by Piper Frost
I spent those next two years just trying to feed my need for adrenaline without pissing off my parents. They had more than a few phone calls from the sheriff, but my dad's been the judge of this town since as far back as I can remember. His kids never got in trouble, even if we tried. I started calling the sheriff by his first name, that's how often I'd paid him a visit. I wasn't so much a bad kid; I was just stupid. Doin' dangerous, often illegal things, just for the thrill. I've been like this since I can remember, and now I'm a twenty-five year old man with the back of a ninety year old. I fucked up, royally. I wish I could go back in time. I wouldn't have tried my luck. Everyone told me I'd die. That bull was the meanest and had been banned from a few locations. That son of a bitch knew how to play the game better than any man. He wasn't just trained to buck, he was wanting to kill. I'm known for the roll of my hips. The way my body snakes with every buck, twist, and turn. That bull seemed to find it a challenge to defeat me. When you're thrown or you fall, you get moving before you're kicked. The bastard threw me right off his hind end then kicked me against the steel gate. I thought I was gonna die. The pain was so unbearable I passed out. When I woke up it was after a surgery and I was immobile. Scariest moments of my life were waking up in that hospital. And now, I'm in a darker place. I can't say it's the saddest. If I ask myself what's the saddest moment of my life, the same memory surfaces every time. The moment I realized I'd never be enough for Kinlee Jones. Pretty sad a girl's made me feel so low, but I don't hold blame on her. I just wasn't her type. I'm hoping to change that though, because I'm not sure how much longer I can go on with this depression and pretending everything's okay.
"So, I saw Bo," I say quietly, watching Wendy ride Brandt's horse across the field. Quietly, because if Wendy got wind of me talkin' about him she wouldn't let me hear the end of it. Lately she seems dead set on me finding a man.
Jo whips around, almost losing her balance and I reach out to help her. "You did?"
"Yeah," I laugh. "How long has he been back?" I really don't want to push to talk about him, but he was so different from the last time I saw him all those year ago. I'm wondering how the awkward nineteen year old grew up to become...that. Bo looks nothing like he used to. When we were kids he was cute as hell. In a dorky way, yes, but I always thought he was cute.
Now he's way more than that. He's hot. He's cocky. He's dangerous. He's also dead set on seeing me again, but I don't need to let Jo know that much.
"Uh, three weeks? I don't know. Something like that. But, so, like..." She stops and glances around. "What do you think...about his face...and body?"
My eyes go wide and I snort out a laugh. "I think you shouldn't be lookin', woman."
When he left here he was the goofy guy that was everyone's friend. Now he's back, and he's not that kid at all. I'm not even sure if that guy still exists. All I saw last night was the jawline of a man that's more confident than Bo ever was. And an attitude to match.
She smirks. "Brandt already knows his best friend's a looker. I accidentally blurted something like 'holy shit, you got hot'. Something like that." She shrugs then bursts into laughter. "I just don't remember him like that."
"Yeah, no. He definitely changed." Even when I wrapped my arms around him for a hug last night I could tell that's a body I'd like getting to know a little better. "So he's workin' here? Daily?"
Her eyebrow cocks and she nonchalantly turns away with another shrug. Jo tries to act impassive about everything, but she's always calculating. "Yeah. Not much else for him to do while recovering." She starts ushering the chickens back into the pen. Plucking one up, she kisses its head and I start to laugh. That's her chicken. She's had that chicken since it was a chick and she loves it. It's unique, like her, with a few black feathers over her breast.
"You and that chicken." I smile. "Is it cool if Wendy stays here and helps for a bit? I can grab her after my shift."
"Oh..." She looks at her cell. "I have to run into town. Actually...you have what? Almost two hours? Maybe you could stick around here until I get back?"
"Um, sure. That's fine." I wanted to do some grocery shopping, but it can wait. Looking over at the barn, I scrunch my face at the stench. "Don't expect me to work though. These animals stink."
"Not worse than a big city." She chuckles. "Thanks, catch ya later." She's already walking toward the tractor barn before she even finishes her sentence and I roll my eyes.
