Page 10 of Ace of Spades (Hidden Creek Ranch #1)

HAILEY

The Tri-County Spring Rodeo & Dance was an annual tradition the first weekend of every April, encompassing Cedar Creek, Canyon Springs, and River Valley—the three towns in the area.

The rodeo took place that Thursday and Friday night, with a dance taking place Saturday evening for all of the WPRA competitors.

It was more of a social event than anything, where interviews took place and everyone had the opportunity to network.

The event on Saturday night held a formal dinner and an auction, with the dance later in the evening—the one part of the event that had my stomach doing all sorts of flips as I thought about the fact that Weston would most likely be there .

He didn’t seem like the type for formal events, but this was an occasion that none of the competitors would want to miss, and given that it was being held in Cedar Creek’s new event center this year, I knew there was a good chance that the guys at the ranch wouldn’t want to pass it up.

I hadn’t spoken with Brad since the argument with Kelly during my birthday party, and I hadn’t planned on it—until he showed up on my doorstep with flowers the next day, wishing me a late birthday and formally inviting me to the Tri-County Dance, something I wasn’t able to turn down with both of my misparents watching excitedly.

I sit down on the edge of my bed, picking up my phone to re-read the text exchange between me and the one person that I did want to see tonight.

UNKNOWN: You alive this morning, Sorrels?

I had known exactly who it was when the text had come through the morning after my birthday party two weeks ago, and had mentally berated myself for the smile that the message had brought.

ME: No.

UNKNOWN: That’s unfortunate. You will be missed.

ME: You saying you’ll miss me, Langford? Funny, I would’ve thought you would be rejoiced .

UNKNOWN: It would be inconvenient to lose the target of my ire. Finding a new target would be too exhausting.

ME: Well, I would hate to inconvenience you. Give me a few hours to rise from the grave and I’ll be good as new.

UNKNOWN: Great. Let me know once you’re well again, I have a few questions regarding just what it is about my butt that makes it so nice .

I had been mortified as everything had come crashing back to me—nearly going full-blown girls-gone-wild in the arena, Weston carrying me like a sack of potatoes to my house, him holding my hair back as I puked my guts up, and yes—telling him he has a nice ass.

I had shoved my head under the pillow, in the middle of wishing I could crawl under a rock and stay there forever, when another text had come through.

UNKNOWN: For the record, yours isn’t too bad either.

A wild blush has spread through my cheeks at that one.

ME: Are you saying you like my ass, Langford?

UNKNOWN: Gotta give credit where credit is due. And call me Wes .

That had been just one of the few conversations we’d had since then.

Neither of us would ever admit it, but whatever we had between the two of us had grown far from loathing.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, but I knew that it gave me butterflies.

And I knew that whatever it was, I wanted to see him more and more.

I didn’t dare to say it, but I think we had become… friends?

At least, I thought we had—up until he stopped replying completely last week after Ava told Chance that I was going to the dance with Brad. Chance had asked her to come as his date, and she had suggested that I ask Weston, but I had already committed to Brad.

As little as I cared for him, I knew that my parents loved him too much to end things so abruptly.

Not to mention the fact that I had recently found out that both of our dads had been talking about getting into some investments together, so I said yes for their sake, deciding to play nice to keep everything civil between the two families.

But right now, there was nothing I dreaded more than being forced to spend an evening with him.

It made me question what I had ever seen in him in the first place.

Getting up off the bed, I place my phone back on my nightstand, walking towards the gown hanging from my bathroom door.

Ava had helped me pick my outfit for tonight—a floor-length sleek black dress with long sleeves and a deep-v neckline, with a slit running up one side to show off my vintage red knee-high boots, paired with a concho belt accentuating my waist and sterling silver earrings that Mom had gotten me for Christmas last year .

I had curled my hair in long waves, finishing off my face with dark red lipstick to match the boots. Slipping on the dress and final touches, I make my way to the main house, knowing that my parents would want to say hi to Brad before we left for the dance.

“You look stunning, sweetheart! Bradley is going to be speechless,” Mom had told me. Little did she know that Brad wasn’t the person I had in mind while I was getting ready.

I have my eyes out for both Ava and Weston as soon as Brad and I step into the venue, a large private hall attached to the indoor rodeo arena.

