8. That Thing You Want But Can Never Have
THAT THING YOU WANT BUT CAN NEVER HAVE
PAIGE
We pushed into the Disco Cowboy Saloon and Dance Hall, and my heart was instantly happy as I breathed in the smell of beer and sweat. I practically sprinted to the railing and looked out over the crowded dance floor as people spun and danced in sync.
I bounced on my toes and faced the guys. “If you need me I’ll be down there.”
I spun and ran down the stairs into the sea of people.
I raised my hands above my head and started swinging my hips along with the music.
When I glanced back, I found the guys had settled at a table against the upper railing; all three of them were staring down at me.
I smirked and shifted so they had a perfect view of my ass.
If they wanted to watch, I’d give them a show.
When Cash told me we were going out, I changed into a pair of black high-waisted denim cutoffs with green knee-high cowgirl boots.
I had on a dark green tank top that was cut so it cropped above my shorts, and a black cowgirl hat sat on top of my long, bouncy blonde curls.
I was a cowboy’s wet dream tonight…and I planned to make a few lose their minds.
Strong hands made their way onto my waist, and I smiled up at the guy who had deemed himself my dance partner. When I didn’t protest his advance, he held me tighter to his hard body and started to spin us around.
I threw my head back and gripped my hat as I laughed. As we passed the guys, confusion washed over me when I only saw Buck and Tweety at the table—both wearing shit-eating grins.
A broad hand slapped on my dance partner’s shoulder, dragging my attention to Cash standing there with a stern look on his face.
I had literally never seen Cash frown as much in twelve years as I had in the past forty-eight hours.
Usually the guy was all smiles and golden retriever vibes.
I guess I brought the broody side out of him.
I loved the overly friendly, silly side of Cash, but had to admit that his protective side was hot.
“Mind if I cut in?” Cash asked with a tense smile, squeezing the guy’s shoulder until he winced. He let me go and started backing away, muttering, “sure,” as he disappeared into the crowd.
I rolled my eyes as Cash stepped closer to me. “Why was that necessary? I can’t even dance now?”
“He was doing it wrong.” Cash shrugged.
“And you can do it better?” I raised a brow at him.
“Yep.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Cash looped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him. I squealed and grabbed my hat as Cash stepped between my legs and took the lead.
The man could dance.
I threw my head back laughing, and for the first time since we left Ashton Creek, Cash broke into a genuine smile.
He twirled me around the dance floor and into the growing crowd until we were pressed firmly against each other.
Cash’s hands moved down my back until they rested just above my ass.
He pulled me even harder into his broad chest, his fingers splayed on my hips.
I let my eyes dance between his and his lips, the heat of the moment tempting me to make a decision I knew I’d regret—a decision I’d regretted in the past. My brain knew it was a bad idea, but the look in Cash’s eyes was just hypnotizing enough to make me forget.
I pushed onto my toes until our lips were only an inch apart, my fingers toying with the hair peeking out from under his hat.
Cash’s fingers dug into my skin as he visibly swallowed.
“We can’t,” he whispered, our lips so close I could feel his breath as he spoke. The man looked like he was fighting as hard as he could against his instincts.
“I know,” I whispered back. “But at least now when you see me dancing with other guys, you’ll know what it feels like.”
I pushed off his chest and turned to walk off the dance floor. Without looking back, I headed up the stairs to where Buck and Tweety were sitting. I draped myself across Tweety’s lap and picked up his beer, taking a sip with a satisfied smirk.
Cash’s smile instantly fell as soon as he saw Tweety’s arm around me.
Tweety snorted, clearly reading what I was doing correctly.
Cash had to get this idea out of his head that I was fragile and unable to handle myself.
I wasn’t going to sleep with any man who called me pretty, but I also refused to be watched all summer.
If I wanted to dance or sneak a kiss once in a while, I was going to.
If he was too much of a wimp to make a move, even in the heat of the moment, that simply wasn’t my problem.