I love this ranch, but I'd never be able to work here. Put me inside a building, with air conditioning, and I'm happy. Out here, it's hot and muggy and bugs galore. But, if it's easier on Jo, me staying here while she runs out real fast, I'm glad to help.
I head out to the stables and smile when my little sister sees me. Checking my phone, I shoot a text to Will, making sure he's okay at home, then climb on the fence and lean over it, watching Wendy do laps with Lucky, Brandt's horse.
A pair of hands grab my hips abruptly and I shriek, slipping off the fence, but I'm caught before hitting the ground. I hate being scared. Hate it.
"Holy hell!" I scream, spinning to see Bo grinning from ear to ear. "You almost gave me a heart attack." No longer caring about my racing heart from the scare, I laugh, smiling about as wide as he is. Being this happy just from seeing him smile is a very dangerous game.
He pulls his hat off his head and swipes his hand over his sweaty forehead. God, those forearms. "Jo told me you were here. I wanted to come say hi."
I slug him in the arm and take a breath, trying to calm my racing heart but I'm starting to think maybe it's not racing for the reason I think it is. "Well, that's one way to get my attention." I puff out a breath and shake my head. I gotta clear my mind of these thoughts about him every time he's around. He's an old friend. "Shouldn't you be hard at work or something?" I grin as he puts his hat on backwards. An old friend that got mighty fine looking.
"I." He chuckles and glances back toward the barns. "It's my lunch. I'm waiting on Donna to bring me a sandwich." His cheeks go pink as he rubs the back of his neck.
"You don't pack your own lunch?" I try not to laugh at his expense, but it's too easy. "Bo, you're a grown man and your best friend's mom still makes you lunch?"
"Now wait a minute." His hand is out, sitting between us in pause while he tries to talk himself out of this one. "She offered," he says simply.
"I'm sure you didn't use that panty melting smile on her at all," I mumble, the moment I realize the words that just fell out of my mouth weren't really supposed to come out, I feel the color rising to my cheeks. I laugh, shaking my head, at a loss for words.
"Which one?" He smirks. "This one?" Pointing to his face, his smile broadens and his eyes glance down to my jeans. "Is it workin'?"
"Wouldn't you like to find out?" I grin and bite my lip, stepping away from him because it is working, all right. Way too damn good.
"I...yeah. Yes I would," he says point blank, but when my mouth drops and I suck in a breath of air, he starts to laugh. "Rosy cheeks look good on you, Kinlee. I gotta hunt down my sandwich before my break's over. You want something?" He's pointing at me with both fingers as he walks backward away from me. "I don't think Donna would mind whipping you up a sandwich too."
"Uh...no. Thanks," I stammer. "I'm just fine." I can't tear my eyes off him, as hard as I try.
That grin is still on those lips. Lips I don't remember being that full. Lips I really, really want against my skin. He gives his head a little shake because he knows I can't stop staring. Before turning around, he lifts his arm and pulls up his t-shirt sleeve, flexing with a wink then jogs to the house. I don't want to laugh at him, but I do. I don't want to enjoy his company, because it's the last thing I need...but hell if I don't want it.
"Bo not stayin' around?" Wendy asks, walking up behind me and scaring the shit out of me.
"Shit!" I scream, laughing. "Y’all have to stop scaring me!"
"He's cute." She grins, watching him head to the house.
"He's full of himself," I mutter, l
etting my eyes enjoy his ass in those jeans.
"I probably would be too if I looked like him."
I turn and my eyes go wide. "You're sixteen!" I smack her arm and nod toward Lucky. "Come on, show me what you've learned."
We spend an hour out here on the horses. It's nice, sometimes, just to blow off responsibilities and have fun together. We don't get much time together with me working as much as I do and I regret that. But I'd regret not being able to provide for them more.
Bo whistles at us on his way back to the tractor barn and I feel myself blushing without Wendy even having to rub it in that he's cute and paying attention to me. Bo left and got insanely hot, and I'm still the boring, hometown Kinlee with debt and two siblings hanging over my head. There's no way a guy as good-looking as Bo Hart will be interested in a girl like me. I'm a walking billboard for 'what not to do if you ever want to date again'.
My attention stays on Bo working for way too long, apparently, because when Brandt walks up and scares the life outta me I have to tear my eyes away from the cute boy across the field.
