Page 22 of Reckless Hearts

“We’re all booked up. With the rodeo in town and all.”

Of course they are. The entire parking lot’s full with riders.

“If that’s all, I have a line here,” the woman says, already looking at the person behind me.

Entwining my fingers with Callie’s, I maneuver us through the small, crowded space, using my larger frame to make a path, all while she and Colt are still going at it.

I know this place. The next motel’s a county over, and it’ll be as packed as this one. Small towns like this aren’t designed for an influx of visitors. Just a stop on the highway, except for once a year when the rodeo comes to town. My teeth are sharp against my tongue as I run through our options. If we can’t get her a room, she can have mine, and I’ll sleep in my truck. I can already feel the backache, but like hell she’ll be the one sleeping out there. A glance at Colt… never mind, I don’t want him in my truck any more than he already is, leaving his germs all over it.

My fingers drum on my thigh as a glimmer of an idea infiltrates my mind, growing more enticing by the moment. Something I shouldn’t entertain, but it’s impossible not to. She’sset off a possessiveness in me, unique to her, from the second she’d turned back up.

“You’ll stay with me.”

It’s a command, and I expect her to balk at it. Instead, her head tilts to the side, the corner of her lip curling like she got exactly what she wanted.

Colt, on the other hand, is going off.

“The fuck do you mean stay with you? She’s staying with me.”

His voice is several octaves too loud, a vein ticking in his forehead. He’s been working himself up this entire time, going back and forth with Callie, and now he’s about to detonate.

Callie, always the peacemaker, raises her hands between us with a gentle smile pointed at him. “That’s fine, I’ll stay at yours?—”

“Not going to happen.” I stomp on that idea before she can get it all the way out.

I should stop there, but I can’t help but push Colt’s buttons. He’s so fucking easy to push off the edge. It has nothing to do with the thrill I get whenever he confronts me, all that rage focused firmly on me, cracking that perfect image of his is like an addiction. It’s so enticing that I take it way too far.

“You going to bring her into your bachelor pad? Wake her up when you bring back a fucking buckle bunny?”

Callie gasps, and Colt stumbles back, his face contorting with betrayal, and I wish I could pull those words back and swallow them.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been near anyone, and you fucking know it, asshole.” Colt’s hurt shifts to anger, and he’s shoving me hard.

“Fuck. Listen…” I stop, not sure how to go forward. Apologizing to Colt is not something I do, and it’s caught in my throat.

“No, you fucking listen,” Colt says, shoving me back.

I barely move in time and stumble backward.

I have to apologize before this gets out of hand, but Colt’s already on his next throw. This time, I see it coming and dodge out of the way.

“I’m sorry—fuck.”

“That’s enough.”

Loud, sharp, and leaving no room for argument, Callie turns on her heel and walks away, leaving Colt and me to chase after her.

“I’ve got an idea to fix this shit. Give me a minute,” I tell her, and she hangs back, letting me take the lead.

I make my way up the stairs to the second floor of the motel, Colt yelling at me the entire time that we haven’t settled who Callie’s staying with yet, and I better fucking stop… I tune him out, making my way down the hall until I reach the room next to mine.

It takes five bangs on the wood before it swings open, a wiry rookie yelling, “What the hell do you want?—”

He cuts off the second he recognizes me, but I’m not here for fan service. I need something from him.

“Switch rooms with Colt.”

“What? Hell no. I’m all settled in.”

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