by Kennedy Fox
I’m proud of her because I know how hard she worked in school. She loves numbers and accounting, which is great for staying involved in their family businesses. Though we didn’t talk much when she was away, I always made it a point to see her when she was home for breaks. She was smart in high school too, and I had no doubt she’d make perfect grades in college.
“You’re here late,” Evan states when Rowan heads to the office. “Don’t you work in the morning?”
I nod, unsure how to approach this conversation. Most ranch hands don’t drink or party during the week, considering we have to be up early and work long hours, so he’d be suspicious no matter what I tell him.
“Yeah, but I thought I’d keep Rowan company since it’s a slow night,” I say, but he doesn’t look convinced. “Everyone else was busy,” I add.
“Hmm,” he says, then takes a long sip. Thankfully, Rowan returns with the reports he wanted, and his attention turns to the papers in front of him. “Thanks. I’ll bring these back in a day or two.” He stands, puts a ten on the counter, then says goodbye.
“Now you should really go home,” Rowan tells me once he leaves. “There’s no way he’s going to think you’re just keeping me company for no reason.”
I know she’s right, but I argue anyway. “Well, he already saw me, so what’s the point of leaving now?” I flash her an arrogant smirk.
“Then go home and sleep so you don’t break your neck for real by being too exhausted tomorrow. If something happens to you, I’ll have to find someone else to annoy me at work all night.”
“Aww…you worried about me, Row?”
She groans. “George keeps me plenty company, so go,” she urges, giving me a pointed look.
Claire returns, so I can’t be sneaky and kiss Rowan goodbye even though she’s not paying any attention to us. I take Rowan’s hand in mine and bring it to my mouth, pressing my lips to her knuckles. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Noon. Barn. Skirt and braids.” I flash her a wink before standing and pull my wallet from my back pocket.
I set down two twenties and tell her to keep the rest. I only had a few beers tonight, so I know she’s going to give me the death stare about over-tipping.
“Good night, Cowboy.” She slaps her hand over the money and drags it off the bar. “Sweet dreams.”
“Don’t you worry about that.” I waggle my brows, then reluctantly turn and walk away.
Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.
Chapter Eight
ROWAN
My heart hammers in my chest at the reality of what I’m doing.
What am I doing?
I never thought in a million years I’d be sneaking into the barn to meet up with Diesel. If we’d been friends, it wouldn’t look so suspicious, but everyone on the ranch knows I’d never give him the time of day.
Now, he’s consuming my every thought, and it scares me. But his confessions, the way his smile gives me butterflies, and the nervousness I suddenly feel when I’m around him confirm that something has drastically changed between us.
And I don’t want to ignore it. I can’t.
After Nick left my heart in shambles, I should be running the other way at the prospect of dating another man, but I’ve known Diesel my whole life. He’s not just a random guy I met at a bar, and I know the true intentions of his heart aren’t to hurt or use me. If we’re going to see where this goes, then I need to put in the effort and give it my all.
Goose bumps cover my arms as I make my way from the B&B where I stopped to meet with Maize for a quick chat and walk over to the equipment barn. It takes me a good ten minutes to get there, but since I don’t want anyone to see my truck, I have to be sneaky. I could take one of the four-wheelers, but if someone catches me, I’d have no excuse as to what I was doing.
I step inside, looking around for him, but it’s dead quiet. Perhaps he’s not here yet, so I decide to text him.
Rowan: I’m here. Where are you?
After two minutes and no response, I’m ready to call his ass for not being on time, but before I can, a hand wraps around my mouth and I’m being hauled into a hard chest. I immediately know it’s him when his lips brush against my ear.
“I missed you,” he whispers.
Spinning around in his arms, I glare at him. “What the hell?”
He puts a finger to his lips, motioning for me to be quiet. “C’mon, I’m taking you somewhere.”
Diesel grabs my hand and leads me around the tractors and gardening equipment until we’re at the back of the barn. “What are you doing?” I whisper-hiss as he opens the side door.
“Sneaking you into my truck.” He looks back at me and smirks. “Stay down.”
I see his Chevy close by, and we quickly run together toward it. He helps me into the passenger side and then rushes to the other.
“Crouch down,” he orders, then hits the gas.
“Where are we going?” I ask, feeling completely out of the loop.
“It’s a surprise.”
“This can’t be good.” I laugh. “I thought you only had a half-hour break?”
“I’m taking an extended lunch.” He chuckles, making a sharp turn. “Don’t worry, they won’t even notice I’m gone.”
“Mm-hmm, right.” I lick my lips as I lower my eyes down his body. Even after working all morning, he still looks good enough to eat. “Can I sit up yet?”
“One second…”
I feel the truck drive up a hill and look through the window. Trees and overgrown brush line the dirt road.
“Okay, you’re good to go now.” He gives me his hand, and I grab it, hoisting myself up in the seat.
