Come Home, Cowboy (A Clean, Fake Relationship Romance): Wyle Away Ranch Book 4

by Elsa Nickle

  “Just a minute, now. I want to see some of this art.” He went over to a landscape leaning against the wall and knelt down to get a better look. The way she captured the silver lining of the clouds, the unique colors of the desert. She somehow managed to infuse feelings into a sunset. It was like she gave each of her paintings a soul.

  “These are incredible. Why aren’t you in an art gallery? I have that friend in Scottsdale—”

  “Oh, no.” She waved her hand that held a pastry, sprinkling more bits of sugar on her shirt. “I mean, yes. That is the ultimate dream, but I’m not that good yet. I will be though! I got accepted into East Coast Art Academy, well, almost …” She gave a half-shrug and shifted her gaze to the ground.

  “You don’t seem all that excited.”

  “Well, you know. It’s expensive. And … complicated.”

  Ethan definitely understood student loans. He had to get into debt to become a vet. Laurel, on the other hand, had natural talent. She didn’t need someone else to tell her she was good. She already was.

  “Well, I’m no expert, but it looks to me like you don’t need to go to a fancy school. Why don’t you just skip it?”

  She gave a small yet harsh laugh. “If only I could. I tried selling my art once, but it did not work out so well. Actually, that’s why I went to ASU and studied accounting.”

  He went and sat down beside her, reaching for his own pastry. “Hm, that’s interesting. I remember a very wise woman telling me something about climbing the wrong ladder?”

  “That woman sounds like a genius, but this is different. Going to school will help me climb my ladder.”

  “As long as you don’t lose whatever it is you put in these paintings to make them so …” He couldn’t think of the right word. “Well, you.”

  She seemed to think about his words, and he hoped that she really would make it as an artist. She was talented and beautiful and funny. Once again, Ethan found himself trying to get his thoughts back to whatever it was he had been thinking, but just then, they both reached into the bag at the same time. They looked up at each other, their faces mere inches away. Her hand grazed his and he couldn’t think of anything but her smile, her lips, the scent of strawberries and sunshine. He felt her breath mingle with his, and suddenly he wanted nothing more than to kiss the sugar from her lips.

  But then his phone vibrated in his pocket. He jerked back, inhaling sharply, the spell broken. With clumsy fingers, he fumbled for his phone and read the screen.

  Where are you? Granny’s waiting.

  Ethan stood abruptly. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. I guess my grandma’s waiting for me.”

  He wasn’t sure if his family had just ruined the moment, or saved him from making a mistake.

  Chapter Nine

  Piles of clothes covered every surface of Laurel’s bedroom, making her feel like she was stocking a thrift store. It was Thursday morning, which meant that Landon and Kitty’s wedding was in three days, and she had to prepare for her date with Ethan.

  She’d opened every drawer and turned out most of the contents of her closet—she remembered wearing some of the shorts and sweaters in high school, so her wardrobe was in serious trouble. Laurel really couldn’t afford to buy new clothes. She was going to have to get creative with what she had. But what was a girl supposed to wear to her fake boyfriend’s brother’s wedding?

  Fake boyfriend. Fake boyfriend. Ethan was her FAKE boyfriend.

  This was Laurel’s new mantra, and she had to keep repeating it. Because she’d developed a very real crush on this cowboy. That horse ride with him the other day had almost set her insides on fire. It started off innocent enough. At first, she’d been focusing on how beautiful the horse was up close. Then when she mounted old Malt, she’d been scared out of her mind. But as soon as Ethan had gotten on the horse with her, she’d ping-ponged back and forth between feeling completely at ease and like she was bungee jumping off of a skyscraper. She knew she was physically safe the whole time, but her heart didn’t have that same guarantee.

  Then when he took her to the studio and said how much he loved her art, she could barely keep herself from jumping on him and attaching herself like a barnacle. As far as she could see, Ethan Wyle was the perfect man. He had driven her around, bought her beignets, and somehow fixed her mom’s car and gotten it parked outside the studio before she was done with her painting session. Laurel needed to figure out how to crush her little crush, because it wasn’t healthy to develop feelings for someone who was lightyears better than her and who was going to move away in a handful of weeks.

