Let Me Burn (Fire and Gasoline Duet #1)

Baby Be Crazy

CASH

MAY

“Hot damn.”

If looks could kill, well, shoot me dead.

I liked to consider myself well-versed when it came to gorgeous women, but this one drew me in like a kid to a candy shop.

The rodeo grounds were abuzz with pre-show excitement as people bustled about and got ready for their events.

But even amidst the chaos, it was impossible not to notice her in those sparkly pink boots and white lace dress.

She was young—innocence shone in her eyes and lined her pretty, heart-shaped face.

And like we were two magnets, her gaze locked with mine. It held a myriad of different emotions—surprise, intrigue, and a hint of trepidation, if I had to guess. Almost like a deer-in-the-headlights look.

Doe, in this case.

Well, shit. It was time to go hunting.

Before I could make my way toward her, though, one of the backstage coordinators ushered her toward the middle of the arena, placing a microphone into her hands.

“Cash.” Maverick’s deep, ever-grumpy voice snagged my attention.

My cousin and Ryder waited a few paces ahead of me. Ryder wore his usual easy-going grin, while Maverick’s lips were drawn into that forever frown he wore so well. But beneath the dour look, there was a newfound lightness to him that almost hurt it made me so happy.

The instrumental melody of the National Anthem blared through the arena and I used that as an excuse to hurry over to catch a better glimpse of the mystery girl in the center of it. Pulling my hat off and placing it over my heart, I watched her sing.

I’d dated my fair share of women, but I’d always had a soft spot for the ones who could sing.

And this girl… Wow. She had a set of pipes on her.

The voice of an angel, really, and she looked like one too.

High cheekbones, long strawberry blonde hair that looked softer than silk even from this distance.

Curves meant for holding. She couldn’t be older than… twenty-one? Twenty-two tops?

I probably shouldn’t have been thinking about this while she sang the National Anthem. I’d probably go to hell for it, but, well, we could just add that to the long list of other reasons why I was well on my way there already.

As the song ended, she hurried towards the side of the arena, her cowboy boots sinking in the sand. I strode toward her on sure steps, my boots scuffing against the ground as they ate up the distance.

“Well, hello there, darlin’,” I crooned as she reached the side of the arena. My gaze locked with hers—blue. Deep, dark blue like the depths of the ocean. Eyes meant for getting lost in.

Her light brows furrowed together, even as a soft, coy smile played on her bowtie lips. Damn, she was a knockout. “Well, h-howdy there, cowboy. Can I help you?” she replied, her voice light and airy and more than a bit breathless.

“I think with a voice like that, even the angels would be jealous.”

Her cheeks flushed, her gaze dipping to the ground as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Oh, well, thank you, mister…?” Her words drifted off in a silent question.

“Mooney. Cash Mooney, Miss. And what’s your name?”

She bit her lip a moment before leveling me with a bashful smile. “Jacie Lynn Jones.”

Adrenaline and desire pumped through my veins. A heady mix that filled me with excitement. Damn, she was pretty.

“You ever watched a rodeo from the box seats?” I asked.

Her eyes lit up like fireworks. “Never.”

I winked. “Well, tonight’s your lucky night, sweetheart.”

“Are…are you sure?”

I flashed her a grin and held out a hand, my heart thumping in my chest as I waited to see her make a decision. Some people—most people—thought me too forward, too rash, too confident for my own good, but it hadn’t failed me yet, so why fix something that wasn’t broken?

A moment of hesitation rippled across her pretty face, vanishing a moment later as she pegged me with a bright smile that rivaled one of my own. As she placed her delicate hand in mine, a rush filled me.

Letting out a whoop of excitement, I crooned, “Well, let’s get you to your seat, Miss Jacie Lynn.”

We made our way towards where Mav and Ryder waited.

“What’re you doin’?” Maverick growled, a scowl on his face. “You got your event comin’ up soon. You should be gettin’ ready.”

I waved him off. “Don’t worry, Mama. I’m just showin’ this pretty little lady to her seat. Now don’t be rude, say hi to Miss Jacie Lynn.”

