Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
"Do you two have history or something?"
"Something like that," I say.
"Is that really all you're going to give me?"
"Let's just say that working for him is about as much fun as serving his alcohol," I murmur, not willing to get into all of that at two in the morning. It's not an important story anyway. Shady bastards like Danny are a dime a dozen, especially in a town full of millionaires. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good ones here. But there are just as many who made their fortunes off the backs of everyone around them.
"Is he dangerous?" There's a tremulous thread in the question, even though she tries to hide it.
"Nah, baby," I say. "He's not dangerous. Just arrogant. And a thief, a liar, and a womanizing bastard."
"Aren't all cowboys?"
I stare at her levelly. "Do I look like a liar and a thief to you, Harlow?"
"I'm sorry." She grimaces, guilt flickering through her eyes. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant the other part."
"Yeah, you've got the wrong cowboy for that part, too, beautiful. I don't fuck around."
"Sorry," she whispers, staring down at the ground. "I just…I've been here for a week, and I've heard the way these guys talk. I've seen how many of them leave with a different woman every night. I just assumed…" she trails off with a gulp. "Um, anyway. I didn't mean to insult you."
"You've been working a week?" I arch a brow. "Morgan said you just started two days ago."
"That was my first solo shift," she says. "But I shadowed Redd beforehand to learn the ropes."
Learn the ropes? Son of a…
"You've never worked in a bar before, have you?"
"Yes." She hesitates. "Kind of."
"Kind of?"
"I worked the bar at a restaurant in Houston a few times."
Jesus H. Christ. What the fuck is Redd thinking putting a girl like her on shift alone when she's never worked a bar, let alone a cowboy bar? Like she said, the Spur is full of cowboys who have nothing better to do with their time off than drink, fuck, and hit on anything that moves. And Danny Palmer isn't the worst thing that's ever strolled through the doors of the Spur. Not by half.
Drifters come through here all the time, and they aren't all on the up and up. I've been a ranchhand long enough to know that when you can't find stable work on a ranch always in need of extra hands, there's usually a reason. That reason is rarely that you're a solid dude.
Harlow may be smart enough to take care of herself, but a predator is a predator. And she's here alone.
Absolutely the fuck not.
"Where the fuck is Redd?"
"At his daughter's wedding in California."
Ah, dammit. I forgot his kid was getting married.
"You working tomorrow?"
"Yes. Why?" she asks, her tone rife with suspicion.
"Same time?"
"Yes…"
"Alone?"
"I just said that Redd is at his daughter's wedding. He won't be back for another two weeks."
That's what I thought. Fuck my life. There's not a chance in hell she's working alone for another two weeks, not with every goddamn cowboy in Silver Spoon Falls passing through this bar. I will lose my shit if something happens to her.
"Might need to arrange my schedule a bit, but I'll be here," I say.
"What?" She gapes at me. "Why?"
"You shouldn't be working alone, beautiful."
Apparently, that's the wrong thing to say. She draws herself up to her full height—all five foot nothing of it—and hits me with a deadly glare. "Excuse me? I don't know who you think you are, Wade Jessup, but I can take care of myself. I don't need y—"
Yeah, nope. She's too goddamn beautiful when she's pissed, and if my dick gets any harder, I'll be embarrassing both of us in this parking lot.
I lean forward, pressing a hard kiss to the corner of her mouth. She immediately stops talking, instead making this adorable little sound that's half indignant squawk, half gasp.
"Never said you needed me, beautiful," I murmur, drawing back. "I just said I'd be here tomorrow." I reach up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It's even softer than it looks. "See you then."
Instead of giving her time to argue—and I'm absolutely certain she will as soon as she comes to terms with the fact that I just kissed her—I stride around the side of the truck and climb in.
She stands rooted to the ground for a long moment, gaping at nothing, and then she says something. I can't hear her, but I'm guessing it's a curse or a threat, maybe even a warning. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter.
Come hell or high water, I will be here tomorrow. She doesn't have to like it, but sooner or later, she'll learn to love me.
Chapter Four
Wade
"You look like you were rode hard and put away wet." My brother, Walker, glances at me over his coffee when I drop onto the bench across from him in the mess hall. Unlike usual, the crabby bastard's stern brown eyes are crinkled at the corners, a rare smile hovering at his lips.