Page 23 of One Reckless Moment

I met Buck and Tweety at the gate where they were waiting for Cash to run out of the arena. They clapped him on the shoulder as he passed to walk up and speak with some of the other contestants who were offering congratulations.

I stood off to the side for a few minutes, just admiring Cash for the man that he was—sue me, I was just a girl. Cash had always been attractive, but seeing him in chaps and a button-down shirt with dirt stains and sweat dripping down his face?

It should be criminal.

I’d replace that horse in a second.

Over the last few weeks, Cash and I had fallen into this place where we subtly flirted and bickered, teased even. He was a charmer and could always flirt his way out of trouble. That was all he was doing. None of it was real, but a girl could fall for it so easily.

I closed my eyes and tipped my head back, begging my brain to turn off and stop drooling over a man who would never love me as more than a friend. It was a stupid school girl crush on my older brother’s best friend and I needed to reel it in.

As if the universe agreed with me, a deep chuckle snapped me out of my thoughts. I whipped around to see another cowboy in equally hot chaps leaning against a fence about ten feet from me.

“You doing okay there, sweetheart?” He flashed a charming smile at me.

I flipped my hair over my shoulder and smirked back. Flirting came naturally to me, I just rarely followed through. Today, though? Today I needed to get the asshole who was Cash Leonard off my mind.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” My voice was sweet as I fluttered my lashes.

He chuckled and shook his head. “I would like to know, actually.”

The man pushed off the fence and walked in my direction, stopping a few inches in front of me and making me tilt my head back to meet his gaze.

“What’s your name?” he asked, bringing one hand up to run his thumb over my chin.

“Paige.”

“Nice to meet you, Paige. I’m Carter.”

I raised my hand and ran a finger up his chest, toying with one of the buttons near his collar. “What can I do for you, Carter?”

“We’re all going out to a bar in Colhead tonight. You should come by.”

I hummed and smiled up at him. “I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll see you tonight.” Carter leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. It didn’t have that fire behind it I felt when Cash touched me, but it still made my heart flutter with the idea that this man wanted me.

Carter stalked off in the opposite direction, and I couldn’t even pretend like I didn’t watch his ass as he went—maybe rugged cowboy was my type. I turned, ready to burst into giggles when I came face to face with Cash, who had the most murderous look on his face.

“What is your problem?” I asked, brushing past him.

“You’re not going.” He followed on my heels.

“Is that right? Is Daddy Cash telling me I’m grounded?” I asked over my shoulder.

“Guys like that don’t have good intentions,” he barked behind me.

I whirled on him, causing him to stop in his tracks. “Guys like you? Maybe I don’t want a man with good intentions.”

Cash’s chuckle was deep, maniacal. “Exactly like me, baby. He will chew you up and spit you out onto the street in nothing but a ratty T-shirt and dirt-stained hat. Is that what you want?”

No. I want you.

“Maybe it is. You have no idea what I want.”

“I know you, Pip. You want the wedding and the white picket fence. You want commitment and four kids. You don’t want a dirty one-night stand. So don’t sink to that level.”

“I want to be wanted. I’m not going to break, Cash, so stop treating me like I’m made of glass. I went to college. You think I’ve never had one-night stands?” I stepped closer to him and tilted my head back so our lips were only inches apart. “Do you want a list of all of the men I’ve had in my bed? I’m not as perfect as you think I am, baby. Maybe I like to get as dirty as the rest of them.”