Page 24 of One Reckless Moment

Cash didn’t say anything, his eyes pinned to my lips as we remained impossibly close. There was no world in which Cash suddenly admitted he wanted me, and this game was exhausting. He wasn’t my brother and he had no right to tell me what to do.

I took a step back. “You can stay home. I’m going to have some fun and you don’t get a say in that.”

I turned on my heel and marched toward the parking lot. Fire rose in my chest as my interaction with Cash played on repeat in my head. I was ready to look hot as fuck and end up in a cowboy’s bed tonight.

The bar was packed as we walked inside. We barely made it five feet before Cash was stopped by multiple people to congratulate him on his winning streak. I rolled my eyes at the third girl to step in our path and kept pushing up to the bar.

A whistle caught my attention, pulling my gaze to Carter surrounded by girls a few feet away. I shot him a sweet smile but didn’t jump at the chance to speak to him. I needed a drink and a whole lot of courage if I was going to see this through.

I assumed Carter was the type of man who loved the attention of women falling all over him, but it wasn’t like I was looking for a serious connection. I couldn’t get in my head about this. I was ready to turn my brain off and have some fun.

“I was hoping you’d come.” Carter’s deep voice sounded behind me as a hand found my hip.

“I haven’t been out much since staying in town so I thought I should check it out.” I shrugged.

That wasn’t exactly true, we’d been in Colhead for about a month and we’d been to this bar almost every weekend. Usually it was filled with locals playing pool and shouting absurdities, but he didn’t need to know that.

“See anything you like?” he whispered into my ear.

“I see some things that could get my attention,” I said over my shoulder, leaning forward so my ass stuck out just slightly.

Tonight, I dressed to turn heads. I was wearing skintight bell bottom jeans with a wrap top that covered less than some of my bras did. My hair was down and extra bouncy, and I opted not to wear a hat so men knew I was available.

I had yet to meet a country man who didn’t absolutely fall to his knees when you let him place a hat on your head. Some stereotypes really rang true.

A large hand clapped Carter’s shoulder as Cash’s face appeared.

“Get me a beer, Pip?” he asked in a tone that sounded more intimate than it should’ve. I nodded and leaned forward to shout my order to the bartender.

“You two know each other?” Carter asked, pointing between us.

“You could say that.” Cash winked at him.

Uh, what on God’s green earth did he think he was doing?

Carter just laughed awkwardly and eyed us both. “I’m going to go check in at the table.” He leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “I expect a dance later.”

I bit my lip with a subtle nod as he turned and pushed into the crowd.

I thought Cash was going to drop his smile as soon as Carter was out of sight, but instead, he stepped closer to me and placed a firm hand on my hip.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, looking up into his eyes.

“I meant what I said, Paige. I won’t sit around while you wear another man’s hat.”

My heart threatened to stop beating as he placed his hat on my head and pulled me against him.

“Let’s dance.”

11

FUCKING UP BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS

CASH

I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing.

All I knew was that if Carter Gold put his hat on Paige’s head, I would have likely gone to jail for murder. It was a spur of the moment decision to claim her tonight, but it didn’t feel as weird as I thought it would.