Round tables are placed around the room, and a stage is set up with a live country band and a large dance floor.

People mingle about, a buffet set up in the far corner, and an open bar in the other.

I take in the action shots from some of the rodeo legends in the area, the walls lined with hall of fame displays and black-and-white photography. Wrought-iron brands from some of the local ranches adorn the space, the chandeliers casting a soft glow over polished wood and brass table settings.

“Come on, there’s Preston and the others,” Brad says, walking me over to a table where his roping partner sat with a few of his other friends.

I luckily managed to avoid having to join in on any of their conversations for most of the evening, chatting with one of the girls at the table instead and constantly checking my phone for any new messages, hoping that a certain name would pop up.

I exited from the conversation with Weston with the two unanswered messages I had left him, opening the one with Ava instead .

ME: Hey, you guys here yet?

AVA: Yeah! We’re at a table on the far left by the stage!

I lock my phone, turning to Brad.

“Hey, I’m going to go say hi to Ava real quick. I’ll be right back,” I tell him, pushing out of my seat and smoothing my dress.

He puts his beer down, the empty bottle joining the other three that he has in front of him. Turning to face me, he offers me a lazy grin.

“Of course, babe. Why don’t I come with you,” he gets to his feet, standing to his full height. He wasn’t as tall as Weston, but he still had nearly a foot on me.

“It’s fine, you stay here with your friends. I’ll be right back, I promise,” I insist. With the way he had embarrassed me in front of both Ava and Weston in the past, the last thing I wanted was for him to come along.

“Don’t be ridiculous, babe. Your friends are my friends, I insist.”

I force a smile, turning to lead the way to find Ava as he places his hand on my lower back.

His touch burns against my skin, contrary to how good Weston’s had felt wrapped around me as he had carried me to my bedroom after my birthday party.

I had been drunk, sure—but I still remember the way such a simple touch had lit my body on fire.

I spot Ava’s dark curls at a table in the far corner, a dark plum-colored dress perfectly complementing her olive skin. Chance sits at her side, wearing a white button-down with his straw hat sitting over his dirty blond hair.

“Ava,” I call to her as we walk up to the table, my friend spotting me instantly. I scan the table as she stands to embrace me, not seeing any sign of Weston.

“Babes, you look stunning!” She tells me, taking a step back to look me up and down. “Like damn, that dress was made for you.”

“Thank you, you look amazing too! That color is perfect for you.”

She beams a smile my way before spotting Bradley coming up beside me.

“Hi, Brad,” she greets him, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“Nice to see you again, Ella.”

“It’s Ava,” Ava and I state at the same time.

“Right,” he says, his attention already elsewhere as he looks around the room with disinterest.

“Anyways,” Ava rolls her eyes, turning back to me.

“Oh yeah, before I forget—you know how you said that Vegas threw a shoe, and that farrier can’t get to her before the next rodeo?

Well, it turns out that Rafe is a farrier!

He works on all of the horses at the ranch.

He said he can come by as soon as tomorrow morning if you want? ”

“Really?” I turn to Rafe.

“Definitely,” he tells me. “I’ll swing by first thing in the morning.”

“Thank you so much, you’re a lifesaver,” I tell him, just as I spot someone approaching out of the corner of my eye. I turn to find Weston walking our way, wearing a straw hat and a black button down that make his green eyes seem even more vivid than usual.

I feel my stomach do a little somersault as he walks to the table, his eyes clashing with mine.

His eyes drag over me for the briefest second, taking in my appearance as something flickers in his gaze.

He blinks once before schooling his features, a confident smirk replacing whatever had just passed across his face.

But when my eyes slide behind him, my heart sinks to the floor.

A gorgeous blonde follows behind him, her smile radiant and her face every bit as gorgeous as I would imagine a model to be. She’s tall and lean, her skin a sun-kissed glow that compliments the beautiful baby blue gown that fits her like a glove, her golden hair pulled into a messy low bun.

The little green monster inside of me rears its head, and a lump forms in my throat for reasons I can’t explain. It’s not like I have any claim to him whatsoever, so why was it hitting me so hard?

“Hey, Langford,” Brad calls, raising his beer in greeting and throwing an arm possessively around my shoulders.

