I hesitate for half a second, then nod. “Yeah.” The cold bottle sweats against my palm when he hands it to me. I take a sip as Knox leans against the bar, scanning the room.
“Jess is here,” he shares.Of course she is, she’s here every night.My oldest friend—almost by default since we grew up together—has been determined to land herself a husband since graduation.Maybe even before.It’s the sore spot in our relationship. She’s dying to settle down and grow roots here, while I’m dying to get out of this place someday. I follow his gaze to find her. She looks gorgeous, as always, wrapped in a tiny denim dress, her curly brunette hair cascading down her spine.
“Don’t,” I warn.
“Relax.” He grins, and if it weren’t for that glimmer in his eyes, I might almost believe he’ll stay away.
We wander around the bar, making small talk with familiar faces, neighbors, and other ranchers. My eyes keep drifting to the door.You’re being ridiculous, Teagan… He said no.
Knox drains half his beer in a single go. “So… since when do we keep secrets from each other?”
I lift my bottle to my lips and take a slow sip, buying myself a moment. “What are you talking about?”
“You. Asking Easton to come out. Without telling me.” He arches an inquisitive brow.
“That’snota secret,” I huff.
“Sure looked like one.” He nudges me with a smirk. “How long have you been holding out on me?”
I glare at him. “Since about the time you started sleeping with all my friends, in hopes you’d start doing the same. Because… Ew!”
“First, notall.”He winks overtly across the bar at Jess. “At least, not yet.”
“Gross.”
“Okay. Fine.” He chuckles. “I promise not to go talk to Jess if you tell me what’s up with you and Easton.”
“The city boy?” I scoff, maybe a little too quickly. “Nothing.” It’s a lie. A small one. But we both know it.
Knox glowers back at me, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh.”
“There is nothing happening,” I insist. “He works on the ranch. That’s it.” Even as I say it, my mind flashes back to the barn this morning. It’s so vivid that I can practically feel the warmth of his palm on my skin again and the heaviness in his eyes as he stared down at me.
I glance around the bar. Every guy in here grew up within a fifty-mile radius of the ranch. Wyatt, Cole, and Boone all sit together on the other side of the bar. They’re good men, solid and predictable. I know their stories before they even open their mouths. I know their fathers, their reputations, and their plans.Or what little plans they have.
I’ve dated all of them. Each relationship started the same way—easy laughter, shared history, and hands that roamed a little too freely. And each time, it fizzled out just as fast when I realized I didn’t want the same things they did. A life of popping out mini-cowboys and spending every Saturday night spinning the same tired circle on this dance floor isn’t enough for me. Even the bedroom had been the same—routine, careful, and over too fast—like they were following a set of misguided instructions instead of actually seeingme.
Easton is different. At least, he seems different. If nothing else, I don’t know every detail of his life.Actually, I know almost nothing about his life.That alone should not be an attractive quality. Yet, it is.The broad shoulders and dark eyes don’t hurt, either.
He’s quiet and introverted, forever scribbling in that notebook I saw him with tonight, but he has a presence about him, too. He isn’t flashy or trying to impress anyone, but he carries an air of quiet confidence.
Knox takes the final swig of beer and slams the bottle onto the bar a little too zealously. “Well… Unlike you, I don’t plan to sit here moping all night.”
“I’mnotmoping.”
“You’ve looked at the door three times.”
Feeling warmth blooming over my cheeks, I’m suddenly thankful for the dim lighting. “Shut up.”
“That’s what I thought.” He grins with satisfaction. “And now I’m going to talk to Jess.”
I jab a finger into his chest. “Just remember you’re my ride home.”
“Got it,” he says, already scanning the dance floor. “Bathroom stall or parking lot hook-ups only tonight.”
“Knox!”
“Relax, Teag.” He laughs, already backing away and disappearing into the crowd. He’s swallowed quickly by the sea of hats and flashing lights as he makes his way across the dance floor. I’m left leaning against the bar, as the band shifts into a faster song. Boots stomp with the rhythm, and someone whoops from near the mechanical bull not in use tonight.
