Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Spin You Around
Maverick
The bar all but swam with people, the dance floor a sea of bodies two stepping and twirling to a fast, thumping beat that rivaled that of my heart. Cheyenne all but bounced beside me, flashing me questioning glances every couple minutes.
She finally turned on me with a sigh, her hands coming to rest on her hips. “Ugh, come on, Maverick. It’s been like five songs.” Her lips drew down into a pout, those turquoise eyes filled with challenge. “You’re the one who asked me to dance, remember?”
My lips tugged up slightly in the corners. She was a demanding little thing. Fiery. Feisty. Completely opposite of me.
But she was right. I had asked her to dance. It’s just…well, there were just too many people. I’d had a moment of temporary insanity, and, like a damn fool, asked her to do the one thing I hated most. Why?
Hell, I was still trying to figure that out.
“They’re all too fast. I said a slow one,” I grumbled.
She rolled her eyes, even as her lips pulled up into a smirk. “You’re so difficult.”
I shrugged, making her shake her head as she grabbed a shot of Crown off the tabletop and brought it to her lips before tossing it back and slamming it down. A grimace marred her features a moment.
I’d never understand why anyone would willingly drink something that obviously tasted so horrible.
The song ended, Morgan Wallen’s “Spin You Around” replacing it. Cheyenne’s gaze lit up like a firework on the Fourth of July, a smile brighter than the sun curving her lips.
“Ooh! Well, would you look at that, cowboy? Ask and you shall receive. It’s time to dance.”
She slipped her hand in mine, all but dragging me toward the dance floor. I didn’t have a choice but to follow. She was a beacon of light, a ray of sunshine, and I found myself drawn to her.
My feet felt like they’d been coated in cement or lead, each step heavy, unnatural. But not her. She all but floated around me, leading me through the motions in a way that made me feel like I wasn’t a complete idiot… But then I looked around.
People watched us. Correction—her. They watched her, because who could resist?
I’d only ever met a few people in my life who held such a grand presence—her and Cash being among them.
A part of me envied them, for the ease and confidence with which they held themselves.
But that would be too much attention for me.
Even now, with all these eyes on us, my pulse raced.
A weight settled on me, making my chest constrict.
My stomach clenched in knots, my nerves coiling tighter and tighter.
PTSD was a real bitch. I never knew when it was going to rear its ugly head.
When it would pop up out of nowhere and ruin my time.
There wasn’t much that could stop it though once it came around.
Every inch of me, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, tingled as a wave of heat made its way through me.
Sound warped and wobbled, the music all but disappearing as my pulse thrummed in my ears.
My breathing shallowed, making it hard to get in a deep breath.
Fuck.
Every inch of me screamed to run, to get the hell out of there and away from everyone’s gaze. My movements slowed, damn near stopping completely.
“Hey.” Cheyenne’s smokey voice sounded far away as it tried to cut through the chaos in my mind. “Maverick. Hey, look at me.”
Warm hands snaked up my chest and wrapped around my neck. It was enough to dispel the cloud of panic cloying for dominance in my mind. I inhaled sharply, the sweet, citrusy scent of her grounding me a bit. My hands trembled as I held her.
Those gemstone eyes of her swam with understanding. She placed a soft, tentative kiss to my lips. “Don’t worry about everyone else right now. It’s just you and me, okay?” She began swaying to the music once more, and it was then I realized sound had returned to normal.
“Sorry,” I muttered, my gaze falling to my boots in shame.
She tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet her gaze. Resolve and determination blazed in the depths. “You got nothin’ to be sorry for. If this is too much we can stop.”
I shook my head, my grip on her tightening a bit. “You want to dance, though.”
She shrugged, her tone light as she replied, “But you don’t want to.”
It was my turn to shrug. “I don’t wanna do a lot of things.”
She laughed, the sound a lilting melody that rose over the song. “Well, what do you like to do then?” she asked, still dancing slowly to the beat.
I moved with her, settling my hands back in their proper position. “I like whittlin’—you know, woodcarvin’. And um…well, I like workin’ with the horses and keepin’ my hands busy. I like to build things. Work on cars. Fish. Cook. Every now and then, I’ll pick on a guitar.”
She grinned. “And you said you’re no fun.”
I huffed a low laugh, more of the tension leaving me as I focused on her and her melodic voice. Her calming touch. “I ain’t.”
She rolled her eyes, trying and failing to hide a smile. “You’re an idiot.”
