Page 82 of Buck ’Em Cowgirl

“You gonna buy us drinks with your big-ass check or what?” Harleigh grinned.

I chuckled, lifting a hand to wave at Brooke, signaling for two more beers. Harleigh leaned forward with her elbows on the bar top.

“So, who’s your friend?”

Fable’s elbow shot out, jabbing Harleigh square in the ribs.

Harleigh yelped, half laughing, half groaning. “Ow, damn, alright.”

It was a stupid move on my part, calling her out like I did. I doubted she’d even put the pieces together—at least, in the moment, I doubted it. Yet, the entire night, I kept wondering.

Kept thinking.

Did she realize I’d missed her?

“You watch me, Cowgirl?”

She shook her head, still refusing to meet my eyes.

Liar.

I leaned back on the stool. I loved watching her squirm, knowing she knew what I knew made everything I said worth it.

“It’s too bad you didn’t tune in, Fable.”

She slowly drew her eyes up to meet mine. “Why’s that?”

“Because what your friend over here is telling you is that I had to shout out a hometown friend who I dedicated my winning ride to.”

“Good for them,” she muttered, grabbing the beers Dalton had dropped off at the table.

“You know what happens when you dedicate a ride to someone?”

She didn’t look at me. Instead, her gaze snapped to Harleigh, eyes wide, like she was silently begging for help.

I grinned, enjoying this way too much. “Well, I’ll tell you, since you’re a city girl and probably don’t know the custom.” I chuckled, watching as Dalton pulled his stool closer to the table.

“It means that the person you dedicate the ride to . . .” I let the words hang for a second, watching the way her fingers clenched around her beer. “Owes you a kiss.”

“Or a fuck,” Dalton added with a wink.

“A kiss,” I said, shooting him a look.

“Ha.” Her eyes locked onto mine. “Good, then, for the . . .” The corner of her lips lifted into a tease. “Good for the friend you dedicated your ride to, then. Too bad you weren’t more specific.”

I leaned in, my grin widening. “I think I was specific enough⁠—”

“I’m over this conversation.” She cut me off, hopping off the stool so fast it nearly wobbled. “I gotta go to the restroom.”

Harleigh started to say something, but Fable was already gone, disappearing into the crowd.

Dalton whistled low. “Damn, she’s squirming.”

Yeah.

I fucking loved it.

“Be nice to her, asshole.” Harleigh punched me in the shoulder.