Must Love Cowboys: This steamy and heart-warming cowboy rom-com is a must-read! (Once Upon A Time In Texas)

by Carly Bloom

  The wedding. Just thinking about it set off a domino train of emotions. He’d get to be with Alice again, and barring uninvited parents, he was going to make love to her properly. And he was for damn sure looking forward to it. But it also meant the expiration of their contract. And he was not looking forward to that at all. He rubbed his temples. “Bryce! Better get a move on if you still want to hit the Rockin’ H by noon.”

  He was trying to act as if everything was cool. Like today was like any other day instead of the day he was helping Bryce move out.

  Memories played through his mind like a movie reel. Blanket forts and tree houses. Wrestling through the small living room and into the kitchen, their mama hot on their heels threatening to get after them with a flyswatter. The smell of fresh-baked cookies when they came home from school. A Christmas tree in the front window with two matching bikes beneath it. He had very few memories that didn’t include his brother. Being half of a twin unit was a natural state for him. Unless he’d been at his special spot on the bluff—the only place he ever went alone—he’d always been half of a whole.

  Bryce came in and smacked him on the shoulder. “I just packed the last box. Do you have room for it in your truck?”

  “Yep. On the front seat.”

  Bryce pointed at the window over the sink. “Remember when you got stuck trying to sneak into the house while drunk on your ass? You finally managed to fall into the sink, breaking the faucet.”

  “I didn’t have a choice. Mom locked the doors and all the other windows.”

  “Yeah. She really wanted you to work for it.”

  “And she was sitting in the dark, waiting for me, like some kind of freak in a horror film. Scared the shit out of me. And then she acted like it was my fault the faucet was broken.”

  “It was your fault. God, our poor parents. The emergency room visits alone should have sunk them.”

  No kidding. Their parents had earned their retirement on the Gulf Coast. “It’s a good thing your new place is furnished. Otherwise we’d be fighting over the couch.”

  “We’ve already battled over the cookware and small appliances.”

  “I can’t believe you’re taking the spaghetti pot and the fucking blender.”

  “You don’t use either one. And anyway, we might have to fight over the couch later. I’m thinking about getting an apartment in Austin,” Bryce said. “And it won’t be furnished.”

  Beau turned to face his brother. “Oh? Why would you do that? Gerome said you could live in one of the lodge’s suites.”

  “I think it might be fun to live in the city,” Bryce said. “It would only be about a twenty-minute drive out to the Rockin’ H—”

  “Ha. It’ll take you twice that long just to get out of the city limits. Austin traffic sucks.”

  Bryce just shrugged as if city traffic didn’t bother him in the least. “You ready to run this place all by yourself?”

  “Yep. On Monday, I’m installing those new solar panels and getting the battery bank set up—”

  “Were you able to read the instructions?”

  “Good enough.”

  Bryce frowned, and it made Beau bristle. He was good at putting things together, and he had the diagrams.

  “Do you want to fire up the new software program?” Bryce asked. “Take a look at it one last time? I’m still kind of figuring it out, myself . . .”

  “Nope. Allie helped me with it last weekend. I know which tab takes me where and how to enter the correct information. I even emailed a report to Ford last week—no problem.”

  “That’s great. I told you Alice would help you, and I was right. Looks like it’s working out very well.” He shook his head with a grin. “I’m surprised you came home last night.”

  “I wanted to be here with you this morning. Also, her parents barged in on us.”

  “No way! That sucks.”

  “It was fine. They’re nice folks.”

  Bryce nodded. “So, from what I saw on the dance floor last night, you and Alice are really dating, right? Nothing about the way you two were clinging to each other looked like anyone was holding a gun to your heads.”

  Beau tried to hide a grin. Failed.

  “That’s what I thought,” Bryce said.

  “You think too much.”

  “Well, you’ve been pining for her ever since you sprouted your first ball hair, so—”

  “I’m not sure the feelings are mutual.”

  “She’s pretty straightforward. You should just ask her.”

