Sorrel
My stomach fills with butterflies, and my hands feel clammy. I don’t know why the hell I’m so nervous. He’s just a man. I’m surrounded by tons of them at the ranch, and it’s not like he’s that famous. Yet.
He approaches us both with a radiant smile. His short-sleeve pearl-snap shirt hugs his honed biceps. The snaps are unbuttoned just enough to see the smooth tan skin of his chest. The man with an incredible voice stops right in front of us.
“Hi, I’m Denton Reed,” he says.
“We know who you are, obviously!” Charli blurts out.
The corner of Denton’s mouth turns up. His eyes twinkle, a shade of deep emerald green. A little bit of scruff dusts his strong jawline. He looks like he might be in his early thirties.
“What are y’all’s names?”
My cheeks flush, and my tongue feels thick in my mouth. When I open it, nothing comes out. I’ve always been a little shy, but even when I met Huck, I didn’t feel like this. Thank goodness for Charli—she answers for both of us.
“I’m Charli. This beautiful cowgirl who you’ve been making eyes at all night is my best friend Sorrel,” she tells him.
I instantly change my mind about Charli answering for both of us. I think I might die of embarrassment now. We don’t even know if it was me he was staring at.
He shakes her hand and then mine. His hands are rough and calloused. Not just a pretty boy with a pretty voice. Those are the hands of a working man–I know that better than anyone.
“Hi,” is all I say.
Charli elbows me again, this time harder. I flinch away from her. “Ow! What the hell was that for?”
“You’re being rude, Sorrel. Denton stopped his show to come and meet you. Didn’t you, Mr. Reed?”
I look around, and the world comes back into focus.
DJ B-star is in the back left corner of the stage in his booth.
A Morgan Wallen and Shania Twain mix is playing through the loudspeakers.
Cowboys and cowgirls are two-stepping in a circle on the dance floor in the middle of the arena grounds.
There’s no way he stopped the show to come meet me.
Denton Reed chuckles. It’s a seductive deep laugh that makes me clench my legs together.
“Well, actually—I did, Miss Charli,” he admits. “Saw what happened down there with that husky boy—”
A snort escapes from Charli and I give her a pointed look.
He continues. “And something in me just wanted to make sure you’re okay. This is my show after all, I want to make sure all my fans are having a good time.”
“I’m not a fan,” I tell him.
His eyebrows shoot up to the top of his forehead and a playful grin spreads across his face. “Well, I hope you will be after tonight.”
I look over at Charli, a cheesy grin lighting up her face.
Fuck he’s smooth.
“Well, y’all, I better get back to it,” he says, then meets my eyes. “Hey, I don’t have any plans after my show tonight and I think my band wants to go into town to the casino. I’m not the gambling type, so I was wondering if maybe I could buy you a drink after my show?”
Is he asking me—or Charli—or both of us? I can’t tell.
Before I can get a word out, Charli says, “She would love to!”
He takes his cowboy hat off and rakes his hand through his wavy brownish-blonde hair.
“See you soon, cowgirl,” he says with a wink as he puts his hat back on. When he’s walking back to center stage, he shouts over his shoulder, “I’ll meet you back behind the stage when the show is over. Remember now, have fun.”
Charli waves goodbye quickly in big half circles over her head. “She’ll be there!!” she shouts to him.
I narrow my eyes at her, hands on my hips and head tilted to the side.
I hope she’s ready for an earful. I peek over Charli’s head as Denton takes center stage.
He picks up the red Solo cup and I watch him bring it to his lips.
His Adam’s apple bobs up and down, and a little bit of whatever he’s drinking slides down his chin and neck.
Damn, why is that so hot? He flashes us one more smile before starting the concert again.
I lower my gaze back to Charli. No more distractions.
“What the fuck was that, Charli?”
“Don’t pretend to be mad, Sorrel. I know you better than that. You didn’t have the guts to say yes, so I did it for you.”
“I am mad!” I shout at her. “I’m not interested in any men. I don’t care that he’s a country music star. He could be Sam Elliott in his younger years and I still wouldn’t go for it.”
She gives me an exacerbated look. “First off, Sam Elliott is so hot. Second, you’ve got to get back on the horse at some point, or you never will.”
Something in me knows she’s right. I can’t even remember the last time I was alone with a handsome man.
“Ugh,” I groan. The little devil on my shoulder says, Why not have a little fun—dip your toes in the water?
“Remember, honey, we ain’t getting any younger, and if I recall, you have a birthday coming up…the big two-six.”
