Page 88 of Rocky Ride

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

Virge was up in the hayloft when I got a text from Penny. I sat down on a bale of straw to read it.

“Want to go to a Hallowe’en party tomorrow night?”

“Where?”

“One of my girlfriends is having it. Her parents have a big house and they’re letting her have a party.”

“Sure. I could go.”

“Bring Virgil and Vicki too. It will be fun.”

“I’ll ask him.”

I hollered up the ladder to Virge, “Want to go to a Hallowe’en party tomorrow night?”

“Do I have to dress up?”

“Umm…I never asked that.”

“Penny inviting us?”

“Yep. You can think about it and consider asking Vicki. Penny mentioned you bringing Vicki.”

“I’ll think about it, but only if I don’t have to dress up. I hate doing that shit.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Yeah, but you’d do it if Penny put pressure on you, and I wouldn’t.”

“Shut up, Virge.”

Music City Marriott. Nashville. Tennessee.

Mason opened his eyes not expecting to see Annie’s gorgeous gray eyes staring into his.

She ran a feathery finger down his bare chest and made him shiver. “You have some incredible tats.”

He smiled. “You do too. You surprise me in every way possible.”

“Ditto. I’m hungry this morning and you’re responsible.”

Mason laughed. “Not me. It must be from all that singing you did at Coyote Ugly last night. I can’t believe how good you are.”

“I sing at my own roadhouse. It’s what I do for fun.”

“I’ve had more fun with you in a couple of days than I’ve had in my entire live,” said Mason, “and that is not an exaggeration.”

“You’re a sweet guy.”

He laughed. “Not usually. I’m a mean fucker most of the time. Are you ready to get up?”

“First I’ll check and see if you have any morning wood for me.”

Annie burrowed her head under the covers and made Mason laugh. “Not time to get up yet.”

Benson Motel. Shadow Valley. West Virginia.

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