Page 28 of Lead Me A Stray

“Rum and Coke.” She wrinkles her nose but turns back to the bartender, Rodney, who looks exactly the same as the last time I saw him with his bald head and neon green shirt, as “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle comes on and the dance floor fills. Standing next to her, my body starts bobbing to the steps like it hasn’t been forever since I’ve done this.

“You were right,” I tell her as she hands me my drink and we watch the group all fall in step.

“I know.”

“Thanks,” I say wryly as she snorts and nudges me with her elbow.

“You work too hard and you deserve a night out. We both do. This event has consumed every waking moment, and I think even I forgot what it’s like to have fun.”

“It’s going to be worth it.”

“I know. We just need to remember to do this”—she waves around the bar—“more.”

“We will,” I affirm as “A Bar Song” by Shaboozey comes on and Rory pulls me out into the crowd.

I yelp and then laugh, needing a second to get my bearings before I let the music wash over me, my cowboy boots stomping and sliding across the floor with everyone else. For a minute it feels like I’m back home in Ransom, nostalgia making me ache for the small town in North Carolina that raised me.

But as quickly as it comes, it’s gone again, replaced with the feeling of being watched.

Observed.

I have an audience,and his name is Mack.

MACK

I stayed hiddenas long as I could, watching Piper and my sister grab drinks from the bar before heading out onto the dance floor. Annoyance covers me like a second skin as I politely decline requests for a dance and refrain from rolling my eyes at the pouts that follow.

I did this to myself and I’ll own it, but I can’t pretend I don’t hate it when all I want is Piper. These girls are fine, but they’re not lookin’ for anything more than a night, and I’m not that guy.

Not anymore.

Piper laughs along with my sister, her eyelids fluttering shut for a moment as her hips sway, her boots echoing as she stomps and pivots in time with the music.

She’s got me half hard just from watching her, those sexy denim cutoffs and a cropped white T-shirt with a scoop neck giving me a delicious peek at her tits.

They’re seriously great tits.

I should know—I’ve had my mouth and hands all over them.Perfection.

But they’remine.

My lips pull down as I look out at the guys crowded around the bar. I can just imagine what they’re thinking and hell, I used to be one of them. Piper’s got me locked up tight and yet she still has doubts.

If she only knew the kind of power she holds over me.

I can feel my blood pressure ratcheting up the longer I stand here. Odds are noteveryasshole in this bar is staring at my girl, but there’s enough and I don’t fucking like it.

Piper is already trying to pull my sister over to the bar as the song ends, while Rory bats her lashes at some guy that has absolutely no chance with her. I’ve seen her play this game before—learned a lot from her too.

She likes the chase and so do I.

I’ve just been playing the marathon version with Piper.

And now it’s time to make another move.

Skirting my way along the periphery, I throw my arms over both their shoulders and grin. “Evenin’, ladies. Fancy meeting you here.”

My sister chuffs out a laugh and pushes my arm off her. Piper’s move is much more subtle, turning into me as she drags her hand down my side before stepping a reasonable distance away.