Page 31 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

“What part is that?”

He looked at her. “The part where I sit down with a woman and she wants to know things.”

Bea went quiet for a moment. She could let him off the hook, but—and perhaps she was fooling herself—she had the feeling he wouldn’t mind opening up. He simply didn’t know how.

“You know, we don’t have to make it a thing. We could pretend it isn’t one.”

“Pretend it isn’t?”

“Mm. Like the dancing.” She lifted her wine. “You’re not telling me about yourself. You’re simply sitting at a bar, saying words, and I happen to be here to overhear them. No pressure at all. You could be talking to the whiskey.” She gripped her glass a little tighter, suddenly unsure whether he’d think she was too pushy or simply crazy. The idea had sounded right in her head, but … She let herself breathe again when he nodded.

“Whiskey’s an old friend of mine. Don’t mind hanging out with it sometimes.”

She settled back on her stool. “Well, go on then, whiskey. He’s from Montana. That much I’ve dragged out of him. And most of his friends are cowboys, which I still don’t quite believe.”

“Believe it.”

“Real ones? Hats and horses and cattle?”

“Hats and horses and cattle.”

“And you? Are you a cowboy under all the—” She gestured at him again. “—security?”

He considered it. “Grew up on a ranch. Left it a long time ago. Still know which end of a horse is which.”

“That’s the most you’ve told me about yourself in one go all weekend.”

“Yeah. Well.” He turned the glass again. “Must be the whiskey.” He smiled. “You’d like my friends. They’re good guys. A whole bunch of us grew up together in the valley. That’s why Cash and Mav wanted to go back. All the other guys were already there. Most of them have settled down now. Married, kids, all of that. Some of them even have grandkids.”

“I hadn’t imagined you as one of a big gang of friends.”

He shrugged. “Probably because you’ve already got me figured out. I’m the same way there as I have been here. I stand in the corner, out of the way, keeping an eye out for them. They live their lives; I stand watch.”

She desperately wanted to ask why, but she knew he wouldn’t thank her for it. And probably wouldn’t answer.

Instead, she waited, and he went on. “I spend a lot of time training my teams.”

“You’re the boss, then?”

“I’m in charge of training. Making sure they’re up to the job, that they can keep the clients safe, and themselves.”

“And you’ve never been married?”

“No.” He gave her a look. “I can see where you’re going, Bea. You think I must be lonely.”

She made a noncommittal noise. The thought had occurred to her.

“I don’t feel like I’m on the outside. Or alone. It suits me the way things are. I come and go. Travel a lot for work. Make sure everybody’s okay, and …” He rolled the glass between his hands. “Nobody’s waiting on me. Nobody expects me home. Can’t let anyone down that way.”

“Oh, Blane. I don’t think you have it in you to let anyone down.”

He looked away, watching the bartender wipe down the bar. When he turned back to her, she could see that he’d closed the subject.

“I don’t think you have it in you to let people down either. But I’d guess there’s a story about your marriage.”

“Oof.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “I want to say that’s a bit much, but it’s fair. I put you on the spot.”

He looked so uncomfortable that she knew he’d only done it to take the attention off himself.