Cowboy Up: A Contemporary Romance (The Cherry Series Book 1)

by Luna Starr

  “It’s stuck up here, in stone,” Tom replied as he pointed to his head. “Come on, Bob, Summer.”

  I followed him to his truck. We climbed in and I had to ask. “Everything okay between you and Brady?”

  “Yes.”

  “What did he mean when he told you to remember what he told you?”

  Tom sighed heavily and turned down the dirt drive that led to the road. “Everything is fine.”

  “Didn’t seem fine.”

  “It’s fine,” he repeated curtly, then turned on the radio. I took that as a cue that he didn’t want to talk. I turned and stared out the window, wondering if what we’d done in the shower was going to come back to haunt me. And then I wondered if it was already haunting him.

  ***

  We drove through town and if I hadn’t known better, I would have thought I’d been thrown back in time, or was in some Twilight Zone-type warp. Everything just looked so… old. Like ghost town old, but with people. Well, a ghost town with a modern grocery store plopped right in the center.

  Tom hadn’t said a whole lot on the drive in but just faced forward like he was wholly consumed by his thoughts. He pointed out a few things, like the grocery store, the laundromat, a house the locals claimed was haunted, but that was about it. He’d definitely lost his earlier fervor he’d had when he’d offered to take me into town. My gut said that his sudden quiet had something to do with Brady’s comment, which had me curious, of course. But since Tom seemed genuinely irritated since we’d left the ranch, I figured I’d better just leave it alone for now.

  “Here we are,” he said, pulling up to a rectangular building which looked like a train caboose since it was so narrow and long. It had a row of large windows and I could see patrons sitting inside. The outside of the building didn’t look very special, it was a plain old beige color with a big sign on top in bright red bold letters that read Sharon’s Place.

  “See you in about an hour.”

  “Okay,” I climbed out of the truck and started to shut the door. “Thanks, Tom.”

  “You’re welcome,” he fired back immediately. I smiled at him and then turned to leave. “Hey, Summer,” he started as I turned back to face him. He took a deep breath and forced a smile.

  “Yeah?”

  “You’ll do great. And, for the record, you look beautiful, Posh.”

  “Thank you,” I replied quietly, a little in shock. Two seconds ago, he refused to talk to me and now it seemed he was flirting with me. Tom was an enigma, that was for sure. And he was an enigma that I couldn’t bother myself with at the moment.

  I shut the door and turned around to face the restaurant. Then I took a deep breath and walked through the front doors and into the diner.

  The golden strains of a jukebox and the smell of comfort food mingled together and winded around me, drawing me inside. I smiled easily as a tall Reba McIntyre look-alike grinned from a table a few feet away from the door.

  “Hi, ladybug. Be right with you.”

  While she loaded her arms with plates and empty dishes, she chatted up the occupants of the nearby tables and I tried to shake off my nervousness so I could at least pretend to have the skills for waitressing. This woman seemed like a natural. She breezed past me with a wide grin and inclined her head toward the back.

  “You must be Summer?” she asked and I nodded. “Come on over here.”

  I followed her and was more than a little intimidated that she knew every single person at all of the tables we passed.

  I will never be this good at this job, I thought to myself as I fought the panic surging up my throat. I’d never been good at any job because I’d never had one.

  She stowed the dirty dishes in the back and wiped her hands on her apron. “Now that I put those down, I can give you a proper introduction,” she said with a wide grin. “I’m Sharon and I’m really glad you could make it. Thank you.”

  I smiled and held out my hand. She grabbed it between both of hers and squeezed it with a big smile. “I’m Summer and thank you for the opportunity,” I said, feeling immediately relieved because there was something about her that just spoke to her friendliness and good nature.

  “So, this is a pretty standard evening crowd for us,” she continued as she glanced around the place, looking proud. “We’re the closest restaurant for a lot of the ranchers, so most everyone you see is a regular.” She looked over my shoulder and waved energetically to a couple leaving. “G’nite, y’all. Tank, you better let me know when the girls are having their recital.” The man—Tank, I assumed—nodded and laughed as he held the door open for his lady friend.

