by Amber Kelly
“Where are you staying?” she asks.
“The Elizabeth.”
“Oh, fancy. I bet the beds there are super comfortable,” she says before sliding her hand up under my thermal and scratching her red fingernails down my six-pack.
“They sure are.”
“Martina and I would love to come to check your room out. Are any of your friends over there single?”
She points to our table where her friend is presently sitting and chatting with Myer, Payne, and Foster.
“The one on the far right is,” I say as I gesture to Foster.
She tilts her head. “Of course he is. She was hoping one of the other two was sleeping alone tonight.”
“What’s wrong with Foster?” I ask.
Foster was a year ahead of us in school. He’s been single since he and his wife split up in the summer. He’s a little shorter than the rest of us but still a good-looking dude.
She shrugs. “Nothing is wrong with him, but her boyfriend is a blond, too, and she was hoping to spend a little time with a dark, handsome stranger this weekend.”
“She’s got a man at home, and she’s out, prowling, but she has standards when it comes to what color his fucking hair is?” I say, disgust clear in my tone. I pry her arm from around my neck and take a step back.
“Wait,” she says in confusion.
I walk off the floor and toward the can. I do my business, and when I come out, she is standing in the hallway, waiting for me. She wraps her arm around my waist and slides her hand in the back of my jeans as she presses into me. Her mouth goes to my throat, and she sticks her tongue out, licking a line from my collar to my Adam’s apple and doing a little swirl. She’s no doubt trying to entice me with her talent.
“You want to get out of here, cowboy?” she asks seductively.
I fist my hand in her hair. It’s full of sticky product.
When did I start noticing shit like that?
She raises her mouth to mine in invitation, and I back her up into the corner and kiss her hard.
I get nothing, no fire.
She tastes like Red Bull and cigarettes. Nowhere near as sweet as the whiskey and honey taste of Elle’s kisses.
I tear my mouth from hers and look down at her.
“You got a man at home too?” I bite out the question.
“No, I don’t, not anymore. We’re separated,” she says.
“Separated, huh?”
I shake my head, let her go, and start walking back to the table where Martina is all but drooling in Payne’s lap. He seems amused by her attention, but she’s wasting her time. The feisty redhead being bucked off the bull at present isn’t about to let her slide in there.
“You want another round, Walk?” Payne asks as I take my seat.
“I think I’ve had about enough,” I quip.
“All right. I’ll be right back.”
He stands to go to the bar, and Martina stands too.
“I’ll help you carry,” she offers.
“Okay.”
She follows after him like a little dog in heat.
Myer gives me a quizzical look. “I’m going to check on Dallas and Charlotte. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Payne returns with beer for him and Foster and the girls.
“Thank you, handsome,” Martina continues to flirt.
“Hey, man. You guys cool to ride back with Myer and Dallas? I think I’m ready to turn in,” I say to Payne.
He gives me a knowing grin. “Sure, bud. You okay to drive? This ain’t Poplar Falls. The sheriff here pulls you over, and he ain’t giving you a lecture, taking your sorry ass home, and tossing you on the porch like Jonathon does. He’s putting handcuffs on you and carting you to jail.”
“I can drive you. I haven’t had that much,” my dance partner offers.
Shit, I can’t even remember her name, but the taste of her is still on my lips, and it’s not pleasant.
“I think I’m too tired for company tonight,” I tell her.
“That’s okay. I’m not tired at all. I can do all the work,” she proposes as she shoves her chest against my arm.
“Whew, that’s a mighty generous offer,” Payne comments.
“What about you? You want to come hang out with us somewhere a little quieter?” she addresses Foster.
I see Martina’s face fall before she takes her friend’s hint and reels it in, switching her attention to Foster.
“I guess so,” he says as he looks at me in question, trying to read what I want to do here.
I slightly shake my head.
“Or maybe not,” he says, backtracking.
Martina looks at her friend, confused. “Are we going or staying? I don’t understand what is happening here,” she asks.
“Foster and I are leaving, if he is sober enough to drive my truck. You two can stay or go home to your men. I don’t give a shit which one you choose,” I say as I stand.
I pull a wad of cash out of my pocket and hand it to Payne without counting it. “If this doesn’t cover my part of the tab, I’ll square up with you in the morning,” I tell him.
“You got it,” he says.
The blonde looks up as I round the table, her eyes following me.
“Are you serious? You’re just leaving?” she whines.
“Yep,” is all the reply I give her as I slap Foster on the back. “Ready, man?”
He slides his chair back and bumps fists with Payne. “Tell Myer I’ll see him in the morning.”
“Will do.”
We walk out of the front door and to my truck. I toss Foster the keys, and he lets us in.
“Thanks for the save back there. The last thing I need is for some pissed-off husband to come after me with a damn shotgun.”
“Yeah, I don’t cast my line in another man’s pond either,” I tell him.
I pull my phone out and stare at Elle’s last text.
I wonder if she had a good night. Does she feel better? Is she sleeping peacefully? I could knock on her door when I get back. Just to check on her. There’s no harm in that.
I start to text her back and ask if she’s awake, but then I stop myself.
