24. Fable

Chapter 24

Fable

I t's a slow drive to the Boot Skoot. Rhett seems unbothered as he settles back in his seat, his window down so he can hang his arm out it. Gunnar meets my eyes in the rearview mirror a few times to grin at me. Trent looks out the window while he attempts to make himself smaller. He should probably be sitting up front honestly. His shoulders are too wide for all three of them to be in the back.

Colt, though? Colt acts like this is the most stressful drive he's ever been on.

"You've got it," he says to the yellow light in front of us. When I slow to a stop as it turns red, he scoffs. "You had that!"

"Chill out, Colt," Rhett tells him. "Not everyone drives like they're playin' GTA."

"This is the slowest ride I've ever been in," he grumbles, sitting back and crossing his arms.

I flush and glance at him apologetically over my shoulder. "I'm sorry. I just. . . it's an issue for me."

His expression softens and he sighs. "It's fine. I'll be fine. Maybe I need to slow down a bit in life."

But the moment the light turns green, he tenses again and fidgets when I wait a few seconds before I ease off the break. His tension only adds to my own stress and by the time we pull up to the packed streets outside the Boot Skoot, I'm white-knuckling the steering wheel. Rhett thinks Colt's agitation is funny and teases him about it the whole ride there. Gunnar just seems unconcerned and instead directs me to a parking lot where we can park. Once I put the truck in park, everyone starts hopping out. Gunnar opens the driver side door for me and helps me out. I appreciate the hand because Rhett's truck is tall.

The Boot Skoot is a large building in Steele right across from the Court House and Police Station. Bright neon lights in the shape of a boot decorate the front of it so it's hard to miss. The boot flickers between two images like it's dancing, drawing the eye. It's a plain building otherwise, but the sidewalk is packed with people streaming inside.

"This is cute," I say, smiling up at the sign. Jinx would have loved this. She'd have been the first one to scream about line dancing. We'd have both been drunk if she were here, both trying our best to learn every single dance we could. Instead, it'll just be me.

"The band is good," Rhett nods. "They'll probably be something someday soon. I heard some producers have been sniffing around. The Green River Revival has been slowly getting more attention these last few years. Soon, they'll be too big for the likes of us. They come from another ranch, Blue Moon Pastures, but we haven't run into them much outside of them playing here every so often."

"Sounds like they're gonna be big," I nod, smiling. "I can't wait to see them. Should we head inside?"

Rhett doesn't let me pay for the small cover. Instead, he pays for everyone and tells the bouncer to add anyone else from Circle Bee who show up to his tab. Inside the building, it's already crowded to the point of anxiety, everyone packed shoulder to shoulder as they shuffle around the bar and to tables. Surely, there's a fire code issue, but no one seems to care. A large dance floor takes up the center of the room, but along the edges, people sit at tables and drink. There's a DJ right now, rather than a live band, encouraging people to get on the dance floor.

"This place is famous," Gunnar leans in to tell me. "Valerie Dacatur came from Steele and played on that very stage."

"Really?" I ask, wide eyed. Even I know who Valerie Dacatur is. She's a huge country singer who recently exploded in the last few years. The radio talked about her for weeks back home.

"Yep," he answers, before pointing to a picture hanging behind the bar. Sure enough, a very sweet-faced Valerie stands with her arms wrapped around the shoulders of men I don't know. Almost immediately, I realize one of the men is the bartender quickly making drinks behind the bar, his eyes kind as he takes drink orders and commands the other bartenders with ease.

"I'd say it put us on the map, but Frederick Savage already did that," Colt comments. At my questioning gaze, he adds, "Famous bull rider, remember?"

I nod. "It seems like Steele births excellence. Which means I could use some of that," I laugh, looking toward the dance floor. A few girls are out in front, teaching everyone to dance to the song. "So, which of you is gonna show me how to line dance?"

