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Finn raised an eyebrow at me as we approached. “Finn,” I introduced, “this is—” I hesitated. Shit.
“Natalie,” she interjected.
I snapped my fingers. “Right. Natalie. Sorry.” I sat down.
She took the stool next to me, not seeming to care too much that I couldn’t remember her name. “So, are you guys bull riders too?”
“No, we are the much less exciting kind of cowboys,” Finn piped up. “We compete in roping.”
“Oh. Well, that’s interesting too.”
I didn’t believe her. The disappointment on her face gave her away.
Finn smirked at me, and I rolled my eyes. They always want the bull riders.
“So, Natalie, what do you do?” Finn asked.
I meant to pay attention to her answer, but a familiar blonde head on the dance floor caught my attention, and below that, a very familiar denim-hugged ass moving to the beat of the music. There was no escaping her. She was laughing at something Maisey had said, head thrown back in that carefree way that made my heart stutter. Her golden hair was a halo of soft waves, glowing under the strobing lights.
Without thinking, I drank in every detail: the elegant curve of her neck, those full lips stretched in a radiant smile, and the tantalizing strip of toned midriff visible when she lifted her arms over her head. She looked so goddamn beautiful in that moment, unburdened and alive with a joy I ached to be a part of again.
Then her eyes met mine from across the crowd. The world seemed to grind to a halt. The pounding bass faded, and the flashing lights dimmed until there was nothing else but the blazing connection between us.
I felt the breath leave my lungs in a harsh exhale, like she’d just slammed into me at full speed.
Kinsley’s smile faltered, shoulders tensing, but she didn’t look away. Those striking blue eyes held my stare, searing into me with an intensity that was both exhilarating and terrifying. I watched a flash of emotions flicker over her delicate features—surprise, uncertainty, and an undeniable heat that punched straight through to my core.
In that heated moment, it was like the world had fallen away until there was nothing and no one else but her and me. I imagined crossing that space between us, backing her up against the nearest wall and caging her in with my body. I could almost feel the warmth of her soft skin under my calloused palms, taste the sweetness of her lips, and inhale the intoxicating apple scent of her shampoo.
My throat went bone dry at the thought of hauling her up into my arms, pinning her there with my hips as her legs wrapped around my waist, and finally sinking my hands into that glorious tangle of golden hair as I claimed her mouth.
A hard kick to my shin brought me back to reality. Finn was glowering at me from across the table.
“What the hell was that for?” I growled, rubbing the already-forming bruise.
“Your date just left, jackass.”
“Huh? Oh, shit.” Right, Natalie. Shit. “Where did she go?”
“Probably to find someone who would pay attention to her.”
My eyes flickered back over to Kinsley and the guy who was getting too close for my comfort. He moved in nearer, his hands finding her hips as he pulled her against his body and whispered something in her ear.
My jaw clenched hard enough to crack molars, my knuckles straining white against the bottle as he pawed all over her. My every defensive instinct roared to life, screaming at me to go over and rip that asshole off her.
Finn’s eyes followed my line of sight, and he shook his head. “Get used to that.”
“I’ll never get used to another guy’s hands on her,” I muttered, my grip tightening even more around the beer bottle.
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
My jaw ticked, and I scratched at the day-old stubble on my chin. I shouldn’t do anything about it. I shouldn’t. Kinsley was more than capable of taking care of herself; I knew that.
I needed to learn to walk away from her. I should leave right now…
Chapter 11
Drinkaby - Cole Swindell / Roulette On The Heart - Conner Smith (Feat. Hailey Whitters)