What the hell am I doing?
I shove my phone back in my pocket, and when we get back to the hotel, I stop briefly at her door. I lay my forehead against it, warring with myself. I don’t hear any noise or movement. She must be sleeping.
I force myself to walk to my room.
And I take my second ice-cold shower of the weekend.
Elle
We made it home today around noon with a hundred new cows, two bulls, another fifth-wheel, and a brand-new baler, and we came in five hundred dollars under budget. Sophie is damn good with those numbers. Pop and Jefferson are pleased as peacocks. The entire weekend couldn’t have gone better, except maybe if I hadn’t spent both nights in bed with cookies.
Sophie, Charlotte, and I unload the trucks while the men get the cattle wrangled into the holding pen.
Brandt is scheduled to come by at four p.m. to give the new herd a good look over and to check all their paperwork and make sure all their vaccines are in order before the boys move them.
I can tell both Braxton and Walker are excited. They’ve had this electricity crackling around them since we got back to Rustic Peak. I know they are itching to saddle a horse and drive this herd into the new pasture.
Once we get everything put away, I call Sonia to let her know we’re home, and she says she is on her way back to Poplar Falls with Bellamy. She finished up her classes early and flew in this afternoon for fall break. We make plans to hang out tonight. I’m meeting them at Butch’s Tavern after supper.
I take a quick shower, and by the time I throw myself together, Brandt has arrived, so I go out to say hello.
I find him standing by the barn, talking with Braxton.
“How do they look, Doc?” I ask as I approach, and they both turn to me.
“They look good. It’s a healthy lot,” Bra
ndt answers.
“Yeah, the guys did a good job,” I agree.
“What are you all done up for?” Braxton asks.
“Bells came in early, so I’m meeting her and Sonia out in a bit. Can I use your truck?” I ask.
“It’s still got the fifth-wheel attached to it, and I don’t know if I have the energy left to put it away right now,” he says.
“That’s okay. I’ll see if Aunt Madeline can take me and drop me off. I’m sure Sonia won’t mind bringing me home, but they’re coming from Denver and stopping at Stoney Ridge, so I didn’t want them to have to come all the way out here to get me.”
“You don’t have your own vehicle?” Brandt asks.
“No. Uncle Jeff and Aunt Madeline offered to get me one when I graduated high school, but there are always plenty of trucks sitting around here, and I just didn’t think it was necessary for them to spend the extra money. Now that I’m actually working for the ranch, I might revisit that offer though.”
“I can take you into town if you’re ready to leave now,” Brandt offers.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out if you have plans.”
“I don’t have any plans. I was just going to stop and grab dinner for Mom and me.”
“Okay, thanks. Just give me five. I’ll go get my purse and coat,” I say before running back to the house.
I grab my things and poke my head in to tell my aunts good-bye and that I’ll be home later tonight.
“You aren’t staying for dinner?” Aunt Ria asks.
“I was planning on it, but Brandt offered me a ride, so I’ll just grab something in town.”
“Tell the girls we said hello,” Aunt Doreen calls from the kitchen.
“Thank you for the ride. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
I grab the door handle.
“Elle?” Brandt calls.
I turn back to him. “Yeah?”
He pauses like he’s trying to find his words.
I let go of the handle and wait.
“I want you to know that I think you are beautiful, and I wish I were ready to move on with my life because you are everything I could want. I just … I lost someone very precious to me, abruptly, and I know that I have to keep living but I guess I’m still healing,” he says, his voice cracking with emotion.
I place my hand on his and smile. “I understand.”
“I just don’t want you to think that my distance has anything to do with you. You’re amazing.”
“Thank you. I think you’re pretty amazing too, Dr. Haralson. And whatever it is that is holding you back, I hope you find a way out of it and to the happiness you deserve.”
He nods slowly. “I hope you do too. Some guy’s going to be so lucky.”
“You think so?” I ask.
“I know so,” he states.
I lean over the seat and kiss him on the cheek. Then, I get out and head in to Butch’s.
Bells and Sonia are already seated at a booth.
I join them, and Bells stands to give me a hug.
“Look at you. I love the blonde,” I say.
Bellamy Wilson is a gorgeous girl. She was the quintessential homecoming queen when we were in high school. Head cheerleader, student body president, and she never met a stranger. She and Myer could almost be twins, both of them with lean, athletic builds, high cheekbones, and blue eyes.
“You like it? I just wanted something different,” she explains as we sit.
“I didn’t recognize her and drove right past her at the airport. She started chasing my car, and I finally heard her slap my trunk.” Sonia chuckles.
“I’m so happy you got here early. So, what’s new?” I ask.
“Not much with me, but Sonia was just filling me in on all the changes around here. You’re working for Rustic Peak now and thinking about going back to school to become a therapist, and she’s taking on more independent adult care jobs. It’s like the three of us are becoming real-life grown-ups all of a sudden.”
“I know. Everything is changing so fast, but it feels right, kind of like sliding into a new skin that fits. I think Aunt Doe was correct. I just had to find something that felt natural, and working with the kids does,” I tell her.
