Page 46 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Cherry

‘Oh damn , are you getting a blowjob behind the bar?’ Sawyer’s laugh of disbelief echoes through the bar as Duke’s eyes widen down at me.

Colour drains from his face, his body going taut.

From the way Sawyer’s footsteps are closing in, I’m seconds away from being discovered with my lips around Duke’s cock, lipstick covering every inch.

Without a moment more to hesitate, Duke tugs my head back and quickly tucks himself away. He holds a hand out – a silent command to stay down – as he pivots, scrambling to buckle his belt.

‘Please don’t come any closer,’ Duke begs Sawyer, his voice hoarse – possibly from groaning so loudly mere seconds ago.

Champagne bubbles mix with the dopamine in my bloodstream from my orgasm, forcing me to clamp a hand over my mouth to stop any nervous giggles escaping.

It shouldn’t be funny – we’re moments away from being caught – but for some reason, the pure bad luck and poor timing of it all makes me want to howl.

The close call is somewhat exhilarating too, just like when Duke had me bent over his desk weeks ago, strumming me so close to the edge while my family and friends were a few metres away.

Oblivious to the implications of what he might find, Sawyer just laughs again. ‘Oh, come on, man. I ain’t judgin’. You’ve got lipstick all over you, by the way.’

The muscles in Duke’s back bunch together, straining under his tattooed skin. He wipes desperately at his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘I’m serious, Sawyer. There’s nothing to see.’

‘Okay, okay.’ I hear the brief scrape of a table leg against the floor, presumably where Sawyer has perched himself. ‘I don’t know why you’re makin’ a big deal out of this. Anyone would think you’ve got little Hensley behind there or somethin’.’

My breath catches in my throat, the words hitting me differently all of sudden when they’re coming from Sawyer’s mouth.

There’s just something in the way he says it, like it’s so unbelievably impossible.

His joke clearly grates on Duke even more as his hands clench the edge of the bar tighter, almost threatening to leave dents.

It’s just a joke, though – hell, I was literally having to bite back my own chuckle a second ago – but hearing Sawyer actually say it, insinuating how terrible that would be, and seeing Duke’s evident discomfort … it’s somewhat jarring.

That the idea of Duke – any of Wyatt’s friends – trying to get with me is laughable .

I try to remind myself that it’s only because they think it would be wrong, what Duke has been suggesting all these times, but I can’t deny the slight twinge of shame coiling in my gut, as if it would be embarrassing to be seen with me.

I’m just little, weak Baby Hensley, after all.

And when I’m cowering down here naked , pretending I don’t exist, and Duke’s so affected by the comment, not even looking at me, it’s hard to ignore. The way that shame bites at my cheeks. The way I have to pick my nails just to distract myself.

The last thing I’ve ever felt with Duke is shame.

But is he ashamed to be with me? It’s not like I’ve been pushing him to be open about us, but I’m not sure I’ve ever cowered away from the idea either.

It’s always been Duke who’s insisted on keeping this quiet – maybe he has more to risk from being honest about us, but wouldn’t Wyatt be just as annoyed at me for being with his best friend?

I reach for Duke’s shirt across the floor to wrap it around me.

Duke grits out, ‘Sawyer, what are you doing here?’

‘Sorry, I left my phone. I know you said to use the spare key in emergencies, but … well, can’t say I expected to be walkin’ in on this. Honestly, I’m happy for you, man.’ The tone of Sawyer’s voice gives away his smirk. ‘Glad you’re puttin’ the bar to good use.’

Duke wipes a hand down his face, a gravelly sigh following. I wonder how quickly I could scurry out from behind here, maybe go hide in Duke’s office or the staff room. Just so I don’t have to stay down here, hiding.

‘Hey, look, don’t worry. Just gimme a second to find the damn thing and I’ll let you get back to your fun night.’ Sawyer’s voice quietens with distance and Duke’s shoulders visibly loosen, his muscles shifting down. I want him to reach out to me or something, even if briefly.

But he doesn’t. Instead, he sidles out from the bar still with his shirt off. ‘I’ll help you – it might be quicker.’

Sounds of shuffling and chairs scraping fill the empty haunt as I try to keep my breathing quiet.

‘Wait,’ Sawyer gasps. ‘There’s a dress and panties by the bar. You rascal, Duke Bennett.’

‘Sawyer, no—’

The sudden thumping of a few running footfalls and Sawyer’s laugh doesn’t give me enough time to react before he’s at the bar, leaning straight over to discover me, still on my knees.

His bottom lip drops, wide brown eyes scanning me from head to toe frantically. He rubs a hand over his eyes. ‘Cherry?’

