Spun Out Page 11

  “Is this where I mention that my counselor had no advice to offer me today either?”

  “You see a counselor?”

  She nodded and quickly tacked on, “It’s an army thing,” so he wouldn’t ask specifics.

  “Sure.” If he didn’t believe her, he hid it well. “When you were talkin’ to Olivia, it sounded like you and Harper had words today.”

  “We did. Bad words. Mean words. Words that were totally uncalled-for.”

  He shifted and Olivia turned her head and snuggled into his chest. “At the pool, you mentioned something about her havin’ to make ‘hard decisions.’ Is that what brought about the fight?”

  “More or less. She argued every point I made. Then she told me to leave. I spent the rest of the day fuming, thinking, I oughta just pack up and really leave. Then she’d think twice about tossing out someone who was only trying to help her. But I realized, that was exactly what Harper expected me to do, because the younger me would’ve blown a gasket and bailed on her. So I’m gonna stick around to spite her stubborn ass and do the I-told-you-so dance when she admits I was right and she was wrong.” She sighed. “Mature, huh?”

  “Well, there are them days when you work with family when ‘neener neener’ is the least offensive thing said.”

  She smiled. “Somehow, I don’t see you saying ‘neener neener,’ Streeter.”

  “I did on those days it was harder takin’ the high road.” He shifted Olivia again. “Were the words about her kids?”

  “No. About her store.” Bailey kept her focus on the fire. “I’ve been careful not to overstep my bounds when it comes to WWC. It’s been her baby since before she had kids. But that doesn’t change the fact she’s ignoring certain problems. She takes issue when anyone brings it up.”

  “Anyone . . . meaning who?”

  “Me.” She drained her beer. “Penelope.”

  He snorted. “I’d take issue if Penelope tried to tell me anything too.”

  She knocked her knee into his. “You might not like her, but she is right. Except she wasn’t dumb enough to bring it up with Harper.”

  “Instead she got you to do it.”

  “Yep. I’m back to being the know-nothing little sister, who’s babysitting the store until Harper gets her shit together.” She sent him a panicked look after she remembered Olivia was right there. “Sorry.”

  “No worries. The kid is a power sleeper.” He sent her sprawled form a soft smile. “When me’n Tobin started workin’ together, I acted the same way. I’m older than him, I know how things oughta be better than him. And it wasn’t the way he’d been doin’ things.”

  “Who won?”

  “No one. That’s the point.”

  “How’d he get to the point that he didn’t want to punch you in the face every day?”

  Streeter chuckled. “You’ll hafta ask him. For me . . . I had to realize he wasn’t tryin’ to one-up me. As kids we competed for everything. The winner was better, faster, smarter, all that stuff. I had to let go of seein’ him as someone I had to teach and accept that I could learn a lot from him.”

  “Did it take a while for you to get into that mind-set?”

  “Longer than it should have.”

  “Maybe I should just let it go. I’m only here until the end of the summer. Maybe the fact she’s willing to fight with me means she knows changes have to be made.”

  “Has the end of the summer always been your timeline for leavin’?”

  “Roughly.”

  They were each lost in their own thoughts.

  Bailey listened to the wind in the pine trees. But it wasn’t loud enough to mask the chirping crickets. Tilting her head back, she stargazed. Until she joined the army she hadn’t spent much time out in nature. Now that her time in the service was over, she doubted she’d turn into one of those camping, hiking, outdoor enthusiasts.

  But the more time she spent out of uniform, the less confident she was about who she was.

  “Can I ask you something?” Streeter asked softly.

  “Sure.” Her gaze challenged his. “As long as you’re aware that I’m a tit-for-tat kinda chick.”

  “Meaning you’ll expect me to answer something in return.”

  “Yep.”

  He smiled. “Guess that’s fair.”

  “Ask your question.”

  “Did you really hate livin’ here in Wyoming so much that you joined the army?”

