Page 33 of Cowboy Stole My Heart
“So don’t have a relationship. Be friends with benefits.”
When Sam glared at him Nate just shrugged.
“Fine, don’t be. But don’t let some preppy idiot sweep Mia off her feet if you like her. Hell, you never get like this over women.”
“I know,” Sam muttered. “She’s different. There’s something about her.”
“Which is why you feel like you can’t do casual with her.”
“Dammit, she’s the kind of girl you’d take home to meet your mom. But I don’t have a mom to take her home to, so that’s all shades of fucked up even thinking like that,” Sam said bitterly.
“She’s got under your skin,” Nate said, draining his glass. “When a woman truly gets under your skin? Only a fool walks away. Trust me.”
Sam stared at him, listened to his words and nodded. There was no point getting angry with Nate, he was only speaking the truth and they both knew it.
“Then call me a fool, but I’m walking away.”
“You’re not going over to see her?”
Sam shook his head. “No.”
“Well, if there’s nothing to watch, then I’m off,” Nate said, sliding his glass across the bar to the bartender. “I’vegot a wife and baby girls to get home to, and I’ve missed them like crazy.”
Sam frowned. He could have done with another drink, but at least this way he could still drive home.
“Want to come over for a BBQ on Sunday?” Nate asked. “All the family will be there, it’d be good to see you.”
“Yeah, sure thing,” Sam said, glancing back at Mia and seeing her in conversation with her date.
He grabbed his keys off the bar, leaving his drink half full still, and followed Nate out. It was better this way. If he’d had any more to drink, he’d have ended up making his way to Mia, and he had no idea what would have happened after that. He clenched his fists, wishing he could smack her smarmy date right in the face, knock his damn teeth out and get Mia the hell out of the bar.
“We okay?” Nate asked, his hand landing heavy on Sam’s shoulder. He was staring at him, hard, like he didn’t mind using force if he had to if it meant getting his brother-in-law out of the bar safely.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Sam said, forced to unclench his jaw when he had to speak.
“You sure about that?” Nate asked. “Because from where I’m standing, the veins in your neck are about to explode and your jaw is bulging.”
Sam grunted and pushed past Nate. “Just get me out of here.”
“Good, right answer. Because your sister would beat the crap out of me herself if I let you get into a bar fight.”
“Sam!”
He heard Nate groan, loudly, at the same time his name was called.
“Were you leaving without even coming over to say hello?”
Sam released his fingers from the tight grip of his palms. “Yeah. Didn’t want to, ah, interrupt you.”
“Nate,” Nate suddenly said, holding out his hand. “It’s been a long time. How are you, Mia?”
“Hey, Nate, it’s good to see you,” Mia said, clasping his hand and leaning in to kiss his cheek. Sam felt the now-familiar clench of his jaw and tightening across his mouth return. Seeing her touch her lips to Nate’s face was about to send him over the edge for no sensible reason.
They stood awkwardly for a moment before Mia spoke again. “Would you like to join us for a drink?”
“No,” Sam said, realizing how hastily he’d replied when Nate kicked him. Dammit.
“I’m heading home. I’ve got two baby girls to see and I’ve missed them like hell these past couple days.” Nate chuckled. “I’m looking forward to cuddling them on their night feed, so I’m off. Good to see you again.”
