Two to Love

Chapter Sixteen

Callie stood by and watched as Zane flipped the light on. The whole front of the building was lit up in electric blue and red. Trio was open for business.

There was a shout throughout the bar. This little ceremony was strictly for show. Most of Bliss was sitting in Trio’s booths or at the bar when the place was officially opened. There was a great cheer as the beer started to flow.

“Congrats, little sister,” Stefan said, sliding an arm around her shoulder.

“Thanks,” she replied. She watched as Zane accepted the heartfelt congratulations of his friends. “And thank you for giving him the loan.”

Stef nodded. “I figure if I’m trusting the big bastard with my little sister, I can trust him with some cash. The place looks great.”

Stef looked around the bar. There was a blank look on his face that was replaced with a forced smile the minute he realized she was looking at him. Callie sighed. He’d been that way ever since the night Nate had been shot. The next morning, Jennifer Waters had taken a bus out of town, and Callie hadn’t heard from her since. Stef refused to talk about Jen or what happened that night after he let her out of the cell. Callie let it go. He would talk about it when he was ready. As for Jen, she’d left without even a goodbye. It worried Callie to no end, but she had to think Jen had her reasons.

Even without her friend, the three months they had spent putting together Trio and rehabbing Nate’s shoulder had been the best of her life. Even when Nate had been crabby, she’d felt like she was working toward something. She was building her future with her husbands. She glanced at Zane. On paper, he was her legal husband, but Nate had stood right beside them at the courthouse and when the town had thrown them a reception, he’d taken the congratulations right along with Zane.

Now she just wished her other hubby would get his sweet tushy home.

Zane pulled her away from Stef and into his arms. “Like it, babe?”

“You know I do.” She went on her toes to place a kiss on those amazing lips of his. “I just wish Nate had been here.”

“Where the hell is Nate anyway?” Stef asked. “Wasn’t his plane due at four?”

Nate had been in El Paso for three days clearing up all the paperwork he needed to end the case. Once the DEA had control of the accounts, Ellis’s money had dried up. The bounty was off Zane’s chest. She had wanted to go with him, but Zane needed her more. Still, there was a knot in her stomach.

Zane smiled down at her. “You worry too much. He’s coming home.”

“She thinks he’s staying in El Paso?” Stef suddenly looked concerned.

“I just think they’re going to offer him a job, probably with a promotion,” Callie admitted. It was a huge fear. Nate would finally get the offer he wanted, the chance to move up, to be what he’d always wanted.

“I already have a job.” Nate’s voice rang out over the loud crowd.

Callie turned and ran into his arms. He looked super sexy in jeans and a T-shirt. His arms closed around her.

“Miss me?” The smirk on his face told her he knew the answer to that question.

“You know I did.”

“Well, I missed you. I’ve been doing all the heavy lifting around here.” Zane slapped Nate on the back. He looked down at Callie. “I told you he would come back. He’s here now, babe, and let me tell you, once Nathan Wright decides he’s committed, it’s for life.”

“Damn straight.” Nate’s eyes gleamed in the light of the bar they had all worked to build together. “I took the job in the DEA to get somewhere in life, but I also wanted to protect the things I loved. Everything I love is right here in Bliss. I’m never leaving, Callie. This is my home. You and Zane are my family.”

“Yo! Can I get a beer here?” Max Harper yelled over the jukebox.

“Yeah, man, we might have way more family than we can handle.” Zane groaned as he jogged back behind the bar.

“Get to work, gorgeous.” Nate patted her behind. “I need a beer, and I want the hottest waitress in the state to get it for me.” He looked toward the bar and frowned. “Damn it, Zane. Get rid of that duck.”

Callie laughed. Nate had seen the rubber duck Zane had fixed to the bar. He’d managed to fit a little cowboy hat on the yellow duck and had glued on a tiny gold badge. There was a donation box for the duck’s eventual run for Sheriff.

“I am not running against that duck.”

Callie watched the two men she loved more than life argue about a rubber duck.

“Callie, baby, you got to get him to get rid of the duck.”

“I am not getting in the middle of that.” She shook her head, but Nate was already hauling her to his side.

“You say that now, but later…”

She gave him a wink that promised all the things she’d do later.

“Babe, order up.” Zane passed her a tray filled with two beers for Max and Rye and a glass of tea for Rachel.

Callie picked up the tray and started her new life.

THE END

www.sophieoak.com