Page 15 of Rough Ride

“Fuck Christina Appleton! I’m going to win it all. Maybe not this year, but next year for sure.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Not drunk. Just filled with the confidence of a twenty-six year old man who’s hung like his horse.” He winked at me.

I couldn’t help but laugh. That drew an even bigger grin from Eli.

“I don’t know why you look so happy,” Johnny said. “My backflip still got more cheers tonight.”

“I did see that part of the opening ceremony,” I admitted. “Well done.”

Johnny gave Eli a victorious smile. “She sawmyentrance.”

“And it did get the biggest cheer of the night,” I added. “Aside from Chris Appleton.”

Eli sat up a little straighter. “You say his name like you hate him.”

“Hate is a strong word.” I turned around and switched liquor bottles. I had to makeanotherdamn espresso martini. “But Istrongly dislikethat guy. He seems fake.”

Eli slammed his palm on the bar and pointed at me. “Yes!” Even Johnny raised his eyebrows at me.

“Everyone loves him, and I just don’t understand it,” I explained.

Eli elbowed Johnny and said, “I think I’m in love with this woman. She’s saying lots of words I like, especially in that particular order.”

I leaned forward and smiled sweetly at Eli. “But Johnny still got a bigger applause tonight.”

That wiped the smile off Eli’s face.

“I’m glad we can all agree on that point,” Johnny said cheerfully.

“It was indeed impressive,” I said.

“Impressive enough to let me buy you a drink when you get off work?” Johnny ventured.

“We close at two in the morning,” I replied. “The only thing I’m doing after that is going home.”

Johnny’s blond eyebrows rose.

“Going homealone,” I clarified.

“So whencanI buy you that drink?” he asked casually.

I had to admit: he was good. Compared to every other advance I’d received tonight, his was the smoothest. It helped that he was on the more attractive end of the spectrum of customers packed into the honky tonk.

“Damnit,” Eli said. “She’s thinking about it.”

“Is she?” Johnny asked, blue eyes never leaving mine.

Shit. Was I that obvious?

“Tell you what,” I said with a smile. “I’ll go shot to shot with you. Right now.”

“I was thinking beer,” Johnny replied. “Since you’re working.”

I shrugged casually and leaned forward, giving them a view of my cleavage. “Beer’s fine too, if you can’t handle your liquor. But what I was going to say was: if you go shot to shot with me, and you’re still alive by the time this place closes, I’ll let you buy me dinner.”

Eli muttered a few more curses, but Johnny was silent as he stared back at me. He studied my face, trying to discern if I was serious or not. But I knew he wouldn’t decline my offer. I’d been working here a long time, and I’d never met a cowboy who wouldn’t rise to a challenge.

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