Page 133 of Saltwater Cowboy

Wells whistled. “Looking good up there.”

I gritted my teeth. “Not helping.”

The bull jerked suddenly, and my body pitched forward. I barely caught myself, gripping harder, but it was no use. A few more bucks, and I lost my balance completely, tumbling off with a not-so-graceful yelp.

I landed with a soft thud on the padded floor, blinking up at the ceiling while Wells’ laughter echoed around me.

“Ow,” I groaned, pushing myself up.

He was already there, offering a hand, which I begrudgingly took.

He grinned. “So, does this mean I win?”

I narrowed my eyes but couldn’t bite back the smile. “No one was competing.”

He stepped closer, voice dipping. “Felt like a competition.”

I swallowed hard, every nerve ending in my body suddenly hyperaware of how close he was.

“I’m buying the next round,” I blurted, desperate to shift the energy between us.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, Sunshine. Lead the way.”

As we made our way back to the bar, I told myself this was all just fun. No stakes. No meaning.

But the way my pulse pounded and my skin tingled where he had brushed against me?

I wasn’t fooling anyone.

YOU PROOF

There was something in the air that shifted between Rose and me. Maybe it was the bourbon, or maybe it was just her—carefree, unburdened, lighter than I’d ever seen her before. She was always beautiful, but tonight? Tonight, her ocean eyes were bright, her laugh unrestrained, and her lipstick was long gone, leaving nothing but that natural, effortless pink of her lips.

I wanted nothing more than to pull her against me and kiss them.

I scrubbed a hand down my face and pulled my phone from my pocket, shooting a text to Charlie.

Me: Any chance you can come get us?