Seducing Texas (So not Prince Charming #2)(22)

After another two hours, the bar fills up with dance club and regulars, and the drink orders start piling up. I’m out of breath hurrying from one table to the next, and Shane’s keeps me plenty busy.

“Aedan’s watching you through the lens,” Cyn says when I return for the next tray of drinks.

It’s killing me not to glance back at him. “He is?” She scrubs glasses and gets the bar tidy for the next rush.

Fay smiles. “Yes, he is. Looks like Cyn and I won’t get much air time.”

“Okay by me,” Cyn says. “I only care about getting paid.”

The other bartenders watch Cyn in awe. When it comes to fixing drinks and snapping off beer tabs, she’s a machine. The sorority had huge bashes, which Cyn organized, so she has plenty of experience.

The owner comes by and says, “You’re hired.”

She spins a bottle of bourbon before pouring. “I may take you up on that. Tips are pretty good here.”

I’ve already collected over fifty and Shane will certainly tip well. I pat my pockets where I tucked the money away.

Fay fumbles along and the camera catches all this, so I feel bad for her, but we all signed up for the show. According to the director, viewers want to see poor little rich girls struggle to make a buck. Cyn has always been the tough one out of us all. I want to be more like her.

After I serve several more tables, each of the three cowboys picked especially for me holds a rose and approaches me. I have to pick the one I want to dance with first. Like on the Bachelor, they’re all strikingly handsome. The other three must be for Fay. They look a little older, whereas my guys look like college age.

Cyn told the director she didn’t want any part of the whole dating and drama action, so she has no suitors. Shane would probably kick their asses, so it’s for the best.

The first one goes to college in Montana. I don’t really want to move that far away from here, and my scholarship is at Stu’s. I don’t know why I’m thinking that. Most of the romances on the Bachelor don’t last, and it’s scripted reality. None of the drama is real.

“Willa,” I say, extending my hand to Mr. Montana.

He picks me up and smooches me, which is a little much. “Don’t be alarmed Ma’am. That’s not a gun in my pocket. I’m just happy to meet you.” He gives me a smarmy grin, and I almost deck him. “Lynch is the name.”

As he hands me the rose, I give him a tight smile and step back from him.

The next one sidles up to me. He works at the stockyard, stinks of tainted meat and Wild Turkey, and oozes creepiness, despite his good looks. A toothpick twirls in his mouth. When he goes to peck my lips, I turn my head, so his lips brush my cheek. The toothpick barely misses my eye. This is not going well.

“Travis, little missy. Ride my horse and you can save this here cowboy.”

I don’t even hide my WTF expression. I snatch the rose out of his hand and move onto the next.

Wyatt is much more subdued. He goes to Texas A&M. He gets on one knee to hand me the rose. “I only need eight seconds to make you mine.”

Now that was cute. I laugh, and his hesitant grin grows. He’s not as cocky as the other two.

He’s my first dance, and from Lynch’s tight mouth, he appears angry—no dances for him. Wyatt leads me into a waltz, and he’s quite deft on his feet.

Looking over Wyatt’s shoulder, I can’t help myself. I glance over at Aedan. Concern wrinkles his brow almost hidden by thick unruly tufts of jet-black hair. He’s not watching me, so I follow his line of sight. At first jealousy nicks my heart seeing a pretty redhead, but beyond her is Lynch staring hard at me. An icy shiver works under my skin.

Who is Aedan looking at? I hope it isn’t the redhead.

I thank Wyatt and get back to work. The three bachelors try to score time with me, but we’re swamped. My sisters and I run around like crazy until the DJ plays Luke Bryan’s Country Girl. One of Fay’s bachelors helps Fay onto the bar and then Cyn. He’s a honey, and from his relaxed candor, he’s comfortable with himself, and I like that.

Lynch swaggers to me, and I almost freak until Shane sweeps me off my feet and easily puts me on the bar beside my sisters.

“Stay away from the first two guys,” he says only to me.

Leaning down, I kiss his cheek. “I will. Thank you, prince.”

Shane smiles and then forces Cyn to her knees where he lays a smoldering kiss on her lips. She’s out of breath as he helps her back onto her feet.

Cyn, and I both turn to see Aedan’s reaction.

She nudges me. “He is so interested.”

“I hope so.” At least on my end, the connection was instantaneous after that first kiss. It still sears my lips. “I thought he was too old?”

“He is, but he’s more respectable than the first bachelors. Geez, what was the director thinking?”

We slap our butts and shake them on the chorus for “Shake it for me.”

The cowboys whoop and holler while we perform the line dance on the bar. We all took dance lessons and spent lots of time in honky-tonks. Lynch buys us tequila shots, so Fay and Cyn down them, but Shane takes mine. Though I’m only eighteen, Cyn lets me drink at our house but not here.

Lynch shoves Shane, and Shane just laughs and stands closer to him. A bouncer comes by and breaks them apart. Shane could take him easily. He’s like rock-hard and insanely big.