“Yeah, I had no idea who he was.”
Duke pops his knuckles and wraps his arm around my waist. It feels possessive, which makes my stomach flip.
“Well, you’re single. You can do whatever you want,” he says.
I don’t think he can decide what he wants with me. He said that everyone knows I don’t want anything serious, but he’s been keeping what he wants a complete mystery.
“Yeah, you too.”
I guess we’re playing a game of Who Cares the Least. That seems like how he wants it to be.
Game on, Duke Redford.
19
DUKE
Iwas enjoying the night with my brothers and their wives and fiancées until now.
Briggs Crawford is a good-looking motherfucker, and he just won first place in bull riding. We stroll past him as a group. I’m walking with Holden, and Dallas is up ahead with her arm looped through Rosie’s.
I see Briggs the moment his eyes lock on to Dallas.
A shit-eating grin cuts across his face when he calls out to her, “Hey, Purple, that ride change your mind any?”
Purple? What a dumbass nickname.
I can’t see Dallas’s face, but she says something and pauses beside him, tilting her head. Briggs takes a step toward her, adjusting his cowboy hat. My instincts scream at me to jump between them, but I quickly remind myself that she’s not mine.
Not even a little bit.
My pulse skyrockets when he leans toward her. He looks down at her with a practiced grin, like he’s God’s gift to thefemale population. His white teeth gleam in contrast with his tanned skin and dark tattoos. I want to feel his sharp jawline under my knuckles, preferably after my boot has split open his rib cage.
“Change your mind yet? I’m having a party at my hotel tonight.”
There’s a horde of female fans clamoring to get his attention behind him.
She flips her blond hair over her shoulder before crossing her arms. “That depends. Can I bring friends?”
He looks around at us before leaning even closer to her. “Only got room for a few ladies. Small space.”
She opens her mouth to answer, but I don’t have it in me to wait on her.
I step forward, bucking up to him. We’re about the same size.
“No,” is all I say, setting my jaw. My fist is clenched at my side.
His eyes narrow on mine. “Redford?”
How the fuck does he know my name?
He smiles wider when I just stare at him in confusion.
“My manager said they reached out to you, but you turned the opportunity down.”
I shrug. “Don’t see what that has to do with you hitting on my girl.”
I hear a female gasp from behind me. Dallas steps into my peripheral vision, but I keep my eyes on Briggs.