"Didn't mean to scare ya." He chuckles, shoving a pair of gloves in his pocket. He smiles at me then his eyes hit Bo. "Happy he's back?"
"Why didn't anyone tell me he was comin' back? I feel like a bitch for not knowing." I mutter. "He looks so different."
"Didn't realize you wanted to know, Kinlee." He winks at me. "He was askin' about you a few weeks ago."
"He showed up at my work." A grin pulls at my lips. "Asked me out."
Brandt's eyebrows raise. "Yeah? And you said?"
"No, Brandt. I said no. I don't have time to date, and he doesn't have time for my baggage." I huff, pouting because he's too good looking to turn down. Looks aren't everything though. I've met way too many pretty country boys that were douchebags over the years. I know a man that's too good for this town when I see one, and sadly I fear that's Bo Hart.
"He's got all the time in the world for you, Kinlee. Always has." He kicks the fence pole back into place and glances around, squinting his eyes. "You seen my wife?"
"I don't know if she's back yet," I murmur and drift my gaze to Bo again.
"Give him a chance, Kinlee. You may be surprised," he says as he walks away.
I'm not really a fan of surprises. Especially the bad ones that catch you off guard, like when Bo realizes I'm not worth his time.
"Order up!" Larry yells through the window just as the door dings. We haven't been this busy in a while, but tonight's the tractor pull so it's no surprise. I'm actually happy about it, because I could use these tips.
"Coming," I sing, smiling as I carry the tray to the booth in the back, full of high school kids heading to the football game tonight.
As annoying as groups of young kids like them can be, it really makes me happy to watch them interacting. It's like, their entire lives still have to happen but they're so into the moment that they aren't worried about anything else. It's nice. Reminds me of our gang back then.
After getting them settled, I head to the hostess stand and the minute I see him standing there my work smile is replaced by one a little more excited. I try to tamp it down, but being around him does something to me.
"You gonna order somethin' this time, cowboy?" I ask Bo, grabbing a menu.
"Well, ma'am, what do you recommend?" He lifts the menu but his eyes stay on me.
"Maybe grabbing a table so I have a place to set your food?" I smirk at him and he chuckles. "Come on, I got the perfect spot for ya." Heading over to the corner closest to the waitressing station, I slide into the booth. "This good?" With a smile I nervously pat the table with my paper pad and our eyes lock as he slides into the booth.
"If you're staying right there," he points at me, "then this is great."
"Unfortunately I have a shift to finish, and a busy diner tonight." I bite my lip. "But I can sit here while we discuss the menu. In depth," I whisper leaning in, telling myself not to play this game but I can't stop now that I've started.
"So the chicken," he loudly says, looking around then dips his head and quietly asks, "What time you off this shift?"
"Nine. But I have to run to the Kenshaws' and pick up Wendy right after. How about the chili?" I point to the menu and giggle when I see Larry glaring at me from the server window.
Bo's eyes shift from me to Larry and he lowers the menu. "What's the cook recommend?" he calls to Larry then looks at me again and says, "I just so happen to be heading to the Kenshaws' after this. Maybe I can pick up Wendy and drop her home, then swing by here and pick you up. Then you can help me look like less of a loser. I accidentally bought two tickets to the tractor pull tonight." He cocks his eyebrow.
I chuckle and stand, realizing Larry's still watching me. "You don't give up, Bo Hart, do you?" I shove my paper pad back into my apron and bite my lip, glancing around the restaurant then lean down. "I know you don't need tickets to that pull," I say, grinning at him.
"Come on, Kinlee, you know I do things big. I bought the VIP tickets. All you can drink, up close and personal, in harm’s way and all. But I'll protect you. Just two old friends hangin' out like the good ole days."
My eyes narrow but my smile stays. "You're gonna get me in a heap of trouble, aren't you?"
"Nothing worse than when we were kids." That wolfish grin won't leave his face and I like it way too much.
I nod and start walking backward while smiling away at Bo. "Nine?" When I bump into a table I spin and apologize to the elderly couple sitting there, then turn back to Bo and press my lips together, trying not to laugh.
