Chapter 9
“Awhat?” I ask, shoving a piece of orange into my mouth and staring at Sable, who is running her hands over her slowly rounding belly.
“A town fair, it’s actually fun.”
I crinkle my nose. “Sounds like something out of a horror movie.”
She laughs. “Oh come on, it’ll do you some good to get away from this place, you’ve been stuck here cleaning for days.”
She has a point.
“The only problem is,” Mera joins in, pulling a pair of gloves off after finishing another room, “Ralston will be there because he runs the cattle auction. Wolfe thinks it’s a good idea to sell a few cows, so they can get a better idea of how it all works and make some contacts.”
“Daisy is first on the list,” I mutter and Sable laughs.
“Poor Daisy, you secretly love her.”
“Oh trust me, I don’t.”
“So, are you going to come?” Mera puts her hands together. “The perfect reason for you and Knox to play happy couple.”
I scowl at her. “I wish your man would shut his mouth.”
She winks at me. “He does, when I’m on top of him grinding slowly...”
“You’re an animal,” I laugh. “And as far as I know, Knox can’t stand me so it should be fun...”
“Well,” Sable fans herself. “You need to make it look believable, after all, you’re just here trying to get us to help with your brother...you bad bad girl.”
I snort. “Oh shush.”
An hour later, we’re all crammed into Sable’s ancient blue Land Cruiser, me, Mera, Sable, and Nia, who is already two drinks down and saying how excited she is to take Lily on a ferris wheel.
At least the weather has the decency not to be disgusting; it’s mild, perfect for a day of watching cows parade around and pretending you like small talk.
We park out on the field, and the place is already packed.
There are food trucks in the strip, a row of bouncy castles and rides, and a crowd jostling around a makeshift stage.
Kids run everywhere. I spot the familiar flash of leather vests in the distance, Wolfe and the others have already claimed a spot by the beer tent. Of course.
Mera eyes me sidelong as we’re walking in. “Think he’s gonna be mad about your outfit?” she murmurs, wiggling her eyebrows.
I look down. Tiny. Black tank. Chipped nail polish and an old pair of boots. It’s all I had. “Why, does Knox have a thing for prom dresses?”
Her laugh is sharp and bright, and Sable snorts behind us. “Maybe he likes to peel them off,” Sable says.
We edge through the people, past a line of sullen teenagers manning a dunk tank, and to the beer tent where Wolfe, Kael, Zane, and Talon are already posted up at a picnic table. Knox is there, too, arms folded and sunglasses on, refusing to look up.
“S’about time,” Zane calls, patting the bench beside him. “If those shorts get any shorter, I’m goin’ to have to take you home tonight.”
Knox looks up at that.
I ignore him and sit beside Zane.
“Ralston won’t like it if you cheat on Knox,” Mera teases as she falls onto Wolfe’s lap and relishes in his mouth trailing against her neck.
Sable finds Kael and Nia snuggles against Talon. Why are they so damn cute.
“Drink?” Wolfe murmurs in my direction and I nod.
He simply raises a hand like he owns this town, and someone brings him a drink. Okay then. He hands it to me and after one sip, I gasp. “Jesus, what the hell is this? I’ll end up in jail after three of these.”
Talon raises his shot glass. “We’d get you out. Eventually.”
“Bail money here is like, what, a pack of smokes and a cheap bottle of whiskey,” Sable grins and I flip her the bird.
Zane leans in close. “Don’t worry, darlin’, I’d get you out.”
It’s tempting to let Zane take me home. The man is fucking fine as hell and at least he looks at me like he wants to eat me alive. To be fair, I am the one who begged Knox not to kiss me, but still, I’m allowed to be a pissy bitch if I want.
People are starting to gather for the cattle auction, which looks exactly as thrilling as it sounds if you’ve never lived in a town like this.
A parade of steers are circling in a mud pit, while volunteers in matching t-shirts move numbers on a board.
At least there’s an open bar. I’m watching a guy try to eat a funnel cake in three bites when I feel the heat of a stare.
Ralston.
He’s got his shoulder propped against the trunk of an oak, the sleeves of his white dress shirt, who wears white to a fair?
rolled to the elbow, and a pair of mirrored aviators perched on his nose.
Someone should tell him you can buy a personality like that at any gas station in the valley.
He lifts his glass in my direction, and then flicks his gaze to Knox. And back to me.
Shit.
Nia notices and her brows go up. “Oh, he’s onto you girlfriend.”
I choose to ignore her.
“You know,” I say with a grin, “I’d pay money to see a fistfight between Ralston and Wolfe.”
