Chapter 10 Reid
CHAPTER TEN
Reid
“Ooh, guys, where you headed in such a hurry?” I exclaim as Clint and Red bump into me through the Silver Bit doors. “Is it dead in there?”
“We’re taking the party back to my place,” Red shoots back, flashing that grin of his. “Come.”
I raise an eyebrow, eyeing them both like they’re a couple of escaped bulls.
Clint’s already got that brooding look on his face, the one that says he’s been carrying a pressure that’s about to snap, and Red, well, Red’s Red.
Always up for a good time, even if that “good time” sometimes ends with us all wondering what the hell happened the next morning.
I shake my head, grinning. “Nah, I’m good, man. I just want a quiet drink tonight. You two go have your shenanigans.”
Clint stops, his eyes flicking over to me. He’s always been that guy who reads people without asking. It’s one of the things I admire about him, even if it can be a little uncomfortable sometimes.
“You sure, Reid?”
“I’m good.”
Red snorts. The bastard’s always trying to drag everyone into his next adventure. “Fine, party pooper. Catch you later.”
He slaps Clint on the back with a hard chuckle, and just like that, they’re disappearing into the night.
I push through the door and step inside, the familiar scent of old wood and spilled beer hitting me as an old friend. Riley’s behind the counter, already polishing glasses, and he doesn’t even look up when I lean against the bar.
“Same as usual?” he asks, already reaching for the whiskey bottle.
I nod, keeping my eyes on the dark amber liquid as he pours it into a glass. The usual burn is exactly what I need tonight. Clean, simple, nothing complicated.
Then, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I glance over, trying to ignore the pull.
There she is.
Dakota.
The woman I haven’t been able to stop thinking about ever since I laid eyes on her.
She’s sitting just by the window with Violet.
Her hair’s pulled up in a loose ponytail, but it still tumbles over her shoulders as a wave of auburn fire.
Her freckles stand out against the soft tan of her skin, and those brown eyes—damn, those eyes—look straight through the room, landing on nothing in particular.
It’s not just that she’s gorgeous. It’s something else. Something that grabs me by the throat and makes it hard to breathe.
She carries herself in a way that says she doesn’t need anyone’s attention. She’s perfectly comfortable in her own skin, but there’s a quiet, powerful energy about her that makes me want to know more.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
Riley slides the whiskey toward me with a grin, and I almost miss it. Damn, I’m slipping.
“Hey,” I say, tapping the bar and shooting him a grin. “Get one for yourself, alright?”
Riley chuckles, shaking his head. “You buying me drinks now, Reid?”
I glance over to Dakota, then back to Riley. “For sure. And I want to buy drinks for the ladies over there, too.”
I nod toward Dakota and Violet with a wink.
He laughs and walks off, and I grab the glass, knocking back a long drink. The burn’s intense, just what I need, but the moment I set the glass down, I feel the itch to move. To do something.
I walk over to their table, keeping it casual. No need to rush. They’re deep in conversation.
Violet’s animated as always, but it’s Dakota who catches my attention. She’s laughing, but it’s the kind of laugh that makes everything else around her fade. It’s easy, unguarded.
I slide into the chair next to her, but neither of them seems to mind.
“Mind if I join?” I ask, flashing a grin.
Violet shoots me a knowing look, but Dakota? She just raises an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smile.
“Only if you’re buying,” she says, a playful glint in her eye.
“Well, since you did mention it,” I say with a mock serious tone. “Let’s make sure the drinks keep flowing.”
I order the next round and slide into the conversation, watching how Dakota reacts to everything. She’s easy to talk to, but I’m still trying to figure out what it is about her that keeps pulling me in.
Maybe it’s the way she listens. Maybe it’s that subtle confidence she wears without even realizing it. But whatever it is, I’m hooked.
Violet laughs at something I say, likely something stupid, but I barely notice. My focus is on Dakota, and I’m not even trying to hide it.
She doesn’t seem uncomfortable, though. She’s cool. Calm. It makes me want to dive deeper, see what makes her tick.
“So, you two always hang out here?” I ask, leaning back in my chair and taking a casual sip of my drink.
“Nah, just a special occasion, Reid,” Violet teases. “You know that.”
I smirk, leaning in slightly. “A special occasion? What, like a birthday or something?”
Violet waves me off, grinning. “We just survived the Harvest Parade, that’s all. Trust me, that’s cause for celebration.”
“Oh yeah… I missed that this year. I can’t believe it.” I laugh. “Was it any good?”
Dakota nods. “It’s been years since I last saw it. It was fun, and Charlie enjoyed it.”
I smile. “Guess I missed all the fun.”
Violet lets out a laugh. “Yeah, you were probably out at the ranch, hiding from the crowds, weren’t you?”
I shrug, taking another drink. “The ranch is busy at the moment.”
I don’t want to get into this. I don’t want to talk about the issues at High Ridge. I don’t know why we’re struggling right now, but it sucks. And I want tonight to be more fun.
“Ooh, there’s Duke Harlan,” Violet suddenly announces. “I need to talk to him about supply. I’ll be right back…”
She’s gone in a flash, leaving me alone with Dakota. The atmosphere between us shifts, that quiet electricity crackling. She doesn’t seem fazed by the sudden one-on-one, which only makes me more intrigued.
