Page 27 of Willow Vale

“If you’re gonna pull that shit, take it outside,” I said flatly.

“You’re no fun,” my sister said with a huff, dropping her hands but Finn, per usual, just ignored me. He ruffled her hair until she threw an elbow into his side.Children. They were still children. “And here I was thinking you were dying to see me again after you were practically begging me to come home as soon as I left.”

“Shut up, you know I’m happy you’re here.” It was my turn to ruffle her hair.

Patrons started to stare at the three of us now, and it was then that I noticed that Delilah was also watching us from behind the bar. A small smile on her full lips. I suddenly had the urge to kiss that smile right off her face and I forced myself to look away from her.

You can’t. Because you are friends, remember? Friends.

For some reason hearing Delilah refer to us as friends got under my skin in a way I hadn’t been counting on. Which is ridiculous because that’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted her in my life for longer than a few seconds before she bolted. So why the hell did I get this twisted feeling in my stomach?

“Really? She’s here?” I heard Wren ask incredulously from behind me.

I looked over my shoulder and frowned when I found Finn whispering something into my sister’s ear. Her lips were quirked up, growing wider into a grin the longer Finn said whatever he was saying to her. When they both looked at me with nearly identical expressions on their faces, I was tempted to drag them by the back of their shirts and kick them out of my bar.

Wren’s eyes shifted over my shoulder, and she arched one brow before walking right past me. I scowled at her as she went straight up to the bar and said, “Lila!”

Delilah blinked, about to reach for a glass on the shelf when she hollered her name.

Wren rested her forearms on the bar, “I didn’t know you were working here.”

Ignoring the glare I was giving him, Finn sidled up to them next.

“If you’re not going to get anything, leave,” I said as I made my way around the bar.

Delilah looked between us, and I realized I’d moved to stand right next to her.

“I’ll have an ice water. Thanks.” Wren waved a dismissive hand my way as she talked to Delilah.

The rest of the night went that way. My siblings hounding Delilah every chance they got to catch up with her, all while cracking jokes at my expense.

I went about my business serving a few bar regulars, including the old men who had nothing better to do than gossip amongst themselves.

I thought my sister paying us a visit would be the end of the excitement for one night.

I was wrong, because the next person who walked into my bar was none other than Victor Ward, looking as if he owned the place when he sauntered over to the bar with a shit eating grin.

Most of the patrons at The Rusty Pint went deathly silent as soon as Victor’s boots hit the hardwood floor, openly staring at him.

There wasn’t a single person in The Pint who regarded him with love. Not after what his father did some years back. Victor’s father had been caught rustling cattle from another ranch when we were in high school, and the first time he had the money to post bail. Turns out, the second time wasn’t a charm. A few years later, Dad told me that the eldest Ward was serving time for stealing upward of twenty cattle and trying to sell them at a livestock auction.

Nowadays, I heard Victor Ward wasn’t any better than his father. Always causing trouble wherever he went. The only Ward I didn’t mind seeing in my bar was Logan, Finn’s best friend, who was also coincidentally standing by the pool table. Based on the look of disdain on the youngest Ward’s face, I’d say he wasn’t a big fan of his brother either.

“I’ll have a Bud. Make it a bottle,” Victor said to Desi in a dismissive tone as soon as he walked up to the bar. She made no move to get him a drink after he barely spared her a glance.

I crossed my arms as I stopped to stand next to her, but he ignored me, turning around to survey the bar with interest. Iwas about to tell him to get out of my bar when he turned in his stool and zeroed in on Delilah.

“Well, look who we have here. Lila North.” Victor’s voice was a dry rasp that grated on my ears. More so when her name fell from his lips.

I placed the beer I’d been about to serve to another customer down behind the counter. Hating the way he was eyeing Delilah. The way she was ignoring him but visibly uncomfortable with his presence as she stood next to me.

Yeah, he wasn’t staying another second longer.

“Hey.” He slapped a hand down hard on the counter, and I saw her flinch from the corner of my eye. “Didn’t your mom teach you any manners?—”

“Do.Not. Talk to her.” I cut in.

“Travis, good to see you man.” Victor grinned before looking between us. “I can’t say I’m surprised you’re still running this dump. Trash likes trash after all.”

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