Page 127 of The Wildest Ride

It was so obvious now—the way she rode, the preternatural balance, her eyes. God, her eyes. How had he not guessed? How many people had gray eyes in the world? How many Black people? It was so obvious and it hadn’t even occurred to him because he’d been so lost in everything else that she was. Everything that she’d pulled back and locked up.

He was worried about her. He wanted to go to her, rattle her out of her self-imposed exile and rustle a laugh out of her, shake her loose enough to make her realize what he was offering—what The Old Man was.

The ball was in her court now, though, and they’d both just have to wait.

He’d laid his cards on the table and he wasn’t about to beg after her like a sad puppy. She had to make the next move.

But he hadn’t seen her now in days, so he had no idea what progress was happening. So while it might be her turn to make a move, it didn’t hurt to check in and see how she was coming along.

That was why he stood outside of her hotel door, knocking.

She opened the door a crack and peeked out of it.

“What do you want?”

Her eyes were puffy again, the inside of her room dim.

“Open the door, Lil,” he ordered.

When she did as he said without pushback, he worried.

She stood aside to let him come in and closed the door after him.

Her duffel bag was on the entry bench and there was a water bottle by her seat. Otherwise everything was undisturbed inside.

“We could fix this before we go on, you know.” He spoke softly, like she might spook. He had a feeling that was a distinct possibility.

She eyed him, a line of alert tension visible through her body. “Nothing needs to be fixed, as far as I know.”

AJ let out a laugh that was arid for joy. “I was right and you know it, Lil. Stop being stubborn and give us both what we need.”

“What I need is to win and get back where I belong.”

AJ made a sweeping gesture around the space. “You’re going to need to do more than just show up if you want to win.”

“Thanks for the advice.” Her face was stony and uncompromising.

He said, “You’re better with me.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m as good as I am on my own. You’ve got nothing to do with it.”

He took a step closer, and she tilted her chin up to keep eye contact. “Stop this foolishness,” he said. “Take me home with you.”

Something sharp and scared flashed through her eyes, but was gone in an instant. “You won’t stay.”

He leaned in, bringing his lips closer to hers, and she strained up toward him, even if she wasn’t aware of it.

“I will.” He spoke softly, his mouth only inches from hers.

“Cowboys always leave,” she whispered before he closed the gap between their lips with a growl.

She opened for him immediately, her body going fluid as she sighed into it, relief virtually seeping from her every pore. She hadn’t just been wanting him, she’d needed him. He could feel the truth of it in her body’s urge to merge with his. But she needed to be the one to see it now.

He ended the kiss slowly, lingering on the first taste he’d had of her in ages, savoring even as his hunger grew for more.

He said, “You’re the cowboy, Lil,” and then he left.

Her taste lingered in his mouth, but he wouldn’t try again. The play was doomed if he followed her around like a fool. She had to come to him, but it was more of a challenge to hold his line with the whisper of her still on his tongue than it had been before.