“What about you? What do you like to do?”
Her face turned contemplative a moment, her brow furrowing together.
“Hm…well, I love craftin’…even if I gotta do it for work.
But makin’ candles, wreaths, essential oil blends, t-shirts, knittin’ blankets…
I love it all. And then there’s always rodeoin’ and ridin’.
I mean, it’s been a minute since I’ve ridden for pleasure, but who doesn’t love a good trail ride?
” She bit her lip a moment before a soft, almost shy smile tugged on her mouth.
I’d never expect to see that look on her face.
“Sometimes, when I have a minute, I like to read.”
I scoffed. “You read?”
That smile dipped into a scowl, her gaze hardening. “Um…rude. Are you callin’ me illiterate?”
I chuckled, pulling her a little tighter to me. “Nah, I ain’t sayin’ that at all. Just surprised. You don’t seem like the type to want to sit and read.”
Her scrutinizing gaze held me in place as she said, “Well, I love to read.”
“What kinda books?”
The song ended. Something a bit faster picked up, and I surprised the hell out of myself by speeding up my pace, all while still keeping her firmly in my grip.
It was like if I let go of her, she might disappear altogether.
What if we stopped dancing and she lost interest?
As much as I hated dancing, I didn’t want this moment to end.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze, her words, blazed with confidence. “Mostly fantasy romance.”
My brow scrunched up. “Is that like…Lord of the Rings with porn in it?”
Laughter bubbled out of her; she curled in on herself nearly stumbling in my arms. “Oh my God, no! Think fairy tales but with spice.”
“What the hell is spice?” It was like she spoke a different language.
I don’t think I remembered the last time I’d picked up a book for pleasure. Maybe never? Sitting down, doing nothing but turning pages seemed counterproductive to me. I needed to be doing something, using my hands.
She rolled her eyes, a giggle escaping her. “Ugh, you know nothin’, Jon Snow. And as for spice, it’s like…how much smut’s in a book.”
My brows furrowed together. “Smut?”
Another flush of her cheeks as a coy smile tugged her lips upward. “Basically, how much romance a book has. You know…like sexy scenes.”
“So, it is porn.”
“It is not porn.” She smacked my chest playfully, a huff of laughter escaping her.
“Sounds like it.” I couldn’t help but smirk.
“Well, it ain’t,” she replied, her mouth drawing up into a playful snarl.
I spun her, my body instantly missing her warmth, even if only a moment later I was pulling her back into my arms. “I think you’re gonna have to prove it.”
Her face scrunched up, a confused laugh coming from her even as she didn’t miss a beat, falling into step as we danced. “You want me to read a smutty book to you?”
It was odd…in the course of a few moments, a few dozen words, the panic was gone, all but a whisper. It still lingered in the corners of my mind. I didn’t think I’d ever be lucky enough for it to go away completely, but some of the worry, the darkness, had receded.
I shrugged, moving with her and the music. “Well, I gotta know for myself what smut means.”
Her head fell back, laughter bubbling out of her like a babbling brook.
That happiness, that light was infectious.
Pure, dazzling light that chased away the shadows.
How could someone be filled with so much?
I wanted to bottle her up and save her for a cloudy day.
She sobered after a moment, but her eyes still swam with warmth.
“I could do that, cowboy. Got any plans after this?”
I swallowed. The thought of going home with her sent a rush of excitement through me. And also, surprise. My mind for the briefest moment drifted to Ashleigh. Hadn’t I just been trying to see her tonight? Yeah, she’d been screwing me over, as usual, but I loved her…didn’t I?
I didn’t even know anymore. Maybe I just loved the idea of her. Of what we were so long ago.
I focused on Cheyenne once more, and while I expected guilt, I only felt resolve. Maybe that’s why I found myself saying, “Only plans I got are this right here.”
Cheyenne’s grin sent shivers of anticipation down my spine, a look of pure mischief glimmering like stardust in her eyes. “Well, how ‘bout we get on out of here, then?”
“I thought you wanted to dance?” I asked, twirling her away from me.
This wasn’t actually too bad. Not as she spun back into my arms, her body settling close to mine once more. Her sweet scent enveloped me, her gaze holding mine. It’s like everyone else had melted away and her and I were the only ones on the dance floor.
“I’d rather see where this goes more,” she replied, that bright gaze full of desire pegging me in place.
Well, damn.