KADE
2
Thirty minutes have passed since the twins and I came back inside after we took care of Toby and the handsy out-of-towner. Unfortunately, the warm, nonalcoholic beer in my hand does nothing to dampen the pent-up anger still clawing at my chest.
Jaw clenched, I bite down on my molars as a dark scowl narrows my eyes. With every passing second, I fight to keep my ass in our regular booth so I don’t follow that asshole home to deliver him a proper beating.
“Need ice for those knuckles?”
My eyes fall on Rhett sitting across from me as he juts his chin toward my busted hand. I shrug him off, still pissed at him for earlier. For some fucked-up reason, I didn’t like the show of protection he gave Sage, and if I’m being honest with myself… I’m nearly as annoyed by that as I am by the two douche nozzles who put their hands on her.
I have no idea what happened between Sage and Rhett when he followed her into the bathroom, but my imagination is running wilder than my eight-year-old stallion. And Rhett’s silence isn’t helping matters.
Picking at the label of my beer, I scan the bar, my gaze following Sage as she clears off a couple of vacant tables. At first glance, she seems to have brushed the incident aside, but the more I observe her, the easier it is to see the slight tremor of her hands. As if she can sense my eyes following her every move, she cranes her neck toward me. For several beats of the song, our eyes connect, and I maintain my unrelenting stare. Finally, I show her mercy and look away, allowing her to believe she has control of the situation.
My focus shifts to Jace and Cole across the bar on the dance floor. They’ve got some eager brunette between them, and by the looks of it, they’re more than willing to share the attention she is giving. Unlike Rhett and me, they’re clearly more capable of setting their feelings about the drunken fuckery aside, never taking life too seriously while they chase a good time.
Rhett’s phone pings from across the booth, snapping my gaze in his direction. His eyes narrow on the glow of the screen as his lips twist into a snarl.
My brow raises, knowing he’s on call tonight. “Is there a problem? ”
He lifts his head. “That was Samuel. There’s a breech foal at the Everett ranch. I gotta take off.”
“Ridge can’t step in to help?”
“It’s after nine. Knowing him, he’s probably passed out with a bottle of whiskey.” He moves to exit the booth. “You stayin’?”
I nod, eyes flicking back to Sage as she picks up another round of drinks from the bar. “I wanna make sure the rat bastard doesn’t cause any more trouble.”
Tossing back the dregs of his Coke, he then slams the empty glass on the table. “Good call. Johnson seemed pissed enough that I wouldn’t doubt he’d come sniffing back around. What she sees in that fuckin’ asshole is beyond me. She deserves better.”
“Do you think you’re the better man?” My eyes bore into his. “Is that why you went chasin’ after her and left me to throw him out on his ass?”
He holds my gaze, and I wait for the lie to leave his mouth. I saw the way he was looking at her, and it didn’t sit well with me. For as long as I can remember, I haven’t liked anyone paying her too much attention. Not Rhett… and especially not that sleazeball of a boyfriend she keeps forgiving.
“Anyone is better than Toby Johnson. But to answer your question, she’s Jonah’s sister, and that’s all I’ll ever see her as.”
“Lucy’s our sister, and that never stopped Jonah from staking his claim, even when it was forbidden by our parents.”
“I’m not Jonah.” He touches a few fingers to the brim of his hat, then with a wink, he swaggers out of the bar in true Rhett fashion, leaving me to decipher the meaning behind his unspoken words.
Left to my own devices, I decide to move from the booth to the end of the bar, giving me a bird’s-eye view of the establishment. Sage keeps busy running orders while I tap my fingers against the counter, signaling to Billy for another round.
“Same again, Kade?”
I tip my chin.
“Sheriff comes in, I didn’t give you this.” He slides the nonalcoholic beer toward me before muttering to himself, “Never understood why you have to be twenty-one. Not like you’re getting drunk off the stuff. You sure you don’t want a real one?”
With a swift shake of my head, I decline. “I’ll tell you the same thing I tell you every time you ask me, Billy. I don’t drink.”
“And yet you’re in my bar every other night.” He glances past me toward Sage, making me aware that he knows exactly why I’m frequenting his Boozin’ Boots more often than not. A sly tilt graces his lips before he saunters away to deal with one of the remaining patrons.
