Today’s cap boasted the call letters of the radio station where Alex worked in Chicago. Josie wondered if he’d received a message from the station. They’d called her apartment but also had said they’d try his cell. She suspected they wanted to know when he’d be coming back.
She was a little curious about that, herself. He’d been in town almost a week, and although she didn’t want to rush him, she didn’t want him to put his job in jeopardy, either. Also — she hated to admit this because it sounded selfish — he might cramp her style. She’d have a tougher time carrying on an affair with Jack while Alex was around.
Alex settled on a bar stool and smiled at her. “How was the riding lesson?”
She’d known that would be his first question, and she’d practiced her answer several times in her head. She shrugged in feigned nonchalance. “It was okay, I guess.”
“No issues?”
“Nope.” She turned away to fill a glass with his favorite draft beer, which gave her a chance to compose herself. Lying didn’t come easily to her, and Alex had known her all her life. He’d usually been able to see through her whenever she’d tried to fool him.
“That’s good.”
She felt like a bug under a microscope and decided a change of topic was in order. Those gray eyes of his saw way too much. “Did you get your voicemail from the station?”
“Yeah.” He sighed and picked up his beer. “My sub isn’t working out. The guy has zero sense of humor, and listeners are calling in to complain.”
“So they want you to come back.”
He nodded and sipped his beer. “That’s what they said.”
“So, does that—” Josie cut her question short to fill a couple of drink orders. She’d noticed that Alex hadn’t seemed too thrilled that his station was begging for his return.
Finally she was able to get back down to his end of the bar. “So if the station wants you back, does that mean you have to leave?”
He glanced at her and grinned. “Wouldn’t be trying to get rid of me, would you, sis?”
“No! I love having you here.” She ran a damp towel over the bar’s wooden surface to clean off some condensation rings. “I just don’t want you to lose your job.”
He continued to gaze at her with that knowing smile. “And when it comes to you and that cowboy, I’m a fly in the ointment.”
“Jack has nothing to do with anything.” She polished the bar some more, even though it didn’t need it.
“Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
Josie groaned and tossed the towel on the counter behind her. “All right. I might be a tiny bit worried that the longer you stay, the more likely you’ll get crossways with Jack.”
“Could be.”
“I promise you that I have everything under control.”
“Do you?”
Josie lowered her voice. “Quit looking at me like that, Alex.”
He laughed. “How am I looking at you?”
“You know perfectly well. It’s the same way you used to look at me when I was sixteen and I’d sneak out of the house to meet Billy Flannigan. You didn’t approve of him, either. In fact, I don’t think you’ve liked a single guy I’ve dated.”
“I can’t help it if you’ve dated mostly losers who don’t deserve to kiss the hem of your skirt.”
“Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black. Your choice in women has been abysmal. I can’t fathom what you ever saw in Tiffany, or Sue, or—” She stopped herself as she realized she’d been about to rag on his ex. She could make fun of old girlfriends, but this break with Crystal was too new, too all-encompassing, too painful to be made into a joke.
“You can say it. Or Crystal. All these hikes I’ve been taking have given me more perspective. Clear mountain air and all that. Crystal was never right for me. I ignored the warning signs and plowed ahead. Mom and Dad didn’t think much of her, and I know you didn’t, either, although you tried to be nice, which I appreciate.”
“You’re welcome.” From the corner of her eye, she noticed a customer signaling for a drink. “Excuse me a minute. Gotta take care of the folks at the other end. Be right back.”
“Take your time.”
Josie filled the orders with her usual cheerful customer service, but her mind was on Alex. He seemed to have come to terms with his divorce, yet he didn’t seem ready to go back and reclaim his life.
She broached the subject when she returned. “Don’t you think you should go back? They can’t keep this other guy if listeners are complaining, and by you dragging your heels, they might—”
“Fire me? It’s possible.” He picked up his beer.
“I thought you liked that job.”
“I did.” He took a swallow of his beer and set the glass back on the cocktail napkin in front of him. “That call from the station was what I needed to make the decision. I’m not going back. I’m moving here.”
Josie’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Alex chuckled. “I can see you’re thrilled.”
“I am. Of course I am! But what will you do? Where will you work? Where will you live?” Now that last part sounded ungracious. “I mean, you can stay with me for as long as you want. I only thought you’d want a place of your own.”
“Don’t worry, sis.” His gray eyes danced with laughter. “I’m not planning to drop out of society and sponge off of you. It so happens a radio station in Jackson is looking for a DJ. I’ve already called them and I’m going in for an interview tomorrow.”
“That’s wonderful, Alex. It really is.” Josie discovered she meant it, despite the complications Alex might bring regarding her dealings with Jack. “I’ve missed you since moving out here. But you know Mom and Dad will have a fit if you leave Chicago.”
“We’ll work on them to retire in Wyoming.” Alex looked more excited than she’d seen him since he arrived. “I hate what happened between Crystal and me, but if it hadn’t, I never would have left Chicago. You’d have to pry Crystal out of there with a crowbar. I had no idea I’d be so crazy about this area, but I love it.”
Josie laughed, happy that he was so happy. “Maybe you’ll have to buy a cowboy hat, yet.”
“I doubt it. Unless that’s the only way for a guy to get women around here.”
“Judging from my female customers’ reactions to you, a cowboy hat might be overkill. I can see me running interference so you won’t get mobbed once the word’s out that you’re available.”
Alex polished off his beer. “Feel free to interfere all you want. And if you don’t like somebody, for God’s sake, say so. After this fiasco with Crystal, I’m not sure I can trust my own instincts.”
“Okay.”
“But just so you know, I reserve the right to watch out for your best interests, too. Which brings us back to this Jack guy. When’s your next riding lesson?”
“Um, tomorrow.” Josie tried her best to act as if the next riding lesson was no big deal. She didn’t think she’d succeeded.