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Sawyer knocks back his whiskey. “I don’t get out much, so, yeah, count me in.”

“I’d love to give you all my money, sure,” Duke deadpans.

Making sure Sally doesn’t need another drink, I head for my truck.

CHAPTER 10

Wyatt

SHOULDA BEEN A COWBOY

Sally is talkingto Beck when I walk back into the barn, deck of cards in hand. The cardboard edges of the box bite into my palm as I tighten my grip.

Yes, Sally connecting with other guys was part of the plan.

Yes, it was a plan I agreed to.

No, I was not prepared for the white-hot jealousy that streaks through me when I see her smile up at him like he hung the goddamn moon.

Enough of the pretending. Enough already of the hiding. Get her out of here and tell her how you feel.

“Y’all wanna play or what?” I toss the deck onto the table.

Duke pulls back, hooking a thumb in the direction of the parking lot. “What bit you in the ass out there?”

“The cold.” And the fact that this stupid plan is actually working. “I’m about to turn into a pumpkin, so let’s get the game moving.”

“All right, Cinderella,” Sawyer replies, mouth twitching.

Sally and I meet eyes. That’s what I called her on our first kinda-sorta fake date the other night at The Rattler.

Determined not to read too much into that, I take my seatand open the box. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Beck pulling out Sally’s chair.

“Aw, thank you, Beck.” She’s still wearing that gorgeous, lit-up smile as she sits.

I can’t help but notice how calm she seems around him now. Like the nervousness she had at The Rattler is melting away.

That’s a good thing.

I tell myself that Sally feeling confident is a really good thing.

Why, then, does it feel so fucking awful to watch her right now?

Why do I reach for the leg of Sally’s chair and yank her toward me like a possessive caveman, making her yelp? It’s not like me to care. Scratch that—I do care. It’s just not like me toshowit. It’s especially not like me to be so publicly possessive.

But as far as my brothers and Sally are concerned, this is all fake, so I’m safe.

Only I don’t feel very safe at all when I pat my lap and say to Sally, “Your seat is here.”

Duke lets out a bark of laughter that he tries to pass off as a cough. I cut him a warning glance before turning back to Sally.

Her long, dark eyelashes flutter. “Really?”

“You wanna learn how to play, don’t you? You and I will play the first hand together. Cards’ll be easier to see if you’re on my lap. Plus, it’ll be more fun this way.”

Sally bites her lip. I’m gripped by the fierce, almost-frightening urge to grab her and put her on my lap myself. Let Beck know she’s mine. For tonight at least.

He’s gotta let me have a win. Just one. That’s all I ask.