Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
So I do what I do best. I pull her closer. Guide my thumb up the column of her neck, circling the spot underneath her ear. I hear her breath catch, feel her breasts press into my side.
Aw, yeah.
“I’ll take a cider. Spiked, please,” Sally breathes.
“And I’ll have a Shiner Bock if you don’t mind, Tallulah.” Digging a fifty out of my pocket with my free hand, I drop it into the tip jar. “Silent auction going well so far?”
Tallulah nods as she grabs a glass and turns to fill it with cider from a fancy decanter. “So far, so good. I know your poker game is a hot item. Goody said there were ten bids last time she checked.”
“Already?” I glance over my shoulder. “That’s a surprise.”
“Everyone wants to learn from the pro.” Sally gives my shoulder a squeeze. “No one bluffs better than you.”
“I don’t know, Sal. You’re giving me a run for my money.”
Her eyes twinkle at the inside joke. “I am, aren’t I?”
This is sick, right? Us joking about how great we are at pretending to be into each other?
Only I’m not pretending. Of course I’m good at this because I’ve been dreaming of touching Sally this way since I was eighteen.
What does it mean, then, that she’s good at it too?
We take our drinks to our table. I lucked out; only Sawyer and Duke were able to make it tonight. Sawyer let our younger brother know that Sally and I might seem a little cozier than usual. In true Duke fashion, he ribbed me nonstop today about my fake date with my best friend, but tonight, he’s too distracted by Wheeler to pay Sally and me much mind.
Dinner is over and the silent auction is just ending when there’s a tap on my shoulder. My stomach dips when I turn and see Beck Wallace standing there, a sheet of paper in his hand.
“I bought your poker lesson.” His eyes slip to Sally. “Any chance y’all want to play?”
“Tonight?” I drawl.
“Tonight, yeah. Figured why not since we’re all here. We just need a deck of cards, but something tells me you got a few of those in your truck.”
I watch Sally’s expression flutter with hope. She smiles, shoulders rising on a quick, shallow inhale.
What the fuck am I doing, helping her get this guy’s attention?
“I’ve actually never played poker.” She glances at me. “I’d love to learn.”
“He never taught you?” Beck asks, clearly surprised.
“Wasn’t ever interested until now,” she replies, still looking at me.
Why the fuck did I agree to this again?
I don’t want Beck Wallace looking at Sally in her slinky dress and barely-there bra, much less touching her or taking her home.
At what point do I have to let her go?
At what point do I slip away and let them be alone?
Never.
At least, it ain’t gonna happen tonight. Maybe that makes me a selfish bastard, but I don’t care. I think seeing Sally leave with Beck might actually kill me.
I’ll give myself one night—and one night only—to pretend that this date is real. To pretend that this girl is mine and that she’s actually coming home with me. She’s sleeping in my bed. Saying my name.
God, how good I’d be at pleasing her. If only she knew.
This is some kind of step. A big step, a baby one, a step back, a step in the right direction—I don’t know.
All I know is, I want more Sally, and I ain’t sharing.
“What do you say, boys?” I glance at my brothers. “Y’all up for a game of chance?”
Sawyer knocks back his whiskey. “I don’t get out much, so, yeah, count me in.”
“I’d love to give you all my money, sure,” Duke deadpans.
Making sure Sally doesn’t need another drink, I head for my truck.
CHAPTER 10
Wyatt
SHOULDA BEEN A COWBOY
Sally is talking to Beck when I walk back into the barn, deck of cards in hand. The cardboard edges of the box bite into my palm as I tighten my grip.
Yes, Sally connecting with other guys was part of the plan.
Yes, it was a plan I agreed to.
No, I was not prepared for the white-hot jealousy that streaks through me when I see her smile up at him like he hung the goddamn moon.
Enough of the pretending. Enough already of the hiding. Get her out of here and tell her how you feel.
“Y’all wanna play or what?” I toss the deck onto the table.
Duke pulls back, hooking a thumb in the direction of the parking lot. “What bit you in the ass out there?”
“The cold.” And the fact that this stupid plan is actually working. “I’m about to turn into a pumpkin, so let’s get the game moving.”
“All right, Cinderella,” Sawyer replies, mouth twitching.
Sally and I meet eyes. That’s what I called her on our first kinda-sorta fake date the other night at The Rattler.