Ash slipped into the spot next to her and sipped the craft beer he’d selected for himself. “So when’s Taryn go on?”

“Any minute now,” Shaw said, glancing toward the stage with a proud look in his eyes. “She’s trying out a few original songs tonight.”

Ash turned his chair so that he could see the stage better, and his arm brushed against Kincaid’s. He glanced over at her. “How’s the drink?”

The tart strength of it made her lips pucker. “Effective.”

He chuckled. “Am I going to be choosing the music on the way home?”

“Hey, I can control myself.”

He gave her an amused look. “Of course. I’m sure you’ve progressed since the time you snagged that bottle of peach schnapps from your mom’s stash and ended up wearing your Halloween costume to the grocery store because you thought you really were Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

She groaned. “Man, I paid for that the next morning. I’ve never been so sick. But hey, I got us free cookies. That cashier thought I was adorable.”

“I don’t think ‘adorable’ would be the word he would’ve used. You melted his brain with that outfit. Those boots and that skirt… He had no shot.” Ash shook his head ruefully. “No one did.”

She turned her head to look at him, but he was focused on the stage. A muscle in his jaw twitched.

She frowned, sensing the shift. “Ash…”

But before she could finish her question, a heavy hand landed on her shoulder. “Well, I’ll be damned if it isn’t Kincaid Breslin. Fancy meeting you here.”

Kincaid tensed at the unwelcome touch and turned in her seat. She could feel all her friends’ attention swing the same way. A broad-shouldered guy with a cowboy hat grinned down at her. Sam Caldone. A few months ago, she’d sold him a nearby ranch. He’d bought her expensive whiskey as a thank-you gift, and after they’d shared a bit too much, they’d ended up in bed.

Kincaid gave Sam a tight smile and casually shrugged his hand off his shoulder. “Well, hi there, Sam. Come out to see the show?”

“Came out for a drink.” His grin went lopsided in a way that said he’d already had a few of them. “Didn’t expect to get a nice surprise like this, though. It’s been a while. You didn’t return my messages.”

Hell. “Things have been busy. You know how it is. Everything okay with the ranch?”

“It’s just fine. Main house could use a feminine touch, though, if you know what I mean. You should stop by. Share some of your expertise and whatnot. Like last time.”

She winced inwardly, his thinly veiled innuendo not lost on her friends. “I’ll email you the name of my favorite interior decorator. She’ll be able to help you out,” she said with false brightness. “Hope you have a good night. Enjoy the music.”

“Tryin’ to get rid of me, huh?” He braced a hand on the back of her chair, and his smile flattened into something less flattering.