Page 111 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
Epilogue
Rough Cut pub was that perfect mix of local watering hole and nightclub. With the music turned up to eleven, the full-to-the-rafters crowd seemed determined to enjoy the final night of August with a vengeance.
Over the past five months, Julia had gotten to know a number of people around Heart Falls, including her newfound sisters and some great friends from their girls’ night out events. But tonight wasn’t about family time.
With two entire days off ahead of her, Julia was ready to kick up her heels and enjoy herself by dancing the night away. No commitments, no relationship building. Just an old old-fashioned dance ‘til you drop evening.
She left her most recent partner, grinning as she spotted Brad and Hanna Ford huddled at a high-top table.
They were so cute. It was rare to see her boss and his wife out on the town like this, what with basically being newly-wedsandhaving a preteen kid.
Julia swung by the table and placed a hand on Brad’s shoulder. “Hey, boss man. Hanna. Night on the town without the kiddo?”
Hanna offered a smile. “She’s at a friend’s. We came to dance for a while.”
Julia gestured toward the floor. “It’s high-speed out there right now.”
The night had been busy enough to offer her a wide variety of partners to two-step with, but every now and then, even she had to catch her breath.
Karen and Finn flashed past. He had her tight against him as he spun her quickly. Her head fell back and laughter rang out over the toe-tapping music.
“We’re waiting for a little slower song before we join in,” Brad confessed, his kind smile taking her in. “You’ve been working up a sweat.”
“It’s easier training than hauling hoses up the stairs of doom,” Julia told him. “But yeah, I need to catch my breath. I’ll see you guys later.”
In the corner of the room, Lisa and Josiah were talking quietly while he stared at her like she was the only woman in the world.
Julia’s sisters had good solid guys in their lives, and she was glad for them. She had zero desire to follow in their footsteps, though. Not right now, that was for sure.
She headed to the bathroom, pausing to wash her face and hands first. Her cheeks were flushed and beads of sweat clung to the back of her neck, but so far the evening had been a blast.
Pit stop, then a cold drink. Then she’d keep finding guys to dance with until they shut the place down.
The door to her bathroom stall had barely closed when a rush of voices filled the women’s bathroom. Julia ignored the chatter, going about her business—
“I swear it’s true. It’s disgusting, really. They haven’t even been married two months.”
This was said at a far, far lower volume. Julia froze.
Another woman spoke up, also barely above a whisper. “He should know better, though. He’s been such a good person up until now—coming back to town to care for his dad.”
“Guys don’t think with anything but their dicks at times.”
“Right? I bet everyone will notice before too long. Cheating once is bad enough. Ongoing? Not even Brad can survive that.”
Anger flared. Of all the contemptible ideas. For anyone to assume that Brad was cheating on Hanna? Outrageous.
“She seems so nice, but I guess that’s how cheaters get away with it.” The second woman spoke a little louder, as if feeling more confident.
It had to be a misunderstanding because no way in hell would Brad ever—
“She’s only here for a couple more months. That’s what I heard.”
“She’ll come back to visit her sisters, though. It’s a terrible thing. I wouldn’t want this for anyone, let alone sweet Hanna. Poor thing’s gone through so much.” Firmer. Getting bolder. “I feel like I should tell that Julia Blushing we don’t want her kind around here. She needs to…”
The rush of blood in Julia’s ears drowned out the rest of the righteous declaration.
Her? They thought she and Brad were having anaffair?
