56 #2
“Goddammit,” Fallon mutters, waving a hand in front of her eyes. “I hate all of you.”
Charlie gets to his feet. “Thanks, man,” he croaks, pulling Ford into a big hug.
Ford’s own voice breaks as he pounds Charlie on the back. “Anytime, brother.”
We all gather to offer our congratulations.
Beside me, Fallon slips her hand into mine and squeezes.
The night, this life, has never looked better.
“Look at us,” I muse, leaning on the bar top. We’re at the bar, waiting on the girls who escaped to the bathroom for a makeup check. “We’re all married bastards.”
Ford arches a brow. “You mean, suckers.”
Davis shrugs. “When you know, you know.”
Charlie laughs. “You ready to join the club, Beef?”
Beef slides us a mountain of beers. “Ain’t sure what Sheena and I got in our future, but I’m ready to find out.”
My future’s strutting across the bar floor, looking sexy as hell in tight jeans and a white tank top. She’s followed by the rest of the women, and I wonder if I look as pathetically in love as the rest of my brothers when they see their wives coming.
Ford slings an arm around me and leans in conspiratorially. “Y’all realize we’re lucky bastards, and the second they come to their senses, we’re all fucked.”
“Nah, man.” I crack a grin. “Cowboys get the girls.”
Charlie lifts his beer. “Gettin’ smart in your married ways.”
Fallon slides under my shoulder.
“You wanna dance?” I ask.
She looks up, and I catch that wicked smirk. “With who?”
I growl, trapping her in my arms against the bar top. “Not funny.”
Fallon leans in, kissing my lips. “To be honest, I like to piss you off just to hear that Southern drawl.”
Dakota, leaning back against Davis, laughs. “Check out Tripp.”
We all watch Tripp hit on Sheena across the room.
Davis whistles. “Ain’t sure that’s the smartest idea.”
I chuckle. “Always knew that kid was an idiot.”
Reese bites her lip. “Does he know she’s engaged to Beef?”
“He’ll figure it out soon enough.” Ford gulps a shot and grabs Reese’s hand. “C’mon Birdie, let’s dance.”
“I’ll put money in the jukebox.” Fallon grins. “I’ll be right back.”
While I wait, I watch my brothers hit the dance floor with their wives. Lucky bastards.
All of us.
Tonight, Fallon and I claimed each other with more than just words. She’s mine. I’m hers. The whole fucking world knows, and it’s never felt better.
“You looked good out there,” a peppy voice says. Some blonde in a cowgirl hat stands there. She giggles. “Want to show me your moves, cowboy?”
“Can’t.” I nod at Fallon who’s at the jukebox with Ruby. “Here with her.”
“Oh my god,” she coos. “Your girlfriend is so pretty.”
“My wife. Thanks. I know.”
“Now get away from my husband before I knock your fucking teeth out.” Fallon’s voice is icy as she elbows the blonde aside.
I just grin.
She’s possessive and talks back.
My kind of girl.
The blonde, making huffy little sounds of protests as Fallon stares daggers at her, melts into the crowd.
Eyes narrowed, Fallon props a hand on her hip. “Think I found someone to dance with.”
I raise my brows at her. “That so?”
“Tall. Hot. Wearing a Stetson. And he only wants me.”
My nose flares as I hold back emotion. “Trouble, you got me ’til the end of time.”
Her face softens. “Then dance with me, asshole.”
With that, I scoop her into my arms, and we hit the dance floor alongside the rest of my brothers.
“I leave you alone for one minute, and I was this close to getting escorted off the premises with multiple charges to my name,” she complains, and I grin at her irritation. Fallon jealous is a sight I love to see.
“I’m into you and your pussy,” I growl, the admission causing her face to flush. “And no one else.”
“If that’s true, take me home and prove it,” she says with a brazen smile.
My dick flexes. “Baby, you just wait.”
All I want to do is take my wife home and fuck her. But first, we dance.
One dance leads to another. The music changes from Johnny Cash to Waylon Jennings to Merle Haggard. On the wall, the neon burns red. Fallon flips Tripp a wave as he heads out. Outside, the sun has set. The bar is gridlocked and pulsing with energy, with people.
I could stay like this for the rest of my damn life and be happy.
“One more dance, then head home?” I ask Fallon.
Fallon, face flushed, nods, but then she stiffens. “Oh shit,” she says.
Following her gaze, I whip my head over my shoulder just in time to watch some portly cowboy pick Ruby up by the waist and set her on top of the bar.
“I’m gonna brush that motherfucker’s teeth with the goddamn pavement,” I growl.
Bad mistake. The worst fucking mistake.
Across the bar, Davis catches my eye.
When I near Ford, he gives me a look. We’re on backup, just in case this goes south.
Then the big stomp of bootsteps.
Charlie’s on the guy faster than lightning to an aluminum trash can. He swings a fist, catching the guy in the jaw and sending him to the ground.
Ruby’s eyes ignite. She launches herself off the bar into Charlie’s arms.
A beer flies through the air, and then a boot. I look past Fallon and realize a new fight’s broken out near the pool tables. Two cowboys with pool cues. Perfect fucking combination.
“Let’s go,” I tell Fallon.
“No way—”
Davis ducks as someone takes a swing at him, dragging Dakota behind him. He pops back up and punches the asshole in the face.
People shove and push with hostile aggression. A hand knocks into my side, shoving me back.
“Asshole.” Fallon narrows those fierce hazel eyes at my attacker. With a wild growl, she launches herself into the fray.
I try to weave through the crowd. “Fallon, fuck—”
“Christ,” Ford grumbles, keeping a tight hold of Reese’s hand. “These women are scared of a damn spider, but they’ll punch a grown man in the face the minute they start drinkin’.”
We watch as Fallon grabs a Miller High Life off a nearby table and pours it all over the bearded cowboy’s chest.
Ford and I both swear.
The bearded cowboy lifts a fist. “You crazy bitch.”
Heart in my throat, I throw an elbow, barreling through the bodies keeping me from her. He swings. Just as her eyes widen in realization of what’s headed her way, I lunge, knocking her out of the way. We both slam onto the floor.
She grins up at me. “Right in time.”
I kiss her lips. “Trouble, we’re outta here.”
I help her stand, take a trained breath, and tug her through the crowd. I give my brothers a grin, Fallon waves wildly to her sister, and then we’re shoving out the door and into the midnight.