"Nine." He winks and stands, throwing money onto the table before grabbing a toothpick and walking out the door. Again, not ordering anything but paying for something.
I growl, swiping up the money and shove it into my back pocket, dead set on leaving it in his truck tonight. He can't keep doing this. Visiting is fine, but paying for nothing is ridiculous.
I get a text from Wendy about an hour later and can't help but laugh. She snuck a picture of him driving her home and sent it with a bunch of those heart eye emojis.
Kinlee: He's too old for you!!!
Little Sis: Maybe for me, but not for you!
I roll my eyes and shove my phone away, antsy for the end of my shift. By nine I'm a ball of nerves. I haven't gone out with friends in a long ass time, and though he says this is just like we used to do, I have my doubts. Even if he thinks so, I know this is nothing like how we used to hang. Hell, it's been a long time since I've looked at a man like I've been looking at Bo. And now we're about to spend the whole evening together. In public.
I change out of my uniform and glance at myself in the mirror, frowning. Jeans, the white t-shirt I wore all day today, and my hair in a ball cap because it's too wild after that shift to do anything with. Thankfully I had my boots in the car to round this hot mess together. At least I'm not throwing 'fuck me' vibes out there tonight. Honestly, I'm not even sure if I have any of those vibes left in me.
The minute I head out to my car to drop my bag off, I glance up and he's standing there leaning against his truck, and grinning at me. I smile and toss my things in the trunk before walking over to his truck that probably costs more than my yearly salary.
"Good shift?" He walks to the passenger door and opens it for me.
"Decent." I hop in. "Thank you."
He winks and shuts the door, heading to his side and I grab the wad of cash from my back pocket, shoving it in the glove box before he catches me.
"Is that a Buckskin hat?" He smirks.
I grimace because I know Buckskin was an opponent of his at one time, but it was given to me and the only thing I had in my trunk. Knowing I'm caught, I laugh into my hands. "It is. You like it?"
Giving his head a shake, he pulls onto the road. "Me and Wendy made you something today but I'm not so sure I want to share with traitors."
"You made something with my sister?" Weirdly affected by him bonding with my little sister, I can't tell if I'm mad he
's intruding on my life after only being back in town a few weeks, or happy he's trying to be...sweet.
"She was bored and I was watching the rugrats, so we had to pass the time." He holds out what looks to be a bracelet and when I look closer, I can't stop from smiling.
"Y’all made this today?" I inspect the brown bracelet made from what looks to be Lucky's mane, twisted together into this tight, beautiful design, I give him a funny look. "You didn't make this. I have a very hard time believing you did this. This was all my sister."
He chuckles. "She braided it," he admits. "But, I did the gluing and grooming. She was having a hard time snipping a lock of Lucky's hair 'cause she didn't want Brandt to catch us. If he ever asks, it's from a random horse." When he grins, his blue eyes sparkle and his cheeks ball up, narrowing his eyes.
"Well it's beautiful. Thank you." I wrap it around my wrist and clasp it together. "First date and already giving me jewelry." Realizing those words weren't meant to leave my mouth, I let out a nervous laugh. "I mean, you know. It's just, horse...hair..." Who the hell have I turned into around him? I'm like a bumbling idiot when he grins at me like that.
"Dang, Kinlee, you know how to knock a guy down. I thought it was cool." He looks out the window as he turns and I can't see if I've hurt his feelings.
"Hey, no." I reach over, gently touching his arm. "I love it. I do." The feel of his bicep under my hand makes me take an extra minute to pull away. "Thank you for my bracelet, Bo."
When he looks over, he's smiling again. "Sorry it ain't diamonds or somethin'. I'd rather make you something with my own hands. Now, let's find a spot," he quietly groans, finding somewhere to park this massive thing. Only Bo would come back to the country in a Denali. It's not a cowboy's truck, but when a cowboy has money, he does stupid things with it.
"I'm not really one for big flashy things. Simple, not expensive, not flashy. That's more my style." I hear my phone ding as he hops out of the truck and I pull it out, making a face at the damn cracked screen, and let my eyes scan the message from Will. He's spending the night at a friend's house tonight, but I don't know this friend and now I'm going to sit here and worry all night that he's getting into trouble.