Page 27 of Wrangling Wade

"It's okay," I say, shrugging. "It helps pay the bills."

"But you aren't in love with it?"

"With serving drunk cowboys and trying to keep fights to a minimum all night?" I laugh. "No, can't say that I am."

"Would you be willing to consider a position at the gallery?"

I slow-blink at her, certain I heard her wrong. "What?"

"It's not glamorous," she hurries to say. "It's mostly teaching kids and couples to paint, and assisting me with shows, but I'm sure I can match what the Spur pays you, plus commission."

"I…seriously?" I gape at her, stunned. "You're offering me a job?"

"Um, yes!" she says, laughing. "You're incredibly talented. People would love to learn from you."

"I don't have any formal training. I could never afford school and my mom's care."

"Who cares about that?" She waves me off. "You don't need it when you paint as well as you do."

Holy shit. She's offering me a job. No, not just a job. A chance to make an actual living with art. It's basically my freaking dream.

"Can I have a few days?" I ask. "Redd gave me a job when I needed one. I don't want to leave him in a bind the minute he gets back from his daughter's wedding. I'd prefer to give him time to hire someone to take my spot."

"I can work with that," Eve says, grinning at me. "Does this mean you're saying yes?"

"Yes," I say, a happy laugh escaping. "I'm saying yes."

She squeals, flinging her arms around me in a tight hug.

I'm not even remotelysurprised when I turn around ten minutes into my shift to find Wade standing on the opposite side of the bar, looking like sex on legs…as usual.

My stomach turns a flip before bottoming out when his eyes meet mine. He jerks his head toward the back, motioning for me to follow him.

I don't even hesitate before hurrying after him, eager for five minutes alone with him to tell him about today. We rarely get five minutes to talk while he's doing cowboy things during the day.

Honestly, I don't know how he does it. It's like he has a limitless amount of energy. But I feel guilty that he's here every night. Even if he doesn't act like it or show it, I know he has to be exhausted. And that worries me. I may not know much about being a cowboy, but I know enough to know it can be dangerous. He needs to be alert and functioning.

Hopefully, once I'm working at the gallery, he'll relax a little. He'll finally get some sleep—realsleep.

"You know you don't have to keep coming here every night, right?" I ask as soon as we're alone in the cramped back hallway, right outside the stockroom.

He just cocks his head to the side, a slow smile spreading across his gorgeous face. "Where else would I be? You're here."

My heart turns a flip.

"Well, Redd will be back tomorrow," I murmur.

His grin slips before he hooks a finger into my belt loop, tugging me up against his chest. "Is this your way of saying that you're done with me, beautiful?"

"What? No, of course not!" I cry softly. "I just meant…" I trail off when I feel his body vibrating with laughter. "You jerk," I grumble. "I thought you were serious."

"I'm just teasing you. I know he'll be back tomorrow," he murmurs, nuzzling my throat. "But I'll still be here."

"Wade…"

He cuts me off with his lips on mine. "No arguing, Harlow. Until Palmer is out of the picture, I go where you go."

"I thought you said he wasn't dangerous."