Samantha
The night at the Rusty Spur wound down, and I couldn't help but feel a little conflicted. Ethan and I had danced, laughed, and genuinely enjoyed each other's company, but there was something missing. He was sweet, polite, and considerate—everything you could want in a man. But as the night wore on, I realized that maybe I wanted more. A little more passion, a little more intensity, a little more aggression.
I wasn't asking for him to throw me against a wall and have his way with me—not that I'd be entirely opposed to it—
What the ever-loving crap! Did I seriously just say that? Classy, Samantha.
Still, I don't think I've ever met a man that I had a harder time reading. Was he interested in more than just casual flirting? If so, then how about showing a bit more fire, taking charge in a way that made my heart race? But instead, he'd kept his distance, treating me with the kind of respect that was endearing but also... well, frustrating.
As we headed towards the exit, I caught myself stealing glances at him, wondering what was going through his mind. Did he even realize how attractive he was? How much he affected me? Or was he just not interested? The thought gnawed at me as we reached the door.
Before we could step outside, a woman I hadn't met before approached us. She was probably in her mid-fifties, with silver-streaked hair tied back in a messy bun and an apron around her waist. She had a warm, welcoming smile that immediately put me at ease.
"Hi there," she said, her voice carrying that unmistakable Southern warmth. "I'm Sally Austin, the owner of this place. I just wanted to come over and introduce myself. I noticed y'all were having a great time out there on the dance floor."
I smiled back at her. "Nice to meet you, Sally. I'm Samantha, and this is Ethan."
Sally's eyes lit up as she looked at us. "Samantha Harrington, of course you need no introduction, but it's a real pleasure to have you here. Has anyone ever told you that you've got some serious moves out there? And Ethan, you're not too bad yourself."
Ethan chuckled. "Thanks, Sally. We were just having some fun."
Sally leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "I don't know if you're aware, Samantha, but having someone like you at the Rusty Spur is a big deal for us. We're a new place, and word spreads fast around here. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind if we uploaded a couple of pictures from tonight to our social media? It'd be a huge help to get the word out, but I completely understand if you'd rather not. I know you usually get paid for stuff like that. I would normally try to go through your agent but—"
"Sure, Sally," I said with a grin. "Go ahead and post the pictures. Just tag me, and I'll make sure to share them too."
Sally's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Samantha. That means the world to us. Here, this is for you and Ethan. It's a VIP card—just show this at the door, and there will be no cover charge and 25% off drinks."
I laughed, nodding and taking the VIP cards. "We'll definitely take you up on that."
As we stepped outside into the cool night air, I couldn't help but feel a little lighter. The night hadn't gone exactly as I'd hoped, but it had been good. Really good. I glanced over at Ethan, who was busy checking his phone, probably making sure everything was okay with the girls.
We had almost made it to the car when a commotion caught my attention. I turned to see a group of girls, including Hana—the one who had flirted with Ethan earlier—getting into a heated argument with another group near the entrance.
"Stay out of it, bitch!" one of the girls shouted, her voice dripping with anger.
I winced as I saw Hana's face twist in anger. "Screw you. That asshole was hitting on me. I didn't approach him. If you have a problem, talk to him. Keep your man under control."
Oh no, it looked like things were about to get ugly, and fast. I was about to suggest we keep walking when the situation escalated in the blink of an eye.
One of the boyfriends from the other group, a tall guy with a mean look in his eyes, stepped forward and slapped Cammy across the face. The sound echoed in the night, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. "Bitch, you need to learn to watch your mouth."
Before I could even react, Ethan was there. He moved so fast, I barely saw it coming. He grabbed the guy by the throat and held him in place.
"You don't hit women," Ethan said, his voice low and full of controlled anger. He shoved the guy back with enough force to make the guy stumble.
He recovered quickly, and the guy tried to swing at Ethan, but he was too slow. Ethan dodged the punch easily and responded with a quick, powerful jab that sent the guy crashing to the ground. It was over in seconds, but it felt like everything was moving in slow motion.
The guy's friends, clearly shocked, hesitated before deciding to rush Ethan together. But Ethan was ready. He took them down one by one, his movements quick and efficient, like he'd done this a hundred times before.
It was over almost as quickly as it started. The four guys were on the ground, groaning in pain, and Ethan stood over them, calm and collected. Hana and her friends were staring at him with wide eyes, clearly not sure what to make of what had just happened.
Ethan turned back to me, his expression softening as he looked me over. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, still trying to process what I'd just seen. "Are YOU ok? You're the one that was in the fight."
He shrugged, wiping a bit of blood from his knuckles. "I'm good. What he did was unacceptable. I will make sure he understands."
Hana stepped forward, her voice shaky but full of gratitude. She reached for Ethan's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Who the heck—who are you? Where did you even come from? Thank you," she said, her eyes wide as she looked at Ethan. "Thank you so much."
Ethan gave her a nod, his voice calm. "Just be careful, okay? And stay away from guys like that."
Hana nodded quickly, still looking a bit shell-shocked. "Will you call me if I do?"
Ethan chuckled, letting out some of the intensity he had just displayed. "Just stay out of trouble, okay?"
Hana grinned. "That wasn't a no."
"I hate to interrupt, but I don't think I can just let that slide." Another guy approached Ethan. Hana actually stepped in front of Ethan, and he gently moved her to the side.
The newcomer was a big guy, just slightly smaller than Ethan, with a confident stride that suggested he wasn't afraid of much. He had a rough, scruffy beard and the kind of build that made you think twice before messing with him.
