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“Good I’ Tall Mid-forties, with brownish-red hair, his smile nearly hidden by a mustache “Nice to meet you, Brad I’m Ava”

When she offered Brad her hand, he lifted it to his lips “Enchanted, Ava”

His calculated charainst the wall, Mexican style Another warning bell pealed Ava decided to skip politeness and bail on this low-rent lothario

“You’re giving et the hell outta here’ vibe, Ava What is it about ? The polyester shirt? Thepnstar ’stache?”

She couldn’t help but laugh “Busted”

“FYI: I’”

“Maybe I am”

His thick eyebrows lifted “That old dude your type?”

“No He was offering me advice”

“OnYou co?”

“Why would you ask that?”

“Because he’s a circuit cowboy I’ve known guys like him my entire life Salt of the earth type But his career is rodeo He lets his life be ht seconds at a ti if Chase would end up the salory Chasing the buzz and the buzzer

“So, he wasn’t really giving you career advice, was he?”

“No But I was going with the old adage about divulging things to a stranger that you wouldn’t discuss with your closest friends”

“I’ aside, why should I trust you?”

“It’s a gahed “Confession tiht? Even with the darker hair? I knew exactly who you are, Ava Cooper I’e fan”

She froze

“Don’t worry, I’m not a stalker” Brad sipped his drink “In fact, a mutual friend sent me”

“Chase,” she hissed

Brad frowned “No, Hannah”

“How in the hell do you know Hannah?”

“She’s ave him a cool once-over “And you just happened to conveniently be in Scottsbluff, Nebraska? Tonight? Bullshit”

“Nothing convenient about it since I live over three hours from here,” he muttered “Look Hannah was more than a little worried about you and this bull rider you’ve hooked up with She knows I still enjoy a good rodeo, and I’m a lot closer than she is in California So she called me after you had her make those press passes and asked me to double-check that this cowboy didn’t have you shackled to his pickup or so”

Her eyes welled up Daood friend

“I wasn’t supposed to contact you, but after that last text you sent her? She feared yourash, so here I am” Brad leaned closer “I’ine I’m Hannah, if that helps”

She considered it and threw caution to the wind for a change “All right, Uncle Brad You’ve convinced ed her beer and shared the basic run down of the situation with Chase His “just friends” spiel His nals