Page 16 of Rough Ride

Johnny was no exception. He nodded once and said, “I’ll agree to that. Yes ma’am.”

Ugh. Why did him calling mema’amturn me on so much? Normally I hated it because it made me feel old, but he delivered it with the perfect amount of country charm.

I repeated my mantra in my head:I don’t sleep with rodeo cowboys. I don’t sleep with rodeo cowboys. I don’t sleep with rodeo cowboys.

8

Sophie

“Shot to shot,” Johnny confirmed. “Although it’s hardly fair. I must weigh twice as much as you.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” I said, “but I wouldn’t bet against my liver.”

“What happens if he can’t go shot to shot with you?” Eli asked.

“He pays for all the whiskey, plus averygenerous tip.”

“I like my chances,” Johnny replied. “What are we drinking?”

“TX Whiskey,” I said, grabbing a bottle from the shelf behind me. “Local distillery. Best whiskey in Texas.”

Itwasone of the best whiskeys in Texas, in my opinion. But that wasn’t why I chose it. Johnny didn’t know that I had a secret plan that allowed me to out-drink anyone at the bar, a plan that had worked a hundred times before.

“I trust your taste,” Johnny replied.

Eli leaned forward eagerly. “Let me get in on that bet.”

“You didn’t get the biggest cheer tonight,” I replied, clicking my tongue in disappointment.

“More shots means more money, and a bigger tip,” he pointed out.

“You make a good point,” I admitted, adding a third shot glass to the bar. “Welcome to the party, Elijah. “

He gave me his best smile. “I thought I told you my friends all call me Eli.”

I grinned wickedly at him. “I don’t think you’ll be too friendly with me after I drink you under the table.”

He barked a laugh and raised the shot glass. “You’re feistier than an unbroken bronco. Cheers, y’all.”

“To the rodeo,” Johnny toasted.

“To the generous tip you’re going to give me tonight,” I said, throwing back the shot and savoring the way it burned down my throat.

“Forget the tip,” Eli said, already grinning at the upcoming joke. “You let me know when you want the whole thing.”

I put down the shot glass and squinted at him. “That’s only the tenth time I’ve heard a variation of that joke tonight.”

Eli put down his glass and held out his palms. “Had to try. That’s the only cheesy line I’ll give you tonight, I promise.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” Johnny said.

I hefted the bottle of whiskey again, pouring three more shots. Except when I poured my shot, I pressed my thumb into the nozzle. It was too loud in the bar for them to hear theCLICKin the trick bottle, and an identical—but different—brown liquid flowed into my shot glass.

“Another already?” Johnny asked.

“If you challenge the queen, you better keep up,” I taunted.

Eli chuckled again. “Like I said. She’s feisty.”

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