Page 128 of Roulette Rodeo
Duke heads off to get cleaning supplies, still laughing and shaking his head. The other diners have gone back to their meals, though I catch a few amused glances our way.
The bell above the door chimes, and I glance over reflexively. Then I do a double-take because the woman walking in is absolutely not what I expected to see in small-town Montana or wherever we are.
She looks like she stepped out of a vintage pin-up calendar, if pin-up girls shopped at modern boutiques and had attitude problems.
Platinum blonde hair styled in perfect victory rolls, but with teal-blue ends that fade like watercolor. Her makeup is flawless—winged eyeliner sharp enough to kill, red lips that match her nails exactly, highlight that makes her cheekbones look like they could cut glass. She's wearing a high-waisted pencil skirt in cherry red that hugs curves that would make Marilyn Monroe jealous, paired with a black off-shoulder top that shows just enough cleavage to be dangerous.
But it's the details that really sell it.
The vintage seamed stockings with the line running perfectly straight up the back of her legs. The pearl necklace that's definitely real. The patent leather heels that add at least four inches to what's already an impressive height. The tiny tattoo of a poppy flower visible on her shoulder.
She's young though—maybe twenty-five, twenty-six at most.There's something in her eyes that speaks of hard-won confidence rather than natural assurance. Like she's built this persona as armor and wears it like a weapon.
And she's heading straight for our table with the kind of purposeful stride that means someone's about to get their ass handed to them.
She doesn't slow down, doesn't hesitate, just marches right up and plants her hands on her hips. The move makes her chest thrust forward and I swear Talon's eyes glaze over for a second before he catches himself.
Then she points directly at Rafe with one perfectly manicured finger.
"Why are you such a fucking coward?"
I gawk in shock at the sheer audacity while Rafe rolls his eyes like this is a regular occurrence.
It takes her about two seconds to notice me, and when she does, her entire demeanor shifts. Her eyes go wide, scanning me from head to toe with the kind of thorough assessment usually reserved for prize horses or expensive cars.
"DAMN!" she exclaims, loud enough that the entire diner definitely hears. "How did y'all pull a fine-ass omega like this?"
Before anyone can answer, she leans closer to me, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Are they bribing you? Blink twice if you're unsafe."
The sheer drama of it makes me fight back a laugh. Instead, I put on my most serious expression.
"If I blink three times, what does that mean?"
She doesn't miss a beat, throwing her hands up dramatically.
"Means these fake cowboys are holding you against your will and I need to rally the troops, lock them up, and throw away the key!"
I giggle, completely charmed by her theatrical energy. "Okay then."
I make a big show of it, looking directly at her.
"Blink one." I close my eyes slowly, deliberately.
"Blink two." Another exaggerated blink.
"Blink—"
Shiloh's hand covers my eyes before I can finish, his palm warm against my face.
"I knew if you met Poppy we'd be fucked," he groans, but I can hear the fond exasperation in it.
I'm still giggling, his hand still over my eyes as I ask the prime question:
"Now who's Poppy?"
SWEET CHAOS AND NEW LAWS
