Page 28 of Buck ’Em Cowgirl

The angry man huffed but seemed to relax slightly as he realized the situation was being resolved. He typed the card into the app on his phone.

“You’re lucky,” the man muttered, pointing a finger at Dalton, who gave him a goofy, drunken smile.

Once the transaction was complete, I grabbed my card and steered Dalton toward the elevators, ignoring the man’s grumbles as we walked away.

“You’re a fucking pain in the ass, you know that?”

Dalton laughed unapologetically. “Yeah, but you love me for it.”

I grunted, jabbing the elevator button. “Don’t push your luck.”

As the elevator doors closed, I leaned back against the wall, letting out a slow breath. I’d been gone longer than I wanted, but she hadn’t left. I knew she hadn’t. If she’d come down, I would’ve seen her in the lobby. I’d been right there, and there was no way I’d miss her.

Right?

I shook the thought away as the elevator dinged on Dalton’s floor. He stumbled out, laughing to himself, and I followed, already regretting my patience.

When we got to my dad’s room, Dalton fumbled with the key before I grabbed it out of his hand and unlocked the door for him. The dim glow from the bedside lamp lit up the room, and sure enough, my dad was already asleep on one of the beds, his back to us.

Dalton turned to me. “Have fun getting some kitty cat.”

“Go the fuck to bed.”

He shrugged, laughing quietly as he shuffled inside and flopped onto the empty bed without another word. I closed the door behind him, muttering under my breath as I headed back to the elevator.

She was still in my room. She had to be. I gripped the key tighter, my steps quickening the second I reached my floor.

I pressed my ear to the door, holding my breath. The shower was silent, and I slid the keycard into the lock and pushed the door open.

The bed sheets were still a tangled mess. My belt buckle was on the floor, the belt tossed beside it. The entire room smelled of strawberries and vanilla—smelled of her, but her clothes were gone.

She was gone.

“Fuck,” I muttered, stepping back into the hallway, my eyes darting left and right. The corridor was empty. No sign of her. She was completely fucking gone.

I groaned, running a hand through my hair as I turned back into the room. Damn. I didn’t even get her number. The one girl who’d ever made me think about reaching out twice, and I’d blown it.

Maybe it was for the best. Idaho was next week, the ranch needed me back home, and my life didn’t have space for commitments—especially not for her. For a stranger I hardly knew.

Damn though. She was fiery, intoxicating, and had stirred a curiosity in me like no one ever had. But curiosity wasn’t enough.

I dropped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, the smell of her still clinging to me. Strawberries. Vanilla. Her. I didn’t want to shower it off, didn’t want to erase the proof that she’d been here.

“Fucking hell, Cowgirl.”

8

Fable

“You’re fired.”

I almost fell out of the chair. When John called me into a meeting early Monday morning, I’d have bet money it was to congratulate me on pulling off a kick-ass event.

I laughed. I actually laughed in his face because, after walking out on Beau this weekend, crashing on Harleigh’s couch, and feeling my entire reality crumble, I needed a win. I deserved a win. But getting fired on a Monday morning? That wasn’t on my bingo card.

“I’m sorry.” I finally stopped laughing, wiping at my eyes. “I think I misunderstood. You meant to say I’m promoted for the incredible event I brought to Bucking Energy.”

John shook his head and leaned back in his chair, his expression unmoving. “No. You heard me right. You’re fired.”