Page 70 of Rough Ride

Johnny slammed down his beer glass. “A hundred bucks. You’re on.”

Eli slapped his hands together. “Hot damn, that’s what I love to hear.”

“Your funeral.” Sawyer gave me a final hard glance, then carried his whiskey somewhere else.

Eli leaned toward me and whispered behind one of his palms. “He’s afraid of losing.”

“Or,” I teased, “he doesn’t like to play games.”

Eli gave a start. “Naw, that ain’t it.” He turned to Johnny. “I’ve been thinkin’ more about where I’m gonna take Sophie on our date.”

“Good for you,” Johnny replied, unbothered by the jab. “And when you’re done failing to satisfy her, I’ll invite her over to my trailer for a nightcap.”

Eli laughed heartily at the joke. “I don’t doubt it.” His gaze cut over to me. “What do you think, darlin’? Who’s done a better job ofsatisfyingyou? And remember, you’re a bartender, so you’re under oath.”

“I don’t think that’s how this job works,” I said. “It isn’t a court of law.’

“Sure it is!” Eli announced, patting the bar. “That’s why it’s called theBARexam.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the stupid joke.

Johnny just rolled his eyes. “If you’re trying to gloat about the fun you two had last night, I already know.”

Both of us twisted to look at him. “Oh?” I asked.

“You left, and Eli followed a minute later,” Johnny explained with a knowing smirk. “A few minutes after that, another bartender came running in here. She tried whispering to Liz, but I heard everything.”

I felt my chest go tight. Johnny had insisted that he wouldn’t be jealous if I went on a date with Eli, but that was different than a quick-and-dirty hookup. I had no reason to feel guilty about it, but hearing him casually mention that he knew about what we had done…

Should I feel guilty about it? We weren’t exclusive. Not even close.

“It was only a few minutes,” Johnny added, taking a slow sip from his beer. A smile spread across one cheek. “That timing alone lets me know I’ve done a better job satisfying her.”

My eyebrows shot up my forehead as I looked from one man to the other.

Eli whistled between his teeth. “Damn, Johnny. I think you’ve got me beat.”

“Now that,” Johnny said, “is the first true thing I’ve heard you say all night.”

Eli barked a laugh and held up two fingers. “Two more whiskey shots. Something cheap. I need to overwrite that burn with something harsher.”

I chuckled while pouring two shots for them. “Honestly, I think both of you could do a better job. We’ll just have to keep trying.”

“Ouch, Sky Eyes,” Johnny said.

Eli jerked backward like he’d been shot in the chest. “Welldamn. Didn’t think we’d catch strays from that side of the bar.”

“I’ve been very satisfied,” I revealed with a sexy grin. “But there’s always room for improvement.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Johnny said.

“Same,” Eli agreed, picking up the shot. “And who knows? Maybe we ought to join forces to accomplish our shared goal.”

It took me a moment to realize what he meant.

Johnny coughed once after throwing back the whiskey. He glanced at Eli, then looked at me.

Was he suggesting… no way. I must have misunderstood him.

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