“That would be fantastic,” I said. “Do you know of any good bars around town?” It was already nearing the end of our workday, and I was antsy to get out.
“Well, it’s not a bar, but they have great food and serve drinks. It’s just up the road, Lumberjack Shack.”
I groaned. Why did she have to suggest the one place Jaxson had taken me on my first night in Breckenridge? Lincoln owned the place, and Jaxson was friends with him, which meant we could run into each other.
“Oh, is something wrong with that place?”
I hadn’t realized she’d heard my sound of discontent. “No.” I didn’t have a good excuse and wasn’t ready to confide in her about my past or that I was formerly Ariella Ryan. She didn’t need to know about my ex-husband or the crimes he had committed in both of our names. I also wasn’t ready to talk about Jaxson with anyone yet.
“Okay, good.” Emma’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know too many places in town. I’m still new here too.”
Was it that obvious that I wasn’t from Breckenridge or even Montana? “Where did you move from?” I asked. I hadn’t realized she was new to town. At least we had something else in common other than our employer.
“I’m from California. Lived on the west coast my entire life in Los Angeles.”
“Tired of the city life?” I guessed. Why would anyone leave sunny weather to come here? Unless she had a secret of her own?
“I used to come out here with my family—my sister and her kids for vacation.”
Well, at least she was familiar with the area if she used to vacation in or around Breckenridge. “Did you come to the resort with your family?”
“We didn’t stay at Blue Sky, but they snowboarded down the slopes while I took in some other sights.” Emma winked at me. Her brown eyes glinted in the light before she glanced at her watch. “If you know the way to Lumberjack Shack, I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good.” I grabbed my purse and headed to my car. I was grateful Declan had managed a few minimal repairs. He had picked me up in his tow truck before work on my first day, early. I’d squared up with him on the payment and driven to the resort for orientation, making it just in time.
My credit card was nearly maxed, and since I didn’t have full liability on the car, I wouldn’t get a cent from insurance to help pay for the damages. Declan had been quiet on the drive to get my car, and I was grateful he hadn’t mentioned Jaxson’s name once.
Unlocking the door of my car, goose-pimples formed on my arms, and a chill ran down my spine. Someone watched me. I just knew it. I spun around, keys in hand to use as a weapon if I was in danger.
No one was behind me. There were a few people in the parking lot. Still, I didn’t recognize any of them: a family with their trunk open retrieving ski equipment, a woman buckling her young daughter into a car seat, and a gentleman wearing a baseball cap and a light jacket standing by his vehicle. The guy alone, with the thin leather, seemed out of place. The baseball cap could have been a rouse, so I wouldn’t recognize him. I tried not to stare. My mind played tricks on me. I’d been concerned that someone would discover who I was Ariella Ryan and would come after me for the money my ex-husband stole. It had happened before when we lived in New York.
I climbed into my car and took off out of the parking lot and for the main road into town. The resort was about forty miles south of where I lived. The winter had been surprisingly mild and the snow that had fell began to melt, making the road sludgy and wet. Declan had put a new set of tires on my car, and while they’d been previously used, they still had more life than my bald ones that hadn’t given me anything but a headache.
There wasn’t any music on the radio, the channels too far from where we lived. My car didn’t have satellite radio, so I had to resort to popping in a CD for tunes. I traveled up the mountain, the slush recently plowed to the side, probably from one of the townspeople.
The sun began to set, but not before I pulled up in front of Lincoln’s restaurant. I didn’t see any sign of Emma’s car yet, but I’d left a little ahead of her. I glanced at my cell phone. She hadn’t called, which at least was good news. She wasn’t canceling on me.
I headed for the front entrance. The wooden door heavy as I swung it open. There wasn’t a hostess, and no one took reservations even in season during the busiest months. A sign by the front entrance read ‘seat yourself,’ so I grabbed a seat at the bar and put my coat down on the second stool to save Emma a seat.
The bartender’s back was to me. His tight jeans and dark black t-shirt hung to his curves. I licked my dry lips and glanced him over. His butt looked pretty damned good. I hadn’t even had a man to fantasize about in like ages. My ex-husband hadn’t been dynamite in the sack. His needs had always come first, and then when he was done, so was I.
“Can I get a leg spreader?” I asked cheekily.
The bartender spun around and faced me.
The smile on my face fell to the floor. My stomach tensed. “Jaxson,” I whispered and cleared my throat. His eyes locked on mine. “What are you doing here?” I tried to sound confident in my question, like seeing him didn’t tear apart my heart after the fight we had at my house. “Don’t you work at Eagle Tactical?” I asked. Had he changed careers recently? Did something happen between him and his military buddies? He’d been hostile toward me. Was there more to it I didn’t know?
He grabbed a rag and wiped the wooden counter, his eyes avoiding me. “Just helping Lincoln out. Friday nights are always busy here, and I got off work early.”
“Right.” I glanced over my shoulder, hoping Emma would be here soon. I could use her support right now. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take of Jaxson, talking with him, pretending like everything was okay because it wasn’t.
“I’ll make you a special drink,” he said and grabbed a shot glass from beneath the counter. I wordlessly watched as he sliced a jalapeno pepper in half and placed it into the shot glass. My stomach somersaulted. I wasn’t keen on spicy drinks or foods. Then he poured tequila and several dashes of hot sauce into the glass before sliding the concoction across the bar. “Your Anus Burner. Enjoy.” His eyes twinkled with mirth before he headed across the bar to help another patron.
“I guess I deserved that,” I muttered under my breath.
“What’s that?” Emma asked.
I spun around on my chair and removed my coat. “I saved you a seat.”
“I saw you met the bartender.” She sat down and leaned against the bar, waving at Jaxson to get his attention. “Jaxson!”
He ignored Emma because she was with me. “My apologies in advance if he makes you a shitty drink. We’re not on the best-speaking terms.”
“Wait, you know my boyfriend?” Emma shifted to face me.
My eyes widened, and I sipped the drink so that I didn’t have to say anything, momentarily forgetting about the hot and disgusting concoction until it touched my lips. I coughed and tried not to gag. “We’re neighbors,” I said, not wanting to confide anything else. How long had they been together? Jaxson hadn’t mentioned it when we’d first met, but that had been over a month ago.