  He was afraid of the answer. Because if he was nothing more to Allie than a buddy or maybe even an item on her bucket list, he really didn’t want to know about it until the contract had expired. But what they’d done last night had felt different than the good times he’d enjoyed with other women. It had been so hot. And yet, strangely sweet and so . . . Alice.

  She’d been sexy. Bossy. But he’d sensed moments of innocence and vulnerability, too.

  Bryce crossed his arms over his chest and grunted softly.

  “What?” Beau asked.

  “I just find all of this interesting.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s you and Alice, dummy.”

  Beau grabbed the rinsed plates and put them in the drying rack. He and Alice did make an unusual couple, that was for sure. He shouldn’t get his hopes up. “Bryce, do you know what a social construct is?”

  Bryce rubbed his chin. “Hm . . . I suppose it’s something that only exists because society says it does. Why?”

  Beau frowned. “Oh, no reason. It’s just a term I heard. Wasn’t sure what it meant.”

  He still wasn’t entirely sure, but it sounded like Alice’s definitive statement that she wasn’t a virgin might not mean what he’d thought it had. Not that it mattered, except that, well, it did.

  He couldn’t quite put words to the emotions swirling around his head as to why it mattered, but just thinking about being the first man to make love to Alice made him feel giddy.

  He’d never been with a virgin before. It seemed like a huge responsibility. There were emotions involved. Expectations and whatnot. But hell, if Alice had held on to her virginity this long, didn’t it mean it was special to her? And did that mean that he was special to her?

  After all, she’d amended the contract.

  Bryce poked him in the arm. “Keep your head on straight. I don’t think Alice is the kind of woman who dates casually. And you’re not usually the kind of guy who dates seriously.”

  “And you’re typically not the kind of guy who dates much at all, so why would I take any relationship advice from you?”

  “I’m your big brother.”

  Beau snorted, because it was by a whopping four minutes, but truth be told, he didn’t mind the dynamic at all.

  Bryce stood up straight. “Giving you advice is my job. Whether or not I know what I’m talking about is neither here nor there.”

  Beau laughed. “Grab that box, dumbass. I’m ready to have you out of here.”

  They went through the door, and Bryce didn’t even linger on the porch steps. He was on his way to his new life.

  Beau inhaled the crisp scent of juniper. Somehow, standing right here on the porch of the house where he’d grown up, he felt as if he was starting a new life, too.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Six

  Beau took the toll road off of Interstate 35 so he wouldn’t have to deal with Austin traffic—reading lots of signage while trying to remain focused on the road was hard—and the eighty-five-mile-per-hour speed limit made up for the extra miles.

  All he could think about was Alice and when they could be together again. He hadn’t seen her on Monday, because he’d worked so late on the dang solar panels. Yesterday, she’d had something to do in the evening. And today, he was heading back to the Rockin’ H to help Bryce out. They had to sort the Hills’ herd to get rid of some bulls, and of course there was a bit of work to do for Brittany’s wedding.

  B
ut Alice was filling in as a bridesmaid for Brittany’s cousin, which meant she’d be here a day early for the rehearsal. He smiled and shifted in his seat. He was looking forward to picking up where they’d left off the night her parents had shown up, but mostly he just wanted to be with her. He missed her. And he missed the way he felt around her. Capable. Smart. Confident.

  He exited the toll to catch the farm-to-market road to the ranch. It was pretty country, although not in the same way that Big Verde was pretty country. There were no hills with twisting and turning roads. But there was plenty of bright green and heavily irrigated land for grazing, and that was a sight for a cowboy’s sore eyes.

  There was also urban sprawl leaking out of Austin. Interspersed between the pastures and farmland were brand new subdivisions and strip malls with their chain restaurants and shops. None of it appealed to him, but apparently, it did to Bryce.

  He slowed his pickup to navigate a tight curve, and then followed the trail of yee-haw! signs with the Rockin’ H brand (soon to be replaced) all the way to a super-fancy gate. He turned in and slowly drove up a curvy road bordered by lush green pastures and fat, sassy cows.