  Not what she’d expected. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Bailey leaned forward and held her hands in front of the fire. “Muddy Gap isn’t home for me. It’s just another place that my mom dragged us in her search for a man to take care of her. The guy she’d hooked up with—I don’t even remember his name now—lasted about six months, then we were on our own again. Then she decided that Harper was pretty and talented enough to enter beauty pageants so that became her focus.”

  “How old were you?”

  “Twelve when we moved here. They did the pageant thing long enough for Harper to get a few scholarships, and she went off to community college.” She wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans, dragging her palms up and down her thighs. “Mom only noticed me if I was in her way. She was busy sleeping with guys for rent money or food or booze or whatever struck her fancy.”

  “Jesus, Bailey.”

  “It gets better. She ran off with a married guy when I was sixteen. She managed to give Harper a heads-up before she vanished, and Harper came back here to take care of me.” She snorted. “As if I hadn’t been taking care of myself for four years. And to be honest, I resented her. She was everything I wasn’t: gorgeous, sweet, and everyone loved her. Everyone praised her for giving up her dream to raise me.” She continued to rub her palms on her jeans. “Truth was, I did need someone to keep a roof over my head—god knows babysitting didn’t pay enough for food and rent and tuition. But Harper immediately started working two jobs and it was exactly the same situation I’d been in with Mom. My sister didn’t see me as a person. She saw me as a responsibility, then she saw me as a chance to get out of this crappy place too.” She paused to breathe. “She never asked me what I wanted to do after I graduated from high school. Harper assumed I wouldn’t know. She made plans for us, not realizing I’d already made plans for myself. I know that sounds so freakin’ selfish. Everyone thought I was such a brat for—”

  A rough hand enclosed hers, stopping her agitated movement.

  Bailey’s startled gaze zoomed to his.

  “Don’t say that. Doesn’t matter how it looked to people outside your family. It’s your life experience and it shaped you. You feel how you feel.”

  “Are you speaking from your life experiences?”

  “Yeah.”

  The fierce look in his eyes cut her deep. Without thinking, she brought his hand up and rested it against her face. “Sometime will you tell me about what shaped you?”

  He frowned. “Sometime? Not now?”

  Oh, sweet man, you’re not ready for that yet. “Of course not now. This conversation is all about me, so please refocus.”

  Her lighter tone chased the worry from his face—as she’d intended, and Streeter actually laughed. “I like you, Bailey Masterson.”

  “You like me. I think you’re cute. We’re holding hands . . .” She sighed dramatically. “Is this now a mutual crush?”

  “Appears so.”

  “What happens next?”

  “I guess I ask if you’ll go out with me sometime.”

  “Sometime? Not now?” she teased.

  He gestured to his sleeping child. “Be a little awkward to have you both sittin’ on my lap, doncha think?”

  “Stupid voice of reason.”

  “It’s a gift.”

  “Or a curse.” Bailey kept hold of his hand. “Why haven’t you grilled me abou
t my boot camp plans for tomorrow?”

  “Because I was enjoying a conversation between us that wasn’t about my daughter.” He angled his wrist and stroked his knuckles down her jawline. “You push me out of my comfort zone. Half the time I wanna run away from you—”

  “Ah, dude? You run away from me all the time, not just half of the time.”

  He continued lazily caressing her face. “You’re ruining the moment.”

  “Sorry. What do you want to do with me the other half of the time you’re not running away from me?”

  “Be brave enough to stay.”

  There went the butterflies in her belly again.

  Olivia squirmed.

  Streeter released Bailey’s hand and bent his head closer to his daughter’s when she mumbled.

  Realizing their alone time had come to an end, Bailey stood and skirted the fire pit to turn it off. She gathered up the trash and chucked it in the garbage. By the time she’d shoved the marshmallows and chocolate into a plastic grocery bag, Streeter was standing there, watching her.

  The sweet, chivalrous man wouldn’t go inside his trailer until she was safely locked inside hers.

  She said, “Thanks for listening to me tonight,” as she walked backward down the walkway.

