“I brought some extra wire in my pack. We’ll patch it up and have a look.”
“You’re letting me stay out with you then?”
I huffed a laugh. “Don’t think I have a choice now, do I?”
She grinned, her pretty smile flashing in the dark, dazzling as bright as the stars. And it took my fucking breath away.
5
lina
Stepping into the Saddle Room at the Joseph Round-up a year later made my heart gallop. I was half expecting to see Reed leaning up against the bar, glowering into his whiskey glass, while the rowdy crowd mulled around him. But instead, it felt like his presence was haunting me while Kale, Christian, and I pushed our way up to the bar.
It was the last night of the rodeo. With all of our events behind us, we were ready to cut loose.
“The buckle bunnies are out in full force tonight.” Kale grinned ear to ear, elbowing Christian’s side.
Several women were hovering nearby, ready to grab some dick or shed their bras for a free T-shirt.These women are absolutely feral.
But I didn’t blame them. I was right there with them a year ago. I just ended up learning my lesson the hard way.
“I don’t fuck with that anymore,” Christian reminded him.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard.”
“We’veallheard that, Christian,” I told him. “About a thousand times.”
“I’m just waiting for you to change your mind,” Kale admitted as we sidled up to the bar, each of us slamming our tokens down.
“Whiskey?” the bartender suggested.
“On the rocks.” I nodded curtly.
“Neat,” the guys also chimed in.
The bartender set down three glasses, filling them with the amber liquid.
I picked mine up and swirled the ice cubes around before taking a sip.
“So is Sage … waiting for you to change your mind, I mean,” I teased. He’d been obsessed with Kale’s sister for almost two years now, and the poor guy didn’t stand a chance.
“That’s the point. I’ll keep saying it until she believes me.”
“You know you have my blessing,” Kale, his roommate and one of his best friends aside from me said, clinking his glass with Christian’s.
They both took long swigs.
Kale took another drink, momentarily doffing his cowboy hat so he could push his dark, wavy hair behind his ears. He was growing it out. “Well, if you’re not fucking with them, I got the pretty brunette by the door.” He straightened his hat on his head and peeled away from our little group, making a beeline for the woman standing with her friends, who kept looking our way.
“You don’t have to stay with me.” Christian sighed, glancing away from his friend to look at me. “Half the cowboys and roughies are checking you out.”
I scanned the bar. I was used to eyes being on me whenever I walked into a room. My mom called it our “super power.” Our natural allure that drew people to us. Unfortunately, my powers ran out the minute I opened my mouth, very unlike my mother. The last guy I dated—a saddle bronc rider named Jones—said I was too “crude” for him and he preferred his girls “tamer.”Like,what the actual fuck?The guy was nice, and he definitely knew how to eat pussy, but apparently, I was too wild for him. Screw him. Better yet, never again! I wasn’t about to change who I was for some dude. And right now, this room seemed full of Joneses.
And no Reeds.
“Nah, I’m good.” I just wanted to relax and celebrate my win. Maybe even rub it into Paige Gibson’spretty, pretty princessface. She was sitting at a table with her family. Her mom pinning her hair back beneath her cowboy hat. All of them looked rather serious while they drank their losses.
“Hey, Christian!” Kale shouted from across the room, waving him over.