  “Good people.” She smiled at me and seemed to read my insecurity because she patted my hand encouragingly. “Brady said you were from back east.” She moved behind the short bar and filled two water glasses with soda and set one on the bar a few feet away from her and the other one in front of me. “Have a seat,” she said.

  “Yes, I’m from Connecticut.” I slipped onto the stool and sipped the soda. “I’ll be here at least until fall.”

  “Great.” She leaned her elbows on the bar and leaned in close. “We can definitely use the help. Brady will probably keep you busy on the weekends so you’ll miss out on those big tip days, but you’ll still be able to make money during the weeknights and whatever weekend nights you can.”

  “So that’s it?” I asked, confused.

  “What’s it, bug?” she asked, equally lost.

  “I’m hired?” I asked as I frowned and wondered how that could be. “I mean, aren’t you going to interview me or something?”

  She threw her head back and laughed. “I don’t need to interview you to know you’ve never done a day of waitressing in your life. But it’s okay, bug. I can tell you’re a good soul and that goes far around here.”

  “Oh,” I answered, surprised. “Thank you.” Then I took a big breath as excitement surged through me. “When can I start?”

  “Whenever Brady can give you up,” she answered with a laugh. “I’ll have you trained up in a flash.” She winked. “Waitressing is all about the flirt, and you look like you’ve done your share of that.”

  I laughed even though it was as far from the truth as it was possible to be. “I can be friendly.”

  “Well, why don’t you swing by whenever you can escape. The more nights you can be here, the faster you’ll learn, and the more money you’ll make. I’m here every night.”

  I stood up and extended my hand. “Thanks, Sharon. Really... I needed this.”

  She came around the end of the bar and folded me in a quick hug. “Glad to have you, ladybug.”

  Another couple came in and I waved goodbye. Even though Sharon was a close-talker and hadn’t left my personal space since I’d come in, I was oddly at ease with her, which was totally strange for me. First Rue, and now Sharon... I didn’t want to get overly excited about nothing, but I was almost skipping as I pushed open the doors and walked outside. I was surprised to see Tom’s truck parked in front and even more surprised to see him in it.

  I opened the door and climbed up onto the seat as I glanced over at him. “I thought you had stuff to do?” I asked as I faced him.

  He shrugged. “Figured I’d wait for you to see how it went.”

  “Well, it went great!” I responded with a big, happy smile. “She hired me, just like that!”

  He smiled and I felt my knees go weak because he was so handsome. “I’m glad to hear that, Summer.” His warm gaze slid over me and butterflies started popping up inside of my stomach. I suddenly wanted to lean over and grab his face so I could kiss him but I kept myself under control. Tom and I needed to go back to having nothing more than a friendship. Hopefully, the situation in the shower hadn’t ruined our chances.

  Chapter Ten

  Tom

  Brady and Rue were deep in conversation by the time I got to the house. They appeared to be the only two inside, which meant I was probably early for dinner. Screw it because I was hungry. And I w
as in a mood too which had everything to do with a pair of long legs, big tits, strawberry blonde hair and the sexiest green eyes I’d ever seen.

  Brady looked up as I walked in. “Did Summer go meet Sharon?” he asked.

  I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yes.”

  “How’d it go?”

  “Good,” I answered, not sure why I was in such a surly mood but there it was. Well, actually I did know. I was in a funk because Summer had put me in one. Not on purpose, of course, but she was the agent all the same. Why? Because I wanted her but I couldn’t have her. Not because Brady told me I couldn’t, but because I was telling me I couldn’t.

  “I got it!” I heard Summer’s voice and then the door closing behind her. I turned around as she walked into the room, all smiles. God, but she was all kinds of stunning. And all kinds of sexy. Seeing that body of hers in the shower… I couldn’t get the visuals out of my mind. And touching that silky soft skin… I had to stop myself or I’d pop a boner right here, in front of everyone.

