Wilde Riders (Old Town Country Romance) (4 page)

“Never,” I reply.

She grabs my elbow and we head into Haymakers.

I’m really starting to like having her hands on me. Maybe a little too much. 

Four

Riley

When I phoned my boss and told him about the accident, he was very understanding. He told me to take a sick day if I needed tomorrow off as well. I may very well be sick if I have to stay in New Jersey another day.

Patti was not as understanding. She made it sound like I got into an accident on purpose so I wouldn’t have to go out on the double date. I’m not that devious but I kind of wish I had thought of it before it actually happened. 

I like feeling Cooper’s strong grip on me. I feel like I’m slowly falling apart and I’m glad he’s holding me together. He’s so serious and self-assured. He’s kind of the opposite of his brother Jake, who seems so carefree and wild.

I’ve had a history of Jakes in my life and it’s never turned out very well. Jakes tend to come on strong until they get what they want. Then they fade away just as quickly.

Cooper is different. He’s cool and restrained. But he still seems interested in me. I’ve never been with a guy who was so serious and intense. When he looks at me, it’s almost as if he’s looking right through me.

Not that I’m considering a relationship with him. If anything happened between us, and that’s a big
if,
it wouldn’t be more than a fling. The last thing I want is a relationship and I definitely don’t want to start a relationship with someone who lives in farm country.

Haymakers has
just opened, so Cooper and I have our pick of any table. He leads me to one close to the back of the place. I’m glad because it seems a bit more private.

Jake looks busy behind the bar. I notice there’s a young
blonde behind the bar with him. She looks really young, like she’s not even old enough to be in a bar. Jake says something to the blonde and then points to our table. She nods and then heads over to us.

Her eyes are planted on Cooper as she approaches. It’s like I don’t even exist. I barely know her
but I already kind of hate her. I wish she’d take her eyes off him.

Then I chide myself for being jealous. I don’t know Cooper that well. He’s certainly not mine. And I know it’s completely ridiculous to want him. My rational mind has to remind my emotional self that if anything happens between us, it will only be a one-night stand. How could I have any kind of relationship with someone who lives in New Jersey? And not just “across the bridge” New Jersey, this is like
into the backwoods New Jersey
.

“The usual?” the
blonde asks as she leans over the table and practically shoves her ample cleavage under Cooper’s nose.

I cringe. Why do I care so much if she knows
what he likes to drink…and that she’s got large breasts…and she’s young…and gorgeous. What bothers me the most, though, is the way she’s looking at him—with so much adoration.

“What would you like?” Cooper turns to me and he’s got a sparkle in his eyes.

My heart skips a few beats because he didn’t look at her with that kind of sparkle. 

“Jack and Coke,” I say
, and I can see that a slight smile appears on Cooper’s face again.

“Is that funny?” I add.

“No, not at all.” He’s now biting back a full grin.

I wish he wouldn’t. I want to see his big beautiful smile.

He continues, “I just pictured you as a white wine kind of girl.”

“This doesn’t seem like a white wine kind of place,” I fire back.

He nods. “You’ve got a point there.”

“Two Jack and Cokes,” Cooper says to the
blonde.

She raises an eyebrow as if she can’t believe what he’s o
rdered. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” he insists.

The blonde then glances in my direction, as if she’s just noticing me for the first time. The glance is anything but friendly. It’s more like she’s inspecting me.

“Harley, this is Riley Smith,” Cooper says as he points in my direction. “Riley, this is Harley Davis.”

Just as I’m about to put out a hand, the girl actually crosses her arms over her chest. I get the distinct feeling she thinks I’m invading her territory. I just don’t think Cooper has any idea that the girl has staked a claim on him.

“I’d better get those drinks,” Harley says, still glaring in my direction.

“Thanks, Kiddo,” Cooper says.

Kiddo. He obviously doesn’t think of her as a viable partner for some reason and that makes me feel giddy inside. Then I feel completely ridiculous for developing a crush on a guy that I barely know
, and who lives in New Jersey.

No matter how cute he is, the idea of spending any amount of time in New Jersey that isn’t a completely necessity gives me the creeps.

And besides, I’m supposed to be investigating him. Or his brothers. Or whomever actually owns the bar I’m about to get drunk in. There are actually three names listed as owners of the bar, all of them Wilde, but not one of them Cooper.

Is that odd?

“Harley’s kind of in a bad mood,” Cooper remarks and I have to laugh.

He frowns. “Why is that funny?”

“She not mad, she’s jealous. She’s obviously crazy about you.”

Cooper
shakes his head. “Harley’s family owns the farm next to my parents’—um —what used to be my parents’ place. I’ve known her since she was a kid. She’s always had a crush on me. It’s nothing.”

He tries to wave it off like he’s waving at a fly buzzing around his head.

“She’s not a kid anymore, Cooper. I think it’s a little more than that.”

He seems to think about it for a moment until the drinks a
rrive.

Harley places a single glass in front of Cooper and then she slams two glasses in front of me, the contents nearly spilling over the edges of the glasses with the force of her slam.

“I didn’t order two drinks,” I mutter.

“The guy at the bar bought you another one,” she states not so nicely.

When I look at the bar, I notice that Tucker has joined Jake. They’re both looking at me from behind the bar.

“Which guy?” I ask. Not that I want either one of them bu
ying me drinks. They both scare the hell out of me but for completely different reasons.  

Harley glares at me. “Does it matter?”

Before I can respond, she turns and hurries away.

“I guess I really will be drinking my problems away today,” I say as I raise my glass.

He raises his glass. “To drinking our problems away.”

We toast and then I take a gulp of my drink. I’m not used to drinking hard liquor and it stings on the way down. “That’s strong,” I choke out.