  Up ahead he saw Bryce, sitting on a gate and waving his hat. Good Lord, but the fool looked ridiculous in his fringed chaps. And he was also wearing a vest like he was a fucking Walmart greeter. Beau stopped the truck and rolled down his window.

  “Howdy, pardner,” Bryce said in an exaggerated drawl.

  “You look like an idiot,” Beau said. “Get in the truck.”

  Bryce laughed, but didn’t seem offended as he hopped off the gate. “Oh, brother, you don’t know the half of it.” He pointed at a little badge hanging on his vest. “I’ve got a name tag.”

  COWBOY BRYCE

  Beau rolled his eyes.

  “There’s one for you back at the office,” Bryce said. “Along with a vest and chaps.”

  Beau sighed and shook his head as Bryce climbed in the truck and slammed the door. “It’s not so bad. In fact, it’s kind of like being on vacation. You wouldn’t be half bad at this gig. You’re way more outgoing than I am.”

  That was true, but Beau had no interest in leaving Rancho Cañada Verde. It was his home. And his work—as a real cowboy—was important to him. “I think I’ll stay in Big Verde, where the cowboys cuss and spit and stink like proper ranch hands.”

  “Just pull up to the offices,” Bryce said. “I’ve got to pick up the schedule for tomorrow.”

  “Schedule?”

  “Yeah. It’s a busy week. We’ve got a corporate group coming in, a family reunion, and of course, we’re getting ready for Brittany’s wedding.”

  “I didn’t realize that you were going to have to deal with all of that when you took this job.”

  “Me either. It’s kind of fun, though. And I can’t very well chase cows through a wedding reception,” Bryce said. “The herd has to share space with humans and their human-type shenanigans. The guests like to see us riding around and working. It’s weird. But fun.”

  Beau pulled up to the building that housed the dude ranch’s office. He waited while Bryce went inside to grab the schedule. A couple of guys wearing the same getup as Bryce walked by and waved, and then Beau saw a familiar blue head exit the restaurant connected to the lodge. What the heck was Carmen doing here?

  Beau was just about to roll down his window and holler at her when Bryce came out and the two collided. He dropped the clipboard he was carrying, and Carmen dropped her keys. Then they both leaned over and bumped heads.

  Even from this distance, Beau could see that Bryce was blushing. And that was strange, because Beau had always been the blusher. Probably because he usually had something to be embarrassed about.

  Bryce handed Carmen her keys and watched her walk to her car.

  Like he really watched her walk to her car.

  Good lord, his brother was barking up the wrong tree. Carmen would never fall for a cowboy. And even though she’d been hanging out in Big Verde while Jessica was on her honeymoon, Carmen would soon be off on some adventure doing God only knows what. That’s just how she was.

  Bryce fumbled his way back to the truck and climbed in.

  “What’s Carmen doing here?”

  “She’s catering Brittany’s rehearsal dinner and wedding,” he said, flipping through the pages on his clipboard. “She’s using the old restaurant’s kitchen.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Can you keep a secret?”

  “You know I can.”

  “She’s going to buy it. Which would be fucking fantastic for the ranch. She says she’s going to call it the Rockin’ Bleu.”

  “You’re right about that being great for the ranch. But is that the only reason you’re excited?”

  Bryce blushed again and pointed through the windshield. “Drive on over to the lodge. I’ll show you where your room is, but first, let’s head to mine so we can print up some paperwork to take to the cattle market on Friday.”

  Beau parked in front of the lodge, grabbed his shit, and followed Bryce inside. The suite looked a bit homier since the last time he was here, but it was still quite small. He could understand why Bryce might want an apartment in Austin.

  Bryce dropped the clipboard on the bed, and Beau picked it up. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the little flexible ruler Alice had given him, placed it below the first line on the top page on the clipboard, and began reading. Initially, the words moved around a little, but the ones above the ruler mostly stayed put. Sight words stood out—no decoding necessary—and then, a few of the others were easily read. Soon, he was moving the ruler down the page at a pretty good pace.

