Ridin' Solo (Sisters From Hell Book 1) by Marika Ray (the two towers ebook txt) 📗

“Don’t do it, Hellman!” I yelled, trying to run around him.

He zigged, and I zagged. Then he zagged, and I tripped over my own feet, which weren’t used to zigging or zagging on the baseball field. Blaze caught me around the waist and kept me from falling to the dirt infield. His entire body shook with laughter as we spun around. I heard the umpire call me out and I couldn’t help but giggle along with him. This game was so dumb. Why I ever let Wyatt talk me into signing up was beyond me.

“You’re a good sport, Oakley,” Blaze said as we stood straight and he set me away from his surprisingly muscled body.

He was barely eighteen, yet he boasted the kind of muscles you’d see on a college football player. He patted me on the back and went back to his position. I gave him a grin and ran off the field, ignoring the lasers Wyatt was shooting at the side of my head. I could feel him, all right. Anyone with half a brain cell could feel the anger pouring off him right now.

“Nice try, Lee,” Sheriff Locke barked before turning his attention to the next batter.

We ended up winning 6-5 after ten innings. The stragglers in the stands all stood to head home, most of them spouses or family of the players. I went over to hug Dad, got a slap on the back from Blaze and two other guys.

Zion pulled me aside, scratching the side of his head where the hair was starting to come in gray. “Hey, I didn’t mean to strike you out that last at-bat.”

I put a hand on his arm. “Don’t feel bad. I was just hoping the game would be over soon.” I shrugged. “I’m hungry.”

Zion barked a laugh, and I noticed he was handsome in an older, midlife kind of way. Vee came up to my side and threaded her arm through mine.

“Nice game, sister of mine. Hello, Zion. Nice to see you again.” She shot him a smile I knew from experience was her flirting smile.

I rolled my eyes and tugged her away from the man who was way too old for her or me.

And bumped right into Wyatt’s broad chest.

“Wyatt!” Vee jumped, letting go of my arm and hugging the guy who was currently glaring at me.

He hugged her back, but didn’t take his heated gaze from mine. When Vee stepped away, he leaned down in my face to whisper, “Really, Oakley? Flirting with Zion now?”

A flash of anger hit me so hard I thought I might shoot lightning bolts through my fingertips. How dare he think he had a say in who I talked to or flirted with or even dated? He had his chance and threw it away!

I took a step closer to him, my eyes narrowed, and my vision gone hazy red. “I can flirt with whoever I want, Lieutenant, and don’t you forget it.”

He didn’t back down. His nostrils flared, and he stood toe to toe with me, ignoring Vee completely. “He wears his hot sauce in a holster on his belt, Captain.”

Okay, yeah, that was weird. I’d noticed it before, but this was Auburn Hill. Weird was how things were done.

I lifted my nose in the air, delighted when his gaze shifted to my lips. “I happen to like hot sauce. The hotter the better. You just never know when the taco truck is going to come around, you know?”

“Wow. Okay. I think I might orgasm just watching you two.” Vee shoved her hands between us, making us both step back.

I blinked, realizing we were still out in public where anyone could watch us. And my baby sister just had a front-row seat to our pissing match. Jesus. My control was already slipping.

“We’re heading over to get pizza and beer. You coming, Oakley?” Dad walked up, putting his hand on my shoulder, thankfully oblivious to the tension between Wyatt and me.

I smiled at him, shifting gears as quickly as I could. “Nah. I’m suddenly in the mood for tacos.”

I shot a look at Wyatt, grabbed Vee, and walked off toward the parking lot. If I were a betting woman, I’d lay a hundred-dollar bill on Wyatt’s gaze being on my ass right now.

“Damn, Oak. That was some serious chemistry right there,” Vee started.

“Nope! I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to grub on some tacos with my little sister and enjoy the evening.”

Vee peeled off to go to her car while I got to my Grom. I took my time putting the helmet on, watching with horrified interest while Wyatt and my father walked across the parking lot together. What the hell could they be talking about? Of course, Wyatt’s truck was only two spaces away from mine. Everywhere I went, there he was.

When Wyatt stopped at his truck, Dad pulled him into an awkward hug. My mouth fell open. Wyatt froze, stiff as a board. Dad whacked him on the back and stepped back, giving him a look I knew all too well. Oh shit. Dad was about to hand Wyatt his own ass whooping.

“Sometimes you gotta hug people so you know how big to dig the hole in the backyard,” Dad clucked out of the side of his mouth and walked away like a total badass.

Wyatt stared at the ground, rubbing the back of his neck. I thought my chest might burst with pride and love for my father.

I snorted and gunned the engine of my Grom. Wyatt’s head whipped up and the last thing I saw before zooming out of the parking lot dimmed my glow and haunted my brain for the rest of the night despite Vee’s attempts to make me laugh.

Big, bad Lieutenant Wyatt Smith.

Alone and sad.

21

Wyatt

I woke up bright and early, feeling groggy as hell. I wasn’t sleeping well, my dreams always centered around Oakley. She was either yelling at me or, conversely, standing in