He grinned into his beer. And the question, so quick and to the point, surprised him. He lifted his eyes from his beer and looked at her. “No,” he said. “I have a mother and brothers scattered around.”
“No wife?” she asked, one corner of her mouth tilting upward along with the slight lift of one pretty brow.
“No wife,” he said.
“Aw. Too bad,” she said.
“You don’t have to feel sorry for me, Shelby. I happen to like it this way.”
“Solitary kind of guy, are you?”
“No. Just an unmarried kind of guy.” He knew this was his cue to ask her if she was attached to someone special, but it was irrelevant. He wasn’t going there. And while he knew getting to know her better probably wasn’t wise, he put an elbow on the bar, leaned his head on his hand, met her eyes and said, “Just visiting, huh?”
She took a drink of her beer, nodding.
“How long are you in town for?”
“That’s still kind of up in the air,” she said. Jack was back behind the bar and Shelby put down her glass, still half-full, and a couple of dollars on the bar. “I’d better go take care of those horses. Thanks, Jack.”
Jack turned toward her. “Shelby, why don’t you just ask for half a beer?” he said.
She shrugged, smiling. She put out her hand to Luke. “Nice seeing you again, Luke. Later.”
“Sure,” he said, taking her hand. As she left, he watched her walk out. He didn’t want to do that, but the view was impossible to resist. When he looked back at Jack, Jack grinned, then got busy behind the bar.
Before seven o’clock Luke had met Preacher—or John to his wife and young stepson. He met Paige, Preacher’s wife, and Jack’s younger sister Brie and her husband, Mike. He saw old Doc Mullins again and passed the time with some of his new neighbors. He feasted on some of the best salmon he’d ever eaten, heard some local lore and was already feeling like one of the gang. While he was there others passed through for dinner and drinks, greeting Jack and Preacher like old pals.
Another couple entered and Luke was introduced to Paul Haggerty, the builder, and his wife, Vanessa. “Jack gave me a call,” Paul said. “He tells me we have you as a new neighbor.”
“That’s optimistic,” Luke said. “I haven’t been out to the property yet.”
“Is that your camper out there?” Paul asked.
“As a precaution,” Luke said with a laugh. “If the house isn’t habitable, I won’t have to sleep in the truck.”
“Be sure and let me know if you need me to look at any of it.”
“I appreciate that. More than you realize.”
Luke found himself staying at the bar far later than he had intended. In fact, when Jack’s friends were saying good-night, he was still there, having a cup of coffee with Jack. These seemed like nice people, though he was a little shell-shocked by the women. He could accept the idea that Jack had found himself a young beauty right in Virgin River, but it seemed they were everywhere. Shelby, Paige, Brie and Vanessa were all damn sweet-looking. He held out great hope of landing himself at least a little diversion in the next town over.
“You’re going to want to meet Paul’s father-in-law, Walt,” Jack said. “He’s retired army.”
“Yeah?” Luke asked. “I think Shelby mentioned that.”
“Three-star. Nice guy.”
Luke groaned in spite of himself. He actually dropped his head. And apparently Jack was reading him.
“Yep. Shelby’s Uncle Walt,” Jack said.
“Shelby. The eighteen-year-old?”
Jack chuckled. “She’s a little older than that. But I admit, young. Looker, though, isn’t she?”
That was impossible to miss, Luke thought. “I took one look at her and felt like I was going to get arrested,” he said, making Jack laugh. “How much more dangerous could she be, huh? Young, sweet and living with a three-star.”
“Yeah,” Jack laughed. “But hell, she’s all grown up now. Grew up fine, I’d say.”
“Hey, I’m not getting near that,” Luke said.
“Whatever you say,” Jack said.
Luke stood up, put money on the bar, put out his hand and said, “Thanks, Jack. I really didn’t expect this kind of welcome. I’m glad I shot through town before going out to the house.”
“Let us know if we can do anything to help. Nice having you with us, soldier. You’re going to like it here.”