Too Close For Comfort (Sweetrock Cowboy Romance Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

changed something inside her. She’d gotten a little glimpse of what it might be like to have someone there. Someone to say good-bye to in the morning. Someone who would be waiting for her at night.
    Maybe it was time for her to take the risk and give love a chance. And what better time to start than tonight? The Bull Sheep bar would be full of eligible cowboys—maybe even the one that was right for her.
    Turning back to her work, Tessa vowed to stop pushing away every guy that acted interested and give the next guy she was attracted to a chance. That was the only way she’d find someone. After all, as Beulah had said, what was she waiting for?

4
    T he Bull Sheep Bar was packed full by the time Tessa arrived. She hovered just inside the doorway to the large room, scanning the boisterous crowd as the buzz of multiple conversations, laughing and clinking glasses filled her ears.
    It resembled the inside of an old barn, with rough sawn boards on the walls which were decorated with old leather saddles, lassoes, and pictures of cattle. Pine board tables and chairs that looked like they’d been made from logs were scattered around the edges of the room with a large space for a dance floor in the middle.
    Tessa noticed her group of friends sitting at a long table in the back, and she weaved her way through the throng of happy after-work drinkers as she made her way across the concrete floor.
    Nick and Sam were seated at one end of the table, his arm draped over the back of her chair. Iris and Donnie were holding hands at the other. Kade and Jackson sat in the middle, wearing plain cotton T-shirts and cowboy hats and laughing as they both took a pull on their beers. Everyone appeared as if they were having a good time with the exception of Melina. The dark-haired beauty leaned in her chair, eyes glassy as if she’d had one shot too many.
    Tessa frowned as she watched her tip back a beer, a shot glass full of amber liquid on the table in front of her. Jack Daniels? They’d all been worried about Mel. Raised by her grandparents who’d both since died, her brother was the only family she had, and he’d been away in the military for over a year. Mel was spiraling out of control. But it looked like Kade and Jackson were keeping an eye on her. They sat on either side, shooting glances at the shot glass, joking as if to distract her from drinking it. That’s what Tessa loved about her friends—they all looked out for each other.
    “Where’s Cash?” Tessa asked as she slid into a chair beside Sam.
    Nick thrust his chin toward the bar. “I found a pretty brunette for him at the bar.”
    Tessa looked to see Cash towering over a petite brunette, obviously flirting. He was doing exactly what she should be doing, she thought, as she sized up the guys standing at the bar to see if anyone sparked her interest.
    “She is pretty,” Tessa said, and then she noticed Sam’s brows tug together. Did she not like the girl or something?
    “Yeah. Cash has been going through a little bit of a dry spell,” Nick said.
    “He’s not the only one.” Tessa turned around in her seat, scouring the other end of the room for available cowboys. It looked like her housemate had the right idea, but Tessa wasn’t as brave as Cash. She couldn’t just go up to someone at the bar and start flirting.
    As if reading her mind, Mel pushed the shot glass in front of her, a drop of liquid splashing onto the table.
    “Have a drink. It will help end your dry spell,” Melina said.
    Oh, what the heck. It couldn’t hurt.
    Tessa tipped back the shot before she lost her courage. The liquid burned her throat and warmed her belly, then headed straight into her bloodstream.
    Cash came back and Sam scooted her chair over, practically knocking Nick out of the way so she could shove an empty chair for Cash between her and Tessa.
    Why had she done that?
    There was an empty chair at the other end of the table.
    Cash looked uncertain about the chair, too, but he just