Page 90 of Junkyard Dog

Charlotte ignored him, burying her head in her purse as the bartender set her drinks down.

“I’ll get those,” the man said, setting a twenty down. When her head snapped up, her mouth opening to protest, he looked down at her, his dark brown and amber eyes worn. “Consider it a meager token for returning our things.”

Fighting the urge to look around the bar for another tall blond, she gave him a tight smile. “Thank you. And you’re welcome.”

She gathered the drinks up and backed away, keeping her head down until she made it back to Max.

If he was here, she didn’t want to know.

*

Alex slid theshot of tequila to Bo, shaking his head. “Nope. No more. I’m out.”

Bo shrugged and pounded back both shots, his bloodshot eyes closing for a moment before he turned his attention back to the women who had squeezed into their booth an hour earlier.

Alex shuffled over a fraction, subtly angling his legs away from the high-heeled foot sliding up his calf from across the table. Scanning the bar, he caught sight of Ryan beelining toward them, his hands loaded with bottles.

“We should head out after this,” Ryan stated, handing out the drinks and thanking the redhead when she slid over to give him room to sit. “I want to be on the road early.”

Bo waved him off, stretching his arm behind the brunette to play with the blonde’s curls. “I’m sleeping the whole way, so…”

Ryan’s eyes flicked around the room. “Alex and I’ll meet you back at the trailer then.”

Alex polished off the last of his beer and stood, happy for the graceful out. He snapped his fingers at Bo to get his attention. “Hey. Call when you’re on your way.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Bo slurred, cocking a brow when the brunette whispered into his ear.

Ryan perused the bar again, stepping up tight to him and nudging him to the left. “Let’s go.”

Shaking his brother’s arm off, Alex began jostling through the crowds, wincing when a piercing squeal echoed in the room, the intro to a song that brought back way too many memories blasting through the speakers. “We should grab a burger on the way home,” he yelled over his shoulder, craning his head back when Ryan’s response was drowned out by the frantic dance floor rush. “I sai—” He stopped in his tracks.

Charlotte was steps away from him, shaking her head and rolling her eyes as Becky dragged her toward the center of the room. Tugging her arm back, she turned, her smile freezing when she caught sight of him. Becky’s eyes widened as she released her and she leaned into Charlotte’s ear, backing up when Charlotte nodded.

“Hey.”

He swallowed, vaguely aware of Ryan drawing up beside him. “Hey.”

Her eyes moved to his brother and she gave him a tight smile. “Hey again.”

Ryan nodded, elbowing him and tilting his head toward the exit. Taking the hint, Becky did the same to Charlotte, stepping between them and latching on to her arm.

He remained rooted on the spot as Charlotte disappeared into the crowd without glancing back, the rich green fabric of her dress fluttering around her thighs.

He didn’t remember seeing that dress before.

Running his hand through his hair, he tore his gaze off her. “You knew she was here.”

“I ran into her at the bar when I grabbed the last round,” Ryan replied, following him as he pushed open the lounge doors and stalked toward the SUV. “I wasn’t sure seeing her was something you wanted. Or needed.”

Revving the engine, he ripped through the streets in silence, ignoring Ryan’s subtle braking motions in the passenger seat.

Needed.

He attempted to rub out the knot forming at the back of his neck as he pulled up to the trailer. “Crash in the back with me,” he muttered to his brother, flicking on the lights and tossing his keys on the counter. “I’ll leave the door unlocked for Bo. But there’s no way he’s sleeping in my bed.”

Opening the sofa bed, Ryan carefully moved his backpack to the dining table and checked it over. “You okay?”

He dropped onto his bed and tossed his arm over his eyes. “Nope.”

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