Page 16

Maverick

A va’s face gives away the shock she feels when Bertie and the Gang hit the stage. Bertie has been the headliner at Luke’s for longer than I’ve been alive.

She looks over at me with wide eyes. “There’s a band?”

Ava looks around with a genuine smile on her face. As the music picks up, people start rushing to the dance floor, two-stepping and toe-stepping all around. “I really like this place.”

“Luke’s is a local legend,” I say as my eyes scan the crowd. With the way she drew attention when she walked in, I'm sure one of the local boys will be trying to get their hands on her. She looks like a fucking dream in that dress and pair of boots.

“I wanna dance,” Aspen says as she hops off the stool, heading straight over to Rhett, who’s playing pool with Weston. A risky fucking game those two are playing, and they think they are so sneaky. I think the only one who doesn’t see it is Weston. Dumbass.

While my focus was on Aspen, someone managed to sneak up on us. “Excuse me, ma'am. Do you want to dance?” Jake Thompson says as he holds out his hand to Ava.

“Oh, I don’t think you want to do that with me. I’ve got two left feet.” Ava shakes her head with a polite smile on her face.

He doesn’t miss a beat and looks down at his boots. “These boots are steel-toed. I think I can take it.”

“Come on, Ava!” Aspen says as she drags Rhett over. Ava bites her lip before she resigns.

She puts the beer she is drinking down on the table we share before hopping off the seat. She looks at me for a second too long, but I miss the chance to take my shot because she puts on a half-smile. “Can you watch my drink for me?”

Not being able to find more than a single word, I nod my head. “Sure.”

Like a hawk, I watch her take foot on the dance floor.

He slips his arm around her waist and takes her hand.

My anger starts to simmer, low and slow.

The sight of his hands on her has mine balling up into fists.

Why the fuck did I not ask her myself? She follows his lead, better than she gave herself credit for, and they begin to spin around the dance floor.

“You gonna do something about that?” Weston walks up, eyes on Ava and Jake as he takes a hearty sip of his Coors before setting it on the table.

“Do something about what?” I’m not willing to show my cards to him yet.

“Jake Thompson having his hands all over your girl.” He looks at me like I’m an idiot, and to his credit, I just might be .

“She’s not mine, so it doesn’t matter.” I stone my features over, eyes glued on Thompson. I wish I could talk shit, but he’s a good guy. Actually, he’s one of the best guys in town. Hard working, good family. Ava tips her head back in laughter and my teeth grind so hard I feel a pop in my jaw.

“Oh please, you look madder than that bull you rode in Cheyenne.” His laughter does nothing to soothe the rage simmering in me.

“What the fuck should I do?” I look over to him, curious what his genius plan would be. She may be my wife by law, but she’s not mine, and I think I’m starting to hate that more every day.

“Sitting here won’t do you any good. If you want her, go get her, Ryder. Being a pussy ain’t going to do nothing good.”

“I’m not being a pussy.” Even hearing the words come out of my mouth has me almost laughing. I can ride bulls all day, but chasing that girl is ten times scarier. And if I go dance with her right now, that means it’s exactly what I’m doing.

“Alright, but if she finds someone else, and you’re sad and alone, that's on you.” He winks at me and finishes his beer before walking back toward the bar.

His words run through my mind, along with the vision of her with someone else, over and over and over, until the sound of my barstool scraping against the wooden floor overpowers the music. I slam the rest of my beer and move to the dance floor.

The music changes as the couples around me spin, but I’ve got my eye on Ava. When I approach, her eyebrows almost hit her hairline. I’m not sure if it’s me out of my chair or the look in my eye, but I am one hundred percent sure she didn’t think I’d come get her.

“Excuse me, if you don’t mind, I’d like a spin around the floor with you.” I stare her right in the eye, not even bothering Jake with a look .

“Uh, I guess.” Jake thanks Ava for the dance and backs away.

“Okay, now let's really teach you to dance.” My hands slip into hers like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

A shy smile tugs on her lips. “I didn’t think you were the dancing type.

” It turns out I’d be just about anything she wants me to be.

Which is fucking terrifying considering this whole thing has an expiration date.

My dad always told me to be tough as nails and not to let anything stand in the way of what I want.

And what I want is right in front of me.

“Oh, I can dance. Let’s see if you can do more than two step.

Follow my lead.” I twirl her around, and she spins and lands right back into my arm.

Bertie and the Gang have the guitar fully twanged up today.

There’s a little light in Ava’s eyes that I haven’t noticed much before.

Only when she laughs, but it’s there, right now, when she looks at me as I twirl her in circles—entangling myself deeper into her with every step.

My eyes get caught on her lips. Lips that are practically begging for me to kiss them.

This is going to hurt like a motherfucker when it’s over, but I can’t bring myself to care right now.

“No more spins, or I’m going to be sick.” Ava laughs as her hand lands on my chest. We’ve danced to song after song. Anyone who dared to try to take a step forward got a glare from me or was stepped in front of by Aspen.

“Alright, sweetheart, we can slow it down.” As if Bertie could hear my thoughts, the beat changes into a slow dance. My hand wraps around Ava, and I pull her a little closer. Her sweet scent is like a siren call, beckoning me to get closer and become fully enraptured with the woman before me.

“Why do you call me that?” she asks, her words wavering a little as if she isn’t sure she wants to ask .

“Would you rather I call you something else?”

“What are my options?” she toys with me.

“I’ve got a few, Granny,” I joke as she pulls her hand out of mine and smacks my chest, a deep chuckle slipping out of me.

“Hey, I am out and it’s past eleven, that means that nickname is officially out the window.” The deep set in her brow makes this even better. Reaching out, I rub my thumb over it to smooth the crease.

“Okay,” I clear my throat, “beautiful fits too.” Her cheeks instantly flush as she tucks her head a little bit, trying to hide from me. “Let’s stick with sweetheart.” Because it fits her. A lot about her is sweet, especially that heart of hers.

“Okay.” Her voice lacks its usual bravado, a softer side coming out. Something about that makes me feel a little proud. A girl who is hard for the world but soft for me makes me feel like I’m doing something right.

“Okay,” I repeat back to her. She swings in my arms, and I let her hold on to her silence until the beat turns up, and I step back and twirl her in a circle.

The sudden change has Ava’s laughter echoing around my head down to my chest, warming a piece of it I forgot existed. She twirls around, and I realize my world is going to end up spinning around her because I’m starting to fall for my wife.