Page 23 of Maverick
It’s not my native language. And sometimes I fear that they’re going to see I don’t belong. That the cowboy hat is more costume than anything else for me, and that I would be more comfortable in breeches than chaps.
But right now, I want to sink into it. Right now, this is my world, and it feels like it. Even though I’m a loser.
Cam buys a round of drinks for all the barrel racers, and I happily take a sip of the frozen daiquiri that I’m presented with. Usually, I hang out with Colt and Dallas, and that’s fun, but it’s not this.
It doesn’t take long, though, for the girls to get a couple drinks deep, and to start searching for hookups. Cam is all over Holt, and Elizabeth is in the corner with Belle, the Rodeo Queen, looking cozy.
And how nice for everybody.
That’s fine. I’m not even a little bit jealous.
I scan the bar, and I tell myself I’m not looking for Maverick. But I see him standing in the corner, not talking to anyone. He’s not drinking, either. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he’s surveying the lay of the land. I wish I knew what he was thinking. Watching and judging? Why is he even here?
I’m tempted to go and ask, but then one of the cowboys – Sean, I think his name is – swaggers on up to me, a cocky grin on his face.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I’d like that.”
I follow him to the bar, and he puts in an order.
“Heard you didn’t advance.”
“Yeah.” I don’t tell him that I didn’t hear anything about his event, and I don’t care.
“Bummer.”
“It’s fine. I get to go home now, I guess. But I suppose a lot of people are headed home after this.”
“Yeah. I have a couple more rides, to see if I can earn enough points to go forward.”
I nod. “Great. Hopefully you do.”
“Yeah.”
“How many drinks do I have to buy you before you’ll fuck me?”
I blink. I’m shocked at what just came out of his mouth. He was being normal a second ago. And now suddenly it feels aggressive. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, no offense. I was just given to believe that it didn’t take a lot of small talk with you. After all, Maverick Quinn got you in a poker game.”
“Well, that was Maverick,” I say.
He’s drunk, I realize now. Which explains the switch-up, not that I don’t think he would’ve done it, I just think he might’ve been a little bit smoother. Because of course there’s no way in all the damned world that this man is getting anywhere near me and a bed after that.
“Thanks for the drink,” I say. “I’m going to go now.”
He grabs my arm, and fear takes hold of me. I don’t think he’s actually going to do anything in the bar with everyone around, but his grip is tight, and people are distracted.
“Come on, I’m a good time.”
“Yeah. You seem like it,” I say, jerking my arm out of his hold.
“Come on,” he says. “I think I deserve something.”
“You sure fucking do,” comes a growl from behind me, and suddenly there’s a fist flying right past my head, connecting withSean’s jaw. He drops straight to the ground, and I turn to see Maverick standing there, his eyes furious. There’s blood on his knuckles, and that’s when I notice that Sean has a very broken nose. Blood is pouring from his nostrils, and he looks rough.
“Maverick…”
