Vaughn groaned and refused to look at her. "I do not," he growled. "Don't start with that."

Tucker, Dina, and Wiley stared at Vaughn with curious looks and awaited an explanation. He avoided looking at them and shifted with discomfort.

"My interest in Casey is and was strictly professional," Vaughn boldly announced.

Dina snorted a laugh then hurried to a nearby table to tend to customers. Tucker suddenly laughed, causing Vaughn to glare at him. Wiley appeared interested.

"Something to add?" Wiley teased.

"Don't do it," Vaughn warned Tucker.

Tucker didn't seem concerned by Vaughn's threatening look. "Back when Vaughn first started as deputy," he announced while chuckling, "he had his eye on this hot, little number."

"Tucker," Vaughn growled while shifting in his chair.

Tucker ignored his friend. "He had his eye on her for weeks before he finally asked me who she was. That girl was Casey Remington."

Wiley and Melanie stared at Tucker with surprise then looked at Vaughn with equal astonishment.

"She couldn't have been more than fifteen!" Wiley suddenly cried out.

"Oh, that's disgusting," Melanie scoffed with a sneer.

"Okay, fine," Vaughn snapped. "I thought she was attractive, but I didn't know she was just a kid."

Wiley and Tucker laughed.

"Come on," Vaughn cried out. "Back me up here, she looked twenty."

"Well," Wiley chuckled, "that is true. It's a good thing Tucker set you straight before you made a fool of yourself."

Vaughn snorted then sneered. "Are you kidding? The b.a.s.t.a.r.d let me embarra.s.s myself. It's amazing we're still friends."

Melanie and Wiley suddenly looked at Tucker. He started to laugh.

"Oh, come on," Tucker announced while maintaining his grin. "Initiating the new guy is part of the job."

"You let him ask her out?" Wiley demanded with surprise.

"I didn't ask her out," Vaughn scoffed and shifted in his chair. "I approached her mother in the antique store and asked to see her sister. When she told me that Casey was her daughter, I was able to escape before completely embarra.s.sing myself."

Wiley shook his head and glared at Tucker. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

Melanie suddenly sneered. "And that's why we didn't work out," she announced then glared at Vaughn's profile. "He couldn't get her sweet, little a.s.s out of his head."

Vaughn refused to look at Melanie or even acknowledge her.

"Leave him alone, Mel," Wiley announced then grinned l.u.s.tfully. "I think Casey has a sweet, little a.s.s too."

Melanie frowned with disgust, grabbed her full pitchers, and walked away as Dina returned with several empty beer bottles.

Vaughn shook his head and groaned as Melanie left. "That night of bad judgment just keeps coming back to bite me."

"At least you have being drunk as an excuse," Tucker scoffed then finished his gla.s.s of beer. He pushed the empty gla.s.s to Wiley and indicated he needed a refill. "I dated that devil's wh.o.r.e of my own free will."

"Who's the devil's wh.o.r.e?" Casey suddenly asked from behind both men.

Both looked back at her as she appeared seemingly out of nowhere and jumped onto the empty barstool alongside Tucker. He seemed pleased to see her. Vaughn appeared even more uncomfortable possibly wondering how much of their conversation she had overheard.

"Melanie," Dina casually replied while hiding her humor.

Casey was suddenly interested and grinned slyly. "Is this topic officially open for debate?" she teased.

"No, it's closed," Vaughn snapped.

Tucker grinned at Casey, unable to hide his l.u.s.t, and stared at her longer than he should have. "We just heard the exciting news," he announced.

"Oh? What news?"

"You in the kissing booth," Dina teased while dramatically batting her eyelashes.

Casey rolled her eyes and groaned. The subject was already getting on her nerves, and she still had three more days until the official nightmare began.

"If you're having performance jitters, you can practice on me," Tucker offered slyly.

"Same here," Wiley announced with a grin and leaned on the bar before her.

"Thanks, boys, but I think I'll manage," Casey replied while hiding her embarra.s.sment.

Dina took her filled pitchers and left the bar. Melanie soon returned with a tray of empty gla.s.ses. Wiley kept his attention on Casey. He was obviously a little too happy to see her.

"I see you signed up for the talent show," Wiley announced with a pleased look.

Melanie turned to Casey and now appeared stunned. Too much was being thrown at her at one time. "You entered the talent show?" she suddenly squawked.

"Under extreme duress, I a.s.sure you," she muttered in response but noted the look on Melanie's face. It was almost entertaining to behold.

The rage was boiling up inside Melanie, but she seemed to pull herself together and made an effort to suppress it. "So, uh, what are you planning to do?"

Casey shrugged carelessly. "I suppose that's up to my brother and Ruger."

The expression on Melanie's face suddenly dropped. "You haven't planned anything?" she cried out with surprise. She managed a tense laugh and shook her head. "Oh, Casey, you're going to bomb. The fair is this Sat.u.r.day."

"You'll be fantastic," Wiley told Casey while grinning.

Casey thought his devotion to her was almost staggering. He wouldn't believe anything bad about her even if he caught her standing over a dead body with a smoking gun in her hand.

"You're sweet, Wiley," Casey said warmly.

Wiley seemed humored. "Remember that when I see you at the kissing booth," he teased.

"You get a freebie," Casey announced and leaned across the bar. She motioned him closer with a beckoning finger and kissed him quickly on the lips.

Wiley grinned proudly and possibly blushed. "Nope, no practice needed there."

"Got one more freebie?" Tucker suddenly asked while appearing a little too enthusiastic.

"Buy a ticket."

"One?" Tucker asked then laughed. "I'm cashing my entire paycheck."

