Page 9 of Sheriff's Dirty Secret
“Does that mean you’re interested in him?” Coral asked. I opened and shut my mouth. What would be the point of admitting that?None. None at all,the realist in me chimed while the romantic rolled her eyes.
“Babe, if you’re interested—“ Coral kept talking, but I shook my head.
“It doesn’t matter. Who is driving tonight?” I asked, about to set my keys in the middle of the table but changed my mind last minute. “Never mind.” I faked a grin as I eyed my sisters, who were looking at me like they had no idea what to expect from me. Not that I took it personally. I was the wild child. “I’ll get a ride with whoever I hook up with tonight. It's been fun!” I got up and walked over to the bar.
Two of them called after me, but I ignored them. I might have felt my sisters' eyes on me, but I didn’t turn around even though for the first time, I was tempted to. I could only imagine what they were saying.
That I was crazy.
That I needed to settle down.
Just because all my siblings but my brother and I were hooked up, married or getting married and having babies, that didn’t mean I needed that. It felt like the new year had rung in, and one by one, my sisters were all knocked out cold by Cupid.As if I’d ever let that little weird cherub get near me!I scoped out the guys at the bar seeing what there was to work with.
Best way to get over someone is to get on top of someone else,I reminded myself even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. Luke’s face flashed before my eyes, and I mentally shook it away.Focus, Oli.This wasn’t the first time I’d picked upa random guy for a one-night stand. It was honestly easier than women thought it could be.
My eyes moved to the busy bar in the middle of the brewery. It was packed with people. At the far end, there was a group of three guys. Decent looking, but it wouldn’t work. I’d gone to high school with one, kind of knew the other two. That was the issue of living in a small town. But that wasn’t why. It was because all three guys were focused on the game playing on the big screens.Too much work.
Next to them was a guy with dark hair, wearing an impeccable suit. Dark tattoos peeked beneath the unbuttoned collar of his crisp shirt. His face turned slightly, making it possible to check out his profile. Strong nose, great jaw, and slight scruff with a hint of silver in it. I loved older guys. They knew what they were doing. When he lifted a dark double shot of something to his lips, a gold Rolex gleamed. My eyes roamed to his hand, and a brow rose. No ring, but there was a slight tan line on it. My guess would be recently divorced. Or worse, a cheater. Either way, it could make him a possible clinger. No thanks.
Three couples at the other end and next to them a bachelorette party.Shit.
That’s when I saw him. A familiar face with all too familiar gray blue eyes already set on me. The smile grew on my face as I walked right to the center of the bar, taking the barstool right across from him.
“Uh-oh, I know that look. What are you doing, trouble?” Austin Hart, my brother’s best friend and co-owner of the brewery, said, leaning forward and giving me a bright white smile.
If it weren’t for the fact I’d known him forever, I might have been attracted to him. I more than definitely would have taken him out for a ride. Austin was tall and handsome and had this air about him that let a woman know she would notbe disappointed. But he was my brother’s best friend and like a brother to me.
“Nothing.” I frowned playfully, leaning forward. “What about you, handsome?” I said, giving him my best smile. I didn’t want Austin to take me home, but a little flirting wouldn’t hurt. He stared at me and shook his head.
“You’re up to something.” I wanted to scowl but somehow managed to keep a semi-innocent expression on my face.
“No, I’m not.”
“Beautiful, how long have I known you?” he asked, taking my hand. My eyes locked with his. They were pretty. The color the exact shade of the sky just before a really great thunderstorm hit Moonlit Pines.
But it wasn’t the right tone of blue. Not like the sheriff’s.
“Hmm… Really long time.”
“And how many times have you called me handsome in all those years?” I opened and quickly shut my mouth.
We might have flirted in the past to piss Onyx off, but never seriously. Unlike Raven, who was actually now dating his other best friend and business partner, Bash.
“Maybe I just needed some time to think what it could be like…”
“And what’s that?”
“I don’t know… asking you for sex on the beach?” His lips twitched. “Or the lake, since that’s closer,” I added, and he chuckled.
“I know you.” He pointed at me. “You’re definitely up to something, and knowing you, it’s trouble with a capital T.” That earned him an eye roll I knew he took with a grain of salt.
“I don’t know… have you ever thought about it?” He leaned closer, squeezing my hand in his.
“Beautiful, who are you trying to make jealous?” I shook my head and leaned in.
“No one.” I pouted since I knew my sisters couldn’t see me, if they were even still watching. “The girls are just being… obnoxious,” I shared quietly. “Do you mind if I hang out with you for a little bit?”
“Hang or flirt?”
