“Don’t change the subject.”
“Rowdy . . .”
“Skylar . . .”
“Rowdy? Are you engaged?”
The silence on the line was deafening.
“Rowdy?”
“Maybe?” he finally answered. “Ah, fuck. We’re definitely engaged.”
I let out a whoop. “Oh my God! I’m so, so happy for y’all!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s old news,” he said, and I could envision him waving off a massive life-changing event in orderto get the gossip. “More importantly, what are you gonna do about Kit?”
“More importantly?” I teased, slowing down over the dips in the caliche drive. “Don’t let Kess hear you say that.”
“Answer the question, Sky. What are you going to do?”
I sighed and stared out at the pretty landscape. “I have no idea.” And I honestly didn’t.
“Why not? You two had chemistry since the second y’all met.”
“Agreed. But . . . I know I’m just starting off with this business, but it’s important for me to be professional and for the people here to trust me. And if I start some sort of torrid affair with the seemingly straight rancher, and it doesn’t go well, then that could blow up in my face.”
“I see your point, but I don’t think Kit is the kind of person who would cause trouble if it didn’t work out.”
“You’re right.” I bit my lip as I rolled up to the pretty ranch house. “Besides, I could totally be overthinking it.”
“I have a feeling you’re not. But I understand wanting to hang back if you’re unsure about where he’s at.”
Rowdy was a good egg and had always known what to say.
“I’ve definitely had sex with guys who were kinda figuring things out and it was fine, but I wasn’t friends with any of those people and Kit has been great about helping me get started with this whole business plan, plus helping me with the car. And I know he put in a good word with some other ranchers in the area.” I pulled into what looked like the parking area. “I’m at my appointment,” I said, now nervous for a whole other reason.
“I’ll let you get to it, but let me say this: You’re a great guy, and he’s a great guy. Maybe, once you’re settled in, if it looks like he wants to explore his feelings, it might not hurt to get to know him better.”
I waved as the rancher’s wife stepped out onto the porch. “Okay, Rowdy. I’ll think about it.”
“Good. And good luck with your appointment. I’m sure you’ll help a lot of folks in this area.”
“Thanks. Love ya.”
We disconnected the call, and I took a deep breath. Time to focus and start the next part of my life.
11
KIT
I wavedgoodbye to Reed as he made his way down the path to his mom’s house, secretly, shamefully glad to see the back of him.
I loved my son more than anything on this planet, but once he got going, he could talk about his favorite subjects forhours. Normally I welcomed his digital chattiness—especially given his early issues with communication—but I could barely concentrate today, let alone follow Reed’s layered, rabbit-trailing sentiments about artificial intelligence and the disability community.
My mind kept returning to Skylar’s bare face. His cheekbones, his pretty eyes, those fucking lips, his scent. The way his soft, trim body melted against all of my sharp angles.
What was he doing to me?
