Page 32 of Fall or Nothing

We tried again, and before I knew it, we were two-stepping with ease around the room. Quick-quick-slow-slow. Quite a simple little dance. My confidence grew. The steps weren’t too unlike the Foxtrot, just a different stride.

“Good teacher.” My voice came out rough.

“Excellent student.” Her warm gaze on me returned. The same one she’d had at the barn dance, then at the bonfire. My hand pressed against her back, bringing us tighter together with a sharp breath from her.

Then I did it—the spin she hadn’t cued, turning her out and bringing her back, all in one awkward motion, and at the end of it I dipped her slightly and brought her back up.

We laughed together… until the laughter faded, replaced by heat and desire. Our chests heaving, bodies flush, eyes locked. But… I needed to remember why I was here.

“I still owe you for the clothes. The money is in my pocket. I don’t want to forget to pay?—”

“Which pocket?” She asked.

“Left.” I didn’t know why it mattered—ooh. Her hand drifted down from my shoulder, over my pecs and abs, to my pocket. She licked her lips as her fingers dippedinside and pulled out the cash. She tucked the money inside her bra.

“Neat party trick,” I quipped, still holding onto her.

“See? Told you I could be a lot of fun while you’re in town, Carter.”

“Yeah, you did.” My mouth landed on hers before I could stop myself.

The door burst wide open with a crash, startling us apart. “I thought I told everyone not to shut—Uh, sorry.” Smitty backed out and left us there. The door stayed open, and the bar and band noise flooded the room again.

“I should get back to work. Won’t make any good tips tonight in this room with you,” she giggled nervously. She moved fast—apron tied on, back to professional, headed for the door, the blush on her cheeks the only sign of our time locked together in this room.

For me, it took a moment to clear my head. I breathed in and out and paced, my hands threading through my hair. Earlier today I had seriously considered giving up the job at the ranch, and leaving this town, and never looking back. But now?

The money. My life. All of it came crashing back in; my real purpose for being here.

“Shit.” I needed to man up and stay on the ranch and see this through.

What about Sage?

Ranch work was rough. She was soft in all the right places, according to the five minutes I danced in the room with her in my arms. If all we did was have a little fun, then she’d be a pleasant distraction at least from everything else.

Back out in the bar, Jake was where I’d left him, mybeer, too. I picked it up and guzzled it, realizing Tessa and Candy were gone.

“What happened to the ladies?” I asked him.

He shook his head. “I’m hopeless. That’s all you need to know. In fact, Trig and Pete took off with some other chicks. I’m ready to go if you are. But if you aren’t, I’ll just hang here and keep drinking as long as you can drive us back to the ranch.”

I glanced at Sage at the bar. She caught me and grinned. If I stayed any longer, we’d end up having a ton of fun at her place overnight; I had no doubt. But a warning played through my head. I should pace myself where she was concerned.

“Nope. I’m ready. Let’s go.” I slapped Jake on the back.

On the way out, we passed Sage, and I winked at her. “See you soon.”

“‘Bye, Cowboy,” she called, a loaded gaze shared between us.

Cowboy. She really thought of me as one. Not sure how I pulled that off or how to feel about it. Trig would be the first in line to argue with her, followed by Ash and Chris.

Jake’s truck smelled of oil and stale coffee. The heater came on slowly. Forest Grove’s main street fell away behind us, the road opening to long dark stretches with the mountains as black shapes against a big sky too full of stars.

“Sorry we left early,” Jake mumbled.

“Don’t be. I was tired. What happened with those two ladies, anyway?”

His jaw worked in the dash light, like a man who’d beencarrying something and had decided this was the stretch of road where he’d lay it all out.