Must be the fiancé. From behind the bar at the Guzzling Grizzly, Bryce McGavin sized up the guy who’d come in with Nicole Williams, a slender redhead with an impish smile. Except she wasn’t smiling tonight.

Her intended was tall and doughy with a haircut right out of a magazine ad. From the looks of him he spent most of his time in an office dressed like he was now – white long-sleeved shirt, creased pants and polished oxfords. He sure as hell wasn’t a cowboy. Nicole wore jeans, boots and a forest green knit shirt. She fit in with the Eagles Nest crowd just fine.

She’d come into the bar twice since Bryce had taken over as manager earlier this month. Each time she’d walked in alone, grabbed a table close to the band and focused on the music. He’d been intrigued enough to ask around and he’d found out she was new in town, worked as a stylist at Shear Delight and was engaged to somebody from Idaho Falls.

Why she was in Montana and her betrothed was in Idaho was a mystery. But it looked like the lucky cuss had made the four-hour drive to Eagles Nest to pay Nicole a visit this weekend. Bryce wished the band was better. The owner hired the entertainment and this was a new group. What they lacked in talent they made up for in volume.

“The absent fiancé?” Bryce’s twin brother Trevor came up next to him, a bar rag over his shoulder. He and Trev had the same blue eyes and dark hair, but otherwise nobody would peg them as twins.

“That’s my guess. Do you know why she’s living here and he’s not?”

“Mom said she inherited Henrietta’s house, but that still doesn’t explain anything. You’d think she’d sell it or he’d move here.”

“She doesn’t look all that happy to see him.”

Trev gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “Interested?”

“No point. She’s engaged.”

“So why are you staring at her?”

“Idle curiosity.” Turning away, he measured tequila into the blender.

“I figured.” Trev had put himself in charge of beer. The guy had a talent for creating a perfect head of foam.

Bryce poured slushy margaritas into two salt-rimmed glasses, added straws and positioned a slice of lime on each rim. “Thanks for coming in, Trev.” He’d recruited his brother at the last minute when the regular bartender got sick. Luckily Trev hadn’t been on duty at the firehouse. Friday nights could get crazy at the GG.

“No problem. I’ve always liked working here.”

“Lou is making noises like he wants to sell the place.” Bryce put the margaritas on a tray and Jenny whisked them away. “We could buy it. He’d cut us a deal, probably handle the financing himself.” Grabbing the Captain Jack, he splashed some into a glass and added Coke.

“I have no desire to own this bar, but it might be a great thing for you.”

Bryce set the rum and Coke on a tray. “Maybe.” The idea didn’t excite him but he needed a plan. For the past year, he’d been drifting.

“Don’t look now, but the woman you’re not interested in is totally pissed with her fiancé.”

“Not my circus, not my monkeys.” Bryce poured Grey Goose into a cocktail shaker.

“I agree, but…it’s getting ugly.”

Bryce turned just as Nicole’s fiancé grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her out of her chair. Abandoning the shaker, he vaulted the bar and crossed the room.

The band and the dancers paused as the crowd fell silent. All color drained from Nicole’s face as she stared at her intended.

Bryce’s fingers flexed but he kept his voice calm. “Hey, buddy. Let her go.”

The guy had the puffy features and bloodshot eyes of a heavy drinker. “Butt out, asshole.”

“No can do.” Bryce kept his tone light and conversational. “Let her go or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

“We’re leaving. Come on, Nicole.” He tugged on her wrist.

Color blazed in her cheeks. “How dare you?” Drawing back her booted foot, she kicked him in the shin. Hard.

“Hey!” He released her and staggered back. “There’s no call for that!”

“Are you kidding?” Her voice vibrated with fury and her blue eyes glittered. “You’re lucky I aimed for your leg.”

He held up both hands. “Now, baby, let’s not—”

“Zip it.”

“Nicole—”

“It’s over, Ray.” She wrenched off her engagement ring and flung it at him.

He fumbled the ring but managed to keep possession. “Look, I can see you’re upset, but we can work this out.” He started toward her.

“Leave her be.” Bryce blocked his path.

“Back off, shit-kicker.”

“Sorry. Can’t.”

“Damn it, she’s my fiancée.”

“Not anymore.” He held the bastard’s gaze. He could take the guy but he didn’t relish disrupting everyone’s evening more than it already had been. The cleanup wouldn’t be any fun, either. Then from the corner of his eye he saw Trev approaching.

Ray must have, too, because he started edging toward the door. “Hell, I don’t need this crap. Hey, Nicole, when you come to your senses, you know where to find me.”

“You mean like under a rock?”

Bryce smiled. Attagirl.

She kept her back straight and her head high until Ray was out the door. Then she slumped into her chair. “God, I’m sorry. That was so embarrassing.”

“Not your fault, ma’am.” He turned to the band and gave them a signal to start playing again. “Can I get you anything?”

She shook her head. “I just want to go home.” Reaching for her purse on the chair next to her, she stood and faced him. “Thank you. He’s never acted like that before.”

