Buckle Down

Dane surveyed the interior of Duke’s Bar and Grill, searching for trouble. The fact he’d officially gone off duty a couple of hours ago didn’t change a thing. Being the sheriff was practically bred into him at this point. He was always on guard, doing what he could to make sure his friends and neighbors in town stayed safe.

The bar was hopping tonight. Drinks flowed, music pounded through his blood and the dance floor was packed with men and women alike looking for a hook up. Maybe if he wasn’t so damned bone-tired, he’d be looking for someone to fuck, as well. As it was, he’d had to pull a sixteen-hour shift to make up for one of his deputies posting in sick.

“What can I get you tonight, Sheriff?” The waitress hiked her hip on the edge of the table and flashed a bright white smile in his direction. While he could appreciate a fine female form just as much as the next guy, Penny was not his type. Dane grimaced at the thought. His type. What a joke.

“I’ll have my usual and another beer, if you don’t mind.”

She leaned over, making sure he got a nice view of her impressive cleavage. “Sure thing, Dane. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” When she turned and scampered off, Dane returned his attention to the dance floor.

Once upon a time, he’d been here every night of the week, nailing just about anything on two legs. Now, he relished the ache between his thighs. Denial had become a part of his routine, and he believed it made him a stronger man. Certainly a more responsible one. Another week or two and he’d give in and it’d be him out looking for some relief.

He liked coming to Duke’s. There was something about the smell of good old-fashioned cooking, booze, sweat from a hard day’s work and lust that comforted him. Not to mention, they had the best damn barbecue for two counties.

When the crowd on the dance floor shifted, Dane caught site of a familiar figure. He inwardly groaned. Definitely not what he needed tonight. He could have looked away, found something else to occupy his mind, but he didn’t. Instead, he studied his nemesis, who currently stood bent over the pool table considering his shot. Tonight, he’d left his shoulder-length black hair free, and it fanned over his face in a seductive sway. Dane couldn’t see his eyes, but he didn’t need to. The ocean blue intensity of them was impossible to forget. The man had bedroom eyes down to a science, and every woman in town panted after him.

Strong, full lips moved as he muttered something to his companions. Dane’s gaze was drawn to his bared arms. Deeply tanned skin from all the time he spent outdoors covered sinewy muscle that led to impressive biceps. It was the ink that covered Tyler’s arms that fascinated Dane. It looked like a tribute to every vice known to man. Cards, dice, pool balls, horseshoes, cowboy hats, skulls and guns. You name it, and this guy had it.

Tyler reeked of bad boy so much that half the time Dane expected to find him decked in leather and riding a Harley instead of working out at the Hayden rodeo with his older brother. Ten minutes after meeting the man, Dane had run his rap sheet to find out more. And what a sheet it was. There were arrests for assault, drunken disorderly, trespassing and an unusual case of vandalism. Dane knew there were always two sides to a story, but cowboys like Tyler were a dime a dozen in this state, and Chicory had their fair share.

Penny placed a bottle of beer and a plate of steaming barbecue in front of Dane, and he barely noticed. He couldn’t take his eyes off the game playing out in the poolroom.

“Thanks,” he murmured under his breath.

Penny took the hint and wandered off.

Dane grabbed the neck of his beer and took a long pull. The ice-cold liquid slid down his throat, doing little to assuage the heat building inside him. Dane ground his teeth. Maybe, he needed to make an exception to his protocol and go ahead and get laid.

Immediately, he thought of broad shoulders and narrow hips, perfectly molded lips designed to bring a man ultimate pleasure. Worn and broken-in denim that cupped strong muscular legs and a tight ass that apparently came from hard work versus the gym. Dane swallowed thickly. What the fuck was wrong with him?

He forced his gaze away from Tyler and stared down at his food. His appetite had disappeared. Instead, all of his needs swelled between his thighs. He pushed the plate of food to the middle of the table and swallowed down the rest of his beer. He raised his arm and motioned to Penny for another. She sent him a wicked smile that said I know what you need all over it.

Lucky for him, a commotion across the room snagged his attention and drew him from the pity party he’d been about to begin. One of the burly strangers Tyler had been playing pool with was at the bar hassling the bartender. Voices raised, and Dane caught a few choice words.

“I’m not drunk, God damn it! I want another drink.”

