Page 47 of Whirlwind

“Let’s get to our rooms, and then get that drink,” Joey says.

“Drink?” Hawk asks, a smile on his lips. “I could use a drink.”

“It’s settled, then. We’re going out!” Joey cheers. “But first, we shower.”

He wiggles his eyebrows at me again, and I shove him harder, ignoring Ryker’s still-burning stare as I head to the back of the truck to grab my things. This is going to be an interesting night.

Chapter seventeen

Ryker

I can’t take myeyes off her. Her body moves like it was made to dance, and I find myself wondering what else I don’t know about Finley Buckley.

From the moment we walked into this western bar, appropriately named OK Saloon, Joey’s had her wrapped in his arms, twirling her around the dance floor to various country western songs. Hawk has even danced a couple with her while Joey took a break to chat with me or dance with another woman. He’s very popular, which doesn’t surprise me.

I, too, have been asked multiple times by various women if I wanted to dance or “Get outta here,” but I’m happily unhappy where I am: Watching the woman I want dance with men who aren’t me and nursing a watered-down whiskey.

Could I be out there dancing? Yes. But would Finley even want to dance with me? Doubtful. Besides, with everything that’s gone down—and now that we’re “just friends”—it’d feel weird.

“You look like someone kicked your puppy,” Joey says as he comes back from the floor, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Thanks,” I snipe back, looking over his shoulder to see Finley safely in the arms of Hawk. My shoulders relax a bit at the sight, even though I stupidly find myself jealous of my best friend, who’s not even interested in her.

“Can I have that?” Joey points to my drink, but before I can say anything, he takes it from my hand and downs it.

“I was going to say no.”

He smacks his lips and grins, putting the empty glass on the bar top. “You were taking too long to drink it, anyway. I did you a favor.”

I swallow down my jerk reaction to bicker with him and look back out at the floor. Hawk dips Finley, making her giggle. Okay, maybe I amveryjealous of my best friend. That should be me out there…

Joey nudges my shoulder. “Go ask her to dance.”

I shake my head and remove my gaze from the two of them. “I don’t dance.”

“That’s a bunch of bull crap if I ever heard it. I saw you dance and woo women the night after our last Channel 5 chase, remember? You’ve got pretty good rhythm for an old white guy, T-Daddy.”

I cast Joey a hard stare. “Are you trying to annoy me, Joseph?”

“Maybe.” He shrugs cheekily. “If I was really trying, though, I would’ve worn another one of my T-shirts instead of this plain ol’ boring one.” I growl at him, and he cackles. “You’re way too easy to rile up this trip, Ry-Ry.”

“Ry-Ry?”

Joey shrugs, waving down the bartender for a beer. “Wanted to try it out, see how it feels on the tongue. But you know what?” He leans down so his lips are at my ear. “I like Daddy better.”

“Joseph—”

“Oh, lighten up, for fuck’s sake.” He hands me a beer I didn’t ask for before taking one for himself. “You’re at a honky-tonk in Oklahoma drinking a beer after a day of doing what you love,andthe woman you like is here. Doesn’t get much better than that.”

My heart rate speeds up. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Joey sips his beer then grins at me like a fool. “Puh-leaseeee, I’m not an idiot. I bet Hawk that, by the end of tonight, you and Finley would kiss.”

My jaw clenches, and the hand I have holding my beer becomes stiff. Everything in me begins to scream,Divert! Divert!

“You’ll lose money, then. Should’ve bet on yourself.”

Joey lets a loud laugh rip out of his chest, and he smacks his knee. “Me and Fin? Yeah, right. She shut me down back in college, and we’ve been flirty friends ever since. She’s hot but in a no-chase zone.”

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