Page 22 of Hot Times in Heart Falls, Vignettes Vol 3

“You plan on being like this all night?” Dare demanded.

“You plan on being like this all night?” Ginny offered back with a wink as she took another sip.

Dare’s eye roll was epic, but she tilted her head toward the side of the room where a high-top had just opened up. “Get us two more. I’ll nab the table.”

Which gave Ginny the opportunity to put her remaining finger of whiskey down on the nearest table before heading back to the bar.

“Another round, please, Rex.” Ginny debated. “Can you put ice in them this time?”

He nodded then moved without further comment, the lineup of people waiting for their drinks growing busy enough to make him not interrogate her.

Ginny accepted the drinks he pushed across the bar then glanced toward the high-top.

Dare offered the tall cowboy leaning against the support post beside her a polite smile—one that didn’t even try to touch her eyes. Her ass stayed firmly planted on her stool, not budging an inch.

Ginny took advantage of the distraction, quickly tipping half of each drink into an abandoned glass on a side table.

Here’s hoping Dare wouldn’t notice the huge drop in alcohol this go-round.

Ginny marched over to her friend, depositing the glasses on the tabletop. “Noisy tonight.”

“Great music, though.” The cowboy’s gaze drifted from Dare to Ginny, his expression brightening with a little too much confidence. “Hey, sweet curves,” he said, smiling. “Want to dance?”

Ginny didn’t bother smiling. She waved a hand between them, gesturing to her admittedly ample chest, then up to her face. “My eyes are up here, hoss.”

Dare snorted, clearly used to Ginny taking the lead when things got awkward. “Mattias here says he’s an excellent dancer,” she said, tone dry as dust.

Dancing was a viable out from the drinking, but not with this fine example of manhood. Ginny had a strict one strike, and you’re out policy. “Fantastic,” Ginny said. “But Dare and I have plans tonight that don’t involve entertaining cowboys.”

“Just you two, eh?” His smirk widened. “I’d love to watch.”

The braying laugh that escaped Ginny was far from attractive, but the suddenness of it made him lean back far enough that when she picked up her stool and swung it to a new position closer to Dare, the legs only grazed Mattias’s shins.

He cursed and straightened, the sleaze vanishing as his expression turned ugly. “Goddamn cock teases.”

The small group of men at the table to their right froze instantly, tension radiating from them like a beacon. Two of them slid off their stools and rose to form a barrier between the unwanted cowboy and Dare and Ginny.

“You want to move along,” one of the deep-voiced men suggested.

Mattias sized up the situation then smartly beat a hasty retreat.

The table was full of Silver Stone ranch hands. Paul, one of the older men who’d been around for long enough to work for their fathers, turned to Ginny.

“Pleasant sort,” he offered mildly.

She snorted. “Thanks for the intercept. Sorry to interrupt your night.”

“No problem.” He considered for a moment. “You gals want company?”

“Love some,” Dare offered instantly. “Only Ginny and I have a toast to make every now and then. If that’s okay with you.”

“You call ‘em,” Paul returned. He tilted his head toward his table. “Grab the open chairs. We’ll find more if we need them. Most of the guys are up and down dancing anyway.”

Dare flashed him a thumbs up then picked up her new glass and eyed it suspiciously before giving Ginny the stink eye. “Whiskey neat, you jerk.”

“Whatever.” Ginny took control and raised her glass. “To your mom. Who made the inside of your cabin feel like it was a palace, a cozy retreat, and always, always a home.”

Tears shone in Dare’s eyes as they clinked glasses. “To Mom.”