Page 13 of One Reckless Moment

“Don’t call me that,” I mimicked her words.

“It’s your name, darlin’,” she mocked back in a deep voice.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring the little pang in my chest that told me I got a little thrill at the way my name sounded coming out of her mouth.

Six absolutely torturous hours later, we pulled up to a motel outside of Billings, Montana. At first, the ride was smooth. Paige put her earbuds in and we drove in beautiful silence. The temporary calm made me just naive enough to think that maybe this trip wouldn’t be so bad.

That was until Buck decided he was bored and started flirting with Paige in front of me. He leaned forward so he could rest one elbow on the center console and plucked one earbud out of her ear. She giggled and tried getting it back before he reached up to tickle her side. I groaned and barked at them both to behave and be still. I felt like a father on a road, outnumbered by toddlers.

That went on for five fucking hours.

I pushed out of the motel lobby and approached the truck where Paige, Buck, and Tweety were standing. I was tired, cold, and ready to be locked inside my own room with complete silence. Eight straight hours with no little blonde temptations staring at me with deep blue eyes.

“Buck and Tweety, you’re together in 105.” I handed them the keys. “Paige, you’re 104. I’m 103.”

“What’s the plan for tonight?” Paige asked with a smile, looking over at the boys and ignoring my presence completely.

“The plan is for you to go to bed,” I deadpanned, dropping the key into her open palm.

She scoffed. “It’s literally only eight o’clock, and tomorrow we aren’t in a rush. Come on. Let’s go get some drinks.”

“No.”

“Please?” Paige whined.

“No.”

“Don’t be lame. It’ll be fun.”

“I said no, Paige,” I snapped. “This is serious. It isn’t just one long party all summer. I didn’t want to bring you here, and I sure as fuck am not here to babysit you. So go the fuck to bed, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Paige’s face paled, her eyes going glassy.

I immediately regretted snapping at her. “Paige⁠—”

“Good night, Cash.” she cut me off, spinning on her heel and stalking off to her room.

Tweety let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “That wasn’t necessary, dude.” He grabbed the handles of Paige’s suitcases and followed her.

I already felt like an asshole; I didn’t need him to confirm it. I was still processing the fact that I was going to be plagued with watching Paige in brutally forced proximity all summer long and it was manifesting in my attitude.

Buck appeared beside me and clapped me on the shoulder. “You need to get this thing with her worked out, or this is going to be a long summer.”

I shook off his hand. “What thing?”

He barked out a laugh. “You joking?”

I shook my head.

Buck released a long breath and slung his duffel over his shoulder before facing me.

“Look, Boss, you can deny it, but you have a thing for little miss P. You can ignore it all you want, but it’s true. All I’m saying is that if you want to fuck her, none of us will tell. What happens this summer stays between us.”

I stilled. There was no reality in which I could fuck Paige Brooks, and I didn’t need everyone around us thinking I did. That rumor would end my life and reputation. I worked hard to hide my feelings for the girl, and Buck pointing it out on day one was not what I needed.

Without another word, he left me standing in front of the truck alone. I dropped my shoulders and tipped my head to the dark sky. Trailing after him, my mind drifted into overdrive.

I could deny what Buck said was true, but I’d be a liar. I’d had a thing for Paige Brooks since we were kids, but I couldn’t risk acting on it. I couldn’t betray the men who put their trust in me. I couldn’t play with her heart—which is what everyone expected of me when it came to women.