  But it wasn’t easy to stop thinking about him.

  Anyone could see how good-looking he was, but that wasn’t the whole story. He was caring, compassionate, and he had believed in her immediately. Ethan barely knew her, but he’d never uttered one syllable of judgement about her dream of being an artist. At ASU, Laurel had a boyfriend for a while who seemed like a really good guy, but when she shared her art with him, his reaction had been a mixed bag. He said he loved her drawings and paintings, but he wasn’t sure how practical it was to pursue a career in art. Which was also what her group of accounting friends had said. Heck, it’s what her mother constantly said. The weight of their mass disbelief was enough to give a girl a complex. But Ethan made it seem like pursuing art was the only normal thing for Laurel to do. Her ability to make her career choice work wasn’t even a question to him.

  But she shouldn’t be constructing a mental shrine to Ethan’s perfections. Laurel needed to focus and prepare for the wedding date. One step at a time.

  She sorted through the small piles of skirts and shirts and sweaters. None of it looked very promising. Weddings were fancy, and being on the arm of the groom’s brother was extra pressure. Not to mention, there would definitely be at least one famous person there. This was one of the only times Laurel missed ASU—she could have borrowed something from one of the girls she no longer kept in touch with.

  Wait! ASU! She did have a dress she could use. Freshman year she’d bought a vintage, strapless chiffon dress to wear at a sorority garden party. This was before she realized that she didn’t love sororities, or for that matter, college. The dress had called to her because it reminded her of a floor length impressionist painting in creams and blues, totally her style. The consignment store prices had still been high for her, but she’d had a job at the time and it felt fun to splurge. How had she forgotten about that dress?

  She dove into the far reaches of her closet, dragging out plastic-wrapped frocks on wire hangers. She’d skipped this section before because she thought it was full of stuff she’d outgrown—her junior high graduation dress, a hideous recital outfit she had to buy for high school choir, stuff she wore to school dances. But in the nest of the ghost of dresses past, she found what she was looking for. Jackpot.

  Laurel prayed that she would still fit into it. And also that it was the right thing to wear. Suddenly, she questioned everything.

  Her phone was in her pocket. She hesitated a second before pulling it out and texting Ethan.

  Hey, what is the dress code for this shindig?

  She hit send, then winced. Was she not specific enough? Too casual? Did normal people use words like shindig?

  The reply back was nearly immediate.

  I have to wear a suit, and I think the other girls are wearing dresses.

  Laurel smiled at the thought of Ethan in a suit. If she wasn’t careful, she’d start drooling. Focus. She had to focus. One more clarifying question.

  Like, day dresses or ball gowns or what?

  He didn’t answer back right away, and her nerves started fraying. To pass the time, she figured she might as well try on the dress.

  Mercifully, it still fit. And from what Laurel could see, it was cuter than she remembered. Too bad she didn’t have a full length mirror in her room. The bathroom mirror was small and wouldn’t do. Her mom had a long mirror on her wall, but she was also home and would absolutely want to talk to h
er about Ethan if she saw her in this dress. As always, the less she said to her mother about her fake boyfriend, the better—but Laurel’s curiosity about how she looked was growing by leaps and bounds.

  Oh, what the heck.

  She walked out into the hall and knocked on her mom’s bedroom door. “May I come in to use your mirror?”

  “Sure, honey.”

  Laurel opened the door. Her mom was lying on top of her bed with the curtains drawn and her eyes closed.

  Laurel frowned. “Sorry, were you taking a nap?”

  “No, just resting for a bit.” She opened her eyes and glanced toward Laurel. She did a double take. “Whoa, look at you! What are you all dressed up for?”

  Laurel allowed herself a small grin. “I’m just trying on a dress for the Wyle wedding.”

  Her mom rose up on one elbow. “Well, I’d say you found a winner. Where did you get that dress?”

  Laurel wandered over to the wall mirror. The curtains were thin and old, allowing enough light into the room to see. “It’s pretty, right? I bought it a few years ago, and I kinda forgot that I had it.”

