All For You (Rocktown Ink #5) by Sherilee Gray (fantasy novels to read txt) 📗

it easy. And she worries about you a lot. If she knew what happened between us, it would only stress her out more. That’s the last thing she needs right now.”

“She doesn’t need to worry about me.” And I’d be having a conversation with my little sister about it tomorrow. Not about Trixie, I wouldn’t go against her wishes, but about her trying to look after me when she needed to be looking after herself.

“I don’t think you have any control over that, Sheriff. She loves you. She’ll always worry.” Trixie stood. “Right, I’m ready for dessert. You have any ice cream?”

Chapter Eight

Trixie

“Don’t you dare,” Quinn said as her husband closed in. “Do not pick me up.”

“Woman, you’ve been on your feet for over an hour, you need a drink and to rest,” Bull growled and cupped her chin tenderly, tilting her head back. “The doc said to take it easy. And you love it when I pick you up.”

She scowled up at him. “I know what the doctor said. I’m not pushing myself. And if you don’t stop coddling me, Logan Calero, I will lose it.”

Bull looked like the wind had been knocked from his sails. “Shit, I’m sorry, sweets. I just worry.”

“I know you do, and I love you for it, but right now, if you want to help…you’ll dance with me.”

He winced. “Woman, you know I don’t dance.”

“You do now.”

She turned into him and, despite his protests, Bull wrapped her in his arms.

“Now sway from side to side,” she said. “That’s it. See, not so hard.”

He muttered something and held her tighter, the pair slow dancing, completely ignoring the rapid beat of the song echoing through the big barn they’d decorated for Mase’s “welcome home” party.

The place was full, mostly locals, and some of the Ramblers had been invited as well. The man of honor stood on the far side of the barn with Cal…and Deb Miller.

Look away!

But I couldn’t help myself.

Mase was nodding and smiling as she chatted away, and going by her flushed cheeks and the way she kept touching his arm, she was seriously interested. Maybe Quinn’s matchmaking plan was actually working.

I mean, I liked Deb, she was cool, but her and Mase together? I couldn’t see it.

You’re just jealous.

Fine, maybe a little.

A lot. You’re a lot jealous.

Ugh. I forced myself to look away. I sure as hell didn’t want to witness their budding new love…or lust, or whatever it was.

I’d been avoiding him since I got here. After the other night, I thought that was best. When I talked to him, when he was close, I lost sight of everything else. It’d be so easy to forget all the reasons why it was a bad idea.

I glanced back at him. He was looking down at her while Deb checked out his tattoos, one hand on his bicep while she got a closer look. Gag.

Looks like you’re safe from a repeat with the sexy sheriff. Mase could have Deb, sweet, hot, confident Deb with her thick red hair and huge rack.

Lila squealed and laughed, and I turned back to the dance floor as Riff spun my friend around the room, then dipped her. Addy was beside her, dancing with Manic. My girl was in full vixen mode, and the guy looked like all his Christmases had come at once. Dane was in the same cluster, Eves in his arms, and like Bull they were moving slow, ignoring the beat completely. I smiled. I loved seeing my friends happy.

They meant everything to me. They’d quickly become my family. Besides Ross, god, these women were all I had, and I’d do anything for any one of them.

Cassy, who had been dancing with Quinn earlier, leaned in. “I need another drink. You?”

“God, yes.” I followed her to the drinks table and grabbed us both fresh ones, then Cassy took my hand and led me across the floor. I didn’t realize where she was taking me until we were closing in on Cal, Mase, and the lovely Deb.

“You look far too serious,” Cassy said to her husband.

Cal grinned. “Better?”

“Much.”

He chuckled.

I felt Mase’s eyes on me, and I was finding it hard to breathe all of a sudden.

“Did you see Bull dancing with his wife?” Cassy said to Cal.

Cal’s grin dropped.

She stared up at him. “It looks like fun, don’t you think?”

“Princess, it looks like torture.”

“Fine. Maybe I can get Manic to dance with me when he’s finished dancing with Addy.” She turned toward the Rambler.

Cal growled. “Nope.” Then he took his smiling wife’s hand and pulled her onto the dance floor, and despite his grumbling, his grin was back wider than ever.

Awesome. Now I’m standing here like a freaking third wheel.

This was literal torture.

I glanced at Mase. I hadn’t seen him for a couple of days, I’d made sure of it. He was watching me, blue eyes intense. Thanks a lot, Cassy. Though, I guess I couldn’t really be pissed with her, she didn’t know I was avoiding the man or why.

He put his beer to his lips and tipped the bottle back as his gaze moved over me. I had a flashback of us at the bar all those weeks ago, Mase standing there alone looking as good as he did tonight.

“Hey, Trix,” Deb said, a wide smile on her face.

“Hey, Deb. Having a good night?”

She glanced at Mase. “Yeah, really good.”

I needed to extract myself from this situation, right the hell now. Mase was watching me far too intently. “What about you? Having a good night?” I asked him because the tension was getting…loud.

He shrugged. “Quinn’s happy.”

“Aw…you’re a good big brother.”

His eyes glittered with humor. “Not always. I was a dick to her when we were growing up.”

“Now why doesn’t that surprise me?”

He chuckled.

“I don’t believe that!” Deb said, pressing into his side. “You’re a sweetheart.”

Mase straightened and glanced down at her. He smiled, and it looked a little strained.

Wishful thinking.

“Yeah, not so sweet,” he said to Deb.

She hit his arm and laughed. “You’re