Page 17 of For Cowgirls and Kings

I reach out, patting her arm. “We’re only teasing.”

“Speak for yourself,” Gus huffs, and then stands, coming around to loom over the front of our table. Stetson slumps back into the booth, sticking her tongue out at him and narrowing her eyes.

“Leave, this was supposed to be a girls night.”

“It has been. You didn’t even know I was here.” Stetson rolls her eyes and then turns to face Faith, a small apologetic look crossing her features.

“Sorry about him. He can be a little…obsessive.”

Gus and I both snort at that, and then I laugh harder, knowing our close friendship sometimes grates on Stetson’s nerves, even if she denies it. She’s just territorial, and I don’t mind in the slightest—just makes for even more fun poking the bear on nights like this.

“And a lot possessive,” I add.

“And sometimes aggressive.” We all turn to look at Gus then, his face perfectly flat.

“And the most suppressive,” Stetson snaps, but there’s hearts beating out of her eyes. “Now leave, so we can continue.”

“Or stay, and tell me how I might find a man like you.”

“Well, just pull your head out of your ass and let the guys panting after you have a chance.”

“Augustus, you apologize,”

“Like which one, mistro?” I silence Stetson with a smile, as I look back at Gus.

He stares at me, bored and annoyed, like I’m a dumb child. Which with anyone else would annoy me, but not with him. With him, I feel almost special because I know he’s allowing me to see past his nonchalant mask. “Blonde barbie boy.”

I scrunch my nose. Jared really is a cute kid, but even thinking about kissing him makes me want to gag. Not because of the age—truly that’s a turn on. But because he’s not ridiculously tall, covered in tattoos, dark hair and eyes, and dripping dominance and sex appeal like rain from an overflowing gutter. There’s no way he can wear a suit, or pressed jeans like they were made for him and him alone, or command the attention of a room like a king. Jared’s hot, but he’s no papi.

And a papi is exactly what I’m looking for.

The question is, where do I find one?

SEVEN

ADALENE

September 2nd, 2024

I’m jolted awake,my body and mind feeling like two very separate and far away pieces. There’s a pounding in my head that feels similar to a hammer, violently and steadily pushing me closer to losing whatever might still be stirring in my stomach.

Rolling over, I shield my eyes from the streams of sunlight that are already filtering through the deep green curtains covering my bedroom window. So it’s full daytime out there—great. I plan to sleep so long today that the light fades into dark, and I can forget my existence a little longer.

I close my eyes, letting the thought settle into my bones, resignation in the fact that I feel like death, and wish for it too, when something warm slides across my stomach. It’s not soft and furry like Queen Tut laying on me. It’s bare, and hot, and firm…

My eyes snap open, and I barely contain a scream both from the harsh light, and the sight of a tan arm dusted in small blonde hairs laying across my chest. I slowly tilt my head to peek a glance at the man laying beside me, and then instantly pinch them closed again.

Fucking hell.

The memories from last come pouring back in, like a spigot over a cloth covered mouth—suffocating me with its violence.

Earlier that morning…

“This is where you live?”His voice is filled with wonder and a giddy laugh bubbles out of my chest. This feels so incredibly dirty and wrong having him in my space. I don’t do this—I don’t bring men into my safety net. But I’m drunk enough, lonely enough, and angry enough to do something this stupid, just this once.

Besides, I’m pretty sure he’s the most innocent, nicest guy I could have decided to invite here.

Unlike the beautifully dark man whose face haunts each of my fantasies…and didn’t even bother to call me to wish me a happy birthday today. Not that it matters. He hasn’t in years, and yet—no, Dale. Just because you’ve shared a few encounters lately means nothing.