  Her mom yawned. “If I had known you owned a dress like that, I would have stolen it and worn it somewhere. Not that I have a place to wear it. And not that I’m your size.”

  The fabric swished in bunches around Laurel’s ankles. The dress had beautiful movement and a lot of nice structure around the top. She wanted to thank her past self for buying it. “I just hope this is the right kind of dress.”

  Her mother waved her hand and fell back onto her pillow. “Aw, that dress will fit any dress code. It’s so pretty on you, Laurel.” She stifled another yawn.

  Laurel watched her mother’s reflection in the mirror while her eyebrows drew together. “Mom, are you feeling okay?”

  “Yeah, just tired. I’m used to long hours, but they keep flipping my schedule between opening and closing. It’s messing with my sleep pattern.”

  Laurel studied some flecks of paint that had gotten caught in her nails. “I’ll get out of here and let you sleep.”

  Her mom turned toward her again. “First, tell me three things.”

  “Okay.”

  “One—do you need the car on Saturday?”

  Now it was time for Laurel to close her eyes. She hadn’t discussed this part with Ethan, but since the wedding was right next to his ranch, that had to mean she was driving. “Yes.”

  “Okay, I’ll get a ride to work. Second thing—do you need money for a gift?”

  This broke Laurel’s heart more than she could have guessed. Her exhausted mom, offering to give her money to buy a wedding present. “No, I’m good. I’m trading with Ollie on Saturday morning for a gift.”

  “That’s the vase guy that works the farmer’s market?”

  “Yeah. It’s kinda perfect because I saw a vase at the ranch that had been duct taped together just sitting on the mantle.”

  “A taped-up vase at a beautiful place like that? I don’t believe it.”

  Of all the things for her mother not to believe, she chose the true thing. “I’m set with the gift. Thanks though.”

  Her mom smiled and closed her eyes again. “The third thing—” She trailed off. “Oh dear. I’ve forgotten the third thing.”

  A curious mix of relief and sadness echoed through Laurel. “That’s fine, Mom. Go ahead and rest.” She padded out to the hallway and closed the door softly.

  Seeing her mom so exhausted pulled at Laurel’s heart. Her mother had worked so hard to put Laurel through college, and she hadn’t gotten that coveted degree. Laurel knew her mom loved her and sincerely wanted what was best for her—and it really seemed like no matter how hard her mom worked, she couldn’t quite come out on top. Laurel wished she was good enough to sell her art, not just trade with one guy who happened to see her sketchbook a few months back and ask if she wanted to swap pieces. If Laurel ever was good enough to make some actual money on her paintings, she would take care of her mom. She’d sacrificed so much for Laurel. Most of her life, in fact.

  Of course her mom had also made her life pretty difficult and embarrassing lately with all her dating rules. But ever since Laurel had found the Ethan Wyle work-around everything felt better. Even with a stressful, looming deadline—her whole life was sunnier.

  Laurel grabbed her phone from the top of a pile of clothes, where she had left it. Ethan had texted back.

  Skye says spring semi-formal, whatever that means. She’s an event planner, and I don’t speak the language.

  That made Laurel smile again. It was a relief to hear that the dress would be fine, but knowing that Ethan was just as clueless as her made her feel a little better as well. She typed back.

  Thanks. I’ll meet you there Saturday morning.

  She stared at her phone, not expecting another text. But in a few seconds, another one came.

  The name of the place is Coyote Glenn, in case you need to use Maps. And in case we don’t have another “date” today or tomorrow, and I forget to tell you.

  Laurel breathed out a laugh. And then a thought sped through her mind that made her palms sweat. Maybe she did want a date before Saturday. One that wouldn’t be to fill her mom’s quota. A real date, for no reason other than to see him.

  She shouldn’t ask for something like that. First of all, Ethan was probably very busy with preparations for the wedding. Second, it felt like crossing a line. They had joked about their “dates” this past week, and he had done some truly kind things for her, but she shouldn’t ask her fake boyfriend on a real date.

  Asking him out would be a stupid thing to do.

