Page 4 of Wait in the Truck
Jesus H. Christ!I shift on the barstool, relieving some of the pressure behind my zipper.Fucking sinful.I brace my elbow on the bar and bring my fist to my mouth, cutting off the groan building at the base of my throat as I bite down on my knuckle.
A sucker for punishment, my gaze continues its appraisal, trailing along her rib cage, landing on the dainty script tattoo below the poor excuse of a string that holds her bikini top together.Grow through what you go through.
I’ve read the quote emblazoned on her skin a thousand times, and the same thought crosses my mind as always. She chose the wrong flower to accompany those words. Sage Everett could never be a rose, she’s a wildflower—resilient and untamed. I eye her carefully, taking in the faint red handprint still visible on her cheek. Once again, anger throbs hot, thick, and relentless through my veins.
Suddenly, she steps down from the rail and spins toward me, cherry between her teeth. Gaze trained on her, I watch as she plucks the stem away and bites down. I focuson her lush lips and the seductive way her tongue swipes out to collect the droplet of juice that escapes. Judging by the dare in her eyes, she knows exactly what she’s doing. I wannabethat motherfucking cherry. Feel her warm, wet tongue sliding over me. Experience her teeth digging into my skin.
“Whatcha lookin’ at, cowboy?”
I blink hard, quickly snapping out of the haze of lust this girl has thrown me into. Her sassy attitude isn’t fooling anyone. It’s a means to distract me. I’d bet money she’s worried I’ll bring up the bullshit with Toby, and she’s trying to throw me off with her flirtatious demeanor. Exhaling through pursed lips, I shake my head at her. “You know damn well I’m not just a cowboy, sweetheart.”
Her brow raises as she draws in a breath. Oh, yes. She’s aware of it, all right. Just like she’s cognizant of the circumstances surrounding how my brothers and I came to be the owners of Black River Ranch. My lip twitches, quirking up on one side as we continue this silent standoff.
“Oh, I forgot that the cowboy became the big boss rancher. How’s that workin’ out for ya? I bet your daddy would be proud.”
She must really, really not want to talk about that dumb fuck boyfriend of hers if she’s willing to bring up old family history. Luckily for her, I’m willing to give her a pass this time.
This is probably the first direct interaction we’ve had in years. At least since high school—and even then, our contact was minimal because of the tension between our families. She avoids waiting on me and my brothers when possible, she’ll cross the road if she sees us, and if we ever encounter each other along the river that our ranches share, she’ll ignore our existence. It’s like some unspoken boundary she’s laid down between us and them. Doesn’t mean I haven’t been paying attention to every move she makes. Because like it or not, I notice everything about Sage Everett and always have.
Hips swinging as she strolls away, she shoots me a devilish wink over her shoulder. “Gotta get back to my tables.”
I track her departure, allowing myself to drink in every last inch of her tall frame.
“Kade.” My bicep is met with a rough shove that few people would dare deliver, and I tear my gaze from Sage’s shapely ass to meet Jace’s knowing eyes. He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “We’re gonna get outta here. See you back home later?”
It’s only then that I fully give him my attention. Cole stands there, too, his arm slung casually around the same brunette the two of them had been dancing with earlier. His eyes twinkle with mischief as I take in the trio, anxious as shit to leave. I jut my chin toward them. “Call an Uber, would you?”
Cole shoots me a drunken smirk, holding up his phone. “Already done.”
I shake my head, muttering to myself, “Gotta have a word with Billy about serving you asshats.”He knows damn well they’re eighteen.
The brunette shoots me a saucy grin. “You know, you could come with us, Kade.” My brows shoot up at how forward she is, but she’s definitely the brazen type my brothers tend to go for. And apparently, she knows my name, even if I haven’t managed to catch hers. She bites down on the corner of her lower lip in a way I’m certain she thinks is sexy and aims a longing look in my direction.
I huff out a rough chuckle, ignoring the comment, and meet my brothers’ gazes in turn with a listen-up-fuckers smile. “Need you at six tomorrow morning, so don’t get too crazy.”
Jace shrugs. “You got it, boss.”
Rolling my eyes, I return my attention to Sage as she hustles back to the end of the bar, setting her tray down on the counter. “Four draft beers, Billy.”
He nods. “Last call. Let your tables know.”
“You got it,” she murmurs with a bob of her head before hurrying away again.
These girls all get a fucking workout between the running around to serve the rowdy local crowd and dancing on the damn bar. I grit my teeth. It seems like there’s always one dickhead who pulls something everytime Billy has them dance. Tonight was worse than most nights… and the craziest shit is that the stunt that out-of-towner pulled was completely overshadowed by Toby’s actions. White knight, he was not. Speaking to Sage like that. Fucking slapping her. Just the thought of him having hands on her ignites a fiery rage in my bloodstream. I swear that motherfucker is lucky I left him standing.
Deepening my breaths, I soothe the wrath burrowing under my skin and direct my gaze toward Sage. She doesn’t have a clue what happened after she took off to collect herself. My brothers kicked the handsy asshole around while I imprinted my fist on her boyfriend’s face. I used him as my own personal punching bag and still feel the sting in my knuckles. Hopefully, he learned his lesson, and it’ll be a while before he publicly pulls that kind of shit again.
I make a point of hanging around until the very end of the night. The last of the drunks have begun to pay their tabs, and the waitresses are busy tending to their closing duties.
On quick feet, Sage darts behind the bar and picks up a couple bags of trash. The girls who work here have this process down to a science. She jerks her head in the direction of the door that leads out to the alley. “Billy, I’m taking these out. Be right back.”
I watch her leave and use the opportunity to take aleak. When I return, she’s nowhere to be seen. “Hey, Billy,” I shout across the now empty bar, “have you seen Sage?”
“Last I saw her, she was headed to the dumpsters.”
Brandy hollers from the table she’s wiping down, “Maybe she’s taken off already.”
Just then, Cassidy walks out of the staff area, bag slung over her shoulder. “Nah, her shit is still back there.” Easing the tension in the room, she gives me a side-eyed glance with a teasing grin. “She’s probably avoiding you.”
