A quick glance at the bar assured him nothing had changed. Devon’s silver-and-brown braid was a familiar sight behind the bar; she’d been working at Shots as long as Fisher could remember. She wiped the bar down while chatting with the patrons seated on the stools, handling the relatively slow Friday night with no trouble.
“Who are you looking for?” Brook asked.
“No one,” Fisher replied, shifting the pool cue from one hand to the next.
“Maybe she’s not working tonight,” Jarvis offered, clearly amused.
Fisher shot Jarvis a look, silencing his friend.
“She who?” Brook asked. “Oh, a lady love?”
He focused on the pool table, setting up his next shot.
“His would-be lady love,” Jarvis offered up.
“Details,” Brook demanded. Fisher had been a little thrown off by Brook’s forthright manner—in everything. It was a benefit in surgery or while handling emergencies, but it could be pretty damn abrupt in average daily conversation.
“Nothing to tell,” his cousin Toben said with a laugh. He stood on the opposite side of the table, pool cue in hand. “Fisher’s in the friend zone. He lives in the friend zone.”
Fisher took his shot, missed and faced his cousin. “I’d rather be in the friend zone than some one-night hookup.” His interest in Kylee extended beyond the bedroom. Not that he hadn’t thought about that, but—
“Really?” Toben asked, tilting his hat back on his head and arching both eyebrows. “Well, hell, Fisher, that’s just...wrong.”
Fisher grinned, shaking his head at Toben. Since Ryder was now a happily married man, Toben had gladly taken up the reins as the town playboy. He was good-looking, sweet-talking and drew women like moths to a flame. But Fisher didn’t envy Toben, he envied Ryder. Maybe he was lazy, but Fisher had never enjoyed the dating scene. He wanted to share his home with a woman who loved him, a woman he loved above all else. Their home would be full of happiness and laughter. Eventually he hoped he’d have kids—a full house that was always busy and inviting.
Brook laughed, the husky timbre drawing appreciative looks from both Jarvis and Toben. Fisher shook his head. She was pretty, her bright, curly red hair and large brown eyes signaling her vivacious personality. And since she was new in town, she’d probably get lots of interest. Knowing her the way he was beginning to, she could handle it. She’d probably enjoy it.
“Looks like Mrs. Callahan’s waving you over,” Jarvis murmured.
Fisher glanced at the table of silver-haired women. “You can dance, Jarvis. So can you, Toben. Those sweet old gals can teach you a thing or two on the dance floor.”
Toben snorted dismissively.
“You, Fisher Boone, are a real gentleman,” Brook said, smiling up at him. “You keep holding doors open, dancing with little old ladies and being your charming self and that mystery girl will fall head over heels for you.”
Fisher handed his pool cue to Brook. “I’ll hold you to that.” He crossed the wooden-planked floor and tipped his hat to Sylvia Callahan. “Mrs. Callahan.”
“Fisher,” she said, smiling sweetly. “I must say, this is one of my favorite songs.”
“Well, then, let’s not waste it.” He offered her his hand.
Mrs. Callahan took it and let him lead her out onto the dance floor. She might be stiff with age, but she could still two-step something fierce.
“You look so much like your momma,” Mrs. Callahan said. “Same eyes. Course, she was a might shorter than you.”
He laughed. “Most people are.”
“You musta drank a lot of milk growing up,” she continued. “So big and strong. Why aren’t you settled down yet, Fisher? Never thought I’d see the day when Ryder got hitched before you or your sister.”
He nodded, letting her prattle on while they danced. She’d been a friend of his mother’s. When his mother died, these were the ladies who had kept his family fed, cleaned the house and done the shopping until his dad got back on his feet. He couldn’t see them without giving them hugs and offering them a nice word or a teasing smile as well as the occasional dance. It was the least he could do to repay their kindness. And while he knew they missed having dance partners, he suspected there was more to it. Teddy Boone was quite the catch. Every one of these ladies was sweet on his father. But if they were hoping he’d give them some magic word to win his father they’d be disappointed. Fisher di
dn’t have the heart to tell them that his father was, and always would be, in love with Fisher’s mother.
As the music came to a close, he spun Mrs. Callahan. She was giggling and breathless when he escorted her back to her table.
“My turn.” Brook stood at his elbow. “If you’re free?”
He nodded. “Think you can keep up?” he asked, nodding at the stage. The beat was quick, and two other couples were spinning like tops across the wooden floor.