Page 14 of Untamed

Don’t like that. Not one bit.

We find a hole in the people at the bar, and we both try to get River’s attention. She waves at Poppy and smiles but throws an annoyed look in my direction. I love how she saves all the special looks for me.

“She looks very happy to see you.” I like Poppy. She’s always telling it like it is and giving all of our shit right back to us…perfect for Rhett and his grumpy ass.

“I tend to have that effect on people.”

“Hey there, friend. What can I get you?” River almost has to shout across the width of the bar, and her gaze is fully directed onto Poppy. She doesn’t spare me a glance.

“Hi!” Poppy shouts back. “Beer for Wells and Rhett. And I’ll have a rum and Coke — dark rum, please.”

“On it!” She spins around, walking off before I can butt in and ask her for what I want.

I turn toward Poppy, open-mouthed and gesturing between all three of us.

“What was that?” I ask her. “You’re supposed to be my wingwoman!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I just — wow. I didn’t think she’d completely ignore you.” She watches River make the drinks. “You have a lot of work ahead of you, I think.”

I groan and drop my head back in defeat.

“Did you know—” River says, coming back to stand in front of us. She sets three drinks in front of Poppy and pushes them toward her. But there’s a fourth in her right hand. “—that Hayes wants me to dance with him tonight?”

River’s pretty eyes turn on me, and she rests her elbows on the bar while holding the whiskey tumbler toward me.

“Oh, yeah?” Poppy asks as I take the brown liquid from River’s fingers. “Think you’re gonna do it?”

River’s eyes go back to Poppy.

“I think one of us would end up breaking an arm.” She shrugs and throws a towel over her shoulder.

“Or it could be really fun, and I could see my friend do something amazing!” Poppy with her optimism. “I have full faith in Hayes. I don’t think he’d drop you. If he does, I’ll have Rhett assign him to stall mucking for an entire week.”

Poppy’s hand smacks me hard in the center of my back just as I take a sip of whiskey. I almost cough it back into the glass but manage to swallow it and regain some composure.

“Wouldn’t matter. Won’t drop you,” I tell her.

“Come on,” Poppy begs. “I would love to see it! They really talked up a big game in the truck on the way over.”

“Oh, great!” River laughs. “No pressure or anything.”

“I’ll make you look good, Riv. Don’t worry.” I wink at her, and despite the eye roll, I don’t miss the way her cheeks blush just slightly.

“When’s your break?” Poppy asks her, surging on to get that yes.

River glances down at her watch. “Like, fifteen minutes or so.”

“Great. Hayes will come get you, and we will all watch the show!”

Come on, baby. Come on. Say yes.

“Fine. But you’re not drinking beforehand.” She grabs the glass out of my hand and tosses it in the sink behind her.

“Fine,” I agree.

“One dance.” She says it again like she can’t believe she actually said yes.

“Yay!” Poppy shouts, handing the beers to me as she shoos me away from the bar.

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