Page 55 of Wildest Dreams

“Doesn't bother me,” she smiles as she purses the rim of the bottle to her lips and takes a mouthful. “But I am curious Conrad,” she says, placing her drink down, “do you ask everyone you just met out on dates?” and Riggs bellows a laugh, Harlow shakes her head shamelessly and Pacey's mouth drops open, and I hate it. Hate that he asked her.

“Seems to be a bit of a pattern when any new girl rocks up into town,” Aspen side eyes Conrad.

“Dirty dog,” Riggs chuckles to himself, hand stroking his beard.

“So is it still a no?” Conrad rests his elbow on the table, head on his hand as he looks down the table at her.

“It's still a no,” she smirks, lifting her bottle to her lips.

“Damn,” he laughs, sinking back into his seat. “Worth a shot though, right... you don't ask, you don't get.”

I manage to simmer my thoughts for just a moment when I see Riggs lift his brows at me and I give him a nod.

“Conrad,” my voice is a little louder as he looks towards me, smirk on his face as he shares a joke with Harlow.

“Yeah?”

“Walk with me a minute,” I scoot from the cherry red seat and my boots hit the dusty ground.

Riggs and Aspen move out of his way so Conrad can reach me.

I begin to walk and he is behind me, I tug the door of The Boot and step outside into the cool spring evening, Conrad’s boots beating down behind me.

Turning, I tilt my head to the side and his hands fold into his jean pockets.

“Just letting it be known...” I run my finger across my bottom lip, head resting down as I close the gap between us. “She's off limits.”

“Is she?” he fucking scoffs a laugh, eyes glistening as they dance around the fire deep within mine.

“Yeah, she'smine.” And even I’m a little shocked at my own admission. Dixie broke my heart and trampled over it, but the thought of her being with someone else floors me in an instant.

Conrad lets out a deep laugh, shaking his head from side to side.

“So, what, you Rivera boys get to put claim on any fresh meat that comes across that town line?” his eyes lift to look behind me at the dusk evening sky.

“Not at all, but the two girls you have tried to make a move on have been connected to me and Riggs, maybe you need to look a little closer at the girls already in the town before you come for ours.”

Conrad steps towards me, our boots toe to toe.

“Okay princess, I’ll leave her alone but if she makes a move on me...” his lips twitch into a smirk. “I won't be pushing her away,” and with that he turns on his heel and walks back into The Boot, soft laughter following him as he does.

“Fuck it,” I groan, lifting my hat and rubbing my hand over my messy hair before placing my hat back on my head, and making my way back to our table to sit with the girl that I have claimed to be mine, yet can't even hold a decent conversation with.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

DIXIE

Conrad walks in, boyish grin on his face as he settles next to Riggs. They shuffled up when Tripp took Conrad outside and couldn't be bothered to keep moving every time one of them needed out.

“Hey,” he smirks, resting his hands on the table just as Tripp walks in, eyes pinned to me.

“Hey,” I whisper, my mind ticking over with what may or may not have happened outside.

Tripp says nothing as he sits down next to me, his eyes move from Pacey to Riggs before landing on Conrad.

“Was thinking,” Riggs breaks through the visible tension that seems to be blanketing our table. “I might call some cowboys down from across city instead of using our boys, we need to get the cows settled and I am a little worried if I take a group of mine out to cow watch, so, I think we should call a favor in.”

Tripp scrubs his face with his hands.

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