“Do you need a ride?”

“I can walk.”

He didn’t like that scenario. He glanced at Trev, who gave him a quick nod. “I’ll drive you.”

“That’s not necessary. I can—”

“I’ll feel better once I know you’re inside your house with the doors locked.”

“He’s not the type to stick around once he’s been humiliated. He’ll run back to Idaho Falls with his tail between his legs.”

“Humor me.”

She gazed at him and her expression softened. “Thank you. I’d love a ride.”

Moments later he’d handed her into the cab of his F-150. “What does Ray drive?”

“A black Escalade. I already checked and it’s not here. I didn’t think it would be.”

“All righty, then.” He closed her door and rounded the truck. Once he was behind the wheel he turned to her. “Trev seems to think you live in Henrietta’s house.”

“Yep. Me and Jimi Hendrix.”

“I assume we’re not talking about a dead rock star.”

“Nope. Henrietta’s cat. He’s the reason I’m here. I’m her grandniece Nicole, by the way.”

“Pleased to meet you, Nicole. I’m Bryce.”

“I know who you are. Everyone knows the McGavin brothers. Besides, I do your mom’s hair.”

“No kidding?” He started the truck and backed out of his parking space.

“She loves talking about her boys.”

“I’m aware of that.” She was so proud of them it was embarrassing, but nice, too. “So what’s this about Henrietta’s cat?”

“He’s old and cranky, with black fur that sticks out like a fro, so the name fits. Aunt Henrietta was a Jimi Hendrix fan, so there you go. Anyway, a couple of years back I promised that if anything happened to her and Jimi was still alive, I’d come over and take care of him.”

“And that’s why you’re here?”

“Crazy, right? But at the time I made that promise, Jimi was sixteen and Aunt Henrietta was in great shape. I never dreamed the cat would outlive her. But he did and here I am. I didn’t expect her to give me the house, but it makes sense. She’s had Jimi since he was a kitten. She’d want him to spend the rest of his life in familiar surroundings.”

“I guess it’s not a bad deal.”

“It’s a great deal. More than fair.”

“Except you got engaged.”

She blew out a gusty sigh. “We all make mistakes.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

“At first Ray was excited that I’d inherited a house worth a fair amount of money. That was in March, and he expected Jimi would pass soon and I’d sell the place and move back to Idaho Falls.”

Bryce was becoming very fond of this cat. Way to throw a monkey wrench into that asshole’s selfish plans. “But Jimi refused to die.”

“Jimi may outlive us all. He’s going strong and Ray got fed up. He told me to put the cat down and sell the house. He said if I refused, it would prove I love Jimi more than him. Which it turns out I do.”

“After what I saw tonight, I’m surprised he didn’t try to get rid of the cat himself.”

She laughed. “That would have meant getting near Jimi.”

“Ray’s allergic?”

“No, Ray’s a coward.”

“He’s afraid of a cat?”

“He’s afraid of this one. Jimi’s only trusted two people in his life, Aunt Henrietta and me. With anyone else, he’s the demon cat from hell. Ray came over one weekend last spring and left within ten minutes. He was terrified. Which is another reason I’m not worried about him bothering me.”

“Is the cat that scary?”

“With everyone but me. I hired a plumber to fix a leak in the upstairs bathroom last month. I put Jimi in the laundry room and he howled like a banshee the entire time. I’ve never seen a plumber work that fast. He was convinced the cat would somehow escape and come after him. Jimi’s developed a reputation.”

“Wow.” He admired her dedication to what was clearly a wacky situation. “I doubt many people would put their life on hold to make sure an aging cat with a major attitude enjoys his golden years, even in exchange for a house.”

“But if I hadn’t, Jimi would have been doomed. And bonus, I got to see Ray’s true colors before it was too late.”

“Yeah, there’s that.” He pulled up in front of the yellow Victorian with white gingerbread trim. “No Escalade.”

“Like I said, he’s barreling down the highway to Idaho Falls by now.”

“Hope so. Hang on and I’ll help you out.”

“I’ve got it.” She opened her door. “You should head back. Trevor needs you there.”

She was right about that. “What if I give you my number in case Ray shows up? I can be here in no time.”

“I promise he won’t show up. Not with Jimi on patrol ready to claw his eyes out.”

He liked that image. “All right, you’ve convinced me, but if you don’t mind, I’ll sit here until you’re safely in the house.”

“Okay.” She climbed down. “Thanks, again, Bryce.”

“You’re welcome.” He watched her walk inside.

After she’d closed the door, she flicked the porch light off and on. The interlude was over.

Turned out he didn’t want it to be. He liked her. She was the first woman since Charity who’d stirred up emotion in his battered heart.

Unfortunately for him, she’d just broken off her engagement. Nobody knew better than he did how long it took to recover from that kind of shock. Besides, she lived with an attack cat who would likely claw his eyes out. With a sigh of resignation, he drove away.