Prologue-1
2076 Words
PROLOGUE
GAVIN
“Well, it’s official. I’m joining a convent.”
The bartender scoffs with an eye roll as she sets a shot in front of the brunette bombshell I’ve been eyeing. “You’re too dramatic for your own good.”
The soon-to-be nun downs the clear liquid and makes a face after. “I’m serious. I decided to take a chance and sign up for a dating app, and I swear to God…” She pulls her phone from her shorts pocket and unlocks the screen. “Alright, let’s start with Dennis G. Hey, beautiful,” she mimics in a deeper tone. “You like those braids pulled? I’ll be your cowboy and let you ride me for a night.”
I nearly choke on my beer while I hold back my laughter.
“I mean, c’mon!” She groans. “That doesn’t even make sense! You’d have to bend me over to pull my braids like reins, so he’d be riding me…”
My d**k stirs at the image she created in my head, and f**k me, I like it.
“You’re too literal, Maize,” the bartender scolds.
Maize. Of course, she’d have a pretty name too.
I should stop eavesdropping and staring, but I can’t. She’s gorgeous, and her smart mouth has kept me hard for the past hour. After a job interview, I stopped by the Circle B Saloon to unwind before my long drive back to Houston tomorrow. I decided to sit at one of the tall tables to face the TV, and I haven’t been able to take my eyes off the woman who’s clearly had a rough day.
“Okay, how about this one from Gregory H.” She clears her throat as she prepares to read another message.
The girl cracks up as Maize spews another horrific one-liner.
“I fuckin’ quit. There are no decent, single men in Eldorado. They’re either taken, swing for the other team, or talk like they dropped out of middle school. So, I’m joining a convent. At least then, my eyes would never have to be assaulted by an unsolicited d**k pic ever again. And let me tell you, the last picture I got was crooked and scarred me for life anyway.”
That has me doubling over with laughter, and there’s no hiding it this time. Both girls snap their gaze to me as I try to control myself. I grab the neck of the beer bottle, take a swig, and act as if I wasn’t listening to every word.
“Looks like one guy finds you amusing…” The bartender holds out her hand with a grin, but Maize frowns.
“I do,” I say with a shrug, hoping to make her smile. “Mostly because you as a nun…I ain’t seein’ it.”
“Really? Because I can totally picture her on her knees.”
Maize’s face turns beet red as she throws a straw toward the bartender. She giggles as Maize’s head drops.
And now the image of her on her knees surfaces in my head.
“I meant, praying! On your knees praying,” the bartender clarifies, but it’s obvious she’s full of s**t. She’s got a smart mouth too, and I quickly wonder if they’re related. They do look alike.
“Excuse my sister,” Maize says. “She gets a kick out of embarrassing me.”
“I was right about you two,” I drawl, grabbing my nearly empty beer and standing.
“Right about what?” Maize asks as I take the stool next to her at the end of the bar. She doesn’t flinch when my arm brushes hers, and I take that as a good sign.
“I had a feeling you were related.” I nod toward the other girl.
“My little sister,” she confirms. “Kenzie.”
“Her favorite sister.” Kenzie smirks.
“My only sister,” Maize counters, narrowing her eyes as she scowls at her again. “My pain in the ass sister.”
With a palm to her chest, Kenzie gasps. “That’s it. I’m cutting you off.”
“Nooo!” Maize whines. “I’ll read you another message,” she bribes. “It’ll be a really good one.”
“Or I could just buy you a drink?” I interrupt.
Realization hits her as she sits taller and licks her lips. “Did you just offer to buy me a drink?”
Before I can respond, Kenzie speaks up. “Marry this man. Marry him now.”
Maize glares at Kenzie, and I can only imagine what she wants to say to her right now, which I find comical.
“I mean, unless…do you want a d**k pic first?” I flash her a smirk.
“Exactly how much did you hear?”
“I’ve been sitting over there for an hour, so…a lot,” I admit, and her cheeks tint pink again. “It was very entertaining.”
Kenzie sets a beer in front of me and a margarita in front of Maize, then looks at me. “I’ll add them to your tab.” She waggles her brows before leaving to help other customers at the opposite end of the bar.
“Oh my God,” Maize groans. “I’m sorry about her. She assumes and—”
I reach over and put my hand over hers to stop her. “I offered, remember?”
“Yes, that’s right.” She nods, pulling her hand from under mine and grabbing her glass. “Thank you.”
She’s been burned by so many douchebags she doesn’t even realize I’m hitting on her. I can’t imagine any guy dumb enough to walk away from Maize, but lucky for me, she’s single, and so am I.
“I’m Gavin, by the way,” I say, holding out my hand and hoping to touch hers again.
“Maize.” She takes the bait, and we shake. “Sorry I’m not more bubbly. You caught me on a rough night.”
“No apologies needed, Maize. Maybe I can cheer you up, though.”
“Oh yeah? With a non-crooked d**k pic?” She arches a brow, grinning.
I chuckle, glad she’s not giving me the cold shoulder. Though I’ve never had a problem getting a woman’s attention, it’s not out of the realm of reality. When I was a professional bull rider, women would flock to me, and I’d have to tear them off just to walk through a crowd. But I don’t compete anymore. That life’s behind me now.
“I’m too old to send explicit pictures to women.”
Her eyes lower as she checks me out, then she tilts her head and studies me. “You can’t be that old.”