Kael grunts. “Wolfe’d eat him alive. Ralston looks like he hasn't eaten gluten in five years and it shows.”
Sable’s cackle is pure delight. For a moment, it’s almost easy to forget what this whole thing is about.
I try not to look at Ralston, but it’s like refusing to glance at a car accident. Gradually, the crowd pulls him closer to our table, and I try to avoid his expression. It doesn’t stop him. Men like Ralston know they’re powerful, and they want everyone to know it.
“Company’s coming,” Knox finally rumbles.
Ralston swings by, not even bothering to hide his smirk. He scans the table like he’s reading a menu, eyes lingering on me and Knox. “Afternoon, everybody.” He throws in a saccharine nod. “Callie, you look radiant.” There’s a coldness in his voice that makes me want to punch him.
I take a sip of my drink and grin. “Wish I could say the same, but that shirt is criminal.”
Wolfe barks out a laugh. Knox just grunts.
Ralston leans in, palms the edge of the table, close enough I can see the little veins in his eyes. “I’ll find you later, Callie. We should catch up about the new arrangements.” He doesn’t wait for a response, just strolls off.
Immediately, the tension at the table breaks. Zane whistles under his breath. “I ever get that rich, I want you all to fuckin’ bury me before I get the chance to turn out like that.”
“Refill?” I ask, pushing to my feet, needing to move.
Three men nod.
Over by the beer tent, the crowd’s thick, but I manage to elbow my way through and wait in the line for my turn. Finally, it comes, and I order. I get the drinks and turn, and nearly slam into someone. I only stop myself just in time, spilling one of the drinks on myself.
“Christ,” I mutter, stepping back. But of course, it isn’t Jesus. It’s Ralston.
He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t move, even, just stares down the slope of that perfect Roman nose at me.
“Well, your man isn’t even getting you a drink. If I didn’t know better, I would say he would much rather kill you than fuck you.”
My jaw has no intention of grinding down, but I force it anyway. He’s fishing. “He likes a challenge.”
Ralston’s mouth twists. “So I’m to actually believe that man likes you, because as far as I can see, he can’t stand you. If I find out you’re lying to me, Callie...”
“Now you’re just being dramatic,” I say casually, even though my heart is racing.
I turn and walk away.
Just as I reach the table, they are announcing a three-legged race and an idea springs to mind. I shoot my drink back and turn to Knox. “Get up.”
He stares at me, so does everyone else. “What?”
“Get up. Ralston doesn’t believe for a single fucking second that you like me, so you’re going to come in the three-legged race with me.”
Knox looks horrified. “Like fuck.”
“Unless you want me to cause a scene, you’re going to do it. Up you get.”
“Go on, brother,” Talon grins. “Let’s see what you got.”
“Fuck up,” Knox hisses.
“Girl has a point,” Wolfe says, smirking. “Gotta make it look real.”
Knox glares for what feels like an eternity, then much to his horror, gets up. I clap my hands and the guys burst into a chorus of laughter. Mera calls out ‘Get it, Knox’ as we walk away. He’s going to kill me for this, but so be it, I’m not dying because he doesn’t want to go along with the plan.
The three-legged race is a mess of twine and bare knees and children with no mercy.
We get paired up by a young woman giggling at Knox, as she ties my right leg to his left, the knot pressing so tight I can feel the pulse in his shin.
We line up, elbow to elbow next to a row of actual children and two couples who I’m pretty sure have been married for decades.
“I’m goin’ to fuckin’ kill you for this,” Knox hisses.
“Yes, well, at least it will be you and not Ralston. Smile, he’s watching.”
Adrenaline surges as the whistle blows. The kids beside us take off at an impossible pace, limbs flailing.
Knox and I get maybe two steps before we’re yanked sideways by the tie, our knees slamming together in a jolt that rattles every bone in my body.
Knox curses under his breath, “You’re not even fuckin’ trying. ”
Oh now he’s interested. “Sore loser already?” I shoot back, but our rhythm is so off that I’m barely breathing between words. I can feel the heat of his hand gripping my hip, steadying me, but all it does is make my pulse blur in my ears.
Knox’s jaw is set so hard it could cut glass. He glances at me, then at the finish line, then back at me. “We need to move together,” he growls.
“Oh, like a real couple?” I mutter under my breath, but he ignores me.
On the third try, I match my steps to his, and suddenly we’re moving almost in sync.
Almost. A kid barrels into Knox’s side, we lose our balance, and the next thing I know the world is upside down and I land on my back, dirt grinding into my spine, with a whole lot of angry man sprawled on top of me.