Chapter 4
An hour later, I wait for Sadie by my truck, wearing a navy Henley with a matching flannel that’s unbuttoned and open, worn jeans, and my Lone Pine ballcap. Pretty much my go-to outfit for any situation that doesn’t require my Carhartt or a hoodie.
Bandit stares at me with longing eyes from the porch, and my heart aches. The only thing I want to do is to sit on my front porch swing with my dog and have a beer. Was that really too much to ask for? Why do I always let Ryker talk me into doing things I don’t want to do?
Boots clicking on the wooden deck snap my attention as Sadie walks out.
My eyes drift from blue cowboy boots to tight-fitting jeans that hug all of the right places on her, to a small fringe jacket draped over her arm.
Snagging on a lacy black corset that reveals creamy skin underneath.
Too much skin. I’m pretty sure that flimsy tank top is lingerie.
She twirls around at the bottom of the stairs for effect, proudly showing herself off. A matching lacy black ribbon is tied into the top half of her wavy caramel hair.
Wrapped like a fucking present.
My mouth opens and shuts, but my eyes have a hard time focusing on anything but her perfect tits. Tits that would look so fucking good pushed up against my mouth.
Her noticing smile sobers me in an instant. “See something you like, Cowboy?” she teases.
I’m not even sure how to respond to that, so I ignore it.
“Before you get in this truck, I have rules.”
She places one hand on her hip, pursing her lips. “I can’t say that I’m surprised.”
“One,” I hold up one finger. “Do not touch my stereo. It stays at the volume I set it to.”
She sighs. “Fine.”
I hold up two fingers. “Two. No singing.”
“Are you already predicting that I’m going to sing?”
“I know you will. You think I can’t hear you belting it out every night?” Does she even realize how loud she is?
She grins, which infuriates me.
“And three,” I step towards her. “We leave tonight when I say we do. No exceptions.” In no more than three hours, I wanted to be back on my front porch, back to enjoying the rest of my night in peace.
“You’re no fun at all, Cowboy,” she rolls her eyes.
I take the last step, closing the distance, trying to ignore the heat that radiates in my body as she sizes me up. “Four. No calling me Cowboy in my truck.” My truck is sacred territory. She isn’t going to ruin that, too.
She takes a moment to process, almost looking like she’s amused and laughing at me at the same time. “I don’t like being told what to do.”
“My truck. My rules.” And that’s that.
She lets out a breath, taking a moment while she chews on her bottom lip. “Alright, fine. But, just so it’s fair, I have one condition too.”
Of course, she does.
“You have to dance with me tonight.” Warm evening light dances around in her brown eyes.
“I don’t dance.”
“A slow dance,” she smiles even bigger.
Absolutely fucking not. “I’ll see you there, then,” I tip my ballcap to her, retreating away.
Her hand reaches out, grabbing my arm. “I’ll turn down my music at night.”
Slowly, I turn around, assessing her. Is she being serious? This must be some kind of trick… but with her hand still wrapped around my forearm, my decision-making has gone out the window. “Just one dance and you’ll turn it down?”
She smiles like a deviant, finally letting go of my arm. Holding up one finger. “One dance, Cowboy. What’ll it be?”
Well, it’s not like I’m going to get a better offer from this infuriating woman. “Deal.”
We get about five minutes down the road, listening to the local radio station, and none other than “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” by Toby Keith starts playing.
Because fuck me, right?
“Don’t you dare say a word.”
She puts a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing, but then her whole body shakes with laughter. I’ve never heard someone laugh so hard. A sexy and raspy laugh that stirs something hot in my jeans. Like this could get any worse. Now I have to be attracted to her laugh.
With a heavy sigh, I switch to Bluetooth.
After that whole cursed timing, the rest of the forty-five-minute drive to town, to my surprise, is bearable. Sadie doesn’t sing or touch my stereo for the entire ride, respecting my rules. And she finally addresses me as Kit.
Which is… odd, honestly. I’ve gotten too used to her antagonizing me with that ridiculous fucking nickname.
She asks a few questions about Aspen Hollow, and then we pretty much sit in silence listening to my favorite brand of music—charming folk music, with alternative rock and metal songs woven in.
The past version of me coming out, and my truest self.
She even admits to liking one of the songs after her mouth falls open in shock.
“Not a cowboy,” I say.
But she just smiles. It’s weirdly nice having someone to talk to in my truck. Something I’ll never tell her or anyone else.
