Nevada laughed as he led him into the kitchen. Wilder grinned as he followed him. The woman who answered the door turned to look at them. She smiled at him, then moved closer to Nevada and kissed his lips.
“Courtney, this is a good friend of mine, Wilder Richards. Wilder, this is Courtney Bennett, my fiancée,” Nevada introduced them.
“Hello, Wilder. It’s nice to meet you.” She put her hand out to him, and he shook it.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Courtney. What’s a beautiful woman like you doing with this ugly guy?”
Courtney laughed, and Wilder could see how Nevada fell in love with her.
“I took pity on him,” she said and laughed more when Nevada pulled her close and growled against her neck. She pulled back from him. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I have some things I need to pick up in town.” She kissed Nevada again, then looked at Wilder. “You boys have fun.”
Wilder watched as she picked up her purse, left the kitchen, and the front door opened and closed.
“You’re one lucky son of a bitch,” Wilder said as he took a seat at the bar.
“Hell, I know. I’ll get you a beer.”
“Does Courtney work?”
“Yes, at Sweet Nothings bakery.” Nevada set a beer down in front of him.
“I’m surprised you haven’t gained weight,” Wilder said with a grin.
“Good thing I have to clean the barns out and chase down bad guys.” Nevada climbed onto a stool.
Wilder twisted the cap off the beer bottle and placed it on the counter.
“Nevada—”
“Damn it, Wilder. It was not your fault. If you had lied under oath, we both would have lost our jobs. I miss it sometimes, but I’m happier being a deputy. My hours are regular, and I have the best boss. I don’t have to leave Courtney for days to follow a lead. I know it works for some agents, but I didn’t want to travel after meeting her. Hell, Reece will only take cases closer to home, so he’s not away from Rissa so much. Don’t blame yourself for this. I quit, remember?”
“But you quit because you didn’t want to be fired.” Wilder shook his head. “It all comes back to my testimony.”
“Bullshit. Stop saying that. If I blamed you, do you think you’d be in my kitchen having a beer?”
Wilder rubbed his hand over his beard, then shook his head.
“No. No, I don’t.”
“Then stop thinking it was your fault. I knew McMillon was out to get me. That bastard’s had it in for me for years.”
“Because his nephew didn’t like you. You and Watkins never got along.”
“One reason I left Butte was to get away from him. Hell, he was a pain in the ass when he was an agent, but it got worse once he got promoted. I had to leave there. I was happy in the Clifton office, but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m just lucky it didn’t kill me.”
“Yes, you are. Damn lucky.” Wilder shook his head. “You should have put that vest on, Nevada.”
“No shit.” Nevada lifted his beer and took a pull on it.
Wilder chuckled. “Well, I’m glad to see you’re happy with your new job. Clifton’s not a big town, but I love it. You must too if you didn’t go back to Butte.”
“I knew I would stay here no matter what, especially after meeting Courtney. She’s the love of my life. I hope you come to the wedding.” Nevada tilted his head. “You got the invitation, right?”
“Yes…”
“But you weren’t planning to attend, were you?”
“No.”