Prologue

She walked into the small dive bar looking around nervously as she headed for the bar. As she slipped onto an empty barstool her gaze landed on a stranger who was watching her from across the room. She smiled slightly then turned her attention to the bartender who gave her a signal to hold on. Aubree nodded at her smiling as her gaze drifted to the stranger across the bar again who was now bent over the pool table.

"You stick out like a sore thumb there sweetie," the bartender said snapping Aubree out of her thoughts.

"I'm new in town still trying to find my way," she smiled.

"Well those boots won't get you anywhere," laughed the redhead, "no horses around here."

Aubree nodded as she ordered a Corona from the woman. The bartender nodded and walked away as Teagan pulled out her phone. She scrolled through the frantic texts her best friend and sister had sent her over the last few hours, she paused as she went to respond but then decided against it slipping her phone back into her pocket.

"A girl after my own heart," came a male voice from next to her.

She jumped turning quickly to find the stranger from earlier sitting next her. He was a pretty boy but there was something underlying in the way he carried himself.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Any girl who drinks Corona gets major points in my books," smiled the stranger.

"No offence," she replied, "but I'm not interested."

He watched her as she took a swig of her beer. There was something familiar about her but he definitely knew she wasn't from California. The worn in cowboy boots on her feet made that clear to him. A small smile played on his lips as he extended his hand.

"Brian O'Conner," he said flashing her his best smile.

She looked at his hand unsure of how to respond than glanced up at his face and she softened slightly.

"Aubree," she replied shaking his hand.