After I find a parking spot down the street from the bar, as close as I could get for a Thursday night, I open the passenger door for Sadie, waiting to help her out of my lifted truck. Her eyes light up in surprise, staring at my offered hand like there’s something wrong with it.
“I’m surprised you don’t want to see me fall on my ass. Anything to get you out of that dance.”
“I don’t break my deals.” Besides, a deal is a deal, and I honored my word.
“You’re not going to let go right before my feet hit the ground, are you?” Her lip worries, as if I would honestly consider dropping her to the ground like an asshole. That will never be an option for me.
I sigh. “Just take my hand, Sadie.” Another breath of hesitation passes between us. “I won’t let go.”
A small smile curves her lips, and then she finally puts her hand in mine. Her smooth skin sliding into my rough one stirs like wildfire in my gut. She pushes up her corset, repositioning it as she lands safely on the ground.
“Thank you, Cowboy,” she gives my hand a good squeeze before letting go. Just enough of a squeeze that I mentally store the feeling for when I fuck my hand tonight.
“Mhmm,” I gruff, pulling my ballcap lower.
Of course, the second her foot touches the ground, she’s back to calling me Cowboy.
Light snow begins to fall from the sky as we walk side by side towards Elkhorn Tavern, lit up in bright neon lights with Christmas lights already strung up.
Loud music radiates from the stage, humming in the frosty night air.
Sadie wraps her arms around herself when a cold breeze blows through, shuffling closer to me. Using me as a shield to block the wind.
“You couldn’t have worn something a bit… more?” She’s already the new woman in town, but dressed like this? It would be the Mess Hall all over again, except add alcohol into the mix and Sadie wearing lingerie.
All eyes will be on her.
“You jealous of my rockstar style, Cowboy?”
I huff a laugh and then cringe at the sound of a familiar voice, stopping in my tracks.
“What do you want for Christmas?” Mechanical Santa asks in his deep and jolly booming voice.
“Well, aren’t you adorable?” Sadie pats Santa’s head.
I scoff, making a noise of complete disagreement.
She smiles, amused. “You hate him, don’t you?”
I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.
Everyone turns their heads and smiles in our direction when I push open the double barn doors to the bar.
The floor is full of couples dancing under the warm rustic chandeliers.
Half of the bar is full of men and women from the ranch.
Typical for a Thursday night, seeing as it’s the best place in town for entertainment.
I glance at Sadie as she comes up close behind me, smiling in pure joy at the scene in front of us.
Every table is full, and Averie Knox, a local singer, is on the stage playing lively music—Aspen Hollow’s darling celebrity.
Her long, blonde hair shines in the light as it hangs down towards her silver glittering guitar.
The sweet texture of her voice carries around the room.
Averie is a talented singer and performer whom I’ve met a handful of times.
She’s the only woman I’ve ever seen leave Ryker speechless, and he’s a man who always has something to say with that big mouth of his.
Speaking of the devil, I make eyes with Ryker, who waves at me from a table across the room.
His face lights up when he notices Sadie standing next to me.
I’ve never hated him so much.
“I’ll get drinks. What do you like?” Sadie asks, standing close enough so I can hear her over the loud music. Close enough that I feel her hot breath on my ear, and it drives me wild.
“Ernest will know,” my voice catches in my chest as I nod to him behind the bar across the room. He waves back with a cheeky smile. Probably thinking that Sadie and I are on a date. Fucking great.
“Okay, Cowboy,” she winks, heading towards the bar.
I stalk towards Ryker with vengeance on my mind.
“Well, now. We all know who Sadie’s going home with tonight,” he muses. Ryker’s dark hair is gelled back with a curl hanging loose in front. Wearing a black western shirt with two buttons undone, leading to his usual silver military tags—a memento from his brother.
“You’re unbelievable,” I mutter, sitting beside him.
“So I’ve heard,” his mustache twitches with amusement. “But surprisingly, you’re the first man to say those words to me,” he grins, taking a drink from his beer glass.
My eyes narrow to slits. “Why’d you invite her?”
“You two look cute together.”
“Not going to happen.” Whatever ideas he has about Sadie and me need to stop. Nothing is ever going to happen.
“And why not? She’s hot. Or haven’t you noticed?”
“Yeah, I noticed.” You’d have to be dead to not notice Sadie, and even then, I’m sure the ghosts enjoyed watching her.
“You should be one hundred percent trying to make that happen.” Ryker glances up at the bar. “I mean, look at her,” he points.