He stopped a few feet away from Ethan, sizing him up with a curious expression. "Not bad, man. You really took care of those guys. Haven't seen moves like that in a while."
Ethan shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable with the compliment. "Just didn't like the way they were acting. That's all."
The guy took up a boxer stance. "Hopefully, you don't regret getting involved."
Ethan did the same, and they watched each other. Then the guy's eyes narrowed, as if trying to place Ethan's face. "You look familiar… what's your name?"
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the guy's eyes widened in sudden recognition. He took a step back, his mouth dropping open. "No way. No freaking way. Caveman? Are you… you're Ethan, the Caveman, Miller."
He said it loudly enough that it caught the attention of everyone nearby. The name echoed through the crowd like a ripple in a pond. "Caveman! It's the Caveman!"
I cast confused glances at the crowd around us as most of the guys started buzzing like teeny boppers at a boy band concert.
The big guy closed in on Ethan and offered a hand. "I'm Dan. I freaking love you, dude. I'm sorry about my idiot friends."
Dan's words flipped a switch in the crowd—people started pointing, whispering to each other, and within moments, a large group had formed around Ethan. Everyone seemed to want to shake his hand, take pictures with him, and slap him on the back like they'd just found a long-lost friend.
Ethan, for his part, looked thoroughly embarrassed. He offered a tight-lipped smile, nodding at people and letting them take pictures, but it was clear he wasn't entirely comfortable with the sudden attention.
I stood back, watching in stunned silence as the scene unfolded. What the hell was going on? People were practically lining up to get a picture with him, and the girls from earlier—including Hana—were now giggling and whispering among themselves, clearly starstruck.
"Caveman, you're a legend, man!" one guy exclaimed as he took a selfie with Ethan. "I can't believe I'm actually meeting you!"
"Yeah, dude, I've seen all your events!" another guy added, his excitement barely contained. "You're a beast!"
It took what felt like forever before the crowd finally started to disperse, each person walking away with a picture or a handshake from the so-called "Caveman." When we finally managed to make our way back to the car, I couldn't hold back any longer.
As soon as we were inside and the doors were closed, I turned to Ethan, my eyes wide with disbelief. "What the hell was that, Ethan? Caveman? Explain, please."
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair as he slouched back in the driver's seat. He looked exhausted, both physically and emotionally. "It's nothing, Samantha. Just… people remember me from some fights I did a while back. It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal?" I echoed, still trying to wrap my head around what had just happened. "Ethan, people were freaking out over you!"
He let out a low chuckle, though there was little humor in it. "I guess that's what happens when you beat the crap out of enough people. They give you a nickname, and some folks remember it. But really, it's nothing. I haven't fought in a while, and I'm a bit surprised people recognized me."
I stared at him, my mind spinning. This whole night had taken such a bizarre turn, and now I was sitting in the car with a man who was apparently some kind of fighting legend. And he'd never mentioned a word of it before.
"Why didn't you mention it?" I asked quietly, genuinely curious. "About the fighting, I mean."
Ethan shrugged again, avoiding my gaze. "My girls hate it. So I just got in the habit of not talking about it. I apologize if that upsets you. I wasn't trying to hide it or anything."
I could see the sincerity in his eyes. Layers of this man were layer after layer.
Still, the revelation left me with a lot of questions and a strange mix of emotions. Part of me was impressed—Ethan had clearly been through a lot and had come out stronger for it. But another part of me was frustrated. Of course, there was lots I didn't know about him and the girls. I didn't like that at all. We drove back to the house in relative silence, the weight of the evening hanging between us. I glanced over at Ethan a few times, trying to figure out what to say, but the words wouldn't come. There was so much more to him than I'd realized, and I wasn't sure how to process it all.
As we pulled up to the house, Ethan turned off the engine and sat quietly for a moment, staring out at the darkened windows. "Thanks for tonight, Samantha," he said softly. "I had a good time, despite… everything."
I managed a small smile, still feeling a bit off-kilter. "Yeah, me too. It was… interesting, to say the least."
I was tired by the time we got back to the house. I had a ton to think about, but honestly, I didn't want the night to end. Ethan, being the gentleman, walked me to my room. I opened the door and moved to go inside. I turned my back and was about to say goodnight when—
"Samantha."
I turned to face him, and without saying anything, Ethan kissed me.
Ethan. Kissed. Me.
The first touch was tentative, a gentle brush of lips that hinted at more. His mouth was warm, soft, and inviting, and as we settled into the kiss, I felt his lips part, inviting me to do the same. Our tongues met, cautious at first, then with a slow, tantalizing sweep that deepened the moment. The gentle press of his tongue was a warm exploration, tasting, learning, as if savoring every second.
It was unhurried, almost as if he was mapping out every curve, every corner of my mouth, and the sensation sent a shiver down my spine. I felt my pulse quicken, my breath hitch, and my legs nearly give out as he drew me in further, making me lose myself in the intensity of it all. It was as if every brush, every glide of his tongue ignited something deeper, and when he finally pulled back, I was left dizzy, breathless, and wanting so much more.
Ethan stepped back a respectful distance. "A thank-you kiss. Thank you, Samantha. I haven't been out with a woman in a long time, and I couldn't have asked for a better companion. You are an amazing person. I hope we will be friends for a long time."
Ethan walked back to his room.
I stood there, dumbfounded. The sensation of Ethan's kiss still tingling on my lips. Then I realized what Ethan said—
"Friends??? Are you f'ing kidding me??"
The End of Volume 1