I roll my eyes at that. She doesn’t need to remind me.
A stupid, hopeless romantic side of me thought maybe Huck was the one.
I never should have let my mind go there.
But I did, and now I’m paying for it with a broken heart and trust issues.
Settling down or marriage never crossed my mind much.
I was always on the road or working on the ranch, and that kept me too busy to focus on a serious relationship.
I’d had a few admirers in the past, but most couldn’t even make it past Dad to get to me.
Half of the guys in town would rather have a job at the ranch than date me and piss off my dad.
Two summers ago, Sutton got married. Seeing how happy she was that she found her person made me think maybe I want that too.
Huck had been my date to her wedding. The way he looked at me while I stood next to my big sister while she got married melted my heart.
But after what he did to me, it has long since frozen over again.
I sigh. “Fine, I’ll meet with him, but only one drink and you’re checking on my animals.”
“Of course, babe, I’ll even cuddle with Dashy and tuck him into his little bed.”
We smile at each other, and she gives me a big hug.
The concert is nearly over. Charli looks the band over one more time like she’s trying to take a mental picture to save for later.
Then she leaves to go check on my animals as promised.
I walk toward the back of the stage. Len and the other deputies are standing in a circle, probably making a game plan for clearing the arena out.
When Len sees me he pats one of the younger deputies on the shoulder then walks over to me.
“I heard from a little birdy Mr. Reed asked to have a drink with you.”
Wow, gossip travels fast with these guys.
“He did, and wouldn’t you know it, Charli is forcing me into it.”
He snickers, shaking his head.
“Well, I asked around and heard he’s actually a decent guy. You know I would tell you the truth. Your daddy wouldn’t forgive me if I let you hang out with some wild, two-timing musician.”
Nope that’s just bareback riders, I think. I give him a tight smile in response.
“Have some fun, Sorrel. I’ll be around if you need me.”
“Thanks, Len, be safe out there tonight.”
His job makes me nervous. I know how dangerous it is. Nowadays you never know what crazy person will show up at events to cause trouble.
I’m a barrel of nerves and I look around to see where I can get a drink. A little liquid courage might do me good. I find a private bar tucked in the corner. The bartender is slinging drinks left and right to all the people backstage. When the line clears, I walk over and give her my order.
“Can I get a shot of Pendleton please?”
Her brows come together and she scans me up and down.
I stare back at her with a blank look on my face.
She’s pretty with brown glossy hair pulled into a slicked-back ponytail and brown almond-shaped eyes.
Her big boobs are on display, sticking out the top of her tank top. Probably helps with tips, I assume.
“ID,” she says flatly.
I dig my ID out of my pocket and hand it over to her. It doesn’t offend me that she asks for it. I’m used to getting IDed most of the time when I order alcohol. Everyone has always told me I look young for my age. Baby face problems.
She throws it back to me across the bar and pours my shot—not even to the brim.
I scoff. “Thanks. How much is it?”
Her mouth falls open and her eyes light up. She stands up straighter, and a smile spreads across her face. I feel heat on the back of my neck. I turn my head to the right, and there he is.
“Whatever it is, put it on my tab,” Denton says.
She clears her throat, her face going back to annoyance. “You don’t have a tab. Your drinks are on the house.”
He stuffs a hundred-dollar bill into her tip jar. “This should cover her shot then, right?” he asks her.
Tucking an invisible hair behind her ear, she purrs at him, “Uh, yeah, totally.”
“Pour up two more of those shots, and this time to the brim,” he says with a wink.
“We’ll take two Ultra Lights too,” I throw in. Hell, if I have to watch her flirt with him, might as well get something out of it.
He looks down at me and smirks like he knows what I’m up to.
Turning his head back at the bartender, he asks her, “I’m sure the band will want a few before they head out. You don’t mind sticking around, do you?”
Her back is facing us and she turns around, her cheeks a deep pink. In her hand are our two beers and a napkin. “Of course, thank you so much, Denton, and are your drinks.” She puts the napkin in his hand, brushing her fingertips against his.
When I glance down at it, it says Stephanie and her phone number written underneath it. I choke on a laugh, and she narrows her eyes at me.
Looking down at the napkin, he bites back a laugh. “Thank you—uh…Stephanie.”
God, I can’t do this. I can’t and won’t compete with women who throw themselves at men like that. I throw back the half-full shot and the full one back-to-back.
“Cheers, to you too,” he huffs a laugh, throwing his shot back.