“How did you end up in Silver Ridge?” I ask
“My father owns a real estate company,” she explains, sounding disinterested. “A large plot of land came up for sale here about ten years ago and he bought it for pretty cheap. There is some sort of stipulation about the land being used or resold within five years of being purchased. I was tired of boarding my horses and ready to start my own business. So, it just worked out.”
“Yeah, I'll say. Talk about goals.” I offer her a smile that Poppy mirrors back but her eyes don't light up. “So, tell me about your horses.”
This time Poppy’s smile is genuine as she launches into detail, telling me all about her show horses. She mentions multiple times just how expensive they are and how many ribbons they won, but I can tell she really does love her horses.
A woman named Lauren stops by as we’re eating. She has the same exact shade of blonde hair as Poppy, and I make a mental note not to use their hairstylist. Though my own highlights are fading and I'm in desperate need of a fresh haircut.
Lauren sits down next to Poppy, telling us how great her life has been since she joined this “team” that sells protein shakes. She's trying to convince us to join with her when, thank the fucking stars, her sister comes in and waves her over.
I watch Lauren greet her sister, who looks just like her with the same overly bleached blonde hair. They step away from the door and I see a man walk through right behind them. He looks familiar for some reason. It's the dark hair, the blue eyes, and his whole facial structure is familiar in the weirdest way. I'm about to ask Poppy who he is when he steps to the side and I see the person he walked in with.
It's Jacob fucking Harris.
The guy he followed into the bar has to be his brother, and now I know why he looked so familiar. Jacob and his brother share quite a resemblance. I go to divert my eyes but I'm not fast enough and Jacob sees me staring right at him.
Chapter Twenty-Five
JACOB
Go fucking figure that the very first person I see when I step into the bar is Josie fucking Walker. She's sitting at a table on the completely opposite side of the room and yet our eyes still meet. I don't care if the annoyance is visible on my face.
It's off-hours. I'm not her vet at the moment.
“Dr. Harris!” a woman croons no sooner than the doors shut behind us. I take my eyes off Josie and see Lauren Wallace standing next to her sister, who takes her animals to the clinic to be treated. I only recently realized how much Lauren made Chloe’s life hell back when we were all in high school. Chloe has always felt like a sister to me and, now that she will soon be my sister-in-law, I feel all the more protective of her.
“Hello,” I say flatly, side-eyeing Mason. He also shares the same protective nature over Chloe as I do.
“And agent Harris,” Lauren adds, looking at Mason.
“Come on, Lauren,” her sister says, giving her arm a tug. “It's a girl’s night. I only have a few hours away from my kids so come on.”
“I'll see you boys later,” Lauren wiggles her fingers at us and is pulled away by her sister, thankfully.
Mason shudders but watches Lauren get pulled to a table a few yards away. “I know she's a shit person, but would it be terrible if I—”
“Yes,” I interrupt before he has a chance to even finish that thought. I know he’s joking but I don’t even want to hear it. “This place is packed tonight and I'm sure you can find somebody else to take home. To my house, I should add.”
“As easy as it would be for me to take any one of these women home tonight,” he starts and claps his hand on my back as we make our way to the bar. “Tonight's mission is all about getting your dick wet. You know, it's true when they say if you don't use it, you lose it. Don't try to tell me that Rosie and her four sisters are doing a satisfactory job of using it.”
I glare at Mason, not wasting my time with a rebuttal. As soon as someone shows interest in Mason, he'll forget all about trying to find someone for me to hook up with. “You know what,” I start instead. “Go ahead. Try to find someone that I would willingly take back to my place tonight.”
Mason’s face splits with a big smile. “You will not regret this.”
“I'm regretting it already.” We stop at the bar, ordering two drinks. All of the bar stools are taken, but there are a few tables available in the back—right next to where Josie is sitting. “Just remember, I will not sleep with any of my clients.”