d told him about having to shop for something to wear. I’d never admit all the other things that had been firsts for me.
I ran my hands down the dress I didn’t want to take off. The woman at the Gunnison Western Wear Store had been so kind to me. When I explained what I was looking for, she picked out several pieces for me to try on, and even though I was skeptical they’d fit when she showed me to the dressing room, every one had.
“Let me see,” she’d said, smiling when I opened the door. “That one brings out the blue in your eyes. Try another one.”
“Don’t you have other customers you need to help?” I’d asked.
“Nope. We’re slow today.”
As much as I’d been tempted to buy them all, I left the store with only one. The saleslady said she’d keep the others in the back in case I changed my mind.
After the dress, she’d helped me pick out a new pair of boots, ones with embroidered flowers. “These are not work boots, young lady,” she’d said with a wink.
I was getting ready to leave after I’d paid the bill when I heard her call out to me to wait. She followed me out, put a Be Right Back sign in the window, and took me three doors down to the salon.
“By the way, I’m Nina and this is Lucy.”
“What are we here for today?” Lucy had asked.
“Just a little spruce up. Our friend is going to a CB Rice concert tonight.”
“Oh, how fun! I wish I could go. Ben Rice is one fine-looking man.” Lucy had put her hand on her heart. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Flynn.”
“Come with me, Flynn, and we’ll get those split ends cleaned up. How do you think you want to wear your hair tonight?” she’d asked, removing the ever-present hair tie.
Not only had she trimmed my hair, she curled it and showed me how to put on a little blusher.
“Your skin is so beautiful, you don’t need makeup, but this will add a tiny bit of color to your cheeks.”
When I told her I wasn’t sure about buying the blusher, she threw it in with my haircut.
“You come back and tell me all about the concert,” she’d said when she walked me to the door.
I wondered now if she really meant it or if she was just being nice too. I shrugged and rolled over, hugging my pillow tight and reliving every second of the night.
23
Irish
Why in the hell was my damn cell ringing so early in the morning? I was in the middle of the nicest dream about Flynn and resented the hell out of having to open my eyes.
“What?”
“Hey, Irish. It’s Decker.”
“I know that. What do you want?”
“I haven’t been able to reach Buck or Stella.”
“How is this my problem?”
“Paxon, come on. Go over there.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“I’ll owe you one.”
“You already owe me plenty.” I hung up, pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt, stuck my feet in my boots, and traipsed next door.
“What can I do for you, Irish?” Buck asked after I pounded on the door long enough that I was about to break it down.
“Decker is trying to get in touch with you. Stella too. He finally called and asked me to walk over and see if you were both okay.”
“Hey, Stella,” Buck hollered.
She stuck her head out of the bedroom door. “Yeah?”
“As you can see, she’s okay and so am I. Anything else?” asked Buck.
“He wants you to call him.” I stormed back to my cabin.
A couple of hours later, I rubbed my eyes and closed my laptop. I wasn’t accomplishing anything besides giving myself a headache. What there was to find on Kerr and his cohorts, I’d already found.
When I stood, I saw Buck and Stella come out of the cabin and leave with Rock. Why the hell hadn’t Decker called him earlier and let me sleep? He was on Stella’s detail.
It would probably be a shitty thing to call Flynn and tell her I needed something at the cabin, but I sure did want to see her.
“Hey, Ink. You somewhere close by?”
“Sure am. What do you need?”
“Have you eaten at the dining hall? Buck mentioned we were welcome to anytime.”
“Hell yeah. There isn’t any better food around that I know of.”
“You hungry?”
He laughed. “I’m always hungry, Irish.”
“How does this work?” I asked when we pulled up to a large building.
“It’s basically cafeteria style, but the kitchen staff only plates stuff up as it’s needed, so everything is fresh and hot.”
Once inside, I looked around for Flynn but didn’t see her. I followed Ink through the line, picking up a salad and then something that looked like a cheeseburger covered in something green.
“What’s that?” I asked him.
“That’s a slopper,” I heard a woman’s voice say. I looked over my shoulder and smiled at Flynn.
“I was hoping I’d see you today.”
“You ever want to, I’m usually here.”
“Tell me about the slopper. What’s on top of it?”
“Green chili.”
“Best I’ve ever had, but don’t ever tell my mama,” said Ink.