  But Laurel found herself replying anyway.

  She typed a few things and erased them, then tried again.

  I’ve been working hard, and I think I deserve a night out. The city is doing a classic outdoor movie night downtown tomorrow. The Wizard of Oz. I’ll be there if you want to show up.

  Laurel pressed send and waited.

  She squeezed her eyes shut and cursed herself. This was such a stupid idea, and she was the hugest moron for even thinking—

  Her phone buzzed in her hands.

  I’ve always loved The Wizard of Oz.

  Chapter Ten

  Ethan wasn’t sure how he felt as he passed the bookshop, pausing only long enough to see that it was closed. It was so strange being back in town. Some things had changed, like where the Copper Door Winery once stood, there was now a vinegar and oil store—and instead of the old mom and pop café, there was a Mexican food restaurant. Then again, many things had stayed the same. There was the little shop, no wider than the doorway, where necklaces were strung like streamers, and trinkets and crystals cluttered the narrow shelves. Then there was the old Copper Queen Hotel that had been there since 1902. It stood like an anchor in the town square, beckoning ghost hunters and thrill seekers. Christmas lights that hung all year long dangled from the upstairs banister, as if the eerie house had a sense of humor.

  He passed by an art gallery, briefly noting the sign in the corner: Artists wanted, apply within. The paintings in the window weren’t really his taste, but he still found himself wondering if Laurel would like the place. Even just the thought of her brought a smile to his face and lifted his spirits. She made him feel a little less lonely in this once familiar town.

  A man walked by, his beard and hair combed out to resemble a lion’s mane. The man smiled at Ethan who nodded in response. A little farther down, two women skipped past him arm in arm, one dressed as Dorothy, the other as the Glinda. As he made his way to the center of town, more and more people appeared. Some dressed as flying monkeys, others as the lollipop guild. He smiled to himself. He had forgotten how the people not only watched the movie at the town amphitheater, they lived it.

  The Wizard of Oz. Not in a million years would he ever admit to it out loud, but he loved the movie.

  It wasn’t so much the movie he loved, but the memories that clung to it. One night, when he was about eight, the sound of t
he TV woke him, and he went to investigate. There, curled up on their green velvet couch, was his mother, holding a bowl of popcorn and watching The Wizard of Oz.

  When she turned to see him standing in the hall, she didn’t tell him to go back to bed. Instead, she held out her arm and he cuddled up next to her. During the day, she was always taking care of the twins and Landon. Mom was always making snacks or meals or cleaning up their messes, the boys always demanding her attention in return. He’d never had a moment where it was just the two of them—well, not that he could remember—until that night. They sat and ate popcorn and laughed. It was the best night he’d ever had.

  From that night on, they made it a tradition. Every year on that same day, they would sit down together and watch The Wizard of Oz, just the two of them.

  Ethan stood on the edge of the City Park Amphitheater, watching all the people dressed in costumes. Good old Bisbee. There really wasn’t any other town like it. He put his hands in his pockets, taking in all the crazy.

  “Hey, mister, rent a lawn chair?” A boy around ten held out a folded up red chair. Right then, Ethan noticed Laurel straight ahead of him. Mrs. Bassencherry held her captive in conversation. Laurel had a polite smile on her face, but she was clearly uncomfortable. Her expression verged on worried.

  “Uh, yeah,” Ethan told the boy. “Give me two. Just set them up right here.” He handed the boy a ten dollar bill and walked over to stand behind Laurel.

  “Ethan!” Mrs. Bassencherry stretched her arms out wide to give him a hug. He bent over and obliged. No one could refuse a hug from Mrs. Bassencherry.

  “Oh! Hey.” Laurel’s smile turned genuine.

  “You know, I didn’t believe Miss Laurel here, Ethan. Her mother told me that you two were dating, and I thought to myself that surely Mr. Ethan Wyle wouldn’t possibly settle down with our little town artist. Her mother must be exaggerating. But here you are! Oh my. You two do make quite a cute couple, don’t you?” She winked, and Laurel’s face turned red. He wasn’t sure if it was from the insult or the compliment.