Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Everyone cleared out.
Cowboy held on to my leg until the room was empty. “You good, mon ami?” he inquired, searching my face.
I rubbed my hand over cheeks, feeling the heat of my skin. “Oui.”
“Can we head home or do we need to stay around for a while?”
“Stay. Don’t wanna ride just yet.” I glanced down at my hand. It was still shaking.
Cowboy nodded and followed me down the hallway to the bar. “What do you think?” he all but whispered.
“About Garcia?”
He stopped me with his hand on my arm and checked no one was around. It was clear. Meeting my eyes, he spoke in fluent Cajun French to hide his words. “About his sister. About her being here.” He folded his arms across his chest. “Don’t pretend you don’t care. I saw your reaction in there.”
I turned and continued to the bar. “I have no thoughts on the matter whatsoever.” Cowboy sighed, but he ran to catch me. We grabbed a table, and I ordered water; Cowboy got a beer. Smiler was at the bar, talking to Lil’ Ash and Slash behind it. “I was gonna fucking kill him if he didn’t shut his mouth,” Cowboy stated, again in Cajun French, nodding at Viking as he walked in behind AK. I closed my eyes and wished he’d just fucking move on from this conversation. Cowboy’s fingers wrapped around my arm, and I opened my eyes to meet his pissed face. “Don’t fucking ignore me, Val,” he warned, using my real name. Well, my real nickname, at least. Cowboy went to say something else, but instead he bypassed my eyes and stared at the entrance to the clubhouse. My gaze followed his and landed on a pair of long slim legs. I followed the path of her body up to her long blond hair and blue eyes.
Sia.
Cowboy’s grip tightened, until I wrenched my arm back and took another gulp of my drink. But, like a fucking magnet, my eyes were drawn back to her. Sia, with all the confidence her brother possessed, walked up to the bar. “Lil’ Ash, isn’t it?” she said. Ash beamed red and nodded. “Grab me a whiskey and water, would you, darlin’?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Sia’s cowboy boot tapped on the wooden floor, keeping rhythm to whatever hick song was playing. Lil’ Ash gave her the drink and she turned around. I shifted in my seat as her bored eyes drifted across the bar . . . before landing on me and Cowboy. A slow smile pulled on her lips; she pushed off the bar and headed toward us.
Cowboy leaned back in his seat and kicked my leg under the table. He tapped his Stetson when she came to a stop in front of us. “Cher,” he said, his accent laid on thickly for her benefit. Sia’s face lit up. It never failed him.
“Darlin’,” she drawled in response, earning a shit-eating grin from my best friend. Fucker was taken with this bitch, all right. “Can I sit with y’all?”
“Sure,” Cowboy agreed, at the very same time as I finished the last of my water and announced, “We’re going.”
Cowboy looked at me, and I saw another flash of annoyance—greater this time—light up his eyes. “We can wait a little to have a drink with a beautiful lady, Hush. Stop being so fucking miserable.”
I gripped my empty water glass tighter. I looked up at Sia’s confused face, but then gave her a tight smile and muttered, “Sure.”
“I can go, if you want. I—”
Cowboy kicked the seat opposite us. “Sit your sexy ass down, cher. Have a drink with your resident Cajuns. Hush here just got his period, so he’s feeling all kinds of shitty and emotional.”
Sia dropped down to the seat, laughing awkwardly at Cowboy’s joke. She took a huge gulp of her liquor, then said, “You ain’t drinking, Hush? That’s water, yeah? You feelin’ okay?” She laughed. I felt like a shitbag at how nervous she suddenly became around me. I had always been good with her. She must have been as confused as hell at my sudden change of personality.
But it was the way it had to be.
“Don’t drink much,” I replied coolly. Cowboy scowled at me again. I could feel it. I didn’t even need to look for confirmation. I’d no doubt get a fucking lecture later.
“He may not drink much, but I do,” Cowboy said, earning a big smile from Sia. “Now tell me,” he asked as he leaned in close, “how are those mares?”
“Good.” She stared into the contents of her glass. Her smile slipped, and she quietly added, “Not sure when I’ll be going back to my ranch though.” She finished the rest of her whiskey and gestured for Lil’ Ash to send her another.
The sadness in her voice made me look up from staring at the tabletop. “Yeah. Sucks you having to be here, cher,” Cowboy agreed. He reached his hand across to squeeze hers . . . then just left it there. Her eyes flicked up to meet his. Her cheeks turned pink. Cowboy gave her one of his pussy-magnet smiles.