Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

Greer sniffed the air. “Is that hamburgers I smell.”

“It was.”

“Got any left?”

“No. I’d make you one, but Dustin cleaned me out.”

“That’s okay. I can go eat at the diner.”

“The diner closed an hour ago. King’s and the Pink Slipper are closed, too.”

“Rosie’s is still open. I’ll get on there. Go with me?”

“No thanks. I was about to go to bed.”

“It’s Friday night. You don’t have to get up early. Come on; Dustin can’t go; he’s got Logan. And Tate won’t leave Sutton sleeping alone. Come and keep me company. If you’re not hungry, I’ll buy you a beer.”

“I’ll go brush my hair and get my jacket.” Holly left him in the living room, going to her bedroom.

Pulling out her hair tie, she bushed out her hair then went to her closet to take out a jacket. She pulled the cream-colored jacket on over the faded jeans and dark blue top she was wearing. She had already changed out her work clothes when she had gotten home.

“I could stay with Logan, and you and Dustin could go out,” she said as she walked back into the living room.

Greer turned from staring out the sliding glass door that looked out over the pool. Going to the front door, he opened it. “He’s probably in bed. Let’s go.” He tugged her out the front door before she could change her mind, and she found herself in the front seat of his pickup truck, heading toward the bar not far from his home without really understanding how she had gotten there.

“I didn’t know Rosie’s served food. I thought Mick just served drinks.”

“You’re in store for a treat, then. Mick serves the best burgers in town.” Greer handled the truck expertly, pulling into the packed parking lot between a motorcycle and a car.

Holly wished she hadn’t let herself being talked into coming. She hadn’t expected so many people to be in the bar.

Several people she knew from around town waved at her as Greer guided her toward the bar.

“Is this okay? The tables are full. When one clears, I’ll grab it.”

“This is fine.” She slid onto a barstool, smiling at the large man behind the bar.

“First time I’ve seen you in here, Holly.”

“Hi, Mick.”

Holly had met Mick in church. She had heard serval snarky comments from a few of the parishioners, while he was one of the few who had make her feel welcome when she had begun going. She had always liked him.

“What can I get you?”

“We’ll take a couple of burgers and two beers. That sound good?” Greer asked.

“Yes.”

Holly looked around the bar. Seeing the large dance floor, she turned her head at a flash of movement. When she saw a woman giving a lap dance to a man sitting down, she narrowed her eyes on the man, recognizing him.

“That’s Rider.”

Greer swung the barstool around by his boot so he could see what she was staring at.

“Yep. He usually doesn’t hang out here on Friday nights.” Holly could see Greer’s lips curl contemptuously. “He’s with Curt and Justin.” Greer swung his barstool back around.

“You want to leave?” Holly started to slide down from her stool, but he brought his hand to her thigh, stopping her.

“No, they aren’t bothering me. They bothering you?”

“Can I ask you a question?” Holly began to broach what had been bothering her since he had rung her doorbell.

“Shoot.”

She gave him a sharp look at his answer. “Why did you ask me to come out with you tonight? Dustin never leaves his phone off or out of his reach. For some reason, he’s paranoid about it.”

He shrugged. “I figured it was time to bury the hatchet between us.”

“Why now?”

He leaned an arm on the bar as he turned to face her. “The thing I’ve had against you since day one was I’ve been worried you would take off with Logan. I don’t have to worry about that anymore with Mitch dead.”

“I could run off with any man if I want to.”

“Not from Kentucky. All the men in town know it would be a death sentence to mess with Logan.”

“You really think that every man in town is afraid of you?”

“Not just me. Dustin and Tate. I ain’t claiming it; it’s a fact.”

“Some—and I repeat, some—of the men might be afraid of you, but of Dustin? No one is afraid of Dustin.”

“Woman, you have blinders on where Dustin is concerned. He might not get into many fights, and he doesn’t have my and Tate’s temper, but he’s got one. You hurt a hair on Logan’s head, and the true Dustin will come out. He’s never had any issues with you, because you love Logan, so you’ve never seen his temper.”

Holly took a drink of her beer as Mick set their burgers down in front of them. She sank her teeth into the juicy burger. Greer was right; it was the best she’d had in town. She then picked up one of the chips that Mick had served with the burger, chewing it to keep from talking.