I lean back in my chair, taking a long sip from my glass, feeling the warmth spread through me. “So, Dakota… what’s next for you? What do you do when you’re not out surviving parades?”
Her lips twitch, and I catch the faintest glint in her eyes. “Surviving life, mostly.”
I laugh, appreciating the quiet, no-nonsense vibe about her. “I get that. Life can definitely throw some curveballs, but sometimes it’s about just rolling with it, right?”
She looks at me then, really looks at me. Her eyes lock on mine, searching for something. The world around us seems to fade just a little.
Her voice softens as she replies, “That’s one way to put it.”
I lean forward slightly, feeling that pull between us. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.”
She shrugs. “You could say that.”
I can’t help myself. I’m completely hooked. “Well, if you ever need an escape from all that… I’m not hard to find.”
Her smile curves up, just enough to show that she’s intrigued but not giving too much away. It’s the perfect balance.
“So, how’s the new life around here treating you?” I ask, genuinely curious now.
She grins, her eyes glinting with something I can’t quite place. “It’s… growing on me.”
There’s a pause, and I can feel her testing me, watching my reaction. I can’t tell if she’s amused or if she’s just keeping her cards close to her chest. Either way, it makes me want to push a little more.
“Well, Colter Creek’s definitely got a way of growing on you,” I say. “Takes some getting used to. But when you find the rhythm, it’s not so bad.”
She nods, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. I swear I can feel the tension between us. It’s tangible. It’s not just physical attraction.
It’s the kind of chemistry that’s been building from the first moment I saw her, and it’s only getting stronger now.
I lean in just a little, a bit more playful now. “So… tell me, Dakota. What’s it going to take for you to let me buy you that next drink?”
Her eyes meet mine, and the breath between us seems to crackle with something.
She takes a long pause, as if she’s weighing something in her head. Then, finally, that slow, teasing smile curls up again. “I’ll let you know.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “I think I like the sound of that.”
The conversation flows naturally after that, but all I can think about is how easy it is to talk to her, how natural this back-and-forth feels. It’s not just flirting; it’s something deeper, something that pulls at me every time she looks my way. And I’m not about to let that slip away.
As the night continues, I keep the charm turned up, but it’s not just the words or the jokes. It’s how she reacts to everything I say.
She’s not one to fall for a line. No, she’s more subtle than that. But the way she lets me in, just a little bit more with each laugh, each teasing remark, it’s a dance, and I’m enjoying every second of it.
I can’t help but watch the way her lips curl when she laughs, how her eyes sparkle, and how she tilts her head just slightly when I say something that catches her interest.
I’m not just drawn to her beauty anymore. She’s got this mix of warmth and mystery that keeps me on my toes, and I can’t seem to look away.
At some point, she shifts in her seat, her leg brushing against mine under the table, and a jolt runs through me. The moment lingers between us, that tiny spark of contact that feels electric.
The universe is giving us a little nudge, reminding me of everything I’ve been trying to ignore all night.
I take a deep breath, trying to focus, but all I can think about is how badly I want to kiss her. The thought hits me with a surprising intensity, and my heart races a little faster.
She feels it too, I’m sure of it. I see it in the way she’s looking at me now, her eyes darkening just a little, that same tension building between us.
“Dakota…”
I reach for my drink but can’t quite bring myself to take a sip. Instead, I set it down, my fingers grazing the rim of the glass before my hand rests on the table, just inches away from hers. I’m giving her the space to pull back if she wants to, but I’m not moving either.
She looks at my hand, then back at me, and I swear time slows down. Her lips part, and I catch the flash of uncertainty in her eyes. She’s wondering if she should pull back, but she doesn’t.
She leans in just a little closer, her breath warm on my skin. “You’re trouble, Reid,” she says softly, the words almost teasing but with a hint of something else beneath them.
I chuckle. The sound is low, almost a growl, and something’s shifting inside me. She’s not running away. She’s staying.
And every part of me wants to take that next step.
“Maybe,” I murmur, barely a whisper. “But sometimes, trouble’s exactly what you need.”
She shifts just a little closer, the distance between us so small now that I can feel her heart beat. Without another word, I lean in.
Slowly. Intentionally.
And her lips meet mine.
The kiss is soft, tentative; we’re both testing the waters, unsure of what will happen next. But the second our lips touch, everything shifts.
I feel the world fade away. It’s all just the two of us now, wrapped up in the heat of the moment, the pull of desire that’s been building ever since I laid eyes on her.
Her hand brushes against mine, and I lace my fingers through hers, pulling her closer. She responds in kind, her body melting into mine as the kiss deepens.
It’s slow, it’s electric, and it’s everything I’ve been wanting without even knowing it.
When we finally pull back, breathless, I smile that giddy, foolish smile that I’ve been trying to keep hidden all night.
“That was…” I trail off, still trying to find my words, but they don’t seem important anymore.
She smiles back at me, a soft, knowing smile, as if she’s not surprised by any of this. But it’s clear she feels it too. The pull. The connection.
The undeniable chemistry.
“Yeah,” she whispers, barely audible over the hum of the bar. “I think you might be right. Trouble could be… exactly what I need.”