Chapter 29

Shooters was roaring with the typical Saturday night crowd. Rock music blared from the overhead speakers. Several patrons danced on the makeshift platform in back. The clack of cue balls from the pool tables could barely be heard over the noise. Desperation hung as heavy in the air as cheap perfume.

From a table in the corner, Gabby picked at the label on her beer bottle as Avery complained about the Battleaxes interfering in her wedding.

"And now Marie says the best part about the cake cutting is shoving it in each other's face."

Marie was the town mayor and the O'Grady boys' aunt. As the oldest of what Cade referred to as "The Battleaxes," she'd been meddling in the lives of Redwood Ridge's citizens since before Gabby could walk.

She shrugged. "I think it's cute. Cade's a fun guy. Why not?"