Prologue
GAVIN
“Well, it’s official. I’m joining a convent.”
The bartender scoffs with an eye roll as she sets a shot in front of the brunette bombshell I’ve been eyeing. “You’re too dramatic for your own good.”
The soon-to-be nun downs the clear liquid and makes a face after. “I’m serious. I decided to take a chance and sign up for a dating app, and I swear to God…” She pulls her phone from her shorts pocket and unlocks the screen. “Alright, let’s start with Dennis G. Hey, beautiful,” she mimics in a deeper tone. “You like those braids pulled? I’ll be your cowboy and let you ride me for a night.”
I nearly choke on my beer while I hold back my laughter.
“I mean, c’mon!” She groans. “That doesn’t even make sense! You’d have to bend me over to pull my braids like reins, so he’d be riding me…”
My dick stirs at the image she created in my head, and fuck me, I like it.
“You’re too literal, Maize,” the bartender scolds.
Maize. Of course, she’d have a pretty name too.
I should stop eavesdropping and staring, but I can’t. She’s gorgeous, and her smart mouth has kept me hard for the past hour. After a job interview, I stopped by the Circle B Saloon to unwind before my long drive back to Houston tomorrow. I decided to sit at one of the tall tables to face the TV, and I haven’t been able to take my eyes off the woman who’s clearly had a rough day.
“Okay, how about this one from Gregory H.” She clears her throat as she prepares to read another message.
The girl cracks up as Maize spews another horrific one-liner.
“I fuckin’ quit. There are no decent, single men in Eldorado. They’re either taken, swing for the other team, or talk like they dropped out of middle school. So, I’m joining a convent. At least then, my eyes would never have to be assaulted by an unsolicited dick pic ever again. And let me tell you, the last picture I got was crooked and scarred me for life anyway.”
That has me doubling over with laughter, and there’s no hiding it this time. Both girls snap their gaze to me as I try to control myself. I grab the neck of the beer bottle, take a swig, and act as if I wasn’t listening to every word.
“Looks like one guy finds you amusing…” The bartender holds out her hand with a grin, but Maize frowns.
“I do,” I say with a shrug, hoping to make her smile. “Mostly because you as a nun…I ain’t seein’ it.”
“Really? Because I can totally picture her on her knees.”
Maize’s face turns beet red as she throws a straw toward the bartender. She giggles as Maize’s head drops.
And now the image of her on her knees surfaces in my head.
“I meant, praying! On your knees praying,” the bartender clarifies, but it’s obvious she’s full of shit. She’s got a smart mouth too, and I quickly wonder if they’re related. They do look alike.
“Excuse my sister,” Maize says. “She gets a kick out of embarrassing me.”
“I was right about you two,” I drawl, grabbing my nearly empty beer and standing.
“Right about what?” Maize asks as I take the stool next to her at the end of the bar. She doesn’t flinch when my arm brushes hers, and I take that as a good sign.
“I had a feeling you were related.” I nod toward the other girl.
“My little sister,” she confirms. “Kenzie.”
“Her favorite sister.” Kenzie smirks.
“My only sister,” Maize counters, narrowing her eyes as she scowls at her again. “My pain in the ass sister.”
With a palm to her chest, Kenzie gasps. “That’s it. I’m cutting you off.”
“Nooo!” Maize whines. “I’ll read you another message,” she bribes. “It’ll be a really good one.”
“Or I could just buy you a drink?” I interrupt.
Realization hits her as she sits taller and licks her lips. “Did you just offer to buy me a drink?”
Before I can respond, Kenzie speaks up. “Marry this man. Marry him now.”
Maize glares at Kenzie, and I can only imagine what she wants to say to her right now, which I find comical.
“I mean, unless…do you want a dick pic first?” I flash her a smirk.
“Exactly how much did you hear?”
“I’ve been sitting over there for an hour, so…a lot,” I admit, and her cheeks tint pink again. “It was very entertaining.”
Kenzie sets a beer in front of me and a margarita in front of Maize, then looks at me. “I’ll add them to your tab.” She waggles her brows before leaving to help other customers at the opposite end of the bar.
“Oh my God,” Maize groans. “I’m sorry about her. She assumes and—”
I reach over and put my hand over hers to stop her. “I offered, remember?”
“Yes, that’s right.” She nods, pulling her hand from under mine and grabbing her glass. “Thank you.”
She’s been burned by so many douchebags she doesn’t even realize I’m hitting on her. I can’t imagine any guy dumb enough to walk away from Maize, but lucky for me, she’s single, and so am I.
“I’m Gavin, by the way,” I say, holding out my hand and hoping to touch hers again.
“Maize.” She takes the bait, and we shake. “Sorry I’m not more bubbly. You caught me on a rough night.”
“No apologies needed, Maize. Maybe I can cheer you up, though.”
“Oh yeah? With a non-crooked dick pic?” She arches a brow, grinning.
I chuckle, glad she’s not giving me the cold shoulder. Though I’ve never had a problem getting a woman’s attention, it’s not out of the realm of reality. When I was a professional bull rider, women would flock to me, and I’d have to tear them off just to walk through a crowd. But I don’t compete anymore. That life’s behind me now.
“I’m too old to send explicit pictures to women.”
Her eyes lower as she checks me out, then she tilts her head and studies me. “You can’t be that old.”
I suck in my lower lip as I soak in her delicate features. Light blue eyes, dark hair, and pale skin. She’s undoubtedly my type, but something else about her has my blood pumping.
“I’m certain I’m quite older than you,” I counter, taking a swig of my beer. “Why don’t you tell me how old you are?”
“Because it’s embarrassing. Most girls my age are married with a couple of kids already. And me? Well, I’m joining a convent.”
“You’re at least twenty-one, being that you’re in a bar drinking. Definitely not over thirty.” I tilt my head, looking at her eyes, skin, and lips. Fuck, she has the most beautiful face I’ve seen in a long time. “You’re having a quarter-life crisis since, like you said, no husband and no babies. So, I’m gonna guess twenty-five.” If I’m right, that means I’m ten years older than her.
Maize gulps down more of her drink as she watches me in amusement. “Sadly, you’re correct. Well, in a few months.”