Page 41 of Boots, Bucket Lists & Bad Ideas
“Well, Hart”—her eyes rake over me in a way that makes it clear she’s not here for small talk—“you riding with anyone tonight?”
“Just my truck.”
“That’s a shame.”
Is it?
I don’t say it, but it hangs between us.
I mean, she’s attractive. Bold. Easy in her skin and making no secret of her interest. The kind of woman you know exactly what a night with her would be.
No strings.
No pretending.
Maybe a good lay would shake something loose in me. Something that has been rusted and coiled too tightly for too long.
But then my eyes drift—just a glance—and catch Jade. They’ve moved to the dartboard, hung on the wall, with decades of bad aim scarring the wood around it. She aims a dart at the board, his hand lingering a little too long on her hip.
My jaw ticks.
I turn back to Trish.
“Look, you seem like fun,” I say, voice even. “But I’m not much for fun these days.”
She tilts her head, all biker confidence and knowing smirk. “That so?”
“It’s not true.” The voice comes from my other side, sweet, smug, and definitely local.
A blur of cutoff shorts that barely qualify as legal, shining cowboy boots, and a knotted halter top that’s doing zero work to hide the lace bralette underneath, slides onto the stool beside me.
Trouble wrapped in flirting.
“Evening, Hart.” She draws out my name like it’s chocolate.
“Peggy-Ann.” The town flirt, but I am not about to bang a married woman.
Her finger runs along my forearm where my sleeves are rolled up. “You like fun. You just havepreferences.”
Here we go.
Trish tilts her head, eyes sparkling with interest.
Peggy-Anne leans in. “Heard a little rumor about what kind of fun you’re into.”
I’m not surprised.
“Oh?” Trish sips her drink, also leaning closer over the bar in front of me. “Do tell.”
“I heard”—Peggy-Ann taps her manicured nail on the bar—“that Hart here likes being tied up.”
“I—what? No.”
My brain short-circuits.
Damn Jade and her rumors.
Peggy-Ann grins like a cat who’s just knocked a vase off the table. “Don’t worry, I’m not judging. Just saying I’ve got some silk scarves and zero plans tonight.”