  “Anytime.”

  “See you in the morning.”

  “Good night, Bailey.”

  She could totally swoon every time he uttered her name in that husky tone. “Night, Streeter.”

  Chapter Ten

  Streeter paused inside the entryway to Buckeye Joe’s, needing a moment to get his bearings. He hadn’t expected the bar to be so full this early on a Friday night. His gaze swept over the crowd as he searched for his brother.

  All he had to do was follow the sound of laughter and he found Tobin. His brother was one of those guys who knew everyone, and everyone liked him.

  Streeter had a twinge of envy that he’d never been that guy—with a ton of friends and a favorite local hangout. Although he hadn’t been a hermit during his married years, his friends were “couple” friends. And those friendships faded damn fast when he wasn’t part of a couple.

  He felt awkward as a single man. He hated the term widower and refused to use it as an explanation of his marital status. Then again, he’d kept himself so isolated from social situations like these the past four and a half years that he needn’t have worried about being labeled.

  Tobin gave Streeter the nod that indicated he’d seen him, so Streeter sauntered over to an open spot at the bar to wait for him.

  A brunette bartender offered him a smile. “Be with you in a jiff, son.”

  “No problem.”

  By the time she returned, Tobin had sidled up and clapped him on the back. “Told ya the first round is on me, bro. Sherry, two Coors, please.”

  “You’ve got it. How’s that new baby boy doin’?”

  Tobin grinned at her. “Kid’s growin’ like crazy.” He whipped out his phone. “Take a look.”

  She leaned over the bar. “Such a cutie. Got his mama’s smile.”

  “And he’s got his mama’s sweet disposition too.”

  “How’s your darlin’ daughter?”

  “Great. Amber hasn’t showed any jealousy yet.”

  “You’re a lucky man.” She set the bottles on the bar top. “Start a tab?”

  “That’d be great, Sherry.”

  Tobin led the way to a table that wasn’t deep enough in the corner for Streeter’s taste. After they’d settled in, Tobin held his bottle up for a toast. “Thanks for meetin’ me.”

  Streeter tapped his bottle to his brother’s. “It’s a cause for celebration that you’ve seen me twice in one week.”

  “Yeah, ’cause most weeks I see you more than twice.”

  “Ha.”

  “Olivia is with Gramma Deenie?”

  “Yeah. There’s some family deal in Cheyenne this weekend, so Olivia won’t be back until Sunday night.”

  “That’s trusting of you.”

  He shrugged. “Deenie had talked it up to Olivia and she was lookin’ forward to it. Be a dick move to change my mind.” He sipped his beer. “Besides, I got a lot of stuff to catch up on this weekend.”

  “So that’s what you’re gonna do when you have a kid-free weekend, Street? Work?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s it?”

  “What else would I do?”

  “You’re seriously gonna make me spell it out?” Tobin rested his forearms on the table. “It has three letters.”

  Streeter scowled. “Not everything has to do with sex.”

  Tobin snickered. “While that statement is blatantly untrue, I was referring to the word ‘fun.’ F-U-N. The fact that word didn’t come to mind just proves how much fun is missin’ in your life. When was the last time you had any fun?”

  Christ. He couldn’t even remember.

  Yes, you do. Maybe it wasn’t Tobin’s idea of fun, but you liked sitting by the fire and talking to Bailey last night.

  “Aha! You do have something fun in mind.” He lowered his voice. “Tell me it involves a certain new neighbor of yours.”

  Do not blush.

  “Street. Come on, don’t pull that strong, silent type with me.”

  Streeter drained his beer. “I need stronger truth serum than this watered-down horse piss.”

  “You got it.” Tobin motioned to the bartender.

  Within moments she sauntered over with four shots and two more beers, which she dropped off without saying a word.

  “How’d you do that?” Streeter demanded.

