Free Sassy's Studs by Dakota Rebel Page B

my dad was killed in the line of duty as a fireman, battling a wild fire that had raged out of control.
    My mom and I had been heartbroken, obviously, but she had carried that ache with her for so long, I’d worried she might never look for happiness again. Now, it seemed she was finally reaching for it with both hands, and I could be nothing but pleased and excited for her. In fact, seeing her so content for the first time in so long made me sort of glad to be back to share it with her.
    And hell, maybe if I couldn’t snap out of my own funk, I’d start buying my own smudge sticks and see if I could get some of that soul-healing power for myself.

 
    Chapter Two
     
     
     
    It didn’t take long to get settled into a routine. Mom had gotten me an insta-job at the Fiesta Casino, where I’d finally met Pit Boss Mike, her shiny new beau. I had to admit, he seemed like a really great guy. Very handsome, very polite and extremely helpful.
    We all knew that being a cocktail waitress wasn’t exactly my dream job, but I made sure both Mike and my mother knew how incredibly grateful I was for the paycheck. Hopefully, since I was able to live at home and my mom refused to allow me to pay rent, it wouldn’t take me long to save up enough money to get my own place.
    The hours were long at the casino, but the tips were good. Since it was more of a locals place than a touristy spot, the clientele was friendly rather than rowdy. Within a few weeks, I was getting to know the regulars and had even made friends with a bartender named Mindy. Twice a week, we went out for coffee after work.
    It was…comfortable. Vegas actually felt more like home this time around than when I’d lived here for twenty-some years previously.
    “Sassafras Jones?”
    I turned at the sound of my name and almost dropped my tray of drinks to the floor. Sitting at a blackjack table were two men I’d thought I would never see again. Clumsily, I dragged my feet over to them, praying I didn’t look as dead shocked as I felt.
    “Ryan? Colbie?” Their names across my lips sent a shudder through me that I was sure they had seen. These two men were the only things I’d ever missed about Vegas. We’d all met in college and become fast friends. I’d always been attracted to them, both of them, but had never been able to choose between them so I’d forced us all to stay in the friend zone rather than attempt to alienate each other by trying for anything more.
    “Damn, Sassy,” Colbie said as he got to his feet. “You look…”
    “Like a waitress?” I said with a laugh.
    “Like home,” Ryan growled as he too moved closer to me.
    “When did you get back to town?” Colbie asked, shooting a look I didn’t understand at the other man.
    “Um, a few weeks ago. Do you both still live here?” I shifted the tray to my other hand and glanced around to make sure my boss wasn’t giving me a dirty look for fraternizing instead of hustling my booze.
    “Yeah,” Ryan said, his tone normal again. He ran a hand through his blond locks and gave me a crooked smile. “It’s great to see you. What time does your shift end? Maybe, we could all grab a drink and catch up?”
    “That…that would be great,” I stuttered. “I’m off in about two hours. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”
    “We’ll be right here,” Colbie said, his grin wide.
    “Emptying my pit of chips, I would imagine.” Mike’s voice sounded behind me, and I jumped, again almost spilling all the drinks on my tray. “You boys had better not be counting tonight. I’ve warned you twice. Anyone else would have been out on their asses by now.”
    “No, sir,” Ryan said politely. “We chose the three-deck table. Neither of us is here for trouble.”
    “Sassy,” Mike said, his gaze still trained on the men who were sitting back down. “The women in slot pit three look thirsty.”
    “Yes, sir,” I said with a nod. “I’m sorry.”
    As I walked away, Mike followed me. I was terrified I