Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“Feel safe to be myself for a night?”
“Yeah, that.”
When I pulled in front of the place, I suddenly saw the gay cowboy bar through Julian’s more sophisticated eyes and felt embarrassed at how hokey it might’ve seemed from the outside with the gigantic lighted cowboy and horse on the sign. Christ.
We were silent as we stepped out of the truck and made our way inside, almost like there was this quiet reverence about it—or maybe it was just apprehension.
Inside the place was a bit dimmer, with dark wooden tables, a small dance floor, pool tables, and even a jukebox with a decent selection of popular music.
I found us seats at the end of the long bar, greeting regulars I recognized, as well as the bartender. Julian got plenty of interested looks, which didn’t surprise me one bit. He was gorgeous, I could at least admit that.
We ordered beers and settled into the atmosphere, which had a quiet sort of buzz. Some men swayed together on the dance floor, and as Julian’s gaze swung around the space, he spotted the dart board. “Wanna play?”
So we sipped our beers and played the best of three, and damn, his aim was way better than mine. “Suppose it makes sense for someone with weapons training.”
“You’ve never shot a gun?” he asked as he gathered our darts in a pile and left them on the ledge near the game.
“Sure, for target practice, but it’s honestly been years,” I confessed, then rolled my eyes, thinking about how Hunter would get in trouble with my father for shooting at random things as a kid, like possums or empty beer cans. He’d always try to make a competition of things. “Hunter’s got a collection, though. Says he keeps ’em around in case of emergency. Which is actually pretty rare on the ranch.”
Julian smirked. “Why am I not surprised?”
We grabbed a couple more beers and were about to plop down on barstools again when his gaze shifted toward the billiards table.
“No way,” he said, pointing to the bull-riding machine in the corner.
“Welcome to Wyoming.”
“I dare you,” he said with a glint in his eye.
“Had my share of turns on those things. I dare you.”
“Hmm…” He seemed to be considering it.
“You don’t know anybody. It’s only a stupid machine, not a real animal,” I encouraged him in a low voice. “I say go for it.”
“I’ll do it.” He lifted his bottle and chugged down half of his beer, likely for liquid courage. “There’s always a first time for everything.”
I grinned as I followed him toward the machine. Once he got himself on the bull’s back, he looked a bit wary, and I thought maybe he was going to change his mind, but then he got this determined look on his face.
“Scoot up as close to the front of the saddle as you can, and brace your legs against the sides,” I said, so he positioned himself behind the bull’s head. “Grab the rope with your dominant hand and swing the other arm out for balance.”
The machine was turned on, and he did well for the first couple of seconds. I saw a moment of pure joy on his face—before he was flung off. I caught him by the waist as he stumbled toward the floor and before he twisted his bad knee or something worse.
“That was awesome.” He turned in my arms and looked up at me. “Thanks.”
“You did good your first time.” I wanted to pull him against me right then and kiss the hell out of him, but that would defeat the whole purpose of the stupid plan I had to begin with.
As we made our way back to the bar, I was approached by a regular, a blond with a muscular build, whom I’d seen a handful of times before. He wasn’t my type, but Julian certainly was his because he’d been checking him out since we’d arrived.
“Who’s your friend?” the guy asked, looking Julian up and down, and I felt momentarily protective, like I wanted to hide him away from his roving eyes.
Once introduced, he asked to buy us a drink, so we sat down and he ordered us shots of whiskey.
“That man has been eyeing you all night,” I said when he excused himself to put some coins in the jukebox.
“And?” Julian asked, looking me in the eye.
I shrugged, but my entire body was thrumming with raw nerves. “You should go for it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why did you bring me here?”
“I thought it would be fun,” I said in the best nonchalant voice I could muster. “And I thought maybe…maybe you could get it out of your system.”
“Get what out?”
“Me. I’m just another body, after all. Someone to enjoy for an evening.”
His jaw tensed. “You’re more than just a body.”
My chest tightened like a screw. “You know what I mean.”