His overall disdain was fine when we were younger. I was a chicken-legged brat running around the barn and asking a million questions, but not anymore. Now I was a twenty-seven-year-old championship barrel racer who didn’t feel like taking shit from an old cowboy with a stick up his ass.
Plus, maybe I liked seeing his cheeks flush with embarrassment when I said some off-the-cuff remark that made him uncomfortable. He should’ve known better by now that if you give me an inch, I’m gonna ride a mile.
“Christ, Lennox,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “No one needs to hear that shit.”
“Is that your problem, Bish? Feeling a little pent-up? Haven’t gotten laid in a while?” I pouted, reaching out to pat his hand. He pulled away quickly, shifting in his seat.Bingo. “You know, that always helps me when I’m feeling wrung too tight. I just go out and find someone who looks like they’ll fuck me really?—”
“Don’t finish that fucking sentence,” he growled.
I raised my brow. “Why? You jealous?”
Bishop opened his mouth and closed it, looking more like a fish out of water than a cowboy at a bar. I was preparing to tease him when I heard Lincoln ask Josie to dance. My head turned their way, studying how she swayed gently on her stool. If I were a betting woman, I’d say she was getting ready to turn him down for a dance.
Well… as her loving younger sister, I couldn’t let that happen.
Lincoln stepped back, holding out his hand for her to take. “Well, what do you say?”
“She says yes,” I called out over the music.
Cleo smacked my arm. “Len, stop meddling! She’s an adult?—”
“Yeah, and she’s acting like a child. I don’t see how I’m the problem for pushing her toward something she wants. Isn’t that what you were doing earlier?”
My sister chewed on the inside of her cheek. “Yeah, but you can’t just butt into their conversation.”
I shrugged. “I can, and I did.” The sound of stools scraping against the floor caught our attention, and we glanced up, watching Josie place her hand in Lincoln’s. I smiled, turning back to Cleo. “And look! It worked. I don’t know what this family would do without me.”
“Probably stay out of everyone’s business,” Bishop muttered, but I paid him no mind. I didn’t have to look to know his eyes were on me. His attention was hard to get, but even harder to ignore.
If he wanted a show, then I’d give him one.
Reaching for my beer, I downed what little was left. Then I straightened my shoulders and pushed up my tits. The night was early, and the headliner hadn’t even started. I hadn’t been out in far too long and was ready to let loose.
Yeah, it was going to be one hell of a night.
“What’re you doing?” Cleo asked.
“Is there anything in my teeth?” She shook her head. “What about my lipstick? Is it smudged?”
“No, you’re good?—”
“Great,” I said, not letting her finish. “I’m gonna go talk to that tall drink of whatever over there,” I said, nodding to the man at the next table. “Would’ve been embarrassing to make a bad impression, don’t you think?”
Cleo chuckled to herself. “Whatever you say, sis.”
“Will I see you out on the dance floor?”
My sister looked down at the bottle between her palms, picking at the peeling label. “I’m married, Len.”
“Yeah, and I like men in Wrangler jeans and Stetsons,” I deadpanned.
“What does that have to do with anything?” she asked.
“My point exactly.”
My sister rolled her eyes. “Well,mypoint is that I’m not going to ask some random stranger to dance. I don’t want to give them the wrong impression.”
I rolled my lips together, dropping my gaze to my sister’s hand. She was fidgeting with the finger that once housed a simple gold band. No one else seemed to notice a tan line had taken its place.
