9. Playing Nice Leaves Too Many Doors Open
PLAYING NICE LEAVES TOO MANY DOORS OPEN
CASH
Winning felt good. Like, really fucking good.
My entire life, I’d always taken what was given to me without protest—without expecting more.
I had a shit go at a childhood. I bounced around from couch to couch until I turned eighteen and was able to leave.
Being able to sleep in the same bed every night was a blessing, and earning my keep everyday made me feel less like a charity case.
But this felt different.
I’d made more money in two events than I would in a week at the ranch.
Eight seconds was all it took, and I was good at it.
I’d never really given much thought about going out on the professional circuit, but that was where the real money was.
The larger the competition, the more you earned, and the more likely you were to get noticed.
The doors opened to brand sponsorships and suddenly you were on a path where you no longer needed a side job.
This could be my chance, but did I really want that?
Life at the ranch was good for me. I had a community and family, three meals a day, and a guaranteed place to sleep. I wasn’t sure I wanted to give that up to travel the country and live a fleeting lifestyle that could disappear with one wrong buck off a horse.
We were on our way back from the second event. The sun was setting over the highway, basking the truck cab in a warm glow as wind whipped through the open windows. Paige was blasting some new pop country shit, and the guys in the back were hyped up about the win.
I smirked at Paige, who had her feet propped up on the dash. She was leaning her head back against the headrest and gazing out the window.
Things between Paige and I had been…weird. Not necessarily bad, but ever since our almost-kiss on the dance floor, there has been a line drawn in the sand that neither of us were willing to cross.
Since then, Paige had been respectful and nice, which was scary as hell and overall not a good thing. I missed the sparkle she’d get in her eye when I teased her, or the way her bottom lip pouted when her jokes didn’t affect me.
So far, there hadn’t been a shortage of women who approached me at these events.
The moment I stepped through the gates, they flocked to me like pigeons going after a stray piece of bread.
I wasn’t interested in hooking up with buckle bunnies, but I was amused by the murderous look on Paige’s face when she saw one touch me.
I was bored of Nice Paige. I wanted my jealous little Pip to come out to play.
I reached over and tapped the skip button on the radio, prompting cutting off the song that was currently playing from Paige’s phone. Paige’s head snapped to me so quickly, I knew I had her. It was time to get her riled up.
“Uh, why did you do that?” she asked, pinning me with a glare.
“Are you going to play anything besides this bubble gum pop country?” I raised a brow at her.
“Oh, sorry, I forgot you’re the authority on good music.” She rolled her eyes.
“I simply can’t believe you forgot that,” I said, poking her knee. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to wrap my palm around her thigh as I drove down the highway, but I couldn’t. This would have to do.
She cracked the faintest smile, but quickly schooled her face to not give her away. “I won’t make that mistake again.”
“I kind of like the bubble gum pop country,” Tweety chimed in from the backseat—because of course he fucking did.
“It makes me feel like I want to key a man’s car and then set his house on fire, while also being completely in love with him, despite being slightly mentally unstable with a secret but not-so-secret alcohol problem. ”
I locked eyes with Paige who was rubbing her lips together to hold back her laughter. After a few seconds, the entire car burst into laughter as Tweety looked around confused.
“Am I wrong?” he asked, leaning back and crossing his arms.
“No, buddy. You’re not wrong.” Buck clapped his shoulder.
The worst part about being out here this summer was the gaps between events.
We’d been in this rental for two and a half weeks and we still had about a week and a half left until we had a short trip home.
While Paige was in Vegas for a week, the guys and I were going to drive home and then meet her in Northern Montana for the next five events we’d be attending for the remainder of the summer.
I was really looking forward to some time off. I wouldn’t see Axle and Reid since they’d be in Vegas, but Walker was staying behind to run the ranch and I couldn’t wait to annoy the shit out of him.
I was sitting on the front porch with a fresh beer when my phone buzzed in my pocket.
Reid named the chat “Cashin’ Out in Sin City”
Reid
Pack your bags!
I am literally living out of a suitcase right now.
Reid
Fuck I forgot. Well, pack your bags for Vegas.
Axle
Do we trust Cash in Vegas?
Owen Kelly
No pressure bro, just thought you might want to join.
The offer was tempting. I’d be lying if I wasn’t a little stressed about what Paige would do—who Paige would do—in Vegas…and if I went then I could keep an eye on her. She would be pissed, but I was more of an ask forgiveness, not permission type of guy.
I’ll have to talk to the guys here, but if they’re cool with driving to Ashton Creek alone then I’m in.
Axle
Fuck yeah. Can’t wait for you to pull all the women.
Reid
The ultimate wingman.
I shook my head and locked my phone. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me lately, but I hadn’t had a woman in my bed in months.
Every time I tried, there was some sort of block that stopped me from inviting her back to the bunkhouse.
Something inside me that was nervous I’d be seen.
I liked having fun, but the reputation as the party boy who was allergic to commitment got old pretty quickly.
I wasn’t against a relationship, I just hadn’t found the right woman—not one I could actually have, anyway. Every girl who cuddled up to me made it clear they were only interested in one night. None tried to get to know me or even hinted they wanted more than sex.
I chose not to internalize that too much.
The storm door squeaked and prompted my attention to see Paige walking out.
She was wearing black leggings and a Hawke County Football shirt that was three sizes too big and hung down to her knees.
Her hair was in a messy bun on top of her head and her face was completely bare.
This was a version of Paige I always loved—the version where she was just herself.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved when she dressed in her sexy cut-offs and shirts that dipped low enough to drive me crazy, but this was the version of her that was less guarded.
Less angry.
“Hey,” she said, leaning against the porch railing in front of me with a glass of wine.
“Hey,” I said back, leaning back in my chair.
“How are you feeling after the second win?” she asked with a small smile on her face. I could be wrong, but this seemed like her extending an olive branch, and I was going to grab onto it with both fucking hands.
“It feels pretty damn good.” I laughed.
“Is this something you’ve always wanted to do? I know you’ve been training since last summer, but what about before that?”
I shook my head. “No. This was all your dad’s idea. I was just the one crazy enough to get on the untamed horses.”
She laughed. “Sometimes it works out to be reckless.”
I looked up into her eyes, holding her gaze with mine. “Sometimes it really does.”
Paige didn’t look away as she brought her wineglass up to her lips and took a sip. I watched as she slowly ran her tongue over her bottom lip to catch a small red droplet that lingered there.
My eyes locked with hers as I smirked at her.
I was playing with fire, but I couldn’t help it.
The more time I spent with Paige, the more I wanted to haul her into my lap and claim her.
Walker’s words to keep an eye on her were slowly fading into the background of my mind, and I was beginning to think of all of the ways I could take care of her on the road.
I shook out of my thoughts and stood quickly. This was dangerous territory for us. I could so easily let myself get lost in her away from the prying eyes of Ashton Creek.
“Well, yep, I’m gonna just—” I pointed at the door, shifting so I was no longer held by the gravity of her ocean blue eyes.
“Good night, Jesse,” Paige said softly, causing me to pause as I reached for the door handle.
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and willing myself to keep moving inside instead of grabbing her and hauling her with me.
“Good night, Paige,” I said quickly, before disappearing inside.