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Alcohol makes it worse.

If he could have a conversation with that voice, he’d yell at it to shut up. The occasional drink wasn’t going to hurt him. He needed a buzz—something to help dull the ache he felt watching Grace dancing with a man who was taller and probably a lot more stable than he was.

Riley knocked back a drink, allowing the bitter liquid to race down his throat and coat his stomach in that heat that also dulled the senses. He slammed the bottle on the counter and asked for another.

Two. He could have two beers and be perfectly fine.

The buzz took effect shortly after. He hadn’t had a drink in he didn’t know how long. The judge had requested he take a break, and he’d done just that.

Social drinking wasn’t going to ruin anything. It just made it easier for his body to succumb to the heat and relaxation the alcohol would provide.

The second the slow song ended, he expected Grace to walk off the dance floor, but instead, she stood there with the cowboy. Their conversation was taking far longer than was necessary.

It might have been the beers talking, but Wade looked like he wasn’t enjoying the conversation. Riley peered at them. Wade was definitely not being the gentleman he should have been. Grace turned to leave and he reached out to stop her.

That was all it took.

Riley stormed across the room and stood between the cowboy and Grace. He wasn’t entirely drunk, but he wasn’t as sharp as he usually was. He probably shouldn’t have knocked back two drinks so quickly.

He poked Wade in the chest. “You don’t touch her like that.”

“Riley!” She tugged at him. “It’s fine.”

Wade laughed. “Who are you?”

“I’m her date.”

“Riley!”

Wade shot a look at Grace. “Sure seems like she doesn’t agree with you.”

Riley puffed out his chest. “I asked her to come. She said yes. I’d say that makes her my date.”

The tall cowboy folded his arms. “I asked my sister to come. Does that mean we’re on a date?”

“If the boot fits.”

“For heaven’s sake. I’m so sorry, Wade. Thanks for the dance. Sorry about earlier.” She grabbed Riley’s forearm and tugged him off the dance floor and toward the side of the room where no one stood nearby. She set angry eyes on him. “What has gotten into you?”

He shot a dirty look over his shoulder. “Wade shouldn’t have touched you that way.”

“What way?” she asked with exasperation. Her face was flushed, and he could only assume it was because she hadn’t had the best interaction with her dance partner.

“Want me to go back over there and put him in his place?”

“What? Of course not. Are you drunk?”

“I’m getting there.” He paused and thought over the words he’d just said, then laughed. “I mean, no. I had two beers, but it’s not a big deal.”

“You can’t be more than a hundred and sixty pounds. Do you even know what happens when you drink that much alcohol in such a short time?”

“I was a pretty heavy drinker. Alcohol doesn’t react the same way in my body as it does to other people.”

She looked absolutely adorable with her hands on her hips and he leaned closer to her.

“You’re cute.”

“So you’ve said,” she grumbled. “I think we need to get you back to your cabin. It’s probably not a good idea for you to be here like this.”