Saved by Love (Willow Valley Book 3)(5)

"No, man, nothing like that." Ethan shook his head and took a swig from his beer. He tried to brush off Braden's comment, but it got under his skin. He didn't want Braden trying to make a move on Abby. He felt oddly protective of her, even though he'd only just met her. Something about the wary look that kept coming into her eyes had him wanting to let her know she could trust him.

Which was ridiculous. He was the last guy that was interested in getting into a relationship. He'd been down that road before and it only ended in disaster.

"So you wouldn't mind if I walked over there right now and tried my luck with her?"

Ethan turned and followed Braden's gaze toward the door of the Old Gin, where Abby was just walking in with Lissa and her friend Cassie Martin. It was one of the only places in town that people could go to hear live music and dance, so it wasn't unlikely that he and Braden would be there, but he still wondered if Abby would realize that she was the real reason they were there tonight.

She looked incredible, her raven hair that had been piled atop her head now flowing freely down her back. And if the skirt she was wearing was intended to make her legs look like they went on for miles, it was certainly doing its job.

Glancing at Braden, he wanted to grip his shoulder and make sure he stayed right where he was, but in an effort to get himself back under control where Abby was concerned, he gritted his teeth together and turned back to the bar and signaled for another drink.

"Dude," Braden said, "what's up with that? Weren't you down with the idea of coming here to see her in the first place? What happened? Did she already shoot you down?"

Ethan sighed. "No. I just don't know that I want to get involved with anyone. You know what my life is like."

"And?" Braden eyed him skeptically. "It's not like you're about to settle down. There's nothing wrong with having a good time. But hey, if you aren't interested, I'm going for it."

Before Ethan could get another word in, much less stop him, Braden was headed off across the room to where the women were just sitting down at a table near the back wall. He gripped his bottle so tightly his knuckles turned white. When he heard the creak in his jaw from gritting his teeth so hard, he forced himself to get a grip and tried to remember his reasons for not getting involved with women anymore. At the moment, watching as Abby flashed a smile at Braden, he had a hard time finding them.

Maybe Braden was right. It wasn't like spending some time with Abby meant he was ready to settle down. That he was committing to anything. And the fact that he was sitting there stewing over it was completely out of character for him. On any given day, he was the life of the party. Ready for an adventure at any moment. Always the first to take a risk, accept a challenge. He thrived on taking chances and the adrenaline that came along with it.

It was part of what made him so good at what he did. And also what had cost him everything. Just the whisper of the memory had him backpedaling from that train of thought faster than he tore out of the firehouse on an emergency call.

In spite of it, he couldn't shake the desire to get to know Abby better. His gut told him she wasn't the kind of woman that could easily adapt to his wilder side—the caution that was written all over her face earlier that day gave it away. But as he watched her throw her head back in laughter at something Braden said, he knew she was another risk he wouldn't be able to walk away from.

"It's a good thing you're a firefighter, Ethan. That's all I've got to say."

He whipped his head around to find Lissa standing at the bar next to him. When she signaled the bartender over and ordered two specialty margaritas, he couldn't help eying her rounded stomach.

"Drinking for two? And what's that jab supposed to mean?"

She smirked. "Three, actually." She rubbed her belly and laughed. "But these aren't for me. I offered to get drinks so I could find out why you're sitting over hear shooting flaming daggers at your best friend instead of joining us at the table."

Had it been that obvious?

She looked at him expectantly. "Get it? Flames...fire... Ugh, never mind." She rolled her eyes. "The point is, are you going to get over there and stake your claim or what?"

If he hadn't been so taken off guard, he may have come back with a witty retort, but as it was, Lissa's over-the-top question had him laughing in spite of himself.

"You're kidding, right? I mean, I know you're notorious around here for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, but I never thought I would be the target of one of your matchmaking efforts."

She smiled innocently as the bartender set the drinks in front of her. "Well, are you going to carry these over to the girls for me or not? I can't have half the town gossiping that I was drinking tonight."

He shook his head and smiled back. She had him right where she wanted him. And if he was honest with himself, following her back to the table where Abby was now watching them like a hawk, oblivious to whatever joke Braden was now telling her, it was exactly where he wanted to be right now too.

***

The minute Lissa started talking to Ethan at the bar, Abby completely checked out of anything else going on around her. She did notice the knowing smile Cassie was trying to keep under control, and she was grateful that her new friend was valiantly attempting to keep the conversation going with Braden, but she couldn't care less what he had to say now that Ethan was trailing behind Lissa toward their table, sea-green eyes locked on hers.