True Love at Silver Creek Ranch(69)

“That’s why we brought them for a sleigh ride today,” Howie added. “A nice family outing.”

“Then let’s get started,” Adam said.

Adam actually enjoyed the ride. Howie and his wife appreciated all the little tidbits he told them about the ranch and the town. They, in turn, explained it in simpler language to their son. The baby was so good, never making a peep, just staring wide-eyed. The toddler was thrilled when several deer bounded across their path.

When they arrived back in the yard, and Tara was putting the kids back in the car as it warmed up, Howie came back to Adam.

“You doing anything tonight?” Howie asked.

“Nope,” he said, glad to feel interested again.

“There’s a pool tournament I’ve entered at Tony’s Tavern. Very informal, nothing big. You’ll see lots of people you know. You could stop by. It starts at seven.”

“Thanks, I’ll see you there.”

After a day of skiing, Brooke stopped at Monica’s, who insisted she come to the pool tournament at Tony’s and look for men. How could Brooke say she had her own already? So after Monica put long ringlets of curls in her hair, she donned her evening makeup and a tight little dress with high leather boots.

Brooke quickly realized what was going on as Monica innocently introduced her to LeVar Kirk, a friend of her brother, who was in the family plumbing business in Carbondale. He was a tall, lanky black guy with good arms he showed off in a polo shirt even though it was almost winter.

Before she could even comment on his name, he said, “Yeah, my dad was into Star Trek, and I’m not so upset about it anymore.”

At least he made her laugh although she wasn’t laughing when Monica disappeared, leaving her alone with LeVar. Soon he began to tack “babe” on to the end of everything he said to her, like it was his pet name for her after one hour together. She should probably leave, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, and the music was good, and heck, she knew almost everyone in the pool tournament.

Since he was betting on the pool game in the back room, she offered to get him a beer. She was waiting for her order when she saw Adam walk right past her, eyes on her ass as she leaned on the bar.

He did a double take of recognition, then his gaze flew to hers. They collided, and the vivid awareness was more than any man had ever made her feel.

“Don’t say it,” she said in a low voice.

He gave a slow grin, and in his eyes she could read, I recognized you by your ass.

He elbowed his way to stand beside her. “Hey, boss.”

“What are you doing here? I thought you were hibernating in your cabin for the winter.”

He shrugged. “Met up with Deer Deering today when he brought his little family for a sleigh ride. He invited me to watch him play. Am I late?”

“They just started. I’m getting a beer for a friend, then heading in.”

“A friend?” he echoed, cocking his head, that sly smile playing on his mouth.

“A friend of Monica’s brother,” she explained patiently. “I have been set up, and Monica seems to have disappeared. I don’t want to be rude,” she quickly added. “We’re just watching the tournament with everyone else.”

“Guess I’ll leave you to it, boss.” Wearing a devilish grin, he tipped his cowboy hat and moved back out through the crowd.

“Boss,” “babe,” she had lots of names tonight, she thought, giving a reluctant smile. She glanced over her shoulder, where she could just see Adam saunter into the pool room. Damn, he looked good from behind. The evening had just gotten more interesting—and more dangerous, she reminded herself.

As she carried two bottles of beer into the back room, LeVar came up to her with a grateful, “Thanks, babe,” before slurping down some beer.

“So how’s the tournament?” She had to raise her voice to be heard.

“Some guy named Howie Junior is up next.”

“I know him.” She looked around the bar. “In fact, I know most people here—except you. So tell me about your family business.”

She dipped her lukewarm fries in ketchup and listened, but her gaze kept roaming to Adam. He stood with Chris Sweet and Howie Junior—she couldn’t imagine calling him Deer. Adam was listening with only an occasional laid-back comment, as expressive Howie talked about something and used his hands the whole time. Once Adam had to pull his beer back, or Howie would have knocked it to the floor. They both laughed.

Something inside Brooke eased at this evidence that Adam was trying to meet people again. She didn’t want to watch him stay hunkered down in his cabin every night, letting whatever was bothering him fester.