“That’s a crappy thing to do,” Eli protested. “Especially when you invited me here in the first place!”

J.P. arched an eyebrow, braced his hands on the back of his chair and met Eli’s gaze head-on. “You were late,” he said.

Eli glared at his friends, first J.P., then Cord. Then he ate another hunk of his cheeseburger. He was pissed, but he was hungry, too. Hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

And breakfast had been a leftover burrito nuked in his microwave.

“Fine,” he bit out, after swallowing. “Go. Leave me hanging in the wind!”

Cord rolled his eyes. They were very blue, Cord’s eyes; women tended to tumble into them, head over heels. “Spare us the drama, Eli. We’re trying to help you, here.”

“By leaving me alone?”

J.P. grinned again, that cocky tilted semblance of a smile that sometimes—like now—made Eli want to punch him out. “You’re not alone, dude,” he drawled. “Brynne’s here.”

Eli was well aware that Brynne was there. The air seemed to pulse with the energy of her presence. “Do not call me ‘dude’!” he retorted.

J.P. laughed.

Then he and Cord ambled on over to the cash register, Trooper meandering along behind them.

Brynne came out of the kitchen immediately, smiling at that pair of polecats in a way that made Eli feel just a tad bit crazy.

They paid their checks, chatting with Brynne about the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration to be held right there at Bailey’s. Practically everybody in the county was planning on attending.

Eli planned on working that night, since his already small crew would be stretched thin anyhow. The prospect gave him a lonely feeling, which was odd, because he was used to holiday duty.

Plus, he’d had Christmas Eve off this year—spent part of it with his sister, and his niece and nephew, and part of it out at the Hollister ranch, with Cord and his wife, Shallie, J.P. and his highly forgettable date, and a whole bunch of other friends. He couldn’t expect to take New Year’s Eve off, too; it would be unfair, and if he could help it, Eli was always fair.

Cord and J.P. left, and Eli watched them go, silently vowing to pay them back for ditching him like this.

Brynne, still behind the cash register, gazed after them, her beautiful face expressionless.

Maybe she was watching the falling snow—fat flakes now, spiraling as they descended, picking up speed.

Presently, she approached the table.

Eli admired her trim gray slacks and dark blue blouse, which exactly matched her incredible eyes.

“Something wrong with the burger?” she asked, apparently noticing that he’d only eaten half of it. “I’ll be happy to make you another if there is.”

Eli cleared his throat. “No,” he said gruffly, embarrassed. “It’s fine.” An awkward pause followed. Then, “Brynne?”