I suck in my lower lip as I soak in her delicate features. Light blue eyes, dark hair, and pale skin. She’s undoubtedly my type, but something else about her has my blood pumping.
“I’m certain I’m quite older than you,” I counter, taking a swig of my beer. “Why don’t you tell me how old you are?”
“Because it’s embarrassing. Most girls my age are married with a couple of kids already. And me? Well, I’m joining a convent.”
“You’re at least twenty-one, being that you’re in a bar drinking. Definitely not over thirty.” I tilt my head, looking at her eyes, skin, and lips. f**k, she has the most beautiful face I’ve seen in a long time. “You’re having a quarter-life crisis since, like you said, no husband and no babies. So, I’m gonna guess twenty-five.” If I’m right, that means I’m ten years older than her.
Maize gulps down more of her drink as she watches me in amusement. “Sadly, you’re correct. Well, in a few months.”
I burst out laughing and shake my head. “You have plenty of time. Stop worryin’.”
“That’s so easy for guys to say! My grandma married my grandfather at nineteen, and they had five kids before she was thirty. Five! Granted, one pregnancy was twins, but still. I’m already behind.”
“That was standard tradition thirty, forty, fifty years ago. But now, it’s statistically proven that more couples wait to start their families and focus on their careers first. The average age of having their first baby is thirty. So, you still have plenty of time.”
“Oh okay, so I only need to find a husband, convince him to marry me, get pregnant, and pop out a baby in the next five years. Noted.”
“Or…” I counter, taking a long sip of my beer until it’s empty. “You can just do whatever the f**k you want.” Flashing a smirk, she tilts her lips up in amusement.
Before she can respond, Kenzie returns. “Another round?”
“Yes, ma’am. Keep ’em comin’. Maize and I have a game of pool to play. Loser buys shots.”
“We do?” She furrows her brows as she sucks down the last of her alcohol.
“If you’re gonna be a nun, you need to have as much fun as you can now. So, let’s get started.”
“I like him.” Kenzie beams. “And if you don’t marry him, I’m next in line.”
“Oh, puh-lease. Everyone knows you and Grayson are gonna hate bang and finally admit your true feelings,” Maize states.
“Don’t you dare put that negative energy into the universe.” Kenzie starts waving her arms around as if she’s trying to push it away. “Grayson can go f**k himself for all I care.”
If I knew who Grayson was, I’d be scared for him right now.
“Sounds like man-hating runs in the family.” I grab the bottle Kenzie hands me.
Maize snorts and shakes her head. Once her glass is full again, I grab her hand and lead her to the pool table in the back. The pub is small and offers minimal seating, but I like it. It’s a typical small-town country bar with Texas décor and pictures of cowboys on the walls. However, it’s not loud and crowded, so Maize and I can actually hear each other talk and move around.
“Should I assume you know how to play, or do you need a personal hands-on tutorial?” I ask, setting my beer down. Grabbing two sticks, I hand her one, then pick up the triangle rack.
“You’re quite cocky, you know that?” She bites her lip, and I notice the way her eyes rake down my body as if she wants to eat me like a snack.
“I prefer confident,” I retort. “Though I’ll say most women find that attractive in a man.” I start gathering the balls from the pockets.
“Don’t forget I’m becoming a nun, so my knowledge of men is lackluster at best.” She sets her drink on the edge of the table and grabs the chalk. I have a feeling she knows her way around a pool table and just might give me a run for my money.
“I’d be willing to bet you know plenty. Though your execution on how to use it to your advantage might be the issue.” I rack the balls and position the white ball to break. “Ladies first.”
Maize narrows her gaze as she leans down and rubs the stick over her bridge hand. She pushes her ass out, which shows off her long, toned legs, and I tilt my head to get a better look.
“You keep staring like that, and you’re gonna lose big time,” she smarts off, then takes her shot. The balls bounce off the sides, and eventually, one goes into a pocket.
I smirk at her victorious expression.
“Looks like I’m stripes.”
“Guess so. Let’s see whatcha got.” I fold my arms over my chest and watch in amazement as she sinks the next three balls before missing one.
We take turns calling pockets, and after fifteen minutes, we’re each down to one. She talks s**t the whole time, which I find cute as hell. This girl isn’t trying to impress me with her body or by whispering all the dirty things she’d like to do to me. Not that I’d protest, but she’s actually making conversation, and it’s a breath of fresh air compared to what I’m used to.
Living on the road meant having my fair share of women available but being a bull rider—now retired—put a giant spotlight on me. Many saw the eight-pack and toned muscles and immediately stripped off their clothes. I won’t deny I loved the lifestyle up until my last rodeo, but after a dozen injuries under my belt, I knew it was time to settle down.
“Corner pocket,” she announces, taking her stance. I’ll admit I’m a sore loser, and the thought of losing bruises my ego a bit. I find it hot as f**k that she knows how to play so well. But that doesn’t mean I’m gonna give her the game.
Standing across from her, I rest my stick on the wall, then pull off my shirt. It’s a b***h move since I know how she’ll react, and it’ll definitely distract her, but I like to play a little dirty.
“What are you doin’? We’re in public,” she warns.
Glancing around casually, I see three people at the bar and a couple at one of the far tables. I shrug and flex. “I don’t think they mind.”
Her throat moves when she swallows, and her hard gaze focuses on my abs as she tries to make the winning shot.
- Writer