Trent immediately turns away and heads over to the bar. Unlike the long lines of everyone waiting, the bartender literally passes one to him without a word so he can skip waiting. Somehow, he finds an open seat with a straight line of sight to the dance floor before any of the guys can answer.

Colt shakes his head. "I got two left feet, so not me."

"I can," Rhett offers with a grin. "Gunnar can dance a little, too."

I smile and glance toward the stage in the back of the bar. "Then let's go. The band is coming on."

Cheers erupt in the club when the band steps up on stage and starts talking. Plenty of people were already on the dance floor, but when the band gets up there, more flood it, structuring themselves into lines and waiting for the band to play their first song.

"Welcome to the Boot Skoot everyone. Some of you may have heard already, but the Green River Revival was signed just this morning!" Cheers and whistles fill the room at their announcement and the singer beams. "This wouldn't be possible without all of you, so to say thank you, we're gonna play your favorite song," the singer says into the microphone. Hoots and hollers go up before the singer adds, "Boot Skoot, this is the Bootlegger's Ballad." The band launches into a tune and their music fills the bar.

Almost immediately, I realize I'm not great at line dancing. Once upon a time, I might have been okay at it, but I'm clumsy on my prosthetic as I try to follow the advanced movements of the girls dressed in their short shorts and cowboy boots. They seem to know every beat of the song, so they're able to add dips and spins and all manner of things. The dance floor gets so crowded, it's hard to even move, let alone dance, but it seems like I'm the only one not getting it.

"Follow my lead, Wild West Barbie," Rhett tells me when he sees me struggling, and immediately shows me a simpler version of what they're doing, cutting out the more advanced moves. I'm able to follow him long enough before he adds his own flavor to it and grabs me, spinning me around and dipping me before placing me right back in line. I laugh, enjoying myself as the songs switch and everyone just seamlessly moves into another dance. The bar girls lead everyone through it, sometimes a simple dance and sometimes a complex one, and we all follow down the line. At some point, Gunnar hands me a beer. And then another. I lose count of how many I've had after the third.

I don't know how long I'm on the dancefloor before my leg starts aching. My eyes catch Trent's where he sits off to the side, his beer in hand. He'd been looking around the club, but when our eyes meet, I pause before I tip my beer toward him. He does the same to his and I decide I'm gonna head over to him and take a break, but I'm across the club and I can't cut through the dancing lines.

"I'm gonna take a small break," I tell Gunnar as I step out of line and head for the nearest break in the crowd. Sweat is making my curly hair even curlier, and my leg is starting to ache the longer I'm on it. I'm gonna need a break before I make it to the other side where Trent sits.

Gunnar nods when I tell him I'll be okay by myself and keeps dancing, him and Rhett having a blast. The moment I'm off the dance floor, I find an empty stool and lean heavily against it.

"Is this seat taken?" I ask.

A woman with a bright blue streak in her hair and dressed in all black smiles brightly at me. "Not at all. Go ahead and have a seat, girl." When I'm off my feet, the aching in my leg immediately eases and I sigh in relief. "I haven't seen you around before."

I smile at the woman. "I'm staying at the Circle Bee."

"Oh!" she exclaims, smacking a blonde woman beside her. "Naomi! This is the woman renting out Circle Bee." At my look of surprise, she laughs. "Sorry. Small town. Everyone talks. I'm Kate by the way. This is Naomi. We're from Steele Mountain."

"I've heard a lot about Steele Mountain Ranch," I say, smiling. Gunnar had told me all about it, about how Steele is named after their family. "My name's Fable. So, you're the Steele family?"

Kate laughs. "Well. . . yes and no. Dakota Steele is the family," she says, pointing to a man sitting further down the table. "Him, Wiley, and Levi own it."

"I just work there," Naomi adds with a bright smile. "Kate here is probably gonna marry into it though."

Kate flushes and I smile at the way she glances over at the other end of the table, but I can't tell which one of the men she looks at.