Looking around, I notice we’re on one of the trails leading to an area we sometimes partied in high school and have the occasional bonfire.
“What do you have up your sleeve, mister?”
He waggles his brows with a mischievous smirk on his face. “I packed us a lunch.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “Really? You packed us edible food?”
He rests a hand on his chest. “Why are you so shocked? I’m very capable of asking Grandma Bishop to make her famous chicken and biscuits.”
I snort out a laugh as my head falls back against the seat. “You’re slick, I’ll give you that.”
Diesel drives us to a place that’s been named the “Bishop spot” over the years. Apparently, my uncles brought their dates up here, and they’d party and drink. It became something rather special and meaningful for a lot of them and even for Riley and his wife, Zoey.
“You know everyone who brings their crushes here end up married,” he tells me smoothly as he parks the truck.
“I’ve heard,” I say, fighting back a smile. “Except I’m pretty sure my uncles and even Riley brought a lot of women they ended up not marrying here too. Even you, probably.”
“Nope. Been waiting for the right one.” He flashes me a shiver-inducing wink, and I’m nearly melting in my seat before he rounds the front and escorts me out. He grabs the cooler, then takes my hand to the back of the cab.
There’s a sleeping bag unzipped and spread out with blankets and pillows all around. It looks cozy, and I’m shocked as hell he thought of something this sweet.
“Wow…” I say when he helps me up, and he makes his way to my side. “You’ve never done this before?” I ask.
“Never had a relationship, Row,” he says.
“Seems you know what you’re doing,” I tell him when he hands me a plate covered in foil.
Diesel shrugs as if he doesn’t agree. “Guess we’ll see, huh?”
I smile when he does, and it warms my entire body. Adam Hayes is someone I never knew I needed.
We talk and laugh all through our lunch. The food is delicious, no surprise there, but the company and scenery are even better. Once we’ve finished, he wraps me in his arms, and we lie on the blankets.
“You can see the stars out here for miles at night. It’s my favorite part of living on the ranch. You don’t get t
hat in Houston,” I say as I wrap my arm over his chest and hold him close to me.
“There’s just something special about living out here, and I’d never want to be anywhere else.” His arm is around my shoulders, and he tightens his hold, sending warmth all down my body.
We continue talking and admiring the view for over an hour. Much longer than Diesel is allowed to take for his break, and after his phone starts going off, I know our time is over.
“Shit,” he hisses when he pulls it from his pocket and sees all his missed calls and texts.
“You’re gonna get in trouble,” I tease.
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. “It’ll be worth it.”
“You better go back.”
“But being here is so much better.” He turns so we’re face to face and lifts my chin. “I feel like I’m dreaming.”
“And what are you gonna tell them when they ask where you were?”
“Tell them to mind their damn business.” He flashes an evil grin. “Or that I had some hot chick in the back of my truck I was trying to seduce.”
“Oh God.” I groan. “Please don’t tell them that. I think Uncle Evan is already suspicious now.”
“Nah. If he mentions anything, just say he was sleep deprived and has no idea what he’s talking about.”
I snort, lifting myself on my elbows. “That’d go over well, I’m sure.”
I’m close to all my uncles, but Evan is the most protective over me. I spent a lot of time at Emily’s and his house hanging out with Elle. She’s over a year older than me, but we were close growing up until she left for college. We always stayed in touch, but between me moving to Houston and her demanding job, it doesn’t give us time to hang out as much.
Grabbing the cooler and blankets, we finally get into the truck and make our way back to the ranch. He manages to bring me back without anyone noticing.
“Thank you for lunch,” I tell him before he leaves. “I could get used to that kind of company.”
“You’re very welcome.” He lowers his eyes down my body, not even trying to hide his gawking anymore. “I could get used to the view.”
“At least you’re persistent,” I say, laughing. “As usual.”
“But now I can be even more so without you threatening to cut off my balls.” He wraps his arms around my waist and snuggles me against his chest.
“Don’t get cocky.” I pull his face down and cover his mouth with mine. His tongue slides between my lips, and soon, we’re panting for air as we battle with our desire for more. He slides his hands down to my ass, then back up to my neck where his fingers tangle in my hair. Every spot he touches burns with an intensity I hadn’t known existed. I want more of it, more of him, and I’ll take anything he’s willing to give.
“Okay, now you really need to go,” I say against his lips, neither of us moving. “Text me later, okay?”
“You workin’ till close?”
“Yep. But maybe bring Wyatt this time so it doesn’t look suspicious.” He doesn’t work on the ranch and has no idea we typically didn’t get along.
“Damn. I was hoping to have you all to myself.” He smirks.
“In a bar filled with drunks? Good luck.”
Diesel pats my ass one more time and presses a quick kiss to my lips before he takes off and runs to his truck. “Dammit, now you got my dick all worked up!” he yells from the window, and I see him adjusting his jeans.
“Sorry ’bout that!” I chuckle, waving him away.
