Against a Wall (Stonecut County, #2)

by Cate C. Wells

Glenna’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, hands down, and I’ll never get used to it.

Even when you make yourself small and quiet, even when you’re scrupulously careful to be grateful for what you have so that God isn’t tempted to humble you by ripping it out from under you, even when you’re afraid of losing what you have left every moment of every day—even then, you can’t entirely smother the part of you that’s brave. That dares to want. It’s the part of me that grabs Cash’s hand after he opens the back door to his parents’ house for me. The part that revels in the smile that breaks across his face.

Then, as soon as he sees Toby on his phone at a table in the empty dining room, he clears his throat, smirks as smarmy as I’ve ever seen, and announces, “Sorry for the inconvenience, man. Just ate Glenna’s sweet pussy until she called my name instead of God’s. Apparently, she’s never had it so good, but don’t be too hard on yourself, my dude.” Cash has been walking and talking, and when he passes Toby, he claps him hard on the shoulder. “You like to run your mouth to tear a woman down. I got other skills.” He smiles wider, and he leans down, getting right in Toby’s face, but he doesn’t lower his voice. He projects it so I can’t miss a word all the way behind the counter. “If I walk in here again, and you’re chewing her ear off, and she looks like she did when I came in earlier? I’m gonna throw your hipster ass through that front window like it’s a bar scene from a western on channel fifty-four.” I— Before I can think of a word to say, Cash straightens and waves at me. “Purely metaphorically, babe! Wait for Jesse. I’ll call you when I have service.” Then he glances down at Toby and says, “But seriously. Right through the window.” He makes the sound of glass shattering, waves at me again, and strolls out.

I want that for her. I want her to have the whole world, not whatever slice that got doled out to her. I want her to choose me when she could choose anything.

Cash is wearing plaid boxers, low on his waist. My mind reels, but my eyes feast. His body is unbelievable. Biceps and triceps and abs and pecs and that V that no one knows the name for. He’s an illustration. If I took his picture now, the early morning light kissing his perfect skin, no one would believe it’s unfiltered. No one would believe he would be with someone like me.

“I sold this to Logan Rolf. He said it was for his mother.” “Oh. Yeah.” He kind of sighs. “People know I collect them. Logan probably needed some cash.” “You paid for these?” He tries to smile, but it doesn’t stick. The air between us crackles. “Well, yeah. Folks know they can tack on a finder’s fee.” “Why?” He shrugs a shoulder. His entire upper body is flushed red, but he maintains eye contact. I’m the one squirming, staring at my feet. Granger rubs against Cash’s leg and then flops down at his side. “I don’t understand.” “Don’t you?” His eyes catch mine, bore into me, and I’m unmoored. “No.” A tear dribbles down my left cheek. I scrub it away. His face tenses, jaw, brow. “Not after last night? You still don’t?”

“Then make nice with Glenna here. Cash has been pining after her since they were kids, which you would’ve noticed if you hadn’t been so worried about the girl who—by the way—can more than fend for herself.” She means Dina, and she’s right.

And if I’m honest with myself—really, really honest—I didn’t smash Toby in the face because he insulted me. I was mad because he called Cash Wall a pig. He might be, but he’s my pig, dammit.

want him,” I say, my lips curving. Cash notices, and he smiles back. He’s missing a tooth. This idiot lost a tooth for me.