Page 61 of Rough Ride

“All right.”

“Is it all right?” I pressed. “I know you said you aren’t jealous, but I don’t want me going out with him to affect anything that we’re doing, or might do in the future.”

He raised an eyebrow. “So this is something you want to keep doing?”

I twisted to look up at him. “Sure. As long as it’s still fun.”

“Oh, it’s still fun,” he said with a smirk. “I just wasn’t sure where we stood. I kind of wondered if that night in my trailer was a one-time thing.”

“Well, it’s a two-time thing, now,” I said.

“Indeed it is.” He cupped my chin and tilted my lips up to his, kissing me with enough passion to awaken the warmth between my legs once more.

But then he said, “As much as I’d love to lay here on the couch for the foreseeable future, I ought to get back.”

“Still practicing for the Steer Wrestling competition?” I asked.

Johnny slid out from under me and began collecting his clothes. “Yes ma’am.”

I grabbed a couch pillow and squeezed it to my chest, both to replace the warmth from his body and to cover myself. “I heard Eli say it’s your best event.”

“I’m inclined to agree with him. Never hurts to kick the rust off before the competition, though.” He buttoned his jeans up and leaned down to kiss me. “I appreciate the intermission, though.”

“Trust me: I appreciated it even more,” I said.

He smirked. “Ihighlydoubt that.”

I spent the afternoon driving for Uber, then went to the rodeo that evening. I didn’t know any of the cowboys participating in the rodeo tonight, which made it surprisingly boring. It was far more fun when I had individuals to root for—or, in Chris Appleton’s case, rootagainst.

I arrived at Billy Bob’s ten minutes early because I wanted to talk to Jessica, my manager, about the shift assignments that night. Fortunately, she allowed me to switch to one of the rooms with a music stage. Once I was there, I clocked-in behind the bar and then had a quick chat with the guy who coordinated the lights and sound for the stage.

“No problem,” he said after hearing my request. “I’ll make it happen. Just give me the signal when you’re ready.”

I served drinks for an hour while impatiently waiting for my cowboys to arrive. Doubt started creeping in—maybe they weren’t coming tonight. Not only would that ruin my plan, but it would mean I wasted a favor on Jessica for nothing.

Fortunately, Eli and Johnny did eventually come strolling into the room. I noticed them immediately from across the bar, but I kept my eyes low like I hadn’t been glancing in that direction every ten seconds.

“There’s our favorite bartender,” Eli said as they crowded up to the bar. “What are we drinkin’ tonight, darlin’?”

“You’re supposed to tellme,” I pointed out.

“I’ll enjoy it better if you choose,” he replied.

Johnny grinned. “I agree. You’re good when you take charge.”

I smiled back at him knowingly. “You make a good point. Let me see what I can whip up.”

Eli glanced at Johnny, then back at me, clearly noticing that there was some subtext to our conversation.

I made them whiskey sours, mostly because another customer had ordered the drink and it was easier to make three than just one. They accepted the drinks, gave a toast, then looked around the bar.

“Who’s playin’ tonight?” Johnny asked, nodding to the stage where a Billy Bob’s employee was plugging in equipment.

“Some no-name guy,” I said, keeping my eyes on him instead of Eli. “Probably not any good. We’ll see.”

“If you want to kick him out and let me stretch my pipes, you just let me know,” Eli said with a smirk.

“I’ll remember you said that,” I replied casually.

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