It’s been a week since Diesel kissed me in the bar office, and it’s been the best seven days I’ve had in a long ass time. We sneak around to find time to hang out, even if it’s for thirty minutes or during my shift at work. He comes in every night and then stays late until I’m done. I know he’s tired as hell, so on our days off, I make him sleep in or tell him to take a nap so he doesn’t end up killing himself on the ranch equipment.
My adrenaline high crashes and burns the moment I wake up to a text from Nick the Asshole.
Nick: You better get me that money, or I’m taking the security footage to the cops.
Rowan: I told you I was working on it. I don’t have a million-dollar trust fund like you to just write a check.
Nick: Should’ve thought about that before you took a crowbar to my car, you bitch.
Rowan: Wow, do you feel like a man calling me that?
Nick: Better watch that filthy mouth of yours, unless you want me to report you for vandalism? I wonder how your hick family would take that kind of news?
Rowan: Kiss my ass, you dickless cocksucker. I said I’d get you the money, and I will.
Nick: You better.
I’m on the verge of tears by the time I read his final text, then toss my phone aside.
God, what I ever saw in him is beyond me. He’s such an arrogant tool bag, and I wish I’d never given him the time of day. I know he’s probably already gotten the stupid car repaired and is just using this opportunity to have something to hold over me and piss me off. He didn’t like that I broke up with him after he cheated.
Instead of eating my feelings like I want to, I take a thirty-minute hot shower. Though it feels good, it doesn’t stop my anger from brewing over. Knowing Maize is probably working at the B&B, I decide to head over there after I get dressed and ready for the day.
“Oh my God! We should’ve cut him when we had the chance!” she squeals after I read her the texts.
I snort at her dramatics. “You and me both.”
“Who are we cutting?” Elle walks into the kitchen with a perched brow.
“My stupid ex-boyfriend. Look what he sent me this morning.”
She looks over my shoulder as I show her the screen and scroll down.
“Wow. Douchebag needs to get the stick out of his ass.” She leans down and grabs a muffin, then stuffs it into her mouth. Maize doesn’t say a word surprisingly.
“Tell me about it. Why did I date him?” I groan, collapsing on top of the counter with my head in my hands.
“You don’t always see someone’s true colors until it’s too late,” she tells me, rubbing my back. “The important thing is that you learned before you got in too deep.”
“And even that was too long. I want that time back.” I growl.
“You very well coulda married the dickwad. Yikes! Thank the Lord ya didn’t,” Maize says.
They both chuckle, and we end up hanging out for the next hour before Elle has to go back to work. She stops in from time to time like most of my family does. The B&B’s a social spot for us to eat and gossip.
After saying goodbye and walking out of the kitchen, I head through the main sitting area and wave at the guests. Most are regulars who come every year, but some are new and just driving through, needing a place to stay for the night. Some love the atmosphere so much that they book a room to stay every few months. Can’t say I blame them, though. The ranch offers horseback riding, four-wheeling adventures, trail walking, and true Southern meals. We host weddings and honeymoons here too.
Diesel: You okay? Grayson said he saw you at the B&B looking like someone kicked your dog.
I snort. We have lots of dogs on the ranch, but none that stay in the house.
Rowan: You two always gossip about me?
Diesel: Only every day of my existence. Don’t you know by now my world revolves around you?
Rowan: Stop being overly sweet.
Diesel: Can’t help it, baby. Charming is my middle name.
Rowan: It’s Christopher, but close enough.
I giggle because our conversation easily puts me in a good mood again.
Diesel: So c’mon, tell me. What’s going on?
I get into my car, then text him back.
Rowan: I woke up to a very nice message from my ex who reminded me that I’m under the gun to pay him back, and that if I don’t soon, he’ll report me for vandalism. I told him I was working on it, but he was being his normal asshole self.
Diesel: Let me take ca
re of him and pay your debt so he goes away for good.
Rowan: No and definitely not! I’m not allowing you to get involved any more than you already have. I’m saving up and will give it to him.
Rowan: But thank you for offering. I do appreciate you wanting to help.
Diesel: Should let me punch his face in again to send him a not-so-nice message in return.
Rowan: Then he’d probably sue you for wrecking his pretty boy face.
Diesel: It’d be worth every penny to smash it in, though. ;)
Rowan: Okay, Cowboy. Hold back before you get arrested for assault. We can’t sneak around when you’re behind bars.
Diesel: You’re right. I’ll just have to be smug in the fact that I have you now, and he doesn’t.
Rowan: Works for me :)
Diesel: Why don’t you come over tonight since you work a short shift, and I’ll show you all the ways I can console you?
Rowan: Hmm…you paint a tempting picture. You think that’s a good idea?
Diesel: Park at the B&B and take a four-wheeler over to the equipment barn, and I’ll pick you up there.
Rowan: Okay, I’ll be done here in two hours and will text you when I’m leaving so you can meet me.