Page 20 of One Reckless Moment

Maggie Montgomery

Oh, I’m so ready to torture the men for four days.

Taylor Lewis

Ugh, I’ve heard great things about the Kellys. I’m so excited for some man torture.

Maeve Kelly

Welcome to the chaos.

I’m so in need of a trip with the girls.

Micah Shaw

Need a break from Daddy Cash already?

Maggie Montgomery

Oh! Who’s Daddy Cash?

Maeve Kelly

Do we like Daddy Cash?

Micah Shaw

We love him, Maeve. Love.

Keegan Kelly

I want to know about Daddy Cash.

It was that moment when I decided I was going to murder one of my best friends.

I started in the direction of the building where Cash would collect his winnings so we could head home.

In Vegas, Cash Leonard will be the last thing on my mind.

9

PLAYING NICE LEAVES TOO MANY DOORS OPEN

CASH

Winning felt good. Like, really fucking good.

My entire life, I’d always taken what was given to me without protest—without expecting more. I had a shit go at a childhood. I bounced around from couch to couch until I turned eighteen and was able to leave. Being able to sleep in the same bed every night was a blessing, and earning my keep everyday made me feel less like a charity case.

But this felt different.

I’d made more money in two events than I would in a week at the ranch. Eight seconds was all it took, and I was good at it. I’d never really given much thought about going out on the professional circuit, but that was where the real money was. The larger the competition, the more you earned, and the more likely you were to get noticed. The doors opened to brand sponsorships and suddenly you were on a path where you no longer needed a side job.

This could be my chance, but did I really want that?

Life at the ranch was good for me. I had a community and family, three meals a day, and a guaranteed place to sleep. I wasn’t sure I wanted to give that up to travel the country and live a fleeting lifestyle that could disappear with one wrong buck off a horse.

We were on our way back from the second event. The sun was setting over the highway, basking the truck cab in a warm glow as wind whipped through the open windows. Paige was blasting some new pop country shit, and the guys in the back were hyped up about the win.