Chapter 1
RAYN
Pickingup my drink that the new bartender, Jasper, set down in front of me, I bring it to my lips as I turn on my stool to face the rest of the room. I drag my eyes around the crowded space, taking in all the people sitting at booths and high top tables. I know most of them, just like everyone else knows most people in Silver Falls. Living in such a small town is both a blessing and a curse.
The vodka and cranberry juice slides down my throat easily as I take hefty swallows. Normally, I savor my drinks. I drink because I like the taste, not the mindless effects it causes. Not tonight though. Tonight I want to feel oblivious. I need the numbing effect to take away all the crap that’s happened today.
Shifting in my seat, I swivel it toward the dance floor, watching as everyone gyrates against their partners. Whiskey Blue’s has a very relaxed atmosphere. It’s the one place people can go to let loose without fear of being judged.
My eyes stop on Jamison as Marisa, the woman he’s dancing with, grinds her ass against his crotch. He has one arm around her waist, his hand resting on her midriff just below her breasts. His other hand grips her hip, holding her in place as their hips sensually sway back and forth. He dips his head and runs his nose along the column of her neck. Of course, she helps out by tilting her head to the side.
Watching the pair sends a shot of adrenaline through me at the same time it sours my stomach. I refuse to think about why seeing my step-brother dancing with another woman bothers me so much. I’ve gotten really good at ignoring my irrational feelings.
I lift my glass to my lips, then scowl down at the cubes of ice when they hit my lips. How in the hell is it gone already?
Spinning around, I catch Jasper’s attention and hold up my glass. His chin jerks up in acknowledgement. A moment later, he appears in front of me with another full glass, setting it down within my reach.
“That’s your third in fifteen minutes,” he comments unnecessarily. “Where in the hell are you putting them?”
I tap the side of my head with a white tipped fingernail. “Right here, hopefully.” I chug back a big mouthful.
“One of those days, huh?” he asks as he flips over a mug and begins filling it with beer.
“You have no clue,” I mutter.
After he slides the mug to a guy a couple of stools down from me and takes his money, he comes back to stand in front of me. “You wanna talk about it?”
I take a long look at Jasper. He’s been working at Whiskey’s for about a month, and he’s only been in Silver Falls for a year. He’s a good looking guy with short, light-brown hair, a nice swimmer’s body, kind green eyes, and a great personality to boot. I barely remember him, but he told me last week that he spent a few years in Silver Falls in his younger teen years.
He’s asked me out several times, but I always say no. Don’t ask me why, because I’ll lie and say he’s not my type, when in fact, he’s exactly my type. I just don’t want to admit the real reason.
I smile at him. “Thanks, but I’m still trying to mentally process it. I’m not ready to talk about it yet. Besides,” I look down to the other end of the bar after a feminine voice calls Jasper’s name, “you’re being summoned.”
He taps the bar. “Holler if you change your mind.” With a wink and a grin that causes a dimple to pop out on one of his cheeks, he adds, “I’d tell them all to fuck off if you wanted me to.”
My light-hearted laugh only lasts as long as it takes him to walk away. After that, my mood once again sours. I should have asked Jasper to leave the vodka and cranberry juice with me, because I’m pretty sure with the way I’m going, my drink will be gone in another minute or two.
The stool beside me is suddenly taken and there’s a wave of cologne so strong it nearly has me gagging. I thought girls were the ones known to go overboard with their perfume, but Jesus, it’s like this guy actually bathed in his cologne. My eyes water, and I have to hold still for a moment to make sure I’m not going to throw up.
“Hey, sugar.” A deep masculine voice fills my ear only a second before the smell gets stronger.
Ordinarily, I’m a nice person. I have manners, I don’t put my elbows on the table, and I truly believe if you don’t have something nice to say then you shouldn’t say anything at all. But I’m pretty sure it would be meaner to not tell this guy to lay off the cologne. Even so, I still keep my opinion to myself.
Holding my breath, I force a smile on my lips and look at the guy. “Hi.”
I turn back to face the bar again, hoping he’ll catch the hint and leave me alone.
But, of course. Apparently, my day hasn’t been shitty enough.
The guy leans closer to me, which makes the smell even stronger, and asks, “You here by yourself?”
This time, I don’t smile when I look at him. “Yep. And I plan to stay that way.”
The guy smiles, and I have to admit, it’s a good smile. But even if I were in the mood for a little hanky panky between the sheets, I definitely wouldn’t with this guy. I’d probably die from alcohol poisoning, and not from the kind in my drink.
“I bet I could change your mind.”