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“What? He’s all big and broad-shouldered. I’m just saying he’s probably packing some serious heat down below.”
I close my eyes in annoyance, but an image of Stone flashes before me, completely unasked for. He’s naked, and I’m naked, and we’re at the lake on the ranch where we’d cool off when the days got too hot. Back then, I was a shy girl who didn’t think about things like that. Now, though, I realize he had more than the average guy.
“Oh. My. God.” Sage leans forward, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “You totally banged him!”
“No,” I practically shout. “Stone and I never had sex, Sage.”
She flies back as if I pushed her, sinking against the booth in disappointment. “That’s a big bummer, Ivy. I’m really disappointed in you. I mean, you had full access to that man, and you what? Just talked and made fart jokes?”
“How will I ever recover from your disappointment?” I deadpan.
Sage’s lips purse as if she’s thinking, but she says nothing for a few minutes. Finally, she sits up and looks me right in the eyes. “Do you think I should make a play for Stone?”
Hell no! I have no claim on Stone. I know that, but I don’t like the idea and don’t know why. “Weren’t you just complaining that he still treats you like a little kid?”
She waves off my question. “That was before, but once I put on the seductive charm, he’ll forget I ever used to wear pigtails. Unless…” She wiggles her brows and licks her lips. “He’s into that.” I slap her arm.
“Listen, Ivy,” she says, back to her serious self. “If you guys never fucked, then it won’t be weird if I shoot my shot. Right?”
Her logic is sound, but I can’t bring myself to tell her to go for it. I try to part my lips and tell her something, but my lips remain sealed. Dammit.
I have no words.
A shadow stretches across the table at the perfect moment, and the distinct scent of Old Spice tickles my nose. “Afternoon, girls.”
“Hey,” Sage answers in her usual friendly and flirty tone, her question about Stone seemingly—thankfully—forgotten.
“Hi,” I answer, but something about him and his two buddies sets off warning bells.
“Mind if we join you?” He grabs the back of the chair in front of him and turns it around, ready to sit before we give him an answer.
“Yeah. Actually, we do. We’re enjoying girl time. You understand.” I flash a smile I don’t feel because rejecting men has become dangerous lately.
He smiles, but it doesn’t make it up to his deep brown eyes. “Girl time is always better with men, darlin’.”
“Not today, it isn’t.” I stare him down to let him know I’m not scared. After Stone got sent away, I promised myself I would always fight my own battles. “We’re not interested.”
The guy’s smile fades. Instead, he shrugs as if he didn’t actually stop to hit on us, which means he’s looking for trouble. “So sweet cheeks, is the good news true?”
I frown, but I don’t give in to his taunting easily. “I’m not sweet cheeks, dude.”
“What good news?” Sage asks with a flirtatious grin.
His gaze never leaves my face. He looks at me as if he knows me. I push my chair back to put more space between us. “The good news that your boy, Stone, is back in Texas. Is it true?”
“Yeah,” Sage begins, but I kick her shin under the table. “Yeah? Stone’s home,” she corrects, but it’s too late. The shark already smells blood in the water.
“Who is Stone?” I ask. Two Pines has about fifteen more residents than Opey, so it’s pointless to lie, but I don’t know this asshole, and I don’t owe him anything.
“You know Stone,” he teases. “Thought he might be dead. Turns out he’s not that lucky.”
His words send an icy shiver down my spine. “Not familiar. Sorry.”
His smile is menacing as he leans forward, getting right in my face. “Yeah, well, if he does come back, you tell him that Butch is looking to welcome him back to Texas. Properly.”
My heart pounds in my throat, and I nod, searching for my voice until I find my words. “And who the hell is Butch?”
His lips tug into a crooked grin. “He might know me as Trey. Trey Jones.” He laughs and motions for the two men with him to follow him. My gaze stays on him until I’m sure he’s left the restaurant.