Ryder let out a huff of laughter before tipping his hat at Jacie. “Howdy there, Miss. It’s nice to meet you. Name’s Ryder Wright.”

She beamed at him. “I’ve heard of you! Your kiss with your girlfriend at that one rodeo made headlines!”

He grinned. “Oh, well…” His smile turned bashful. “It was a good kiss.”

She laughed, the sound reminding me of a soft, spring breeze, as her gaze shifted to Maverick. “And it’s nice to meet you…um…”

“Maverick,” he replied, holding out a hand. “You sang beautifully, Miss.”

“Why, thank you, Maverick.” She turned to look at me. “Are all you cowboys so sweet?”

“Only the good ones,” I replied with a wink.

She giggled, and damn if the sound wasn’t music to my ears.

“Here, let’s get you settled in, shall we?” I offered her my arm, which she took easily. I liked the way she fit against my side. It sent another rush of excitement through me. Just the type of high I needed, craved before an event.

We moved past Maverick and Ryder, and I cast a glance back their way…along with one of my shit-eating grins.

Maverick shook his head and yelled, “You better not be late, Cash.”

I chuckled even as I focused all my attention on Jacie Lynn and led her toward the other side of the arena where my parents’ box seats were at. The long way, but I didn’t want to let her go just yet. Flirting with a pretty girl like her was almost as intoxicating as riding in my events.

Besides, I wanted to let Maverick squirm a little more. He was always too tense. He needed to lighten up a bit. I’d never scratched an event, and I never would. I’d be there in time to ride. But I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity either. Not one as gorgeous as this.

“So, what event do you compete in?”

My grin tugged wider and I made sure to hold her gaze. I even went so far as to take my sunglasses off. Chicks dug it when you gave them your full attention. “I actually compete in two.”

“Which?”

“Bareback Bronc ridin’ and team ropin’ with Mav.”

“How exciting!” she said, her face softening. “Your friends are sweet. Especially Ryder. Maverick, was it, seems a bit…” her words drifted off as her brow furrowed.

“Intense?” I offered.

She nodded, a soft giggle escaping her. “Yeah.”

I waved her off with a grin. “He’s just a worrier. A good guy, though. The best, really. He’s my cousin, but more like a brother, you know?”

Dear God, was I rambling? When the hell did I ever do that?

I spotted Mama, saving me from further sounding like an idiot.

“Cash, what the hell are you doin’ here?” Cheyenne asked with a frown, noticing me before the others. She had little Stormie wrapped in one of those weird fabric baby carriers, a set of massive, pink noise-canceling headphones on the baby’s head. Charlie was there with Railon bundled up similarly.

“Cash, honey…what’s goin’ on?” Mama asked, worry ringing in her words.

Dad scowled at me. “The fuck are you doin’ out here?”

I glanced back at Jacie and offered her a wink as I spoke to the group. “Guys, meet Jacie Lynn.”

Ryder and Maverick stood there waiting for me by one of the pipe-stall fences just off to the side of all the other bronc riders readying for their rides.

They’d already started calling guys over the loudspeaker.

Thankfully, I was close to the end of the lineup.

Ryder’s grin was full of amusement, but Maverick’s mouth still hung in a perpetual scowl. Unsurprising.

My gaze flicked to his. “What’s your problem, Mama?”

Maverick’s scowl deepened. “Not her.” The words were quiet, though no less angry.

My smirk fell, withering away like flowers in the winter. “What’re you talkin’ about?”

“Pick another girl.” He met my stare, a hard edge I was all too familiar with lurking in the jade depths. I hated that look. Hated it more than anything because it meant I’d disappointed him. And I hated disappointing Mav, yet somehow always managed to do it anyway.

It might not seem like it, but his approval was the most important thing in the world to me. He was my hero. My idol. From the time we were little kids, I’d always thought he was the coolest person ever—he still was, honestly. I’d wanted to be just like him for as long as I can remember.

