Page 115 of Colt

“If you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

“Great.” I look up, searching for our server. “Let’s get the check⁠—”

“Already taken care of.”

I stare at him. “What? How—” Understanding dawns. “You gave her your card when you went to the bathroom, didn’t you?”

“Oldest trick in the book.”

“Here.” I reach for my bag. “I’ll pay you back⁠—”

“No, ma’am, that’s one thing we don’t got time for.” Sliding out of the booth, he stands and holds out his hand to me. “I gotta take you dancing.”

CHAPTER 22

Honky-Tonk Hookup

LAINEY

Hell. Yes.

That’s my one and only thought as I follow Colton into the stale-beer-and-cigarette-scented bar.

It’s a classic small-town dive, with loud country music pumping through the speakers, neon signs on the walls, and a—holy shit, is that a⁠—

“Mechanical bull!” Colton laughs. “Tallulah, how the hell did I not know about this?”

The woman behind the bar with pink hair and a lip piercing smiles as she pops the tops off a pair of longneck beers. “Because I never get to see you! How the hell have you been, Colt?”

Poking at the computer screen beside the liquor, she hands the beers to a waiting patron. Then she heads our way and holds up her arms.

“Hey, handsome.” She wraps Colton in a hug. “We’ve missed you.”

He hugs her back. “I always miss y’all. We’ve been good. Dean’s growing like a weed.”

“I bet! I saw him at the barn raising earlier this year. He looks so much like you.”

“You never answered my question about the bull.”

“Oh. That. I figured why the fuck not give it a try? If it’s a bust, it’s a bust. But I think y’all are gonna get a kick out of it.”

Thinking about Colton riding that thing—dominating it, in all likelihood—has my pulse skipping several beats.

Colton releases Tallulah, then turns a little so he can curl an arm around my waist. “Tallulah, allow me to introduce Lainey Brown. She’s on the ranch helping out for a bit.”

Tallulah turns her smile on me. “It’s so nice to meet you, Lainey.”

“Tallulah here is the owner of my favorite bar in the world.” Colton lifts his chin, gesturing at the raucous scene around us. “She and her wife, Goody, have been mainstays here in town for about as long as I can remember.”

The bartender just waves him away. “I just like to party. What can I get y’all to drink? Will it be the usual for you, Colt?”

“How do you remember what my usual is? It’s been forever⁠—”

“I remember everything. Kinda my job. So Shiner with a tequila back for you. Lainey?”

I’m smiling and I’m hot and I’m quite possibly too happy right now, because I can’t seem to formulate words.