Page 46 of Burn the Wild

“Girl’s not there,” he grunts.

“Where the fuck is she?” I growl, my chest rising with each word.

Sam grins. “Took her to Nowhere.”

Less than twenty minutes later, I slam into Nowhere, cursing the atom bomb that is my night. Cursing the blonde bombshell that is Reese Austin. I could be in my garage with my cat, but I’m playing babysitter. Twenty-four hours on the ranch and this girl’s already blown up my world.

Beef cranes his bald head, suspicion furrowing his brow. “Wyatt here?”

“Relax,” I say, and he breathes a sigh of relief. “Coast is clear.”

No fighting for me. Not since I put my hand through the jukebox last year.

Beef polishes a glass. “Drink?”

“No.” I sidestep a couple dancing and belly up to the bar. “I’m here for—for someone.”

Beef tosses a waitress a can of Bud, while saying, “You here for Jane?”

“Jane?” I follow his eyelineandsee bangles, sharp cheekbones, green eyes.

Reese.

She’s in a booth next to Lionel Wolfington. With a cheesy smile on his face, the asshole looks like he struck gold. Reese looks it, too. Her shimmery gold dress rides so high on her toned thighs I can see her panties.

Nude lace. Fuck me.

I turn to Beef. “How many drinks has she had?”

“Five,” Beef grunts, lifting a wary brow. “Not sure how she’s still standing.”

“I need an order of fries,” I tell Beef. “Now.”

When I glance back over, Lionel’s hand is sliding up, stroking over those long, tan legs.

A territorial rage consumes me.

I am going to fucking kill him.

“Goddamnit,” Beef mutters as I tear away from the bar.

“Ain’t gotta stay out all night,” Lionel’s saying as I approach them. “Take the party back to my place.”

My fists clench. I doubt he cares that she’s three sheets to the wind.

“Not happening,” I say.

Reese brazenly meets my eyes. Her cheeks are bright pink from alcohol. “Ugh, you.”

“Yeah,ugh, me.” I stare at her. “Stop acting like a brat and get up.”

“Rude.” A smile tilts her lips, and she extends a hand. “This is—”

“I know who he is,” I snap.

Batting her long lashes, Reese curls closer to him. Lionel squeezes her shoulder. She’s fucking with me, but she doesn’t fool me. I catch the flash of panic on her face when Lionel’s hand grips her leg even tighter.

Lionel laughs, the barbed wire tattoo around his neck flexing. “What bug crawled up your ass, Montgomery?”

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