"So, you're dating Dakota Steele?" I ask, smiling. "That's so cool."

She shrugs and takes a sip of what looks like whiskey. "I'm dating all of them."

I blink. "What?"

"It's not exactly a secret anymore. Everyone talks out here," she says.

"Sometimes too much," Naomi grumbles. "I was about ready to punch Regina Lane right in her nose for what she said."

"And they just accept it?" I ask. All I'd learned about small towns was they tended to be on the conservative side.

"Accept is a strong word," Kate laughs. "More like they don't get a say in what I do with my life, and Steele Mountain is a huge part of the Green River Basin." She wiggles her perfect eyebrows at me. "Why? You thinking of roping the Circle Bee guys?"

"Me? Oh no. I'm just a guest," I argue.

She takes another sip of her glass. "Mmhmm," she replies. "That's why every single one of those men keep looking over here to check on you every five seconds?" She leans closer. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen Trent Coldiron here. Granted, I've only been around since Spring, but I was under the impression he doesn't socialize."

I follow her gaze over to where Trent frowns at his beer bottle, clearly uncomfortable. "I, uh, haven't really thought too deeply about it."

She grins. "Well, you're welcome to come hang out with Naomi and me at Steele Mountain anytime, Fable. I'm so glad we got to meet before you become a permanent staple here."

"Oh, I leave at the end of the month," I tell her.

She smiles, like she knows some great secret. "Well, then you'll have to come back." She taps her glass against my beer bottle. "Also, I absolutely love your jacket."

"Thank you," I flush, getting back to my feet now that my leg has eased. "I'll definitely take you up on your offer to visit Steele Mountain. It was nice to meet y'all."

Naomi waves bye to me as I start to make my way through the crowded floor. Since I've been on the dance floor, the table area has definitely filled up even more. I have trouble getting through the crowd, trying my hardest to push without being rude. Someone sticks their leg out and I trip, not feeling it with my prosthetic.

"Sorry," I tell them. "Sorry."

"Watch where you're goin'," the man growls back rudely at me. "Clumsy bitch."

I freeze. Suddenly, there are really too many people here and clearly, many of them are starting to feel more brazen. My chest gets tight, and I know I gotta get out of here. I need some air or else I'm going to have a panic attack right here in the middle of the club. I start pushing through people faster, a little rougher as I slip my way through and back to the door.

"I can get back in if I slip out?" I ask the bouncer. When he nods, I slide past him and back onto the sidewalk.

The chill air hits my lungs a second later and I stop on the sidewalk just outside the door to take a deep breath, tipping my head back and closing my eyes. The sheer number of people in that place is nerve-wracking. I don't know how everyone else is doing it.

The music from the band filters out to where I stand, muffled, but the base sounds vibrate beneath my feet. They are really good. It's no wonder they're on the rise to stardom.

"Couldn't stand it either, huh?"

I glance to my left and find Colt leaning against the outside of the building. "There're so many people in there," I offer as explanation.

He nods. "It gets like that when Green River Revival plays. People from out of town have started coming to see them. The cops always wait until they have no choice but to shut down how overcrowded it is, at least. So everyone gets to hear the band mostly."

I move over to where he leans against the building and lean beside him, taking deep breaths to ease the tension in my chest. "Sounds like there's something in the water out here."

He chuckles. "What? Famous dust?"

"Well, everyone's good looking mostly, too," I point out. "Lots of famous people, all good looking. Must be something."

The corner of his lips quirks up. "Am I in that category?"

I huff in amusement. "As if you don't know how attractive you are, Colt King," I tell him, rolling my eyes. "You don't seem the humble type."

His laughter is warm, and it washes over me like a warm blanket. "You're right. I'm not the humble type. I don't believe in humility. If you're good at something, you should scream it from the rooftops." He reaches out and runs a finger along the fringe hanging along my arms. "Kinda like how you should be showing everyone how great you are at making stuff."