Like a breath of fresh air, Sage appears at my side but ignores my presence. She sets down her tray with a clatter before stepping onto the foot rail and boosting herself up to snag a maraschino cherry from the dish at the garnish station. There is nothing I can do to stop myself from appreciating every inch of those long legs as she stretches across the wood countertop. Unbidden, my eyes glide up to where her perfectly rounded ass cheeks peek out from beneath the hem of her tiny denim shorts.
Jesus H. Christ! I shift on the barstool, relieving some of the pressure behind my zipper. Fucking sinful. I brace my elbow on the bar and bring my fist to my mouth, cutting off the groan building at the base of my throat as I bite down on my knuckle.
A sucker for punishment, my gaze continues its appraisal, trailing along her rib cage, landing on the dainty script tattoo below the poor excuse of a string that holds her bikini top together. Grow through what you go through.
I’ve read the quote emblazoned on her skin a thousand times, and the same thought crosses my mind as always. She chose the wrong flower to accompany those words. Sage Everett could never be a rose, she’s a wildflower—resilient and untamed. I eye her carefully, taking in the faint red handprint still visible on her cheek. Once again, anger throbs hot, thick, and relentless through my veins.
Suddenly, she steps down from the rail and spins toward me, cherry between her teeth. Gaze trained on her, I watch as she plucks the stem away and bites down. I focus on her lush lips and the seductive way her tongue swipes out to collect the droplet of juice that escapes. Judging by the dare in her eyes, she knows exactly what she’s doing. I wanna be that motherfucking cherry. Feel her warm, wet tongue sliding over me. Experience her teeth digging into my skin.
“Whatcha lookin’ at, cowboy?”
I blink hard, quickly snapping out of the haze of lust this girl has thrown me into. Her sassy attitude isn’t fooling anyone. It’s a means to distract me. I’d bet money she’s worried I’ll bring up the bullshit with Toby, and she’s trying to throw me off with her flirtatious demeanor. Exhaling through pursed lips, I shake my head at her. “You know damn well I’m not just a cowboy, sweetheart.”
Her brow raises as she draws in a breath. Oh, yes. She’s aware of it, all right. Just like she’s cognizant of the circumstances surrounding how my brothers and I came to be the owners of Black River Ranch. My lip twitches, quirking up on one side as we continue this silent standoff.
“Oh, I forgot that the cowboy became the big boss rancher. How’s that workin’ out for ya? I bet your daddy would be proud.”
She must really, really not want to talk about that dumb fuck boyfriend of hers if she’s willing to bring up old family history. Luckily for her, I’m willing to give her a pass this time .
This is probably the first direct interaction we’ve had in years. At least since high school—and even then, our contact was minimal because of the tension between our families. She avoids waiting on me and my brothers when possible, she’ll cross the road if she sees us, and if we ever encounter each other along the river that our ranches share, she’ll ignore our existence. It’s like some unspoken boundary she’s laid down between us and them. Doesn’t mean I haven’t been paying attention to every move she makes. Because like it or not, I notice everything about Sage Everett and always have.
Hips swinging as she strolls away, she shoots me a devilish wink over her shoulder. “Gotta get back to my tables.”
I track her departure, allowing myself to drink in every last inch of her tall frame.
“Kade.” My bicep is met with a rough shove that few people would dare deliver, and I tear my gaze from Sage’s shapely ass to meet Jace’s knowing eyes. He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “We’re gonna get outta here. See you back home later?”
It’s only then that I fully give him my attention. Cole stands there, too, his arm slung casually around the same brunette the two of them had been dancing with earlier. His eyes twinkle with mischief as I take in the trio, anxious as shit to leave. I jut my chin toward them. “Call an Uber, would you? ”
Cole shoots me a drunken smirk, holding up his phone. “Already done.”
I shake my head, muttering to myself, “Gotta have a word with Billy about serving you asshats.” He knows damn well they’re eighteen.
