Quickdraw Slow Burn (Battle of the Bulls #3) - T. S. Joyce Page 0,9

roll-ups. No crying. You can always count on me to get you weird shit to go with flowers. Or just count on me.

Quickdraw.

Annabelle wrapped the fruity lingerie back into its packaging and held it to her chest. Why was he being so nice to her? Why was he so interested? They’d only spent one night together four weeks ago, and she wasn’t stupid. A man like Quickdraw could have any girl he wanted.

“You look confused,” Raven murmured, sinking onto the edge of the bed. “What are you thinking?”

Annabelle swallowed hard and sat on the bed with her. Stalling, she smelled the flowers. They were fresh cut and smelled way better than the strong perfume Cheyenne had doused the place in.

“He does seem interested, but it’s a little intimidating.”

“Quickdraw is?” Cheyenne asked, laying down on the other side of the bed on her side, facing them. “Maybe to the bulls and riders in an event, but to us, he’s just…Quickdraw.”

“Yeah, but Quickdraw is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. He has tons of girls watching his social media, just waiting for a picture of him. How does a woman like me even compete with that?”

Raven frowned. “Your eyes are staying blue. Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Oh, I’m fine. Just having some wolf problems.” It wasn’t totally a lie, and Raven-the-lie-detector didn’t call her out, thank goodness.

“If it eases your mind a little,” Cheyenne said softly, “I’ve never seen him bring any girls in here. Or to Two Shot’s ranch where he stays with us when we have time off between events.”

Hope was a fragile thing but important, nonetheless. “Really?”

“I’ve never even seen him talking to girls at the events.” Raven shrugged. “Even when he’s signing autographs at his table, he won’t put his arms around girls for pictures. He just stands there with his hands clasped behind him. His focus is on winning. That’s why he’s the best in the world. When he started asking about you, we were shocked as hell. That man only bucks, practices bucking, eats to buck, and dreams of bucking.”

Cheyenne propped up on her elbow. “The boys rib him constantly about you. He’s probably going to murder one or both of them at some point.”

“Don’t bring old relationships into new ones,” Raven said softly to Annabelle. “I can see what you’re doing. Quickdraw isn’t Matthew.”

“What happened with Matthew?” Cheyenne asked.

At the mention of her ex, Annabelle cringed.

Raven tactfully explained, “He was a cheating lowlife and a pencil-dicked, soft-handed, lying little pube that had no business dating so far out of his league in the first place. Annabelle isn’t a girl you burn. She’s the one you take home to Mom. He led her on for seven years, promising her a ring, a life, a family, all of it. He wasted her best boob years.”

Annabelle snorted. “I’ll have you know my boobs are still in their prime. At least, that’s what I tell myself. He did waste my time, though. Men who can drag a woman through their life like that without the commitment? They gotta break you down and make you think you don’t deserve the ring. So, yeah, I’m not in a rush to get back into a relationship unless I know that man is on the same page as me.”

“Just make sure it’s fair to Quickdraw. He shouldn’t pay for that man’s mistakes. He wants to get to know you, Annabelle, the real you, and you aren’t an easy open. You’re like one of those prank presents that’s all wrapped up in duct tape and a wooden box. A man needs a box cutter and a crowbar to get to the goods inside.”

“It’s just how I’m built,” Annabelle said. “A man has to work harder for my heart. That’s all.”

“Yeah, but that’s not how you were when we were growing up. You were open and believed in the good in everyone. That relationship changed you, so it’s time to un-fuck yourself. Not for your ex, but for you. Believe in the good again.” Raven canted her head, and the smile that spread across her face was so effortless, so pretty. “Trust me. Some men have so much good in them. Maybe just try to use a little less duct tape on your present.”

This conversation had been surprisingly eye-opening. Raven had never talked like this to or about her. She’d been paying attention. But the problem was, as much as she hoped he wouldn’t run, sometimes that happened. Sometimes people dragged their feet and