  “I’ve been a regular here for years. Done my share of listening to my buddies’ tales of woe. Conversations about women require whiskey—at least two shots.” Tobin picked up a shot glass. “Here’s your serum; after this I want the truth from you.”

  Streeter held up his glass and muttered, “Bossy much?” before he downed it.

  “Okay. Lay it out for me so I can help.”

  “No offense, but there is no help for me. I have no game, T. None.”

  Tobin frowned. “That’s bein’ hard on yourself, ain’t it?”

  He shrugged.

  “But you like her.”

  “Yeah. Bailey is this mix of scrappy and sweet, funny and introspective, bossy and kind, all wrapped up in a sexy little package.”

  “And that’s bad?”

  “For me? Yeah. Because I don’t have anything to offer her.”

  “Street. Man. You’re gonna hafta spell it out for me because I’m not following you.”

  “I’m almost thirty-seven years old. How am I supposed to tell her that I’ve only kissed two women in my life? And the only woman I ever had sex with was Danica?”

  Tobin didn’t bother to hide his shock. “Why is this the first time you’ve ever talked about this?”

  He snorted. “Like I’m gonna bring it up with my little brother, who’s always been some kind of ladies’ man.”

  “Jesus, Streeter. It’s not about notches on a damn bedpost. It’s about the fact you’re hurtin’ and hidin’ and you haven’t said a goddamned thing to me about it in four years. How am I supposed to help you when you’re so secretive?”

  “Because I’m embarrassed, okay?” He messed with his empty shot glass. “I’ve had nothin’ but time to think about relationships and secrets. I mean, I always thought I made Danica happy in bed. But I thought I made her happy out of bed too, so clearly I don’t have a fuckin’ clue. I haven’t been ready to bring my failings as a man into the light. I don’t know that I ever will be.”

  “I hate that you feel this way. I ain’t bein’ a dick when I ask how long it’s been since you’ve seen your counselor?”

  “A couple of months. Why?”

  “Maybe a visit is in order. Maybe she coul
d shed light on why you feel unworthy of happiness.”

  Streeter’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline. “Excuse me?”

  “Hear me out.” Tobin downed his shot. “I know you haven’t been carryin’ a torch for Danica, like you lost your one true love and soul mate. You’re a good man. You’re a good father. You work hard. Those are the kind of qualities that most women look for. Anything else you think you need to be? That’s a skill you can learn.”

  “Skill. Like bedroom skill?”

  “Yep. So let’s get down to brass tacks.” He cocked his head. “You feel like you’re the ‘fake it ’til you make it’ kinda guy or the ‘teach me to please you’ kinda guy when it comes to sex?”

  “What the ever-lovin’ fuck has gotten into you?”

  “Honestly?”

  “No, I want you to fuckin’ lie to me, Tobin.” He slammed the second shot. “Get to whatever point you’re tryin’ to make.”

  “Fine.” All amusement disappeared from his brother’s face. “I hate what Danica did. I hate how Dad and Driscoll treated you afterward. But I am really grateful that forced a change in your life and you moved here. I’d given up hope that I’d ever have a close relationship with any member of my family. I’ve watched you adapt to everything that’s been thrown at you and I’m damn proud of you. Jade and I feel humbled that you credit us with helpin’ with your healing process.”

  “But?”

  “There’s no ‘but.’ This is an ‘and’ conversation. And I swore I wouldn’t ever push you into this type of conversation . . . until it came up. Now it has, so here goes.”

  Streeter wished he had another shot of whiskey; he made do with gulping down a mouthful of beer.

  “Bailey is the first woman you’ve talked about. She’s the first woman you’ve admitted bein’ attracted to. So you need to put aside your fears and take her on a damn date, bro.”

  Tobin raised his hand, stopping Streeter’s protest, so his brother didn’t have a clue that he’d already asked her on a date.

  “I get you weren’t ready before. Now you don’t have an excuse. Olivia’s with her grandparents at least one weekend night. Every. Weekend. You have the time. You’ve found a woman. So find your balls, Street, and do it.”