Cash was in for a rude awakening if he thought I was going through this summer without a single drop of male attention. If he wanted to cockblock me, two could play at that game.
The crowd went absolutely wild as the scoreboard counted down and Cash remained firmly on the bucking bronc. The pick-up man began guiding the horse around as Cash dismounted and bowed to the crowd.
I snapped picture after picture of the man as he smiled and jogged out of the arena.
Cash Leonard surely knew how to play to a crowd. The man oozed charm.
I stepped out of the media area—which was a glorified rope containing about three local gazette reporters and me—and went in search of the man of the hour.
This was his first time competing, and he absolutely rocked it. Years spent fearlessly riding and taming horses gave him an advantage.
Who knew being a reckless idiot would actually pay off for him?
It didn’t take long to spot Cash backed up against a fence, surrounded by buckle bunnies ready to take him home—or suck his blood and drain the life from his body by the look in their eyes.
The moment one of them trailed a hand up his chest, I had an uncontrollable urge to march over and cut it off.
I wasn’t a possessive person, okay?
I just hated how women assumed a man was single. Even though Cash was single.
But still.
The audacity.
I took a deep breath and inched closer to the horde of women, trying my hardest to push down the possessive beast coming to life in my chest. I tapped on the blood sucker’s shoulder and put on my brightest smile.
“I’m like so sorry to interrupt, but I’m here to take pictures of Mr. Leonard. Do you mind if I steal him for a few minutes?”
The girl glanced between Cash and me and rolled her eyes murmuring, “Sure.” She turned back to Cash, standing directly in my path. “Come find me when you’re done fucking with this city girl,” she said with a giggle as she backed away.
“Excuse me?” I said, turning to her so fast my hair fanned out across my back.
City girl? The girl didn’t even know me but knew the insult would land.
I took a step forward to voice my insulting comeback when a muscular arm wrapped around my waist and hauled me into a hard chest.
“Let her go.” Cash chuckled into my ear.
I scoffed, pushing him off me, and glared at him. I didn’t need him coming to my rescue.
“So”—Cash crossed his arms—“you need pictures, huh?”
“What?” I looked up at him confused, still flustered about the bunny bimbo’s insult.
“Oh, I see,” Cash hummed. “This was you being jealous.”
“I am not jealous. I was being a cockblock. It’s different,” I emphasized.
“If that was true, then you did a piss-poor job because I could just go find one of them right now and take her home.” He smirked at me as he started to walk backward to the dressing area.
“But you aren’t, right?” I shouted after him.
Cash burst into laughter as he disappeared around the corner of the arena. Just as I was about to take off after him, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Lottie changed the name of the chat to “What Happens In Vegas… Will Probably Be Told to Everyone We Know.”
Right. Lottie’s bachelorette was coming up. In the chaos of the last few days, it had drifted to the back of my mind.
Lottie added me to a group chat with all Owen’s sisters and a few of our friends from home who would be going on the trip.
I smiled as the messages started filing in.
Lottie
Hey girlies! Starting the chat now since Vegas is only a few weeks away!
SO EXCITED!
Keegan Kelly
YES!
Maeve Kelly
We booked the hotel rooms at MGM Grand! Boys in one and girls in the other.
Ryleigh Kelly
No boys allowed.
Maggie Montgomery
Oh, I’m so ready to torture the men for four days.
Taylor Lewis
Ugh, I’ve heard great things about the Kellys. I’m so excited for some man torture.
Maeve Kelly
Welcome to the chaos.
I’m so in need of a trip with the girls.
Micah Shaw
Need a break from Daddy Cash already?
Maggie Montgomery
Oh! Who’s Daddy Cash?
Maeve Kelly
Do we like Daddy Cash?
Micah Shaw
We love him, Maeve. Love.
Keegan Kelly
I want to know about Daddy Cash.
It was that moment when I decided I was going to murder one of my best friends.
I started in the direction of the building where Cash would collect his winnings so we could head home.
In Vegas, Cash Leonard will be the last thing on my mind.