Page 144 of Ride the Sky

“C’mon, cowgirl,” I drawl, leading her with the music. Not too slow, not too fast. We find our rhythm. Just like on those horses.

Then I’m hit with the most beautiful sight in existence.

Fallon’s smiling.

A dazzling smile. She’s glowing. Like she’s showing our town she’s back. She’s here. To stay.

But is she? She talked tonight about the rodeo. The rodeo means a life on the road. I should have expected it. Sooner or later, my restless girl will want to roam. Which means I go with her. Wherever that is.

With a wild whoop, I lift her, and she laughs as I swing her across the floor. I’m drunk on music, on whiskey, on the girl in my arms.

The jukebox blasts Luke Bryan. Beef slings drinks. The dance floor teems with locals. It’s my whole goddamn world, and I love it, made even better with Fallon by my side.

The night spins on. I lose track of the time after three dances, three whiskeys.

“You hear that,” Fallon says with uncharacteristic playfulness. “That’s the sound of every heart breaking in Resurrection.”

“What can I say?” I flash her a grin. “I’m a heartbreaker.”

A hint of color stains her cheeks. “Well then, heartbreaker, guess you’d better kiss me to make it official.”

My heart’s in my throat. Is that what this? Official? If it’s the whiskey, the sex, or the dance making Fallon brave, I can’t tell. But her words are loaded with so much heat. Suddenly, I want to get her home, back toourcottage, and figure us out.

Her hazel eyes study mine. “Wyatt, I—”

My chest collides with hers. I kiss her. Right there on the dance floor in front of everyone. The locals in the bar cheer like they’re at a rodeo.

When we pull back, Fallon’s breathless. The music kicks over to an old Kenny Rogers song.

“Take a breather?”

“Yeah,” she gasps, and we head back to the booth.

A smile twitches on her mouth. “Thanks for the dance.”

“Got more in our future.” I step forward to run my fingertips over her cheek. Glance down. “Hip hurtin’?”

She juts her chin. “Not so bad.”

“I want you to sit and rest.” It’s her first day without her walker. She’s got to be in pain. But knowing Fallon, she’d never say a damn thing.

“But that’s boring,” she pouts, pouring us each another shot of whiskey.

I chuckle. She’s the cutest damn thing with a little whiskey in her.

“Cut in?” a cowboy asks with a tip of his hat. He’s practically licking his lips. I shouldn’t be surprised. New cowboys in Resurrection act like fools when there’s a beautiful woman around.

I don’t blame him. But he doesn’t get my girl.

“Can’t right now,” I grit out, my gaze on Fallon as she steadies her cane. “She’s done dancin’.”

The cowboy leers at Fallon. “You looked good in his arms, honey, but you’ll look even better in mine.”

I glare at him, wondering how fast I can put a fist through his face.

Fallon’s mouth curves in a sharp smile. “I’m lonely, but I ain’t that lonely yet.”

I flex my fists, subtly moving my body between Fallon and the cowboy. “You heard her.”

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