“You’re looking tired, Dillon,” my Aunt Annabeth said when I walked up to the bar.

My cousin Gabe’s parents ran the local bar and grill. The theme was half biker bar, half sports bar, and it was one of my favorite spots in the world. Great food, free drinks, and the best company in the world.

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” I retorted, shooting my aunt a grin as she slid a dark beer my way.

“Your cousins are over there,” she said, lifting her chin toward the large booth in the corner, by the pool tables.

“Thanks, did they already order?”

“Yeah, what are you having?”

“I’ll take the Philly, extra cheese.”

“You got it.”

“You’re the best,” I told my aunt as I picked up my beer and took a drink.

“Mmmmhmmm,” she muttered, then took off toward the kitchen.

“Look who the cat dragged in,” Gabe said when he caught sight of me, standing to clap me on the back. “Didn’t know if you’d made it back today or not.”

“Got back this morning,” I replied, turning my attention to our other cousin, Reardon, who’d stood to give me a hug.

Reardon was huge. At six feet six inches, he towered over my six three. I could tell he’d went home from the office before coming here, because rather than a suit, he was wearing jeans and a Walking Dead T-shirt.

“Glad you’re home,” Reardon said with a grin as he took his seat.

“Only for about two weeks, then I have to go to Chicago for a few days. There’s a convention that I’ve been wanting to attend. The only downfall is the charity event they’re doing this year is a formal dinner and ballet. So, not only do I have to put on a monkey suit, and find a plus one, but I have to watch a ballet. Why the heck are they having a ballet at a sporting conference anyway?” I grumbled as I slid into the booth.

“Because dance is a sport, you block head,” my sister said as she came to stand next to our booth.

Never one to pass up the chance to needle my twin I said, “Yeah, you would think that.”

Jasmine’s jaw clenched and the famous red-head temper that we both shared was about to let loose on me.

I shot her a grin, to egg her on all the more, but Gabe broke in and said, “You know he’s just giving you shit, Jazzy. How about you join us for a drink?”

Jasmine paused and took a deep breath and I knew she was counting to ten in her head, so by the time she spoke, her anger had fizzled out. “I’m meeting someone, but maybe later, if you old men hang around that long.”

“Hey,” Gabe replied, at the same time Reardon stated, “We’re not old.”

The fact was, Gabe had an infant at home, and Reardon, a pregnant fiancé, so Jasmine was probably right on target in assuming that they’d be calling it an early night. Which was fine by me. I could use an early night myself.

That doesn’t mean I have to leave alone, I thought as I scanned the bar for prospects.

I tried to keep my casual affairs to women I met while traveling, or who were in town temporarily. It had been a few years since I had a serious relationship, and I chose not to have flings with women I knew and would see daily when in Cherry Springs.

Jasmine just laughed in response and told Gabe, “I can’t wait to come by and get some Evie time in tomorrow before I leave again,” then turned to me and asked, “Breakfast Monday?”

“Sounds good,” I replied, knowing we had a lot of information to share with each other from our trips.

Gabe, Reardon, and I caught up while we ate, which mostly consisted of talking about the latest football game, discussing our cousin Serena finally moving back home for good, and whether or not a new Indiana Jones movie was a good idea.

In other words, it was a nice evening of hanging out with the guys. No work. No pressure. No drama. Just the way I liked things.

Gabe was starting to make his excuses to leave when long blonde hair and legs that went on for days snagged my attention. I turned to the bar to see the blonde, bent over slightly as she leaned against the rich wood surface. She was wearing a short sundress, which showcased her tanned legs beautifully and did wonders for her ass.

Her hair was in thick curls down her back, hitting midway, and would look perfect wrapped around my fist.

I was about to tell the guys goodnight and go make a play when I heard her very familiar laugh and saw her turn in profile to talk to someone next to her.

“Shit,” I muttered, turning back to my beer as I tried to erase the dirty thoughts I’d just had about Laurel from my mind.

“What’s wrong?” Reardon asked, turning in his booth to look behind him. “What, Laurel? You need to get over that, man. That shit happened when you were kids. She’s an adult now, and she could use all the friends she can get.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, wondering what he knew that I didn’t, and why I couldn’t shake the image of her ass from my brain.

“Not my story to tell,” Reardon responded, then he and Gabe both stood. “I need to head out, too. My girl’s craving some mint chocolate chip, so I need to hit the store on the way home.”

“Whipped,” I quipped, even though I was beginning to realize how lucky both my cousins were.

“You know it,” Reardon returned with a grin, not offended in the least.

“You heading home?” Gabe asked.

“Nah, I’m going to stick around for a bit,” I replied, having just spotted a good-looking brunette, whose face I hadn’t seen practically every day of my formative years, glancing my way as she sipped a margarita.

Gabe followed my gaze and joked, “No glove, no love.”

To which I replied, “Never doubt it.”