“I’m so happy for you. Now, tell me all about you and Dr. McHottie,” she says.
I sigh. “There’s nothing to tell. We’re friends; that’s all.”
“What? When I left for school in August, it seemed like you two were headed in a romantic direction. Bummer.”
“Yeah, we gave it a shot, but nothing came of it. It’s fine really. I’m just happy to have a new friend.”
“That, and she is crushing on Walker Reid,” Sonia says, outing me.
“I am not,” I insist.
“What? Walker? No way. He’s so not the boyfriend type,” Bellamy says, telling me something I already know.
“I kissed him this weekend.”
They both gasp.
“You did what? We’re going to need details,” Sonia says as she waves the waitress over and orders us all a cocktail.
“Oh my God, it was so embarrassing. We were out, and we had a lot to drink—and I mean, a whole lot. Walker got all Walker-ish, and he ran off my dance partner. Then, he fed me fries in the truck and walked me back to my hotel room. I got brave and decided to just go for it, but I misread the entire night,” I say, giving them everything.
“Wow, so you went for it,” Bellamy repeats.
“What am I missing? You went for what?” Sonia asks.
“I threw myself at him—literally. I stripped down, and I kissed him.”
“You did what!” Sonia spits her drink across the table.
“You got naked?” Bells asks.
“Not completely, but I did strip down to my underwear before I sat on his lap.”
“And?”
I cut my eyes to Sonia.
“Keep going. What happened then?” she screeches.
“He set me off his lap and told me to cover up. Then, he went to his room, and I passed out,” I say, finishing my sordid tale.
They look at each other in confusion.
“He just left?” Bells exclaims in disbelief.
“The details are still a bit fuzzy, but essentially, yeah.”
“You were naked, on top of Walker Reid, and he just wasn’t interested? I’m not buying it. I’ve seen the way he is with you. He’s interested,” Sonia says.
“Yeah, that doesn’t sound like the Walker I know either,” Bells agrees.
“Ugh, let’s just change the subject. I want to forget it ever happened,” I plead as I put my face in my hands.
“I have some news,” Sonia speaks up.
I look up at her.
“Ricky is moving in with me,” she announces.
Neither of us says anything.
She looks between us.
I look at Bells, and we both kind of sputter.
“You two can’t even fake being happy for me?” she asks.
“It’s not that I’m not happy for you,” I start slowly.
“If you’re happy, then we’re happy,” Bells says, backing me up.
“But?”
“But don’t you think it’s kind of fast?” I ask.
“There it is,” she says.
“I’m just saying, wouldn’t it be better to wait until he is on his feet before making a big move like that?” I try to explain gently.
“I know you don’t like Ricky. You really aren’t his favorite person either.”
“Doesn’t that raise any flags? That he doesn’t like your best friend?” I ask.
“You don’t have to like each other. I love him. I am the one in a relationship with him. Is it too much to ask to have my best friend be happy for me?”
“I just think that you deserve so much more.”
“You know what? Stop. Just stop,” she says as she stands.
“Sonia, please, let’s talk about this. I’m sorry. I shouldn�
�t have reacted like that. I truly am happy that you are happy,” I say as I stand too.
“I don’t want to talk right now. I think I just need to go home.”
“Don’t be that way,” I say.
“We’ll talk tomorrow. I just … I can’t right now.”
“Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow. I love you, no matter what, forever and ever,” I assert. I need her to hear me.
“Forever and ever,” she agrees, and then she walks out of the bar.
“Should I go, or should I stay?” Bells asks.
“Go. She could use an unbiased ear. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I urge her.
“How are you going to get home?” she asks.
“I’ll call Emmett or Pop or someone. I’ll be fine. Just make sure she is okay.”
“Okay. Love you,” she says as she hugs me quickly and darts out after Sonia.
Great. This weekend has been one big shitshow.
I leave the booth and walk over to the bar. Butch is working tonight.
“You look like you need something stiff,” he says as he sets a coaster in front of me.
“I think I had enough this weekend. How about you bring me a ginger ale on the rocks with a twist of lime?” I ask.
“Coming right up.”
Ugh. How can everything be so right and so wrong, all at the same time?
I sit alone sipping my virgin cocktail and pondering the last few days. I want to cry into my drink. I finish it off and dig into my purse for my phone.
“Now, what could have such a pretty girl looking so miserable?”
I look over and see a rough-around-the-edges guy who looks vaguely familiar sitting in the stool beside me.
“Don’t I know you?” I ask.
“Neal Lee. I went to school with Braxton. You’re his younger sister, Elle, aren’t you, just all grown up?”
“That’s right. Neal. I haven’t seen you around here lately.”
“I moved to Florida a few years ago. I’m just home, visiting. Can I buy you another?” He gestures to my empty glass.
I hook my purse back on my stool. Sure, why not? I’m in no hurry to get back home.
I turn to Butch. “Another ginger ale, please.”
“Whoa, take it easy. I don’t want him to think I’m trying to take advantage of you,” Neal says.
I laugh.
“I’ll have another Jack and Coke too, Butch.”
