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“As much as I’d love to do exactly what you’re thinking, I need food. You haven’t fed me,” she paused, placing a finger on my chest and running it down in a slow, teasing motion toward my erection.

“I have something you can put in your mouth, Sunshine. Just say the word.”

Her lips tugged up and she leaned in, kissing my cheek.

“Get ready, Cowboy. We got shit to do, dance floors to scuff up.”

And with that, she pushed off the chair and tossed her shirt over her shoulder as those delicious hips swayed back to the bathroom, leaving me aching and hard as the smell of her perfume was all I had left.

Chapter 17

Eleanor

SITTING ON THE barstool next to Colton, a wave of déjà vu washed over me. It felt just like that first night except now, I knew who he was and once again, I wanted him all to myself.

Tonight, he was addictive, dressed in jeans, boots, and a damn cowboy hat perched perfectly on his head. He knew exactly what he was doing—revenge for what I’d done back in the hotel room—pulling every weapon from his sexy arsenal. I had to order a double bourbon on the rocks—one drink wouldn’t stand a chance against the heat radiating between us.

“Since it’s probably mildly inappropriate that I’m out with a client at a bar, we should find a way to make this professional,” I teased, leaning back against the stool, sweeping my gaze over him, drinking him in like a slow sip of bourbon.

Colton’s blue eyes locked onto mine, a smoldering look that could burn through my toughest defenses. The scruff on his jaw, the slight curl of his unruly brown hair—it was almost too much to handle.

“You act like we haven’t been in this exact position before,” he quipped, his tone dripping with playful challenge.

“Well, I didn’t know who you were then,” I countered, lifting my chin.

“So, if you had, would that have stopped you?” There was a hint of disappointment in his tone but it didn’t change my answer.

I paused, tapping my chin as if deep in thought. “Yup,” I said casually, taking a sip of my drink.

The truth was, if I had known who he was that night, I would have resisted, no questions about it. But now, having tasted him, resistance was futile.

“You still came back for seconds, though, didn’t you?” He took a long sip, watching me over the rim of his glass.

I scoffed, flipping my hair over one shoulder as I leaned closer, invading his space just enough to make it personal. “Maybe thirds? Fourths?”

He didn’t flinch, leaning in as well. “Let’s see what the night brings, Sunshine.”

Rolling my eyes, I settled back into my seat, the country music from the speakers blending with the chattering noise of the bar. Neon signs flickered, and the sticky floors spoke of countless rowdy nights. This place was a far cry from the polished nightlife of the city, and I found myself savoring the difference. People here were kinder, slower, more connected to the moment.

I liked it. Being here, in Montana and now Wyoming, was teaching me to appreciate life in a new way. Time slowed down in places like this, creating memories that city life could never match.

“You’re awful at giving nicknames,” I said, my tone laced with mock irritation.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple in a booth, wrapped in each other, lost in their own world. It tugged at something deep inside me—a longing I’d buried beneath a cold exterior. For a fleeting moment, I wanted that connection, to feel something beyond the icy walls I’d built around my heart.

“You don’t think ‘Sunshine’ fits you perfectly?” Colton’s lips curled slightly.

“I’m anything but, so no.” I took a sip of my drink, bringing my eyes back to him.

The first time he’d called me that, I thought about how naïve he must be. Then, each time after, I’d grown more used to it. But now, every time he said that one word, a warmth spread through me, like I was basking in the sunshine he was referring to.

“I know. You said that the night we met, and the more you remind me, the more I’m inclined to use it,” he responded, and his eyes softened as he studied me.

Leaning closer to him, a wild idea took root in my mind, one I knew I might regret later. But I needed an escape, a chance to feel something different, something unburdened. Maybe take the opportunity to be the sunshine he was referring to.

“What if, just for tonight, we were different people? What if we left everything about who we are in a box and just let ourselves be free? Lose control?” My voice dipped into a whisper, blending with the soft hum of country music filling the bar.

Colton’s expression shifted from playful to curious, his eyes narrowing slightly as my words sank in. His gaze flickered down to my outfit—my lace tank top peeking out from under a cropped denim jacket paired with jeans in a matching shade of blue, and my signature red boots. Then, his eyes traveled slowly back to my face, as if trying to memorize every detail.