Page 11 of Wyatt

By the time supper rolls around at five p.m., I’m beat. But tonight, my libido won out over my exhaustion. I’m not going to scratch my fun-with-a-cowboy itch if all I do is work and sleep. And being around Wyatt more often than not—he’s a cowboy on Lucky River Ranch, where Dad cares for the herd and the horses—has taken my sexual frustration to new heights.

Sipping my margarita, I watch Wyatt make the pretty blonde laugh while simultaneously buying another girl—this one a redhead—a drink. He’s smiling, a Shiner Bock in his hand, as a third girl approaches him. They clearly know each other. Wyatt smiles, says something that makes her giggle, and then wraps her in a tight, flirty hug, the kind that has her going up on her tiptoes to plaster her body against his.

To be fair, he is a tall guy—six-two—with long legs and the kind of pecs that would make a Hollywood casting director cry. At five-three, I basically have to leap into the air to give Wyatt a hug.

The woman holds him for a beat too long before steppingback, her hand lingering on his chest, his arm lingering around her waist.

He talks. She keeps giggling. The other two women wait patiently for him to return his attention to them at the bar.

Really, Wyatt got this sunshine thing all wrong. He’s the one who’s the sun. The rest of us just float in his orbit, waiting our turn to bask in his warmth and attention.

I watch in wonder as he seamlessly brings the third girl into his conversation with the first two. Now Wyatt is telling a story, andallthe girls are giggling. The blonde playfully slaps his shoulder, and he responds with a flirty nudge of his elbow.

The man is a master.

He’s fun without being cheesy. Forward without being creepy. There’s an ease to the way he casts his spell over these women, a confidence in his movements, that’s epically, lethally sexy.

Wyatt is getting laid tonight, no question. Ignoring the twist of jealousy in my gut at the idea of him takinganyof these women home, I force myself to look away.

Lucky for me, my friend Mollie—who also happens to be Mom and Dad’s employer, as she’s the owner of Lucky River Ranch—picks that moment to walk into The Rattler. Cash—her fiancée and Wyatt’s older brother—is right behind her.

Like usual, Mollie is dressed to the nines in a miniskirt and metallic-purple cowboy boots.

And like usual, Cash drapes an arm over her shoulders, letting everyone in the bar know she’s taken.

Smiling, I wave at them. You’d never know from the lovey-dovey way they act now that a few short months ago, they absolutely hated each other’s guts. Amazing how quickly things can change.

“I’m sorry he’s here.” Mollie aims a smile at Cash. “I know it’s supposed to be girls’ night?—”

“But somebody’s gotta make sure no one bothers y’all.”Cash’s voice is gruff, but his eyes are soft as he looks down at Mollie.

When I decided earlier this afternoon that I’d find a second wind and give ladies’ night a try, I asked Mollie to be my wingwoman. She landed a hot cowboy, so I figure I have something to learn from her. She and I have gotten close since I’ve been home. Plus, she’s always down to have a good time.

“Pretty sure that’s why Sally’s here, Cash.” Mollie tilts her head. “To get bothered by hot guys.”

“I’ll make sure they’re the right kind of hot guys then.” Cash glances across the bar at Wyatt and shakes his head. “My brother sure as hell ain’t one of ’em. Who’s he talking to?”

Mollie squints. “Don’t know. Flavors of the day, I guess.”

“Of the hour, more like it,” Cash murmurs.

I smile tightly at the oldest Rivers brother. “Please tell me you have some friends you can introduce me to.”

Stepping away from Cash, Mollie loops her arm through mine as she surveys the crowd. “There’re somecuteones here tonight.”

“Hey,” Cash says.

Mollie just waves him away. “Oh, please, you and I both know you’re the cutest of them all. The grumpiest, too, but that’s neither here nor there.”

She’s not wrong. I love Cash dearly, but he definitely growls a lot.

I will say, he’s been almost pleasant—pleasant for Cash anyway—ever since he and Mollie got together.

See? That’s the power of good sex. Love too, I guess, but let’s not put the cart before the horse.

I need a fuck that’s not fictional, as rude as that sounds. I need to take advantage of being in such close proximity to so many gorgeous guys with big hands and bigger…hearts. All of a sudden, I have an end date for my stay in Texas, so it’s time to make shit happen.

A gust of cool air hits the back of my legs. I turn to see a broad-shouldered man in a cowboy hat and a striped button-up stride into the bar.

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