The brunette shoots me a saucy grin. “You know, you could come with us, Kade.” My brows shoot up at how forward she is, but she’s definitely the brazen type my brothers tend to go for. And apparently, she knows my name, even if I haven’t managed to catch hers. She bites down on the corner of her lower lip in a way I’m certain she thinks is sexy and aims a longing look in my direction.
I huff out a rough chuckle, ignoring the comment, and meet my brothers’ gazes in turn with a listen-up-fuckers smile. “Need you at six tomorrow morning, so don’t get too crazy.”
Jace shrugs. “You got it, boss.”
Rolling my eyes, I return my attention to Sage as she hustles back to the end of the bar, setting her tray down on the counter. “Four draft beers, Billy.”
He nods. “Last call. Let your tables know.”
“You got it,” she murmurs with a bob of her head before hurrying away again.
These girls all get a fucking workout between the running around to serve the rowdy local crowd and dancing on the damn bar. I grit my teeth. It seems like there’s always one dickhead who pulls something every time Billy has them dance. Tonight was worse than most nights… and the craziest shit is that the stunt that out-of-towner pulled was completely overshadowed by Toby’s actions. White knight, he was not. Speaking to Sage like that. Fucking slapping her. Just the thought of him having hands on her ignites a fiery rage in my bloodstream. I swear that motherfucker is lucky I left him standing.
Deepening my breaths, I soothe the wrath burrowing under my skin and direct my gaze toward Sage. She doesn’t have a clue what happened after she took off to collect herself. My brothers kicked the handsy asshole around while I imprinted my fist on her boyfriend’s face. I used him as my own personal punching bag and still feel the sting in my knuckles. Hopefully, he learned his lesson, and it’ll be a while before he publicly pulls that kind of shit again.
I make a point of hanging around until the very end of the night. The last of the drunks have begun to pay their tabs, and the waitresses are busy tending to their closing duties.
On quick feet, Sage darts behind the bar and picks up a couple bags of trash. The girls who work here have this process down to a science. She jerks her head in the direction of the door that leads out to the alley. “Billy, I’m taking these out. Be right back.”
I watch her leave and use the opportunity to take a leak. When I return, she’s nowhere to be seen. “Hey, Billy,” I shout across the now empty bar, “have you seen Sage?”
“Last I saw her, she was headed to the dumpsters.”
Brandy hollers from the table she’s wiping down, “Maybe she’s taken off already.”
Just then, Cassidy walks out of the staff area, bag slung over her shoulder. “Nah, her shit is still back there.” Easing the tension in the room, she gives me a side-eyed glance with a teasing grin. “She’s probably avoiding you.”
Despite Cassidy’s joke, something doesn’t feel right. Following my gut instinct, I head to the same door Sage exited. My chest rattles with uneven breaths as I hightail it outside and dart toward the alley. En route, I pass her pickup in the staff parking area, but she’s nowhere to be seen, which increases my panic. Quickening my stride, my boots crunch against the gravel. “Sage! Are you out here?”
Where the fuck could she be? Drawing closer to my destination, I hear a quiet, ragged whimper coming from the shadows. A sense of dread washes through me. My feet echo the beat of my heart as I race in the direction of the hiccupping cries and strangled breaths. “Hold on, Sage. I’m coming.”
Tearing down the alleyway, my eyes adjust to the dark as I scan the area, looking for her. I pull my phone from my pocket and click on the flashlight, hoping to utilize it in my search. Finally, the glowing beam catches on her, and she comes into view. Hidden between two dumpsters, she rocks back and forth, her knees to her chest with her face concealed by her palms.
My phone falls to the ground as I drop to my haunches. I itch to reach for her. “Sage, darlin’, can you look at me, please?”
She refuses me with a shake of her head, then drops her chin to her chest, burrowing her face further. Her body shivers as she gasps through her muffled cries, and suddenly, I can’t stop myself from attempting to comfort her. The moment my fingertips graze her wrist, she rears back, flinching at the contact. The light from my phone illuminates her face, and I catch sight of the fresh bruise marring her left eye. Blood trickles from her nose, and her bottom lip is split and swollen.
A kaleidoscope of emotions ripple through me—fear, sadness, protectiveness, and finally, murderous rage. Gritting my teeth, I growl, “Who did this to you?”