Page 24 of Ethan

Another mile passed.

“So,” Seth said, in the tone that meant nothing good was coming. “Ryan says your new trainer is something.”

Ethan kept his eyes on the road. “She’s good at her job.”

“That’s not what Ryan was talking about.”

“Ryan should mind her own business.”

Seth grinned and looked out the window. “She said Naomi’s beautiful.”

“I hadn’t noticed.”

Seth turned to look at him. “Really.”

“She works for me.”

“No one can predict who they’ll fall in love with. Look at Cole. Aftyn wasn’t interested in staying in Clifton, but they still managed to fall in love.”

Ethan said nothing.

Seth settled back in his seat, still grinning. “Just don’t wait too long is all I’m saying. Women like that don’t stay single forever.”

“Are you getting married today or not?”

Seth laughed. “Just making conversation.”

“Make a different kind.”

Seth laughed harder as Ethan stared at the road and told himself his brothers were the single most aggravating people he’d ever known.

****

Naomi stood in front of the small mirror in the bedroom and smoothed her dress. It was a simple sundress, deep blue with small white flowers, fitted through the waist and falling just above the knee. She’d bought it on a whim two summers ago and barely wore it. She was glad she’d thrown it in when she packed.

She stepped into her white stilettos, grabbed her small bag, and headed downstairs to wait for Serena.

Serena’s SUV pulled up right on time. Naomi climbed in and Serena looked her over with wide eyes.

“Okay, wow.” Serena put the vehicle in reverse. “You look amazing.”

“Thank you. So do you.” Serena was stunning in a green dress, her red hair down around her shoulders. “I’m glad you offered to pick me up. I’d have had no idea where I was going.”

“Dewey’s is hard to miss once you know the town, but you’re not there yet.” Serena grinned. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you a tour on the way.”

They could hear the music from the parking lot when they arrived, a live band working through a honkytonk number that made Naomi want to dance before she’d even gotten through the door. She pushed inside and stopped to let her eyes adjust.

The place was exactly what a cowboy bar should be. Worn wood floors, string lights strung low over the dance floor, a long bar running the length of the far wall. Tables packed with people she didn’t know yet but felt like she might.

Johnny was already at the bar, cleaned up in a pearl snap shirt and dark jeans, and he stood when they approached.

“Well,” he said, looking at Naomi. “Don’t you clean up nice.”

“Thank you, Johnny.” She slid onto the barstool beside him. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

He grinned and she liked him immediately, just as she’d liked Serena. There was something easy about both of them together, and she understood without having to be told why Serena looked at him the way she did when she thought no one was watching.

Naomi scanned the room without meaning to and found him almost immediately.