My heart races up in my throat, words failing me.

‘Hi …’ I say cautiously, finally bringing myself to a stand, making sure to hold the shirt as tightly to my naked body as possible. I flash him a smile, but he just continues staring at me, mouth agape. It’s actually quite surreal – Sawyer being quiet for once.

‘Duke.’ He whips his head round to face Duke, whose hands are clutching his head, muscles strained as his arms lift. ‘What. The. Fuck.’

‘You don’t have to make a big deal out of this,’ I blurt, moving around the bar. I hold my hand up, like I’m trying to calm down a skittish horse, or in this case, a bewildered bull rider.

‘My ass I don’t have to make a big deal out of this, Cherry Hensley.

’ Sawyer crosses his arms, urging his eyes at me.

‘You’re Wyatt’s little sister. This … Please tell me this isn’t real.

That I passed out when I got home, and this is just some weird nightmare where my friends go behind each other’s backs—’

‘Hey,’ Duke calls out. ‘That’s not fair.’

‘Isn’t it?’ Sawyer throws his hands in the air. ‘Duke, you had his little sister on her knees behind your bar giving you a goddamn blowjob on the night of his engagement. Are you telling me Wyatt knows about all that and gave you the green light?’

‘It’s … it’s not like that,’ Duke mutters weakly, shaking his head and dropping his gaze to the floor. There’s a slight hunch to his shoulders now, and he leans back against the edge of the table behind him for support.

‘Wyatt’s little sister is standing right here and has an opinion on this you know.’ I huff, folding my arms too. ‘You’re blowing this all out of proportion.’

Sawyer sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘Cherry, I know you might not get it but … all we’ve ever tried to do is protect you, and then for one of us to slide in when Wyatt’s not looking, it just—’

‘Yeah, well, Wyatt doesn’t control me. I’m an adult, okay? I can make my own decisions,’ I say fiercely. Because if this summer has proved anything, it’s that. My decisions are just as worthy as everyone else’s. ‘There’s nothing wrong with me wanting to be with Duke, or him wanting to be with me.’

‘Wanting to be with Duke? As in—’ Sawyer’s head volleys between the two of us ‘—you’re together ?’

His glare finally settles on Duke, and I drag my stare up too. But nothing comes. Duke’s own gaze just flitters off as he rubs his hand across his stubbled jaw. The fact that he doesn’t say has my heart squeezing painfully tight. Why does it feel like I’m the one fighting harder here?

I guess we haven’t actually defined what is going on between us, we haven’t been able to, really. And Duke’s been there for me so many times maybe this is just his moment of weakness, and this time, I’ll be strong for him. For the both of us.

‘Yes,’ I confirm, quickly dropping to grab my clothes from the floor. ‘We’re together.’

Sawyer barks out a strained laugh. ‘Wyatt’s gonna flip.’

‘No, he’s not, because you’re not going to tell him.’ I raise my brows.

There’s a wince of pain that flashes across Sawyer’s face. ‘I don’t know, Cherry. Wyatt’s our best friend. How long has this even been going on?’

Again, Duke says nothing when Sawyer turns to him once more searching for answers.

I shrug. ‘Like a month or so.’

‘A month or so?!’ A string of incomprehensible sounds follow from Sawyer’s mouth, his jaw working up and down like a fish until he eventually slides out a chair and slumps into it. He throws his head into his hands and groans.

I’m almost surprised at how worked up he’s getting himself, especially when there’s no one here to rile up or impress.

If anything, out of all our group, Sawyer was the one I’d expected to laugh this off and probably just use it as an opportunity to make awkward comments to annoy us.

Sawyer mumbles to himself, ‘Why did I have to be the one to walk in on this? Haven’t I had enough to deal with this summer with Dad and the ranch and her ? ’

I move towards the table, but Duke walks quicker, finally piping up to say, ‘Sawyer, I promise, it’s nothing.’

His words slap me straight in the face. My heart lurches up into my throat, a painful lump wedged there as I struggle to convince myself that he’s only saying that to calm Sawyer down.

But something makes me not want to believe myself, that cowering version of me suddenly rearing its head and beginning to tear my heart into pieces. ‘We’re nothing ?’

‘Cherry.’ Duke turns to me, brows drawn together. ‘I think maybe I should talk to Sawyer about this on my own.’

‘What?’ My head jolts back.

‘Can you – can you just go upstairs? I’ll talk to Sawyer and help him find his phone and then … Then I’ll come find you.’

‘But why? I—’

‘ Please , Hensley.’

Each breath I take down gets heavier. I have to clamp my teeth together to compose myself for a second. To contain the fiery rage that’s searing through my bloodstream.

‘Fine.’