I settle in beside her and take the bottle of beer she offers me from a cooler, happy to sit back and listen to their chatter. After a while, the other women all excuse themselves to go find their men, leaving Mags and I sitting alone among all the trucks and RVs.
Mags looks over, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “How did it go?”
“Everythin’s settled with Rod,” I start, looking straight into her warm hazel eyes. “We’re goin’ to get those sires over to Bull soon. Might even get some horses from him eventually too.”
“That’s great news! I knew you’d work your magic,” she says, leaning in a little closer, her pink cheeks and cheery grin making me wonderjusthow many of those beers she’s had. She’s not drunk–far from it–she’s definitely happy though.
“You havin’ fun?”
“Oh yeah. Those girls are ahoot. Helped pass the time away while you were seein’ to business. Her hand brushes lightly against mine but the jolt of electricity that shoots through me at her touch is anything but. I don’t pull away this time thought.
Maybe it’s the mountain air and Lee’s prediction, or maybe it’s because Rod’s advice is still ringing in my ears. Whatever it is, I’m going to lean into it. If thereisa mountain’s call, and I’mhearing it, and Mags is my One, then I’m going to go with the flow and see what happens.
Her hand lingers on mine, her seeking gaze does too, holding my eyes captive in a way that feels both comforting and exhilarating. Something I haven’t felt in a long time.
“What’s the plan for the rest of the day? Know anybearswe could go feed?” she asks.
I bark out a laugh. “Bears? You’ve fed the moose so you’re movin’ up the food chain now?”
"Maybe." A small smile plays on her lips. "But I have been thinkin’.”
“Hmmm. About what?” I find my body being drawn toward her without me realizing it. I don’t move away though. Not when I can feel her body heat radiating toward me.
“How ‘bout we get back to the job of enjoyin’ this vacation you keep remindin' me about? We’re here, at the rodeo, and the finals are about to start. How ‘bout we take this cooler, grab some terribly greasy junk good, and go be spectators for once. Think you can forget about business for a little while, Red?"
Her flirty, playful tone catches me off guard, but in the best way possible. Why shouldn't I take this chance to let loose and enjoy the little moments with someone special to me? She's been with me through thick and thin, the good and the bad, and she’s right, wearesupposed to be on vacation.
Maybe it’s time I stop thinking about the ranch, Wyatt, business, and whatever the matchmaking mountain spirit might have planned for us, and justbe.
I stand up and offer her my hand, grinning down at her. “That sounds like a damn fine idea,Ms.Gallagher.” She snickers and stands in front of me, her cheeks flushed. “Well, I’ll be damned, is that a blush I see?”
“Shut it, Red. I thought you were a gentleman.”
”Oh, Iama gentleman. But that doesn't mean I can't appreciate your blushin' beauty.”
She narrows her eyes. “You'll get yours, Grayson. Just you wait. You forget I’ve seen you blush too, remember?” She drops her voice, leaning in close. “Seen a lotmorethan that too.”
My brows jump high, her knowing smirk and reminder of this morning’s…situation… causes a startled laugh to burst out of me.
She snickers, looping her arm in mine before bumping my hip with hers. Mysituationsparks to life and suddenly I’m feeling like I’m a teenager with zero self-control again.
Thankfully, Mags stays oblivious to my reaction to her and keeps talking. “Now, if we’re goin’ for the whole rodeo experience, then that means you’re buyin’ me one of those BBQ pulled pork sandwiches for lunch. I saw it on a food truck sign when we drove in this mornin’.”
I look down at her, my lips twitching. “Justa sandwich? Is that all? C’mon, darlin’. I’m sure we can do better than that. You said greasy junk food.”
She puffs out her chest and grins. “OK then. Curly friesanda Coke too. Think you can manage that?”
“Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll make sure you get everythin’ you need.”
I realize then that I'm not just talking about the here and now, I’m talking about forever.
And isn't that a revelation? Maybe Rod was right.
“Mags is one of the good ones–beautiful, loyal, hard workin’ and strong as hell. She’s the kind of woman you don’t wanna let slip through your fingers just because you’re afraid to put yourself out there.”
“You’re a good man, you deserve to have another good woman by your side.”
Now all I have to do is work out what I’m going to do about it.
