Page 9 of The Wrong Ride Home (Wildflower Canyon #1)

I thanked Bailey, who slid a bourbon neat on a coaster toward me. “You think you can rustle up some of those bison sliders? I’ve not eaten lunch, and I’m starvin’.”

Bailey winked in response and went to put my order into the system.

“Duke’s the guy who broke your heart, ain’t he?” Joy might appear to be young and flighty, but she was perceptive as fuck.

“Joy, you know I?—”

“I know you don’t talk about your private life, but, babe, we’re friends, and that means we talk about our lives, and that includes the private .”

Before I could answer, a tourist-looking idiot in a Cashmere sweater (I swear to God) strolled up to the table, drink in hand.

"Well, hey there," he said, all fake confidence and indolent charm. "I was watchin’ you, and I just gotta say—you are one gorgeous woman. That whole cowgirl thing works for you.”

My jaw clenched.

Joy made a face like she was already bored.

I barely glanced at the man. "You gotta say that, huh?"

He grinned salaciously. "Sure do. It’d be a crime not to. And your tits look real good in that outfit, but I do think you should open up a few buttons.”

"Interesting." I sipped my bourbon. "And what exactly do you want me to do with that information?"

“Well, I just thought?—"

"You thought I’d be flattered?" I tipped my head, studying him. "You thought I’d giggle and bat my lashes and thank you for offering me your expert opinion on fashion? And…what? Drop to my knees out of sheer gratitude and suck your tiny cock?"

His face reddened. "Hey now, no need to be a bi?—"

I dropped my voice real low. "You go ahead and call me a bitch, but make sure those are the last words you wanna say with a full set of teeth. Because I promise you—next time, you’ll be swallowing more than your pride."

The man’s jaw worked, figuring out whether to push his luck .

Maverick came back then and looked at the man in his perfectly fitted slacks and coifed hair like he was a wolf waiting to be given a reason. “Ian Asbury, you botherin’ my girls here?”

Ian Asbury went pale.

“Mav…ah…didn’t see you there, man.”

“That’s my sister.”

Joy waved and fluttered her eyelashes. “I’m Joy.”

“And that’s my girl.”

I didn’t wave or flutter my eyelashes.

“Sorry, man.” The man had his hands up, palms out, and then literally backed out of there.

Joy took a slow sip of her wine, clearly enjoying the show. “Wow, they never learn, do they?”

“Well, we keep getting new tourists, and they don’t know any better,” Bailey chimed. “Speaking of new.” She dropped her voice. “I hear Duke Wilder has returned and with a girlfriend.”

Wildflower Canyon was a gossipy town like all small towns. And this one had big ranches, and plenty of ranch business was conducted right here at Blackwood Prime and other such restaurants and bars, which meant that the bartender was always the best informed.

“No kidding.” I toasted my glass at her.

Bailey wiggled her eyebrows. “Give me somethin’, girlfriend.”

“She’s blonde, stacked, beautiful,” I offered.

“She’s blonde and stacked, not sure about the beautiful part,” Maverick countered. “And not practical. She was wearing fuckin’ skinny heels, tottering around like a newborn colt.”

Bailey smiled wide. “No kiddin’.”

“Not in the least.” Maverick tipped his head in acknowledgment.

Bailey left to take care of another tourist type, and I frowned at Mav. “Now, she’s going to tell everyone how you think Duke’s girl has big tits and no face…and she’s no ranch girl.”

“And it’d be the truth,” Maverick countered. “So, you want to tell me why you thought you needed a place to stay?”

“Duke asked me to leave.”

Joy gasped. “What an asshole? After all that you’ve done for the ranch and his father?”

“Hunt said I couldn’t. Duke’s selling the ranch, and he wants me to sell his horses.

” I hated that Duke didn’t want to keep the ranch and grow it.

I took pride in how well it was managed and run because I’d done so much of it.

I’d had help from Maverick, Hunt, and Amos, as well as Nokoni, one of Nash’s friends.

But all my hard work now meant that Duke would make bank when he sold the place.

“You want to tell me why he wanted you to leave?” Maverick zeroed in on what I knew he would.

“It’s just past bullshit, some of which you know.”

“I don’t know,” Joy squeaked.

“Joy,” Ma warned.

I took a deep breath. Did it really matter if Joy knew? I mean it was so fucking long ago, no one gave a shit, at least, no one should give a shit. I especially shouldn’t.

“We had a summer, and…that’s when he found out about my mother and Nash. He didn’t take it well. Hates me for it.”

Joy’s eyes went wide. “When was this?”

“Ten years ago.”

“And he’s still pissed with you ?” Maverick remarked. “His father was the one stepping out on his marriage, not Maria and definitely not you. Why does he blame you?”

“Can we drop this?” I muttered.

“No,” Maverick retorted. “I need to know how fucked up the situation is so I can decide if I’m kidnapping your ass and keeping you on Kincaid land or leavin’ you at Wilder to kick his city ass.”

“Mav.” I looked at him and let him see my pain. I didn’t want to talk about Duke. I didn’t want to rip open the old wounds that were already itching.

He shook his head sadly. “I’ll kill that son of a bitch for hurting you.”

“He wasn’t the only one, and the others are already dead,” I reminded him bleakly.

Joy put her hand on mine. “I can’t even imagine how awful this is for you. I can’t fix a damn thing for you, Elena, but I can get you drunk.”

I laughed. “I’m drivin’. But I appreciate the thought.”