Page 49 of Burn the Wild

“Want a drink, Country Boy?” she asks when I reach the bar.

“Get off the bar, Reese,” I order. My gaze travels up her toned thighs to those nude panties. If I can see them, everyone else can. I hate that idea.

She looks down and batsherdark lashes. “Have you ever danced on top of a bar? It’s actually quite fulfilling.”

I grit my teeth, hating my life right now. I’m the fun one, so why does this girl bring out the Davis side of me? Protective. Bossy as fuck.

My fingers dig into the bar top. “One more chance.”

“Or you’ll what?”

“Either I burn the bar down or you come with me.”

She grins. That coy little smile that revs me up. “Burn it down then.”

I open my mouth, ready to tell her she’s a brat, when some random fucker slides his grubby hand up her calf. And then he leans in and licks it.

He licks her fucking leg.

Reese gasps and stumbles backward, her pretty face twisted in disgust.

Motherfucker.

I’ve been good the last goddamn year, and now this guy’s gonna make me start over.

I turn to Beef, rolling up my shirtsleeves. “Who are these assholes?”

“Townies.” Beef shakes his head, even though he and I both know it’s pointless. “Ford. You’re not Wyatt,” he warns. “I just got a new sign.”

I roll my neck out. Flex a fist. “Give me a shot.”

“Ford.”

“Give me a goddamn shot, Beef.”

He does it, and I shoot it back.

Then I glance over at the man. He’s staring up at Reese like he’s already got her in his bed. “Hey, buddy, you like that girl?”

His ugly face grins at me. “Yeah, man, she’s got a real nice p—”

I fucking punch him. My knuckles shatter his jaw, and I grin at the satisfying crunch of bone. He stumbles back and hits the ground.

Reese gasps. “Ford, what—”

Screams pierce the air. The music from the jukebox has kicked into some frenetic country song. I glance behind me and realize a new fight has broken out.

I’m shoved forward into the bar. Reese screams and drops to her knees, blonde hair tumbling wildly around her face. Her knuckles turn white as she grips the bar top.

“Don’t move,” I tell her. She’s safe where she is. I don’t want anyone trampling her.

My heart beats hard. I love a goddamn fight as much as Saturday night.

Beef has the fire extinguisher out. He catches a townie in the face with a harsh spray of foam. A taller guy nearly catches me in the jaw when I turn my head, but I grab him by his shirt and shove him into the wall. I spin around and take in the chaos.

My heart ratchets up its beat.

There are too many people crowding our space, throwing things.

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