"Cosplay isn't usually recognized as a skill outside of the cosplay circuits," I point out.

"Call me dense, but this ain't just cosplay," he says. "You're making whole ass outfits, Annie Oakley. That's skill."

I glance at him, a smile curling my lips. "Well, I appreciate your recognition. I'll endeavor to be less humble."

"You're good at a lot of things," he says, leaning closer. Maybe I'm imagining it, but I swear he looks at my lips before quickly meeting my eyes again. "You're sweeter than Mel's homemade lemonade, and that' pretty sweet. He practically uses the whole bag of sugar."

"That is pretty sweet," I rasp, staring up him.

"You're a talented fashion designer." I scoff and look away, but his fingers are on my chin before I know it and he jerks my head back to him so I can't look away. "Don't you do that, Annie Oakley. I don't believe in being humble, remember?"

His fingers are warm against my skin as I stare up at him. "Being humble isn't a bad thing."

"So you admit you're good at it and should be humble?" he muses, grinning. "You know what else I think you'd be good at?"

"What?" I breathe. His fingers still hold my chin, and he leans a little closer.

"I bet you taste as sweet as that lemonade," he rasps. "I bet you'd be real good at lettin' me taste you. I bet you'd be even better on your knees for me."

My eyes widen in disbelief. I open my mouth, but nothing but a soft croak comes out.

His grin turns saccharine, his eyes narrowing on me. "What I wouldn't give to see that flush travel down your body. What I wouldn't give to bury my fingers in your hips." He leans in and I know he's about to kiss me. I'm prepared for it. I want it. Fuck, I'm wet just with his words alone. This man has a way with his presence. I might as well be one of the dogs at his beck and call. "Would you like that, Annie Oakley?" he asks.

I nod, my eyes on his, and he tilts his head to study me, weighing something. Whatever he decides, he starts to lean in, and I prepare myself to be kissed so well, I'll soak through my panties. Colt King can stum me like a guitar and I'll play whatever tune he wants me to.

"So sweet," he breathes, his breath fanning across my lips. "So?—"

"What are you two doin' out here?" Rhett's voice interrupts.

Colt pauses and sighs before leaning back to level Rhett with his gaze over my shoulder. He releases my chin, and I feel the loss acutely. I turn and look at Rhett to find him glaring at Colt. When he realizes I'm looking at him, his expression falls back into his signature smile.

"Looks like you two are havin' all the fun out here without me," he teases.

"Don't worry, boss man," Colt grunts. "I'm behaving."

Rhett grins and I see mischief enter his eyes. Before I know what he's got planned, he tugs me toward him with a hand around my wrist. I plaster across his chest when I can't get my feet beneath me, tripping over the cracks in the concrete.

"I'm not," he says, right before his fingers tip my chin up and he plants his lips right on mine.

Fireworks explode behind my eyes when they close, when my fingers curl into his shirt. I just knew Rhett would be a good kisser, a dangerous one. His fingers tangle in my hair and he tips my hat back and kisses the hell out of me as he parts my lips and his tongue dances inside. When he pulls back, I'm staring up at him, panting, as if I hadn't been about to kiss his friend behind me seconds before I'd just kissed him.

Fuck. Guilt suddenly slams me.

Rhett winks at me. "Figured it would be more fun if I got the first kiss," he teases before releasing me. "We should head out. The party's starting to wind down and we still got things to do tomorrow."

I glance at my phone and realize it really is already one in the morning. I blink. Where did all the time go?

I glance over at Colt, my face flushed, both from guilt and Rhett's kiss.

He chucks me on the chin. "Don't worry, Annie Oakley. I ain't mad at you," he whispers, but he shoots a glare over at Rhett who seems completely oblivious to Colt's ire. "Let's go, before I decide to kiss you better to prove a point."

Well. . . damn. What point is that? Maybe I want him to prove it.