Prologue
Miles
Hollow brown eyes stareback at me in the window. The sand colored buildings of Salt Lake City, Utah blur behind my own reflection, glowing orange in the sunset. Even through the glass I can make out the bags under my eyes, my crumpled button up shirt, bolo tie hanging loose from my neck.
I look like I’ve been run ragged. It doesn’t help that Parker and I were up at three this morning to drive all the way down to Utah for a cattle auction.
The beginning of Spring down here is much warmer than Wyoming. Back on Lone Pine Ranch, it’s snowing right now. At least this year, we aren’t presenting cattle at the auction. Instead, we are here to pick up a few head to strengthen our herd. When one of our fences broke, I figured we’d lost a good amount of cattle. But the final count last week was more than I expected. At least Walt will be proud of the amount we were able to wrangle up today.
“Miles,” Parker yells from the other room of our hotel suite, “Hurry up. My buddy is waiting for us outside.”
With one more glance out towards the glowing city windows, I turn around with a sigh. My bolo tie slides down my button up as I loosen it all the way. I already despise going out, I definitely don’t care what I look like. Those days are over.
Running a hand through my messy hair, I throw on my baseball cap backwards and make my way toward the door where Parker waits, his entire focus fixed on sending a text. Seeing his phone makes me wonder where mine is. I haven’t seen it since the drive down here.
“Ready?” Parker smiles, finally looking up at me. I feel a little underdressed compared to his perfectly styled chestnut hair, button down, and not-dusty jeans. But that just about explains Parker and I. We’ve been this way since the first day he walked onto the ranch looking for a job. It’s probably why we are such good friends.
“I suppose,” I reply.
“Oh come on,” he laughs. “Live a little, will you? It’s been over a year, man. It’s time.”
It turns out Parker’s buddy who lives in the city has some other buddies that live in the city, and they all lead us down a couple of blocks to a rooftop bar at the top of some swanky skyscraper. I didn’t even know Salt Lake had places like this. I almost never go out when I’m here. We usually just head to the auction, and maybe to dinner somewhere with a good steak.
The music is loud, the lights are shining above us, and I really don’t fit in here. Parker, of course, fits in anywhere and already has a whole group of new friends to shoot the shit with. I shuffle towards the bar, finding an open bar stool to order a whiskey sour.
My gaze scans along the crowded rooftop as I take a swig of my drink. Girls in sundresses and heels, guys in button ups, some even with ties. Most people are laughing and paired up. It’s a nice scene. I might even come back some time if I’m in town. The city lights glow all around us. The magnitude of the skyscrapers always takes me off guard. It may not be a huge city, but it’s the biggest I usually go to.
My shoulders loosen up a little more with each sip of my drink, the warm air blowing across my arms. Maybe I should try to have a good time. Enough moping. Maybe Parker is right, it’s probably time I try to live a little.
Right as I’m about to get up and head back over to Parker and his new posse, long crimson hair brushes across my shoulder. A blur of a woman rushes by before planting herself in the seat next to me.
“Four lemon drops please,” she tells the bartender with a dazzling smile. She’s wearing a skin-tight shiny, burgundy dress and a sash that says twenty-one across her shoulder.
But what catches my eye are her cowgirl boots. Real cowgirl boots. Not the fake kind you buy for twenty dollars on the internet. I’d be willing to bet she has actually seen a horse before. At some point, my brain catches up enough to realize I’ve been staring at this girl’s boots for too long. I snap my eyes up to her face.
It must be the whiskey. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her green eyes practically sparkle with mischief. Big, auburn curls frame her face, slightly flushed from running through the bar. The spaghetti straps holding up her dress are the most thin, ridiculous straps I’ve ever seen.
A spark ignites an ember in my chest when her pine green eyes catch mine. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt anything like that.
I feel like I should run away, but I can’t.
“Well hi,” she says, her head tipping slightly to the side. I track the movement of her curls falling over her bare shoulder. “Who are you?”
Oh god. She’s talking to me. What’s my name? Shit.“Miles Autry,” I manage to choke out. My full name? What are we, in kindergarten?
“Well,Miles Autry,” she teases, “I’m Katie MacPherson. Pleased to meet you.” She holds out her hand for a handshake. The second I grab her hand, an electric pulse runs through my arm and I’m drowning in her big green eyes again. Stuck in a trance.
“Hello? Anyone home in there?” she says with a laugh. I hadn’t realized I was staring for so long.
“Yeah, sorry,” I clear my throat, “I’m just a little tired. Long day.”
“You can’t be tired. It’s my birthday, you know. Everyone must be awake and excited,” she says. The bartender brings over her lemon drop shots and she flashes him another movie star smile. My chest constricts as envy bubbles up in my veins. Why does that guy get a smile?
“Oh yeah? Happy birthday. I’m guessing you’re twenty-one,” I say, gesturing to her sash.
“Why yes, I am. My first ever alcoholic beverages,” she winks.
“Can I buy you a drink?” I offer, before a rush of anxiety hits me straight on. “I mean, you know, for your birthday. After you’re done with those. Or now. Whenever, really.”