  “Congratulations!” Rue said as she smiled broadly and threw her arms around Summer.

  “Glad to hear it,” Brady responded as I heard the sounds of the other ranch hands entering the house. I didn’t bother to look at them because I didn’t want to take my eyes off Summer. With the way she was smiling and how happy she looked, she was radiant. She still had makeup on from her interview with Sharon earlier, which didn’t make her any less beautiful, but announced loudly that she wasn’t from around here. She belonged to another world.

  Not my world.

  Which made dinner insanely awkward because I was all too aware of the distance between our worlds and the fact that whatever feelings were going through me, I had no business feeling them. We might as well have been in different universes because there was no way to breach the gap between us. Brady was right—I needed to keep my distance from her.

  Conversation was stilted and Brady seemed as lost in his own thoughts as I was. Neither of us said much. I did happen to notice, however, that every time I looked over at Summer, who was sitting opposite me, she was looking at me. We would meet each other’s eyes and then immediately look away almost like we were playing some kind of game. It started to piss me off even more than I had been before because I realized how completely futile it was. The sooner I got over whatever the hell this was—a crush, maybe, the better. Maybe I’d head over to the tavern tonight to find whatever woman would have me for the evening.

  I finished dinner quickly and excused myself to the kitchen before everyone was done. I started to clean up because I wanted something to do that didn’t involve making small talk. As I soaped up the pots and pans, I watched Brady excuse himself and retreat to his office—and that’s when I knew something was up because he hated being in the office.

  “Need some help?” Summer asked as she walked into the kitchen.

  “No, I’m just about done.”

  “You two go on an’ get,” Rue said as she approached us both. “Tom, you have no business bein’ in the kitchen, you know that.”

  “Just tryin’ to help,” I said with a sigh.

  “Well, I got it handled,” she answered as she thrust herself in between Summer and me and grabbed the dishcloth out of Summer’s hands while ripping the sponge from mine. “Shoo! Skedaddle!” she yelled at us both with a smile.

  “Okay, okay,” I said as I walked past her, Summer right beside me. “Thanks, Rue,” I added.

  “You got it!” she answered.

  I held the front door open for Summer and she walked through it, thanking me in a small voice. Then neither one of us said anything as we headed in the same direction.

  “When are you supposed to start at Sharon’s?” I asked, feeling the need to make conversation.

  “I think I’m going to head over there tomorrow night,” she answered and then smiled like she was uncomfortable. Make that two of us.

  I nodded and then the uncomfortable silence stretched between us again as we approached the cabin where Summer was staying. I wasn’t sure why but I didn’t want her to go in yet, I didn’t want to stop talking to her even though neither one of us was saying much. We both must have felt awkward because we each blurted out a question at the same time.

  “What’s it like where you’re from?”

  “Have you been at Springhill long?”

  She twittered nervously and I cleared my throat. “You first,” I said, pressing my lips tight and nodding, all the while hoping she would pick a different question. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking about cutting this short and heading into town so I could down a few beers but somehow, I didn’t want to.

  “How long have you been here at Springhill?” she asked.

  This was not the conversation I wanted to have, but I was hopeful that I could get us off topic fast. “I came here five years ago.”

  “Have you always been a rancher? What did you do before?”

  “This and that.” I didn’t want her to think that I couldn’t carry on a decent conversation, but she might as well have been throwing loaded grenades at me. It was all I could do to dodge them all and stay in one piece. My past was something I didn’t like to discuss.

  “Okay then.” Her voice was clipped and she took a step toward her door, as if letting me know she was ready to go inside.

  Good going, dumbass.

  I cleared my throat. If I wanted her secrets, I was going to have to give up some of mine. “I never had a good family life growing up and didn’t ever really have a home to speak of. I met Brady at a cattle auction and he offered me the job. It’s been a good fit and came along at a perfect time. I like it here.”

