Page 34 of Unmasked Rivalry
I scowl at her. “I wish your man would shut his mouth.”
She winks at me. “He does, when I’m on top of him grinding slowly...”
“You’re an animal,” I laugh. “And as far as I know, Knox can’t stand me so it should be fun...”
“Well,” Sable fans herself. “You need to make it look believable, after all, you’re just here trying to get us to help with your brother...you bad bad girl.”
I snort. “Oh shush.”
An hour later, we’re all crammed into Sable’s ancient blue Land Cruiser, me, Mera, Sable, and Nia, who is already two drinks down and saying how excited she is to take Lily on a ferris wheel. At least the weather has the decency not to be disgusting; it’s mild, perfect for a day of watching cows parade around and pretending you like small talk.
We park out on the field, and the place is already packed. There are food trucks in the strip, a row of bouncy castles and rides, and a crowd jostling around a makeshift stage. Kids run everywhere. I spot the familiar flash of leather vests in the distance, Wolfe and the others have already claimed a spot by the beer tent. Of course.
Mera eyes me sidelong as we’re walking in. “Think he’s gonna be mad about your outfit?” she murmurs, wiggling her eyebrows.
I look down. Tiny. Black tank. Chipped nail polish and an old pair of boots. It’s all I had. “Why, does Knox have a thing for prom dresses?”
Her laugh is sharp and bright, and Sable snorts behind us. “Maybe he likes to peel them off,” Sable says.
We edge through the people, past a line of sullen teenagers manning a dunk tank, and to the beer tent where Wolfe, Kael, Zane, and Talon are already posted up at a picnic table. Knox is there, too, arms folded and sunglasses on, refusing to look up.
“S’about time,” Zane calls, patting the bench beside him. “If those shorts get any shorter, I’m goin’ to have to take you home tonight.”
Knox looks up at that.
I ignore him and sit beside Zane.
“Ralston won’t like it if you cheat on Knox,” Mera teases as she falls onto Wolfe’s lap and relishes in his mouth trailing against her neck.
Sable finds Kael and Nia snuggles against Talon. Why are they so damn cute.
“Drink?” Wolfe murmurs in my direction and I nod.
He simply raises a hand like he owns this town, and someone brings him a drink. Okay then. He hands it to me and after one sip, I gasp. “Jesus, what the hell is this? I’ll end up in jail after three of these.”
Talon raises his shot glass. “We’d get you out. Eventually.”
“Bail money here is like, what, a pack of smokes and a cheap bottle of whiskey,” Sable grins and I flip her the bird.
Zane leans in close. “Don’t worry, darlin’, I’d get you out.”
It’s tempting to let Zane take me home. The man is fucking fine as hell and at least he looks at me like he wants to eat me alive. To be fair, I am the one who begged Knox not to kiss me, but still, I’m allowed to be a pissy bitch if I want.
People are starting to gather for the cattle auction, which looks exactly as thrilling as it sounds if you’ve never lived in a town like this. A parade of steers are circling in a mud pit, while volunteers in matching t-shirts move numbers on a board. At least there’s an open bar. I’m watching a guy try to eat a funnel cake in three bites when I feel the heat of a stare.
Ralston.
He’s got his shoulder propped against the trunk of an oak, the sleeves of his white dress shirt, who wears white to a fair? rolled to the elbow, and a pair of mirrored aviators perched on his nose. Someone should tell him you can buy a personality like that at any gas station in the valley. He lifts his glass in my direction, and then flicks his gaze to Knox. And back to me.
Shit.
Nia notices and her brows go up. “Oh, he’s onto you girlfriend.”
I choose to ignore her.
“You know,” I say with a grin, “I’d pay money to see a fistfight between Ralston and Wolfe.”
Kael grunts. “Wolfe’d eat him alive. Ralston looks like he hasn't eaten gluten in five years and it shows.”