Only that was the thing about Maverick.

He was a one of a kind guy, bred from the trauma he’d been through. I’d never been through anything like he had. I’d never be able to be him. And I know it didn’t seem like I cared that much, but I cared about what he thought. I always would, even if I made it seem like I didn’t.

“What’s wrong with Jacie Lynn?” I asked, my brows furrowing.

“Nothing’s wrong with her. That’s the problem.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, annoyance flashed to life and sparked in my veins.

I hated how cryptic he could be sometimes.

It was the biggest difference between him and Ryder.

Ryder just told you like it was. With Maverick…

it’s like he wanted to teach you a damn lesson.

But in that really annoying way where you had to figure it out on your own.

If he wasn’t so good with horses, he’d make a damn good teacher.

Maverick sighed and pushed off from his spot propped up against the pipe-stall. “She’s too young. Too innocent. Too naive. You’re gonna chew her up, spit her out, and break her pretty little heart…so pick another girl.”

“You don’t know that,” I huffed.

He gave me one of those looks—his chin tilting low, one of his dark brows disappearing beneath his black cowboy hat. “I do.”

The annoyance in my chest took on a defensive edge. “I like her. She’s different.”

Maverick shook his head, pulling his hat off and spearing a hand over his short, dark hair. Barking out a bitter laugh, he glanced at Ryder. “You believe him?”

Ryder’s dark gaze flicked between the two of us. He offered me a guilty shrug. “I mean…he is right, Cash. What makes her different?”

I blew out a breath and fought the urge to roll my eyes. Maverick nagging me was one thing, but Ryder too? Dragging my teeth over my bottom lip, I leveled each of them with a hard stare. “I can’t explain it. It’s just a feelin’.”

“A feelin’?” Mav’s brow somehow rose higher.

“How did y’all know that Cheyenne was different, huh?

” I snapped, before dragging my attention to Ryder.

“Or Charlie? It starts out as a feelin’, right?

An urge to see where things go. Why’s it okay for y’all to find your special someone and settle down, but when I find a girl it can only be a hookup? ”

Ryder opened his mouth, closed it, before blowing out an exhale—like he’d thought better on responding at all. Maverick didn’t have such qualms, though.

Funny, he nagged me all the time, but he wasn’t usually so aggressive, more so resigned. Cheyenne had changed him, made him more assertive. If I weren’t so annoyed right now, I’d mention it to him. But fuck that.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he said, “You were just tellin’ us on the way up here you couldn’t wait to see what buckle bunnies, plural, you ended up with.

You tellin’ me you don’t wanna go chasin’ tail anymore?

And what about the CASH system? You gonna do that to this poor girl?

You gonna charm her, assist her, seduce her, and high tail the hell out of there? ”

Well, shit. The annoyance writhing in my chest sizzled to white-hot anger. My fingers fisted at my sides. I wanted to hit something. Or do something crazy, at the very least. Good thing I got to ride soon.

Maverick’s scowl softened, his eyes holding something gentle and understanding in them. It only made me more pissed off. “Look…I ain’t tellin’ you not to pursue her as punishment. You don’t think Ryder and I want you to find someone?” He blew out a breath, “But that girl ain’t your forever.”

“How do you know?”

Fuck, I sounded like a petulant kid. I almost smirked at that. Big word, Big Daddy.

But Maverick’s words—my words—thrown right back in my face prevented that entirely. “I just gotta feelin’.”

My blood boiled. “Fuck you, Mav.”

Grabbing my gear bag, I stomped off toward the bronc chutes.

What the hell did he know, anyway?

A whole fuckin’ lot…

But I didn’t want his annoying voice of reason in my head. Most people had a little angel on their shoulder telling them to stay on track. I had Maverick. There was no need for a devil on my shoulder, though. Not when I was my own worst enemy.

Anger still burnt in my chest, but something else was there as well. Determination. My heart beat matched the quick, steady rhythm of my boots.

Ryder and Maverick might not think I was right for Jacie Lynn…but I’d prove them wrong.