I grunt, crossing my arms, and shift my weight against the stall door.
He grins wider. “And it’s fucking hilarious watching Mr. ‘Emotions are for Pussies’ turn into a desperate little loverboy.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I grumble.
“Already did. Twice this morning, thank you very much.” Maverick fires back, smirking. “Now, c’mon. Spill it. Is it her?
I huff out a breath. “Yeah.”
Maverick whistles low. “Well, fuck.” He grins like an idiot, petting Toffee in her stall. “I fucking knew it. I mean, who can resist that pretty little thing?”
I shoot him a glare. “Don’t talk about her like that, you fuck.”
Maverick walks over to me, clapping a hand on my shoulder, squeezing hard. “Relax, man, don’t get your thong in a bunch.” His voice drops into mock sympathy. “She’s got you so whipped it’s kinda beautiful, honestly.”
I shake my head, hiding my grin.
Maverick leans closer, dropping his voice into a terrible, fake whisper. “It’s okay, buddy. I won’t tell anyone you’re some lovesick idiot over your best friend’s daughter.”
“Eat shit, Maverick.”
“Love you too, big guy.” He flashes me his famous shit-eating grin before striding back out toward the pasture,leaving me alone with the thick, humid air and the lingering scent of hay and horses.
The bar’s thumping,packed to the brim with drunk assholes and flashing red neon.PLEASEby Omido and Ex Habit pulses beneath the noise, but none of it registers.
Not really. Not when I’ve got my sights on her.
I’m sitting at the far end of the bar, whiskey glass sweating in my hand, pretending like I’m just another guy nursing a drink—but my eyes haven’t left Catalina once.
She’s a fucking vision.
Her dark brown hair flows in loose waves, that signature lavender bow clipped at the back of her head like a crown. Loose strands fall across her cheeks, and I swear to God, I want to wrap them around my fist and pull her mouth to mine right here in front of everyone.
She’s wearing that black tank top I hate—because it barely holds her tits. Every dipshit in this place keeps looking at her like she’s something they can touch. I swirl my whiskey, jaw ticking.
Let one of them try. I’ll bury a bottle in someone’s fucking teeth.
She floats through the bar like she’s been doing this for years. Telling off a guy with a smirk, flashing that sharp little tongue when she wants to score a tip, and laughs too hard at something some idiot says and fuck, I nearly break the glass in my hand.
Her chestnut eyes catch mine across the bar. Thatsmug, knowing look on her face. Like she feels the way my blood’s boiling, like she’s daring me to do something about it.
Oh, I fucking will.
Reed’s not working tonight. His office in the back? Wide open.
I lift my chin and crook a finger, motioning her over. She doesn’t hesitate, sauntering toward me like a goddamn temptress.
“I guess you finally saw the mark on your truck,” she says, that sweet mouth twitching like she’s amused. “Are you giving me my punishment?”
I blink. “The mark? What the–,” I shake my head, doesn’t fucking matter. “Never mind. Follow me.”
“Where are we going?”
I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. “Somewhere I can shove my cock down your throat, just like you begged for. Ring a bell, princess?”
She licks her lips, her hands sliding up to cup my jaw like she’s trying to play innocent. “You gonna talk about it all night, cowboy? Or are you finally gonna shut me up?”
Fuck.
