CHAPTER EIGHT #2
Haden’s face breaks out in a wide smile and he laughs like the joke’s on me.
Shit. I really didn’t need to see that smile.
He’s too damn rugged and beautiful when he smiles like that.
Warning bells start ringing in my brain.
Something about this man makes me feel like he would dismantle my control bit by bit. Worse still, I’m afraid I’d like it.
“Well, I must be full up on confidence in my old age, because it’s been a while since I’ve ‘fucked a lot.’”
I narrow my eyes at him and begin a slow clap.
“Perfect pickup executed. Does that actually work for you? Making women feel like they’re special? Like they’re the one who might bring you out of your slump?”
He chuckles as he scrubs his wide jaw. “You think you got me pegged, don’t you.”
“Sure as shit do. I bet you’re a Libra,” I retort before changing my mind. “Nope. Sagittarius.”
“Fuck … you’re right,” Haden bites out with a chuckle, and gestures a hand to himself. “Alright, I’ll bite. Do your worst.”
I tip my head back with a genuine laugh, swirling the sangria in my glass.
“You’re twenty-five, maybe twenty-six. Not ready to settle down, but you think about it for the future. Always been a jock of some kind. Baseball?” I hold one finger up “Nope, football.”
His jaw tenses slightly before falling slack. I swear I see his smile fade a little, but I know I’m on the right track.
“Hmm. You had everything handed to you. Always the golden boy. Your mama probably still has a shrine with your medals hanging on the wall. You hooked up with every cheerleader you could find until you got sick of it and then, after one too many concussions, someone said you could make a good living here working a ranch. You started at Silver Pines, realized it was heaven on earth, and the rest, as they say, is history.” I take a breath and squint my eyes at him.
“Probably sleep naked and drive a real powerful pickup truck too. Black, I’m guessing. With leather seats.”
Haden sits stunned for all of a few seconds, and I wonder just how right I am. But then his face changes, confusing me again, and he laughs before he leans in a little so his voice is clear over the noise around us.
“You’re right on the sleeping naked. And the pickup truck. You’re even right on the football.”
“Knew it,” I preen, taking my last sip of sangria.
“But that is where your accuracy ends. And, just so we’re clear, I’m not trying to pick you up, Princess. Just thought since I’ve saved your ass twice today, maybe you could be a little more grateful and buy me a drink.”
“Ah yes, I must owe you. You’re just a regular knight in shining chaps.”
I look down at my now-empty glass.
“Since we’ve both made it painfully clear that there’s zero attraction here”—I point between us—“I suppose a drink couldn’t hurt. Just don’t betray my trust and go falling in love with me, Cowboy.”
I signal to the bartender as Haden scoffs, not shying away from my gaze.
“As long as you promise the same.”
“Done.” I let a slow smile creep across my lips as I trace an X with my finger over my heart.
“Cross my heart,” I say firmly.
“Cross your heart?” he repeats with a laugh.
“Yeah, you know, cross your heart, hope to die? Every kid knows that.”
Haden looks at me like I’ve lost it. “What are we, six?” he asks. “And I’m not hoping to die, that shit is messed up.”
My smile grows. “Just humor me. Studies show people are less likely to back out of a cross-your-heart pact.”
“Studies? Mind sharing your source?”
“Life experience. Now, come on.” I lean forward and slowly draw an X with my finger over his hard, warm chest. “Say it,” I whisper.
I watch as he takes his bottom lip between his teeth and grins before reaching up and grabbing hold of my hand with his own. His is twice the size of mine, and the feel of those callused fingers against my skin sends the butterflies living in my stomach into a full-on frenzy.
“Cross my heart,” he says, low.
I nod and swallow, trying to recover from the way his voice just made my heart flutter.
I nod. “Good. Now I know we’re on the same page.”
I pull my hand away and let the heat from his touch fizzle up my arm.
“Asher,” Haden calls the big burly bartender over without breaking his gaze from mine.
Asher glances over with steely gray eyes, placing another patron’s drink in front of them before making his way to us.
“He’s not as scary as he looks,” Haden jokes.
I look up at Asher as he waits for our order. I beg to differ.
“She’ll have another sangria, and for me …” He drums his fingers on the bar. “What’s the most expensive bourbon you’ve got in this place?”
Asher smirks, and it almost feels wrong. He’s a mountain of a man, and there isn’t a patch of skin that isn’t covered in ink. His hair is jet black and his beard is thick. He looks over his shoulder and eyes up the liquor shelf behind him.
“Kentucky Owl. Twenty-five bucks a shot.”
Haden smirks, replacing his cowboy hat on his head as he answers.
“That’ll do.” He hikes a thumb over his shoulder at me. “After all, she’s buying.”
Something about this cocky cowboy’s grin has my clarity punching through, and I decide he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t just as interested in me as I am in him. I lean forward, placing my hand on his jean-clad knee.
“I’ve got a better idea. I’ll play you for it,” I offer, giving his thigh a pat and nodding my head toward the pool table at the back.
Asher places our drinks in front of us as Haden reaches down and places his hand over mine. The way we fit together as he tugs me gently off the barstool to stand makes my skin break out in goosebumps.
He swipes his expensive bourbon off the bar and knocks it back.
“You’re on, Princess.” He raises a hand to signal to Asher for another drink. Asher pulls a bottle out and fills his glass. Another shot, another twenty-five bucks.
“Raising the stakes, are you?” I ask with one eyebrow raised.
“Just get ready to put your money where that smart little mouth is.”
He passes by me on his way to the pool table and I can’t help but glance down at his ass again in those damn jeans.
“And stop looking at me like that. I told you, no falling in love with me.”
“Keep dreaming,” I retort as I follow him.
I get a good view of his ass in his jeans as he leads me through the crowd to the back of the bar, and I have to remind myself that nothing is happening here.
That I am not attracted to this cowboy. Maybe if I keep telling myself, I’ll actually start to believe it.