Weston turns his attention to him, an impassive look on his face.

“What are you doing here, Easton?”

“Oh, just had something to return to ya, bud.”

With that, Brad lets go of me to reach into his pocket. I watch in horror as he pulls out a playing card, my breath catching in my throat once I realize what it is—an Ace of Spades. Weston’s Ace of Spades .

Everybody seems to freeze, a heavy silence stifling the air around us as Brad flashes Easton a wicked smile.

“Where did you get that?” Weston asks through clenched teeth.

“You know, you really shouldn’t leave your hat lying around. Just saying.”

Weston’s jaw ticks, his fist clenching at his side, though he manages to keep his face neutral and voice calm.

“What do you want, Bradley?”

“Let me think about that,” Brad says, making a show of pretending to think about it, toying with Weston. “Better idea—how about I just do this.”

It happens too fast for anybody to react. One second, the card is intact, and in the next, it’s torn into a hundred tiny pieces floating to the ground.

“Stay away from my girl, Langford. Word travels fast in a small town. If I ever hear you stepped foot in her trailer or her house again, we’re gonna have some trouble. You guys have a good night.”

I barely comprehend Brad’s words with the ringing in my head.

I can’t take my eyes off the pieces of the card lying dead on the floor at my feet, tears burn in the backs of my eyes—tears of frustration and embarrassment.

Not tears for myself, but for Weston. I force myself to glance up at him, only to be met with green eyes so cold that they send a chill down my spine.

“Wes…” I breathe, but he’s gone in the next second.

I chase after him, my boots slapping against the ground as I follow him through the doors and into the corridor .

“Weston!” I yell as he slips through the back door to the parking lot, the cool evening breeze blowing through my hair as I manage to catch up and grab his arm.

He spins around to face me, a murderous glare aimed right at me.

“What, Hailey?” he shouts. “What could you possibly want?”

I take a step back, caught off guard by the ferocity in his tone.

“I’m so sorry about Brad, I had no idea what he was—”

“Don’t,” he growls, cutting me off. “Don’t fucking lie to me.”

“I’m not,” I tell him, pleading with my eyes for him to believe me. “Weston, I had no idea, I swear to you.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yes!”

“Then how the fuck did he know about it, then?”

“I don’t know!” I yell. “Weston, I didn’t tell him anything. You have to believe me, please. I would never do that to you.”

“And yet, you still let him bring you tonight. You know the type of person he is, and yet you still choose him.”

There was so much hurt lacing his tone.

“I…” My mouth hangs open, but I can’t seem to find the words to say. “I don’t…”

He looks at me, really looks at me.

“Stay away from me, Hailey.”

His tone is final. It isn’t angry, or just something said in the heat of the moment—it’s calm and decisive, making it feel all that much worse .

I don’t argue as he turns around and walks away, leaving me standing in the middle of the parking lot. I don’t move one bit as I watch his taillights pull out into the night, a silent tear rolling down my cheek.

“There you are,” I hear the door to the parking lot slam closed, the sound of Brad’s boots approaching as I dry my eyes with the sleeve of my dress.

“Go away, Brad,” I sniffle, suddenly feeling dead inside.

“Aw, I’m sorry babe. Did your little boyfriend get his feelings hurt?”

“Shut up,” I grind out as he rounds me, bringing us face to face.

“Awe, don’t cry. It’s okay, I forgive you. We can just forget that any of this happened and move on.”

“Me? I’m sorry— you forgive me ?” I ask, completely dumbfounded at the audacity.

“That’s right. I heard all about your birthday party, and how you went back to your bedroom with him. Tell me, Hailey—did you let him touch you? Did you let him fuck you?”

A slap rings through the air before I can even process what I had just done. My breathing is heavy in the air, my palm stinging as his head slowly swivels back to me, a maniacal look on his face.

“Get away from me,” I tell him, my tone level. “Whatever we had—whatever this was, we’re done. You disgust me.”

His fist comes fast and hard, knocking me off of my feet. Pain blooms across my cheek, a ringing pain bursting through my head as stars explode across my vision .

I taste the tang of blood on my tongue, my knees and the palms of my hands burning from the scrape of the pavement.

“He can have you,” Brad spits, leaving me too stunned to speak as he leaves me on the ground and walks away.