“Who?” I know exactly who he means, and I like howmy girlsounds.
He gives me a flat look before he shakes his head. “I underestimate you. I need to quit doing that. I keep thinking you’re a quiet cowboy that got dragged into the distilling world.” He blows out a breath. “I’m just a mechanic cosplaying as a businessman.”
“Didn’t you cosplay as a cowboy first?”
He lets out a short burst of laughter. “Didn’t feel as unusual of a transition.”
“Guess we’re all just trying to figure our shit out.”
“Yep.” He slides off his stool, goes to tug his shirt sleeves down, seems to realize how disheveled he is, then scrubs a hand down his face. “How’s the wedding prep going?”
Fucking fantastic. I get to bury my head between Campbell’s legs each night. “Straightforward.”
“The couple’s not causing any trouble?”
“Campbell’s been managing it.”
“She’s good at what she does.”
I nod. She’s very good. The girl I thought was wrapped up in herself is the best listener I’ve ever met.After we sate ourselves on each other, we talk. At night, in the dark, I tell her stuff I’ve never shared. Is it the temporary nature of our relationship, or a real connection?
I think I know, but I wasted years on someone I thought I was in love with. I don’t want to change what we’re doing. In a little over a week, the wedding will be over and then what? Waiting two weeks is a drop in the bucket compared to my dating history, but I don’t want to dive in further than Campbell just to find out only one of us is thinking about a possible future. I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.
Campbell
I stop at home to pack a bag for tonight. I have another weekend off before the week of wedding festivities really takes off. I made it this far, and other than a few annoyances, it hasn’t been that bad. Stanford’s parents have transitioned to treating me as the event planner. Now that I’m not trying to trap their son in a marriage with a girl they think isn’t good enough for them, nor am I trying to win him back, they’re happy to ask for my travel recommendations.
As for the couple... They oscillate between sucking face where everyone can see and bickering where they think no one can.
We’ve taken a break from the horse lessons. Stanford can finally get January on Hailstorm, but January’s shoulder is getting wrenched out of its socket, and I’llhave a heart attack if my cousin breaks her neck. I do not like worrying about her.
I talked them into using two horses. January will have to figure out her dress situation, but I convinced them of the photo worthiness of a shot of them both riding into the sunset.
Then I took an antacid.
Time to figure out another dream wedding. I’m no longer sure I can get married on the ranch after this.
I’m just leaving my bedroom with a small overnight tote bag when the front door opens and closes.
Mom rushes down the hallway. She jumps when she sees me, throwing her hand on her chest. “Campbell, ohmigosh. Did you hear?” She rushes past me, her cowboy boots clicking on the hardwood floor.
“What’s going on?” Did the wedding implode? My hope skyrockets. If I don’t have to go through next week and it’s not my fault, that would be a real dream come true.
“Jamison’s in labor.”
Happiness fills me. “Oh! That’s awesome. Do they need help with Kacey?”
“I’m meeting them at the distillery and picking her up so they can get to Billings. Haven’s watching her.”
“Not Durban?” He said he would be there all day, so I stayed at the guest lodge to go over inventory with Chef before January’s friends and cousins start arriving next week.
“He’s doing the evening chores, and there’s a heifer with a hoof issue in the barn he’s checking on.”
“I’m around all weekend if you need help with Kacey.”
She shakes her head. “Not right now, but I promised her Auntie and Nana time this weekend.” She stops and blinks at me. “Are you going to Billings again?”
A tendril of guilt slides across my conscience. Everyone thinks I have a beau in Billings when the only time I went there was to recruit the wedding band. “I’ll be coming and going.”