Melanie appeared disgusted and walked away with a huff. Dina returned to the bar and appeared curious as she watched Melanie leave.

"Hmm? What did I miss?" Dina asked.

"Casey kissed me," Wiley cheerfully replied.

Grey, Ruger, and Diesel entered the tavern and approached them at the bar. Diesel stood behind Casey and ma.s.saged her shoulders, catching the attention of the men at the bar.

"What do they have to eat?" Diesel asked.

"You're a bottomless pit," Grey scoffed then looked at Casey, who enjoyed her shoulder ma.s.sage from Diesel's ma.s.sive hands. "Did you want to get a table?"

"Yeah, sure. Who's designated driver?" she asked.

Grey frowned and raised his hand.

Casey laughed then grinned at Wiley while indicating her group. "We're going to need a pitcher of martinis, three shots of tequila, and a soda for my poor brother."

Diesel spun Casey on her bar stool, picked her up into his arms, and carried her to the table. She let out a playful scream then laughed.

Ruger rolled his eyes and shook his head. "It's going to be a long night."

Chapter Twenty.

Nearly an hour later, the tavern was quickly filling with locals who had finished bowling at the local bowling alley. Bowling league nights brought in large crowds even without live entertainment. There was no music, leaving the dance floor vacant. Casey, Ruger, and Diesel drank shots and laughed drunkenly at their table while Grey appeared bored and sipped his soda. Casey slipped her hand into Diesel's pocket and felt around for change. He grinned and held his hands up to allow her free access. He seemed disappointed she only went for the change. Casey took her newly found change and headed for the jukebox across the dance floor. She selected some songs and danced seductively to the first song as it played while scanning more t.i.tles. Diesel approached Casey from behind, placed his arms around her, and danced slowly and seductively with her. He spun her in his arms and they danced close to the slow song. Dina approached Grey from behind and rubbed his shoulders.

"I'm on break. Care to dance?" Dina asked.

Grey looked back at her, smiled as he took her hand, and joined her on the dance floor. They danced to the slow song, although not nearly as close and seductive as Casey and Diesel had danced. Melanie watched the couples dancing from her position at the bar and frowned. She was obviously bothered by their dancing. Tucker also felt compelled to watch Casey and Diesel dance close. He shook his head and looked back at Vaughn while frowning.

"No one can compete with that guy," Tucker muttered. "Look at him. He's built like a tank!"

Vaughn briefly glanced at them as they danced seductively. Diesel obviously knew no boundaries, and Casey didn't seem to protest.

"I always pictured her with someone smarter," Vaughn remarked lowly while casually sipping his drink.

Tucker looked at Vaughn with surprise and suddenly laughed. "You're jealous!'

Vaughn appeared embarra.s.sed by Tucker's loud outburst and fidgeted in his chair. "Don't be ridiculous."

Tucker continued to chuckle softly and remained humored. "Whatever. I've had my limit," he announced with a sigh. "Want a lift?"

"No, I'll get a ride home with Wiley," Vaughn replied. "I want to discuss a few things with him."

"Oh, G.o.d, just let the bachelor auction go," Tucker groaned. "You'll be fine."

"It has nothing to do with that," Vaughn replied.

Tucker obviously didn't buy it. He chuckled softly while standing. "Beware of booze and Melanie. Remember what happened the last time you combined the two."

Tucker patted his shoulder and left the tavern. As the song ended, Diesel gave Casey a big bear hug then escorted her back to the table for more drinks. Grey approached Vaughn at the bar and took Tucker's seat.

"Why don't you join us, Sheriff?" Grey asked.

Vaughn glanced from Grey to their table then minded his drink and shrugged. "I don't want to intrude."

"Intrude on what?" Grey snorted. "Those three are already half wasted. I could use the conversation."

Vaughn considered his comment then nodded and joined him. Vaughn and Grey approached the table as the others laughed and did another shot.

"Okay, make room, you lushes," Grey announced loudly. "Darwood Falls' finest is joining us."

Casey moved from her chair to open up a s.p.a.ce. Diesel grinned at her and patted his lap, indicating a free spot for her to sit. Casey bypa.s.sed him and casually sat on Ruger's lap. It was obviously non-s.e.xual in nature, but Ruger proudly clung to her regardless.

"Every time," Diesel scoffed and shook his head. "How does this happen?"

Ruger smiled drunkenly and held up his middle finger to Diesel behind Casey's back.

Diesel smirked and chuckled softly. "One day, you little Muppet--"

It was over an hour later. Dina brought more shots of tequila to the table and placed one in front of everyone except Grey, who remained sober and appeared bored. Vaughn was almost as drunk as the others were and shook his head at the offer of another shot.

"No, no. I shouldn't. Really--" he insisted.

Vaughn picked up his shot gla.s.s along with the others, clinked gla.s.ses with them, and drank the contents. They all laughed and slammed their shot gla.s.ses down. Casey, still seated on Ruger's lap, glanced across the crowded tavern. She placed her arm over Ruger's shoulder and whispered something in his ear. He, too, glanced across the room. Wayne, Ryan, Blain, and Fred entered and stood just inside the doorway. They scanned the tavern as if looking for something in particular. Grey and Diesel glanced in the direction of the door as well now. The table became unusually quiet. Vaughn remained pleasantly drunk, noted the looks, and glanced behind him. The Harford boys looked at their table. Vaughn stiffened and sat straight while glaring back at the four by the door. Wayne nudged Ryan and motioned for his brothers to follow him to the pool area. It was unknown which occupant at the table they feared or were attempting to avoid.

Casey snorted a laugh and patted Ruger's chest. "I think you scared them away," she remarked drunkenly.