Taking a deep breath, I sat up straight and tightened my legs around the horse. I’d watched enough movies to hopefully have an idea of what I was doing. With a click of my tongue, Nightshade trotted out of the barn at a slow pace and headed straight for Tyla.
“Looking good,” she said as we approached.
Gritting my teeth, I tightened my hands on the reins. “Thanks. Just as long as I don’t fall off, I’ll be fine.”
“The only way you’ll do that is if you let go.” She glanced back at the barn before continuing. “So what’s the story with you and Blake?”
“What do you mean?”
She laughed. “I mean, there’s some serious tension between you two. I’ve known Blake for a while now and never have I seen him flustered over a girl.”
“Really? Not even Rayna?”
Her eyes went wide. “Please don’t tell me you met her?”
“I did. And I kind of told her we were dating. It was the first thing that came out of my mouth.”
She giggled. “That girl is pathetic. Just a heads up though, she’ll probably be at the bar tonight.”
I shrugged. “No worries. I can handle her.” Tyla started off toward the pasture and I kept up with her. “So you’ve never seen Blake serious about a girl?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Not since you showed up. I kept wondering when he was going to get his act together.”
“What about you? From what I gather, he seems to be a ladies’ man. How come you aren’t interested?”
A smile spread across her face. “He might be easy on the eyes, but he’s not my type. I prefer older men.”
“Ah, I see. I guess that’s my preference too,” I laughed.
“Then why the tension? I was drowning in it back there. Have you two not . . .”
I huffed. “No, never. I thought I made it clear I wanted to, but he hasn’t followed through.”
Tyla bit her lip, grinning mischievously. “What he needs is a little nudge. I’ll make sure he gets that tonight.”
“What are you going to do?”
“You’ll see. By the end of the night, he’ll be all yours. I know how the men around here work. The last thing they want is for another man to encroach on their territory. And believe me, by the way Blake was looking at you, you are his territory.”
Hadley
I was never good at playing games. I might be shy, but when I wanted something, I wouldn’t beat around the bush to get it. Why did Blake have to be so difficult? Once I was dressed, I glanced at myself in the mirror. My long, blonde hair was braided to the side and I had on a white sundress and cowgirl boots. It was strange because I didn’t see the same Hadley in the reflection. I saw a girl who wanted a different life and different things. The only problem was that it wasn’t possible.
“You will never be normal,” I said to my reflection. “You never have been.” Turning on my heel, I left my room and went straight to the kitchen. I held in my gasp the moment I spotted Blake. He sat at the bar, all cleaned up with a nice pair of jeans and a snug black T-shirt with his hair in messy spikes. No wonder all the ladies loved him; he was sex on a stick.
“I’m ready,” I announced.
His gaze lifted, then darkened as he took me in. “Ho-ly fuck. You’re going to get me kicked out tonight, princess.”
“Why?”
“Because every guy in the bar is going to try to put their dick in you.”
“Many have tried and all have failed. You have nothing to worry about. Are you ready to go?”
His eyes raked over my body again. “No, but it looks like I have to be. Just do me a favor and stay close.” He started for the door and grabbed one of the light-weight jackets off of the coat rack, slipping it over my shoulders as we walked out the door. “It’s supposed to be chilly tonight. Maybe you should keep this on.”
“Are you sure you’re not trying to cover me up?” I asked jokingly.
He chuckled. “Maybe.”
We stopped at the truck and he opened my door. Instead of getting in, I faced him. “Maybe you should be covering up. You’re the one all the women want around here.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Should it?” I countered.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe one day you’ll let me know.” An awkward silence fell upon us. I had the perfect time to tell him how I felt, but didn’t take it. What the hell was wrong with me? It was the same problem I had with singing brand new songs; I couldn’t do it in front of an audience. I had to wait and see what the people thought once they heard it on the radio. It would’ve been so much easier if he’d just tell me how he felt.
Once I was in the truck, he shut the door and got in. When we arrived at the bar, there were people everywhere. Almost immediately, I found Tyla’s curly blonde head in the midst of a group of guys.
“There’s Tyla,” I called out. Taking my hand, Blake pulled us through the mass of people to get to her.
“What’s up, Evans,” one of the guys in the group shouted. “I see you got a new girl.” I recognized Mitch but the other three I hadn’t met.
Blake put his arm around me. “This is Anna, an old friend from back home. She’s here for a visit. Anna,” he said, pointing at the guys, “I’d like you to meet Liam, Michael, and Devon.” Liam was the tallest with brown hair and brown eyes. Mitch looked like a midget compared to him. Michael and Devon both had similar muscular builds, but Michael had whitish blond hair and a kind smile, while Devon was more of the dark and mysterious kind with his black hair and brooding eyes.
I smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Want me to get you a drink?” Tyla whispered in my ear. “You look like you could use it.”
“Yes,” I pleaded. “Something with a little kick.”
“You got it.”
Blake pinched my ass when she walked off. “Need something with a little kick, huh?” He chuckled in my ear.
I wanted more than that, but I needed the alcohol to give me the courage to ask for it. I was such a chicken shit. The second Tyla handed me my drink, I guzzled it down. While the guys all talked, Tyla pulled me away and slipped me another drink; I tossed it back, my body feeling all warm and fuzzy. Blake glanced back at me and lifted his brows. I nodded to let him know I was all right.
“Sebastian should be here in a minute to ask you to dance. He said he would be here soon,” she whispered in my ear. “And just so you know, when you’re not looking, Blake’s watching you. It’s very . . . protective. Almost like a wolf watching his mate.”
I snorted. “Now that’s interesting. Watch a lot of the Discovery Channel?”
Her lips pulled back in a wolfish grin. “Something like that. But trust me, Blake’s feelings are there. I can sense them. I’ve always been a good matchmaker.”
We watched a bunch of people on the dance floor doing one of the many country line dances, but then the song changed and what came on next made me smile. It was one of my songs.
“Anna?”
I turned quickly. “Oh hey, Mitch.” Blake came up behind him, eyes blazing.
“Wanna dance?” Mitch asked, nodding toward the dance floor.
“Actually,” Blake held out his hand, “this is our song.”
Tyla elbowed me discreetly in the side, pushing me toward him.
I took Blake’s hand and smiled apologetically at Mitch. “Maybe next song?”
“Sure,” he said.
Blake twirled me around and pulled me into his arms. “There won’t be a next song. You’re wasted.”
“I am not. Two drinks are not going to get me drunk.” The room did spin a little more than usual, but it was probably because he just swung me around.
“Whatever you say, princess.” He laughed.