  There was a long pause and I wasn’t sure if she heard me, but then, very quietly, she said, “I like it here too.”

  “Even though it’s not fancy like what you’re used to?” I asked, not meaning to chide her but I couldn’t help it.

  “Yeah, even though it’s not,” she answered as she frowned up at me. “Anyway, I should probably get to bed since I’ve got a long day tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, me too,” I responded as I took a deep breath, the tension between us ridiculously thick. “Well, have a good night.”

  “Yeah, you too.”

  I turned around and tried to drum up the interest to head to the tavern so I could see what kind of trouble I could get myself into. But all I could manage was a heavy sigh as I escorted myself to my apartment over the barn, figuring Bob was going to be the only lady company I enjoyed this evening.

  Chapter Eleven

  Summer

  Aria’s hay would cost me my last hundred and twelve dollars and I wanted to cry. Thankfully, Tom had dropped me off while he was running his own errands so he wouldn’t be here to see me ready to break down.

  “You’re lucky we even have any of that fancy stuff,” the owner of the feed store said, eyeing me with disinterest. “I’ll have to special order it from here on out.”

  Super.

  While I hesitated and tried to think of any other way I could feed Aria, another customer walked in and I stepped away, pretending to look at some display about ticks and fleas. I did some quick math in my head, and figured out that even if Sharon could give me hours right away, I’d barely have enough to make this kind of payment every week. I blinked away the tears and waited for the customer to finish telling his long, drawn out story about his dog’s chronic diarrhea.

  Finally, he left and it was just me and the store owner and the fact that I couldn’t afford to buy the hay. I cleared my throat and tried to swallow as I realized what I was going to have to do. I couldn’t even meet his eyes.

  “You want me to have them load that hay up or what?” he asked.

  “Um, well...” I took a deep breath and picked my chin up. “Is there any chance you could give me a discount since you know I’ll be in here ordering it every week? Is there like a frequent buyer’s discount you guys offer?” I looked at him hopefully.

  His eyes widened like no one
had ever asked him for a discount before, then he recovered and shook his head. I could tell that I’d offended him. “Can’t do it, Miss. I got bills to pay too.”

  “Everything okay?” I looked up to see Tom as he came in through the front doors. Now, I wanted to sink into the floor. I shouldn’t have even asked. Crap. I’d have to save face and pay the full price. There was just no way I wanted Tom to know that I was so broke I was asking for favors. Talk about embarrassing.

  “Your girlfriend here doesn’t think she should have to pay full price for the hay,” the man announced, eyes narrowed on me. His voice was much more pointed and his persona more ornery now that there was another guy in the room. I nearly choked when his gaze slid down my body from head to toe. “Doesn’t look to me like she needs no discount.”

  Tom bristled and frowned at the man. “Come on, Peter. Cut her some slack. You know nobody else is going to buy that stuff before it rots. You’ve been bitching about it for weeks.”

  Peter narrowed his eyes at Tom. “I don’t do charity here.”

  “Okay, that’s fine,” Tom said with a shrug. “But do you want to sell that hay or do you want to let it mold and then get nothing for it?” He shrugged again. “Last I checked, something is better than nothing.”

  “Fine. I’ll do it this one time. That’ll be ninety bucks, and that’s my last offer.” He glared at me. “But don’t go thinking you’re going to get a discount every time when I have to order it in special. I gotta pay for shipping, don’t forget.”

  “Thanks,” I said, feeling two inches tall. “And I won’t get any ideas.” I handed him the cash.

  He grunted and took the money, jamming it in the drawer and ripping the receipt off. As he handed it to me, he swung his glare to Tom. “Pull your truck around and I’ll load it.”

  We walked out and I felt like the weight of the world was riding my shoulders. I was suddenly terrified that this was what my new reality was forever going to be—asking for discounts everywhere I went because I couldn’t afford anything. Oh, how the mighty had fallen…