Page 20 of Iron Willed Warrior

But if he had something to say to me, he’d have to make the next move.

Keira and I talked for a while longer. A couple of guys stopped by to chat us up, but we politely brushed them off.

And would you look at that? Cole was eyeing me again.

Was he trying to turn me to stone with that glare? Or beam some kind of message into my brain?

I started to get up. “I’ll get us another round.”

“No, I need to hit the bathroom anyway. I’ll be right back.”

While she was gone, I took out my phone. I sent Charlotte a quick text, saying I’d made it to Silver Ridge.

Charlotte:

Riv said there were some fireworks when you arrived?

Me:

You have no idea.

Charlotte:

How bad is it?

Me:

I’ll figure something out.

Charlotte:

You’re worrying me. And you’re worrying River.

Me:

He just doesn’t like when he’s not in control of everything.

Charlotte:

Pretty sure that’s you.

Ha. We were all a bunch of control freaks. That wasn’t going to change.

The stool across from me scraped against the floor. A heavy body sat down.

It wasn’t Keira.

Cole set a beer in front of me, then set down his own. “I’m here to apologize.”

I tucked my phone away. “So that’s why you’ve been staring at me the last hour?”

“I was deciding what to say.”

“Can’t wait to hear the rest of it.” I tugged the beer closer and took a sip. Same ale I’d been drinking before.

Wait.

I looked toward the bar and spotted Keira standing with Dean, both of them watching us. “Keira said something to you. She told you to come over here?” I hadn’t noticed her talking to Cole. She must’ve done it while I was distracted with my phone.

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