Nothing Between Us (A Loving on the Edge Novel) by Roni Loren

Author:Roni Loren [Loren, Roni]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780425268575
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Published: 2015-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

Keats sat at the bar on the far end, where it was dark enough that no one would notice him or his black eye. He’d paint himself invisible if he could, but he needed to be here. He nursed his second Shiner Bock and kept his eyes trained on the stage. The act wrapping up was pretty good—a chick who sounded like the country version of Janis Joplin but looked like Joss Stone in cowboy boots with the pink-streaked hair. It was a good combination. One that probably would’ve captured his attention a week ago. But now all he could think about was the woman whose house he’d left an hour ago and the man about to get onstage.

A tall, blond guy squeezed into the space next to Keats and tapped the bar. The bartender turned and gave the newcomer a wide grin. “Well, how you doing, stranger? Here to see the big man play?”

The guy smiled, all effortless charm. “Just lucked out on that one. Robyn, the girl up onstage, works for me at my store, and I promised I’d stop by and watch her play. Plus, Evan and Andre are at a police fund-raiser tonight.”

“Poor thing. All alone tonight.”

“Don’t worry. There are plans for when we all get home.”

“Nice.” The bartender slid a glass of amber liquid in front of him. “Here’s to getting lucky, then.”

He raised the glass in salute. “I’ll drink to that.”

The bartender moved to take care of another customer, and the man settled his back to the bar in between stools to look at the stage. He glanced at Keats, as if noticing him for the first time. “She’s pretty good, yeah?”

Keats took a pull off his beer. “Her guitar skills need a little work, but her voice cuts right through you—in a good way.”

He smirked. “You sound like my friend Colby, the guy playing next. I swear that dude doesn’t think anyone plays the guitar well.”

Keats paused at the sound of Colby’s name. “You’re friends with Colby?”

The guy set his drink down. “I am. You know him?”

“Yeah.”

“I haven’t seen you around before. You work at the school or something?” He held out his hand. “I’m Jace, by the way.”

“Keats.” He shook the guy’s hand and then reached for his beer again. “And no, not from the school.”

Jace’s eyebrow arched and he gave Keats a more assessing look, then smiled. Keats must’ve given something away in the comment because Jace looked like he’d answered some question for himself. “No wonder I haven’t seen Colby around lately.”

Embarrassment welled in Keats when he realized what Jace was assuming. “It’s not—”

“Any of my business,” Jace finished, and lifted his glass again. “Here’s to both of us getting lucky tonight then, huh?”

Jace clinked his glass against Keats’s beer and appeared far too amused at how uncomfortable he’d made him. Keats wanted to hightail it out of there right then, but he wasn’t going to be a coward about this.

Robyn, the girl who’d been performing, wrapped up her set and then strolled out a few minutes later.

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