Page 59 of Second Chance Saloon

Jackie gritted her teeth. “Colt said they really want you to go.”

“So did Ali,” Mitch chipped in, lacing his fingers together on the table.

She wished she could kick him, but he was too far away. She appreciated he was trying to help but if Dustin even caught a whiff of something untoward, he definitely wouldn’t go.

Dustin stroked his moustache, looking deep in thought. “Why won’t we all go?”

“Mimi wouldn’t want me to go to a bar,” Jackie responded quickly. She’d expected that suggestion. Dustin didn’t know about her fake ID and nights danced away at Betty’s Hens Saloon, and she wasn’t going to tell him about it; he’d blab about it to Mimi.

Dustin hummed, nodding to himself. “No, Brenda wouldn’t like that.”

She leaned in, wearing the most innocent expression she could muster. “You work so hard, Dustin. You deserve to have a little fun.”

A deep wrinkle cut across the expanse of Dustin’s forehead. “What are you two goin’ to do all night?”

“Mitch hasn’t seen The Godfather. Can you believe it?” Jackie let out a chuckle. Mitch had, in fact, seen the entire trilogy, more than once. They decided it was a safe choice because, firstly, Dustin would probably believe he hadn’t seen it and, secondly, it was Dustin’s favorite movie.

Dustin stared wide-eyed at Mitch. “That’s sacrilege.”

Mitch choked down a laugh. “I know. I’m looking forward to watching it.”

Dustin grunted, pushing himself away from the table. He stood, took his empty plate back to the kitchen and put it inside the dishwasher. “Fine. I’ll go. But I’ll be back, so don’t you get any ideas.”

He looked straight at Jackie when he said that.

Jackie released a drawn-out exhale. She smiled innocently as she piled the plates. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dustin. My behavior’s always impeccable.”

Dustin barked a raspy laugh on his way out of the kitchen. “If you say so, angel.”

Unfiltered moonlight soaked the landscape, kissing the grass blades and tiny stones lining the pathways. Stray stars adorned the velvet sky. An owl hooted somewhere in the distance and a smile tugged on Jackie’s lips. Her skin came alive with excitement, anticipation turning her heart into a thundering mess.

“Where are we going?” Mitch whispered from behind her.

Jackie laughed, squeezing his fingers and tugging on his hand to pull him closer to her. “You don’t have to be this quiet. Everyone’s gone.”

“But they’ll be back.”

“Not anytime soon. It’s about a twenty-minute drive to the nearest bar from here. We probably have two, or maybe even three hours, if Dustin is enjoying himself.”

They reached the closed double barn doors. Mitch glanced at the building; his brow furrowed. “Why are we going to a barn?”

She halted and looked up.

The crimson painted wooden walls of the barn appeared burgundy in the dark. There was neither a sound nor a movement coming from inside.

“I wanted to show you one of my favorite spots. I’ve never taken anyone up here before.” Fire crackled beneath her skin. “And I thought you wouldn’t like to have sex on a bed where Dixie often spends her nights.”

Mitch raised his hand to the back of his neck with a sigh. “Probably not a good idea, even though I loaded up on antihistamines.”

Jackie smiled at that. He’d never let anyone think Dixie or his allergy were a bother. Even though Mimi took Dixie with her, the house was full of her shed fur, the kind that even the most diligent vacuum couldn’t get rid of. She wasn’t taking the chance with Mitch sneezing and itching all night.

Not tonight.

She unbolted the door and let go of it. The right side creaked as it opened slowly, revealing cubes of dry hay stacked to the ceiling. “Here we are.”

Mitch spun in a circle, taking in the inside of the barn. “You wanted to show me hay?”

She let out a mock scowl. “Not hay, though I think it’s impressive to see it all like this.” Taking his hand in hers, she guided his attention to the left corner. “We’re going to the loft. It’s … my place. I used to hide out there when I was younger.”