She thinks on it. “Maybe not. But I’m sure he has some.”
“But you still slept with him.”
“I know. I’m stupid. Like every girl who sleeps with him, we all think we’re going to be the one to land him, and we’re all wrong. That’s one cowboy who can’t be tamed. But you can bet women will die trying.”
“You don’t think that’s a bit pathetic?”
“Are you kidding? He’s the whole package. Just look at him.”
“I have been. All night, in fact.”
“Don’t do it, girl.” She puts her hand on my arm. “I’m telling you, it’s not worth it. The night you spend with him will be incredible, but you’ll cry for weeks. He won’t call. He may not even remember your name. Best take a pass on this one.” Someone calls her over. “Gotta go.”
“Incredible, huh?” I say to no one. I take a drink as I stare over at Quinn. “I can use a bit of incredible.”
He excuses himself from the group he’s with and walks in my direction. My heartbeat quickens.
“Did you like my toast?” he asks.
“I guess. I don’t really know Aaron and Devyn, but it seems like everyone enjoyed it.”
“Well, that’s underwhelming. I worked on my speech for two entire weeks.” He motions to the server I spoke with earlier. She brings us more drinks, and him a traitorous glare.
“Jeez,” he says when she’s gone. “What’s up with the look of death she gave me?”
“You don’t remember her?”
“Should I?”
I snicker. “She’s one you fucked and chucked.”
“Oh, shit. Really? I thought one of the other waitresses looked familiar, but not her.” He grimaces. “So much for me hoping to impress you tonight.”
“Show me what you got, cowboy.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “You dance?”
“Yes.”
He takes my drink from me and places our glasses on the table. “Then let’s go tear it up.”
On our way to the dance floor, the song changes and a slow song plays. Quinn places my hands around his neck and puts his on my waist. My fingers graze his corded muscles. “How does a helicopter pilot stay so fit?”
“I only fly part-time, and just for DHR. The rest of the time, I cowboy like everyone else on this ranch.”
“What exactly does that mean, you cowboy?”
“I do what needs to be done. If a fence needs mending, I fix it. If a stall needs mucking, I shovel it. If horses need corralling, I saddle up and head out.”
“So you’re a pilot who also helps around the ranch?”
“More like I’m a ranch hand who also flies.”
I study his face.
“What is it?” he asks.
“I can see the charm. You’re not overly arrogant. You seem truthful, modest even, about what you do.”
“Sounds like you’ve been talking to too many of those servers.”
“Just the one. She said the night she spent with you was incredible.”
His smile lights up the arena. “Incredible? She used that exact word?”
“See, now you’re getting cocky.”
“Sorry.”
I run a finger along his strong jaw. “Don’t be. I like a little cocky.”
“I promise you, my cocky is far from little.”
I belt out a throaty laugh. “And there it is.”
He lifts a brow. “Where are you staying?”
“The lodge. Why?”
“Why do you think?”
I grin. “I think we’re on the same page here.”
“But the lodge is no good. Maddox’s and Aaron’s families are staying there. It wouldn’t be in good form for them to be hearing you shouting my name.”
His thumb traces circles on the bare skin of my lower back and I shiver, looking up at him with lidded eyes. “What makes you think they wouldn’t be hearing you shouting mine?”
Laughter floats between us. “Oh, I think I’m going to like this,” he says.
I lean close. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. You’re going to more than like it. But I leave tomorrow, cowboy, so this is a one-time thing.”
“Exactly how I like it.” He pulls me close. Through my thin dress and his slacks, I can feel his erection. “We’ll use Aaron’s cabin. They’re staying at a hotel in Fort Worth tonight.”
“No honeymoon?”
“They’re waiting until Casey is older. They don’t want to leave him for more than a night.”
“You’re not watching the baby, are you?”
He shakes in silent laughter. “Me? Hell no. Maddox and Andie are doing it.”
“Good. So we’ll be alone in the cabin?”
“Just you and me.”
I shimmy against him, bite my lip, and give him my best fuck-me eyes. “Perfect. See you later, cowboy.” I turn and meander away.
“You’re leaving me? Like this?”
I glance at him over my shoulder. He’s peering down at his tented pants. I giggle and keep walking.
After finding a bathroom, I go to the bar for another drink. Something stronger this time. “Bourbon, neat,” I tell the bartender. Then I turn and watch the crowd on the dance floor. Quinn is nowhere in sight. Perhaps he went to splash water on his face. I smile, knowing what’s in store.
Piper comes up to me as my drink gets handed over my shoulder. She peers at it. “You shouldn’t ever let a drink out of your sight.”
“Right. Sorry.” I take the drink anyway and swallow a gulp.
“Having fun?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I was hoping you would. I wish you could stay longer.”
“How long are you staying?”
“A few more days. Being on a ranch is far different from the city. It’s calm here, you know?”
Piper’s daughter, Charlie, comes over and stands next to her, looking bored. “How long do we have to stay?”
“Until the bride and groom leave, sweetie. Maybe another hour or so.”
Charlie rolls her ten-year-old eyes and trudges off.
“The two of you look so much alike,” Piper says.
I’ll never forget the day I met Piper. I walked into the room, not knowing what to expect. I was barely an adult myself, and I was meeting the woman who put me up for adoption. I knew the story. I wasn’t mad at her for doing it. In a way, I admired her. But when I saw she had a little boy and was quite pregnant with Charlie, it was hard not to feel jealous of them. I never let it show; I held it inside. Sometimes I wonder if that’s the wall between us, because something sure as hell is.
Piper’s husband, Mason, joins us. “You see Hailey dancing with all those ranch workers?”
“She’d better watch herself,” I say. “Cowboys can be dangerous.” I fix my gaze over Piper’s shoulder and see Quinn, hoping what I said is true in the most pleasurable of ways.
“Not these guys,” Piper says. “Believe me, Maddox and Owen run a tight ship around here. I’m fairly sure all of them have been warned not to go out of bounds.”