Page 32 of Ride the Sky

“Leave it alone, Wyatt,” Davis growls.

Eyes wide, Ruby looks between me and Fallon. “WhatIneed is a pink drink.”

Looking relieved, Fallon hops up, beating Charlie. “I’ll go,” she says, trading a quick glance with her sister before heading back to the bar.

I crack another beer. It’s obvious Fallon’s uncomfortable with everyone’s attention. I watch as a cowboy slides a stool closer to Fallon. As she leans forward, the sharp smile on her face heats my blood.

It’s then I realize I’m gripping the table with my fists.

“You’re staring,” Reese says, amused.

“I think that’s considered glowering,” Ford offers.

Fuck this. I shove up from the table. “I’m goin’ to talk to her.”

Davis exhales. “Just…don’t start.”

Dakota grabs the hem of my T-shirt. “Please, don’t.”

I’m moving before I can process what I’m doing. My entire body is on a gravitational pull toward Fallon.

I can’t wait anymore. Can’t stay away. This is my one opportunity to talk to her alone, and I’m taking it.

I wedge my body between Fallon and the cowboy, subtly blocking her from him and our family.

She’s not impressed. The tense posture, that eyebrow raise. I should know better than to go in alone. Fallon doesn’t want small talk, she wants blood. And some sick, stupid part of me welcomes it. I’ve always been a sucker for a pretty face and a sharp mouth. But the only eyes I have are for Fallon.

The bartender slides a shot of tequila toward her.

“Thought you didn’t drink before a ride,” I say.

Down goes her shot.

“I do now.” She looks at me pointedly. “Why are you here, Wyatt?”

“Disappointed to see me?”

She bares her teeth. “Every damn time.”

The woman’s as infuriating as ever.

And still as fiercely sexy as I remember.

My cock flexes.

“Your sister wanted to come.” As I get closer, her delicate scent of smoke and spice fills my space.

“Bullshit,” she hisses. “Don’t you dare blame my sister.” Her red lips purse as she shoots a quick glance at our table. “I don’t want you here. I don’t want any of you here.”

With narrowed eyes, I take her in. I see what she’s trying to do. Prove to me she’s okay. That her life is fine without us. If she thinks I’m buying any of that, she’s fucking wrong. She cares. Cares that she’s missed things. More than she’s letting on.

The anger, the worry over her, gets the best of me. I can’t contain it. Bitterness builds again. I lean in. “Do you know how goddamn worried everyone was when you took off? Dakota cried for weeks. She—”

“Don’t,” Fallon orders, wild-eyed. “I don’t want to hear what I missed. How big Duke is, that Lainie doesn’t even know me, what everyone else has done since I’ve been gone. I don’t want to hear any of it.”

“Why?” I push.

“Because,” she snaps, “it pisses me off. And you know what else pisses me off? You.”

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