Turn and Burn (Blacktop Cowboys 5)

Devin laughed a little too heartily. “Can you at least wait until we get outside, bunny boo?”

Bunny boo? Fletch didn’t know whether to groan or gag.

Tanna pouted. “As long as we can go right now.”

“Your wish”—Devin kissed her temple—“is my command. Excuse us, ladies.”

Fletch followed an entwined Tanna and Devin out of the bar, reminding himself it was a con, shoving down the temptation to knock the smooth-talking superstar on his ass for having his hand on Tanna’s ass.

They ducked between the pickups.

Tanna let loose a loud whoop and Devin clapped his hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter.

“That was not f**king funny at all, Tex-ass.”

“What the hell happened? We were gone from the table ten minutes.”

Devin released Tanna and slumped against the pickup. “The mother and daughter duo pounced on me because they are my biggest fans. They offered . . .” He shuddered. “I don’t wanna think it, let alone share it with you. So come on, Fletch. I know there’s good scotch at your place that’ll completely scrub this incident from my brain.”

Fletch and Tanna exchanged an amused look. In light of their shared camaraderie, he said, “You wanna come over for a nightcap?”

“Nah. First day of work tomorrow. But I’ll take a rain check.” Once she realized what she’d said, she backtracked. “You know. One of these days this summer.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

All Devin had to do was open his arms and Tanna was right there, hugging him.

Fletch should’ve given them privacy, but he couldn’t make himself step back.

“Take care, hillbilly rock star. If you can’t keep it in your pants at least wear a love glove, okay?”

“Will do. Loop me in on your wild summer exploits.”

“Wild. Right. I’ll be as mild-mannered as an old school marm.”

He snorted. “That’ll be the day.”

“You know how to get back to the Split Rock?”

“I’ve got GPS.”

“Good.”

Fletch couldn’t think of anything else to keep Tanna from going.

She said, “Drive safe,” and climbed in her truck.

He realized he’d been standing there like an idiot, watching her drive away, when Devin cleared his throat. “We leaving or what?”

“Yeah. Get in the truck.”

“Fletch, if you wanna talk about it—”

“I don’t. But that scotch is sounding better and better.”

An hour later, Tanna sat in her living room, startled when three loud raps sounded on the door. Then the door opened and a female voice said, “Knock, knock.”

Tanna peered around the edge of the room divider. “Who is it?”

“Harlow Pratt. We’re coworkers. Can I come in?”

Aren’t you already? “Sure.”

The woman bounded forward like a puppy. “Hey! Tanna, right?”

“Right.”

“It’s great to meet you.” Tanna scrutinized her. Harlow looked nothing like her sister Tierney. Maybe it was the shocking pink hair, cut in funky, chunky layers. Maybe it was the nose piercing. Or the eyebrow piercing. Or the dozen piercings lining each ear. She wore a gray sharkskin-looking dress, ripped black fishnet stockings and vivid orange hiking boots with neon blue laces.

Her first thought? No way could this woman sell Western clothing in a punk hooker Tron meets Mad Max getup.

Harlow plopped on the couch and pulled a bottle out of her gigantic Hello Kitty purse. A bottle filled with a green liquid, the color somewhere between NyQuil and Midori melon liqueur. “I thought we could have a shot to celebrate and kick off our summer right.”

“What the hell is that?”

“Absinthe. Ever had it?”

“No. I’m not sure I wanna tackle it now.”

Harlow giggled. “It used to be illegal but they must’ve changed the formula or something because you can buy it. Do you have glasses?”

Tanna started to refuse, until she realized Harlow had taken the first step for them to get to know each other. The least she could do was have a drink with her. “I doubt I have shot glasses. Is that poured over ice or anything?”

“Drinking it straight means you don’t really taste it.”

“That doesn’t sound good, Harlow.”

“Oh, it’s not good. But it’s the only booze I had left.”

Tanna grabbed two small Dixie cups and set them on the coffee table. “I take it you drove here?”

“Straight through from Chicago. Normally I don’t travel with liquor, but I moved out of my apartment and I’m too thrifty to toss the bottle out, so I brought it along.” She poured two generous slugs and nudged a cup toward Tanna.

Tanna peered at the green goo, then sniffed it.

Harlow lifted her cup. “To a great summer.”

“Cheers.” Tanna closed her eyes and drained the contents with one swallow. She fought a shiver when the liquid hit her stomach like battery acid. When she opened her eyes, she noticed Harlow wore a grimace too.

“Nasty shit.”

“Yep. And I bet it’s an ugly color when it comes back up too.” Harlow waggled the bottle at Tanna. “Feeling up to one more?”

Tanna grinned. “What the hell?”

“Good woman.” Harlow poured refills and said, “You get to make the toast.”