Cooper gives me his half smile. “My brother is known for being a little heavy handed with the liquor. It’s one of the reasons we’re still the most popular bar in the county. Even after my dad died.”

I can see a shadow of sadness cross over Cooper
’s face. He takes a sip of his drink and chokes his down as well. “I’m not much of a drinker,” he admits. “That’s why Harley looked so surprised by my order. I usually just order Coke. Maybe the occasional beer.”

“You didn’t have to order a drink just because I did.”

He looks into my eyes and he’s serious again. “I don’t want you to drink alone.”

“Thanks.” I take another sip of my drink. It goes down a little easier this time. I can feel the stress of the accident start to slowly dissipate from my body.

“How long ago did your dad die?” I ask.

“Six months,” Cooper says softly. I’m almost sorry I asked because he looks
so sad. Like a little boy who lost his best friend.

Without thinking, I reach for his hand. I want it to be a co
mforting gesture but the moment I touch him and he looks into my eyes, my chest tightens and I can barely breathe. And I get tingly, like every neuron in my body is suddenly firing at the same time. It’s almost overwhelming.

I’ve been with my share of guys, obviously nothing that’s ever lasted very long. I have to consider the possibility that none of those relationships ever lasted because no guy has ever made me feel like I’m feeling right now.

“Drink up,” I hear a deep voice say.

When I look over, I notice that Jake has plopped down in the seat next to me. I try to pull my hand away from Cooper’s because my rational mind reminds me that I’m touching someone I’m supposed to be investigating
, but Cooper won’t let me go. Instead, he tightens his grip on me like a vice.

Jake seems oblivious to the fact that his brother is now hol
ding my hand and actually moves his chair closer to me. “I’m usually pretty good at guessing what drinks people are going to order. I had you pegged as a Pinot Grigio girl.”

I don’t want Jake to know he’s hit that nail on the head. In the city, I always order a glass of Pinot
Grigio. But this definitely isn’t the city.

“Thanks for the drink,” I say as I down another gulp of the stuff.

A guy I dated a few years ago always ordered Jack and Cokes. He was originally from Dallas, Texas. One of the many guys Patti set me up with and with whom I had absolutely nothing in common. But Texas had a gorgeous best friend that Patti wanted to get into bed. The only thing I really liked about Texas was his drink.

“Don’t thank me,” Jake says. “Tucker’s the one who bought it for you.”

“Then will you thank Tucker for me?”

Jake gives me one of his megawatt smiles. “I think you should thank Tucker yourself.”

I gulp. When I look over at Tucker, he’s wiping down the bar with a scowl on his face. How is to possible that he got even meaner looking in such a short period of time?

“I promise he’s not as scary as he looks,” Jake tries to assure me.

When I glance at Tucker again, I’m not at all convinced. The guy looks like he could kill someone and not think twice about it.

Cooper grabs his drink and to my surprise completely drains it. He slams the empty glass right in front of his brother and glares at him. “I’ll have another.”

Jake blinks a few times like he can’t believe what he’s seeing then he slowly rises. His eyes are now completely focused on Cooper’s hand, which is gripping mine even more firmly now.

“Sure,” Jake says
, but it still seems like he’s in kind of a daze. He can’t take his eyes off our joined hands.

Cooper then lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it. But he’s not looking at me. He’s looking directly into his brother’s eyes.

My stomach clenches when I realize that I’m being used as some kind of pawn between these two brothers.

“Are you going to get the drink?” Cooper says. It’s not a question.

Jake’s face starts to turn red and I’m not sure if he’s embarrassed or angry. Maybe a combination of both. He looks like he wants to say something more to his brother but he doesn’t. He just turns and stomps away.

“What was that about?” I hiss as I try to pull my hand from Cooper’s.

He’s a lot stronger than I want him to be and he doesn’t let me go.

“Unhand me,” I insist.

When he laughs at me, I can feel my face start to heat up with anger.

“Why are you laughing?”

“
Unhand me
? This isn’t
Pirates of the Caribbean
. It’s the twenty-first century and you’re sitting in a country bar in New Jersey.”

I glare at him. “Let. Go. Of. My. Hand. Is that better?”

“No.”

I notice he still hasn’t let go of me. “Why won’t you just let go of me?”

“Maybe I don’t want to.”

When I try to wriggle my hand free and he still won’t give in, I sigh in defeat. “Then tell me what that show was
about for your brother.”

“What show?” he asks, feigning innocence.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Tell me what the deal is between the two of you.”

Cooper purses his lips then looks away for a moment. I wait but I’m not going to wait too long.

“You’ve got about three seconds to be honest with me or I’m going to start screaming until you let go of me.”

“Fine,” he says, finally looking back at me. I notice his eyes are dark again and his face is set like stone.

A wave of anxiety washes over me and I just want him to smile at me again.

“Jake’s a player. He’s gotten every girl he’s ever wanted with just a few winks and that magnetic smile of his. But he’s nothing but a sports fisherman when it comes to girls. The fun for him is in reeling them in. He doesn’t want to keep them. He just likes catching them and throwing them back.”

“I know.”

I notice sadness has overtaken Cooper’s eyes again. There’s obviously a lot of history with his brother and it makes me wonder if something happened with a girl he really liked.

“I just don’t want you to fall for the wrong guy,” Cooper says.

“The wrong guy would be a Wall Street wannabe who’s o
bsessed with talking about his BMW, his Ivy League education and how he’s going to make his first million before he’s thirty.” I can’t believe I’ve just told Cooper about nearly every bad date I’ve had for the last two years. But it feels good to get it off my chest. And I take a big swig of my drink just for emphasis.