  “Are you really reading that quickly?” Bryce asked.

  Beau smiled. “Yeah. Alice is a good teacher. She says dyslexia is just a different way of processing information, and that it can be common among creative people. Did you know that? Anyway, she believes in me.”

  “I believe in you, too, Beau. I always have.”

  “Thanks. I don’t know what I would have done without you all these years.”

  “Well, we made some mistakes.”

  “Fixing them now, though.”

  “And don’t worry. I’m going to keep you plenty busy for the next two days. School with Miss Martin will be back in session before you know it.”

  Alice stood in front of the full-length mirror and gasped in horror. Over her shoulder, Claire was likewise staring, clearly trying to suppress a giggle.

  “Oh, Alice,” Brittany said. “You look beautiful!”

  Alice did not look beautiful in the hideous yellow dress. “You say your cousin is already up and walking around after her surgery? Are you sure you don’t want her to be in the wedding?”

  “God, no,” Brittany said. “She looks awful. She’s lost weight—we’d probably have to get this dress altered. And she has dreadful bags beneath her eyes. Can you imagine how that would look in the pictures? And she’s whining and complaining constantly. Can’t stand up straight. You’d think she fell off a twenty-story building.”

  “Well, she did have abdominal surgery,” Alice said.

  Brittany nodded. “Oh, I know. Bless her sweet little heart.”

  After the appropriate pause (typically about three seconds for a bless her heart), Brittany added, “I’m so glad you’re a size six.”

  “Me too,” Alice said, forcing a smile.

  “Let me go grab the earrings,” Brittany said. “I left them in the car.”

  “Are they yellow, too?” Alice asked.

  “Yes,” Brittany said with a bright smile, heading for the door. “Sunflowers! To match the theme. They’ll look so great right up against your pretty face! Be back in a sec.”

  As soon as Brittany was out the door, Claire broke into hysterical laughter. “Oh my God,” she said. “Right up against your face! Yellow is really your color, Alice. It brings out—”

  “The sallowness of my skin?”

  “I’m just kidding. You actual
ly look lovely.”

  Alice flopped onto the bed. “How did I end up in this position?”

  “By being too nice. Not knowing how to say no.”

  “Women, in general, are too nice,” Alice said.

  “We should rebel,” Claire said. “We should just stop being nice. Kind of like when you broke the habit of mindlessly saying you’re sorry—”

  “Which is something all women do,” Alice added.

  Claire nodded her head. “Sorry. You’re right.”

  Alice raised an eyebrow.

  “Dang it! I said it, didn’t I?”

  “It’s so hard to stop,” Alice said. “But if I did it, anybody can.”

  Claire gave her a thumbs-up. “So, are you and Beau sharing a room?”

  Holy guacamole. Alice hadn’t thought about that. When they’d struck their bargain, she’d planned on doing a pop-in at the wedding reception and then driving back to Big Verde that night. But so much had changed. For one thing, she was a bridesmaid now and couldn’t do a pop-in. And then there was the fact that her fake relationship didn’t feel fake anymore. The prospect of sharing a room didn’t freak her out at all. But she didn’t want to make assumptions. Even if she and Beau had sex—and she was pretty sure they would—that didn’t necessarily mean he’d want her in his bed all night. “Brittany says I can have her cousin’s room.”

  Brittany limped back in. “Found the earrings!”

  Oh dear. Big yellow sunflowers. Brittany handed them to Alice. “I think you have everything you need. Oh wait! Do you have a pair of cowboy boots? All the bridesmaids are wearing them.”

  “Yes,” Alice said, faking cheerfulness. “A brand-new pair. Beau helped me pick them out.”

  Brittany sighed in relief. “Thanks, Alice. For everything. Also, your boyfriend is so cute! I always thought I’d end up with a cowboy. But here I am with a computer geek.”

  The glowing smile on Brittany’s face indicated she didn’t mind a bit.

  “Thanks,” Alice said, even though she wasn’t sure if that was the appropriate response to someone complimenting your boyfriend.