Grateful for the distraction, Dane hopped from his booth and hightailed it over to the bar. “Is there a problem here?”

The bartender looked at Dane with a pleading look. The stranger however, turned and glared. His beet-red face distorted in anger.

“Fuck, yeah, there’s a problem. This bitch won’t serve me another drink.”

Dane angled to the side to miss the spittle flying from the bastard’s mouth. His words came out thick and close to a slur. “I’d say if Annie here thinks you’ve had enough, then you’ve had enough. She’s pretty good at her job.”

“I don’t give a good God damn about her job other than she better fucking serve me another shot. Besides, what the fuck business is it of yours? You looking for an ass beating?”

Dane fished into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet then flipped it open and flashed his badge under the dickhead’s nose. “This here’s my business, and if you don’t want to spend the night in my lockup, I suggest you apologize to the lady and rejoin your friends.” Dane hooked his thumb in the direction of the pool table. “In fact, how about you have a cup of coffee on me.”

Penny rushed forward with her pot of coffee, and Annie handed her a cup from behind the bar. Dane detected a slight tremor in the waitress’ hand as she filled the mug. When she handed it to the burly stranger, he stared at it for about five seconds before reluctantly accepting it.

Dane waited, his body taut and ready for action. If he had to take this asshole down, he was prepared. Fortunately, after a few growls and muttered curse words, the oaf left the bar and headed back to the poolroom. Dane’s plan to leave early tonight and get some sleep slipped from his grasp. He had a hunch this idiot wasn’t going to leave quietly.

After an hour of Dane nursing his beer, Tyler and his boisterous friends headed out the front door. Actually, more liked slammed through it. At the end of the last game, they’d all nearly come to blows. The idiot from the bar had pointed in his direction, probably identifying him as a cop, and they must have opted to take their issues outside. Dane would give them a few minutes before he followed them out. Hopefully, they were smart and would be long gone.

He reached for his wallet and dug out some bills, including a generous tip for Penny. She was a sweet woman, and just because she wasn’t his type didn’t mean she didn’t deserve something extra for all her hard work. He found it flattering that she kept trying to get his attention. He had no intention of sharing with her the reason why they’d never go out, so he figured she’d keep at it until she found someone else to pester. The crowd parted for him as he passed, and Dane made it to the front door with only a couple of interruptions.

Outside, he sucked in a lungful of fresh air. The alcohol buzz he’d been working on before he’d spotted Tyler was long gone. Not that he didn’t have a six-pack waiting at home. He shoved his hat on his head, adjusted his tie and glanced around the perimeter. Other than a couple of teenagers making out in a truck at the end of the parking lot, he didn’t spot another soul. Obviously, Tyler had left with his troublemaking new friends.

Feeling generous and not really giving a shit, he opted not to break up the public display of affection and continue to his truck. As he neared the side of the building, a rough crash caught his attention. The sound of splitting wood echoed through the night. Dane grabbed the gun from his hip and rounded the corner in a sprint.

The asshole who’d been giving the bartender a hard time had Tyler hauled off his feet and was about to deliver a punch to his face. The fist pulled back was probably twice the size of an average man’s, and Dane didn’t want to think about the damage the man would cause with it.

Dane raised his gun. “Hold it right there.”

The giant froze, his face contorted in anger. “This ain’t none of your business, man. So you need to get the hell out of here before I decide you’re next.”

Blood boiled in Dane’s veins. He hated arrogant assholes fueled by liquor. “Maybe, I didn’t make myself clear enough. I said hold it right there, but forgot the Sheriff’s department part. Now, unless you want my bullet putting you down, I suggest you put ol’ Tyler there down on the ground.”

“Fuck.”

Dane turned his head in the direction of the voice without lowering his gun. Unfortunately, it was too damn dark out here to make out a fucking thing. A few seconds later, a truck’s engine started up and peeled out of the parking lot from the opposite side of the building. “Friend of yours?”

“Screw you,” the stranger spat.

Dane was getting nowhere fast with this jerk. He really didn’t want to have to shoot him; he hated paperwork. “How about you release him, back away and I don’t press charges for assault?”

“Hey,” Tyler complained.

“Not until I get my money back. This punk sharked me at pool.”

Dane sighed. Why was he not surprised? He’d known Tyler would be trouble from the minute he’d laid eyes on him.