Page 7 of Here With Me

As soon as I walk into the lounge, I’m tempted to walk right back out.

What the fuck am I doing?

Noah’s gorgeous and charming and at least twenty years younger than me. I shouldn’t have been staring at her, but I couldn’t help it. The moment my eyes landed on her, she consumed me.

She exuded so much energy and excitement it was impossible not to notice her. The way she cheered for her friend and got everyone excited brought me back to my bull-riding days when competing was my life and the crowds would go wild. Watching her had adrenaline roaring through my body, and I wasn’t even the one in the arena.

When she sat next to me, my heart seized at our proximity. I nearly swallowed my tongue when she spoke to me.

Why the hell would she be interested in a guy twice her age?

Once the initial shock of her coming up to me wore off, it was too late. She’d already walked away with an invitation to meet her for a drink. After my long day, I wasn’t planning to stop at the bar, but the thought of seeing her again was too intriguing not to go.

It took me two hours to talk myself into going in the first place, and now that I’ve found her, I can’t keep my eyes off her.

She smiles and laughs while chatting with customers and the other bartenders. She hands out drinks and sways to the live music. Scrubbing my sweaty palms down my jeans, I walk over and hope she’s as happy to see me as I am to see her.

As soon as her gaze finds me, her lips split into a wide grin, and she walks over with a Budweiser.

“You came.” Her face lights up as she sets down a napkin and the bottle in front of me. “But now the question is, did ya come for my number or the free beer?”

“I came to see you. The drink’s just a bonus.” After taking a seat, I take a sip. The liquid helps cool me down as her flirty inspection heats my body.

Her brows rise as she digs into her pocket and pulls out two napkins. She looks between them before settling on one and shoving the other back. “In that case, I’ll give you this.”

When I look down at it, I grin when I read her number. “How’d ya know I’d come?”

“I didn’t, but I was optimistic.” She shrugs, resting her elbows on the bar and inching closer. “I figured if ya hadn’t shown up by the end of the night, I’d give it to the next best-lookin’ guy.”

My muscles flex as I lean toward her and continue to give her my full attention. “The next best, huh? Who woulda that been?”

“See that guy over there...” She nods toward a man chatting in the corner holding a glass of dark liquor. “His name is Hunter. Thirty-two. He’s a publicist for one of the big-shot bull riders. Used to ride, too.”

Taking a drink, I size up the guy and force myself to keep breathing. He’s not that impressive. In my heydays of being a rider, I bet I could’ve run circles around him.

Noah twirls a loose piece of her golden blond hair. “Suit and tie ain’t really my type, but he seems cocky enough to at least give good oral. But if I had to guess, you’d be better at it.”

Choking on my beer at her sudden outburst, I cough until it clears down my throat.Jesus Christ. She’s trying to kill me.

“You alright? You choke a lot.” She hands me a fresh napkin, and I take it to wipe my mouth.

“You keep takin’ me by surprise.” My voice is full of gravel as I try to choke down the lump of nerves.

Her hands go to her hips as her cherry-red lips curve into a grin. “You’re not used to women hittin’ on ya? That seems unlikely.”

I love how bold and free she is. Noah’s unlike anyone I’ve met before, and the urge to claim her mouth is stronger than anything I’ve ever felt.

Blunt, beautiful, and unapologetically herself.

And way too goddamn young.

Shaking my head, I position my hand to hide my smile.

“Are you...blushin’?” she taunts, tilting her head to get a better look at my face.

Straightening my spine, I move my hand down to my aching cock. “No. I don’t blush.”

Noah’s lips curl up into an amused smirk as her own cheeks tint pink. “You, cowboy...areblushin’.”