“I’m in the middle of nowhere, that’s for you.” Rawley’s voice was kind but dismissive.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.” The boy’s face lit up as he pocketed the cash.
“You’re welcome. Have a good evening.”
“Yes, sir. You too.”
Rawley chuckled as he closed the door, walked to the living room and placed the box on the coffee table, its heat fogging the polished wood.
“I’ll get plates and paper towels,” he said, stretching his tall frame.
“Hurry. I’m starving.” Skylar’s stomach growled audibly.
“Yes, ma’am.”
As he walked to the kitchen, Skylar opened the box and groaned at the intoxicating aroma of garlic, basil, and spicy pepperoni that wafted up in a cloud of steam.
After demolishing all but the last two slices of the pizza, they nestled deeper into the plush couch to continue watching the movie. The light from the screen painted the room in shifting shadows. Within twenty minutes, his breathing changed, deep, rhythmic breaths that whispered against her ear. She carefully removed herself from his loose embrace and propped herself up on one elbow to study his face. His usual alertness had faded completely, worry lines smoothed away. His dark eyelashes, impossibly long and thick, fanned out against his cheekbones, casting delicate spider-leg shadows from the glow of the table lamp.
She hesitated, then slowly reached out with trembling fingers to brush a wayward lock of his hair from his forehead. The strands were silky against her skin. His head lay at an awkward angle against the armrest, she knew she should wake him before he woke with a crick in his neck, but she selfishly stole these quiet moments to memorize the curve of his jaw, the peaceful vulnerability that sleep had granted him.
Sighing, she had to wake him. She gently shook his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath his cotton shirt.
“Rawley?” she said, watching his eyelids flutter, then he opened them, revealing eyes cloudy with sleep.
“Hey. Did I fall asleep?” he asked as he sat up, the couch creaking beneath his shifting weight.
“Yeah, but not for long. We should go to bed. I know you have to be exhausted.”
“Okay. I am tired.” His voice was rough with fatigue.
Skylar got to her feet, the hardwood floor cool against her bare soles. She put her hand out to him, and he took it. She pulled him to his feet.
“I’ll get my case.”
“I have to check the doors. I’ll bring it when I come up. Go ahead, baby.” He kissed her forehead, his lips tender against her skin.
“Alright. I might be asleep before you get there.” She smiled drowsily.
“I won’t be far behind you.” He walked toward the kitchen, his shadow stretching long across the dimly lit hallway as she climbed the stairs, each step creaking softly beneath her tired tread.
The following afternoon, Skylar sat in the passenger seat as Rawley drove them down the winding dirt road to Seth’s sprawling ranch. The Montana sun beat down on the windshield, making the dashboard shimmer with heat. She fidgeted with excitement at the thought of seeing Ryan and everyone.
“How long have you known Seth?” she asked, watching the Ponderosa pine trees blur past the window.
“Since grade school,” Rawley said, his hand reaching out to tug on her ponytail.
“I’ve known Ryan since fifth grade. I was the new girl in school, and she spoke to me right away. We’ve been inseparable since.” Skylar glanced around. “I wonder how many people show up for this cookout.”
“Hard to say, but probably Seth’s brothers will be here, too.”
“I met them and all the ranch hands at the engagement party. They’re great guys.”
“Yeah, they are.”
Rawley pulled into the gravel driveway of the ranch, dust billowing behind them, and parked close to the red barn where other trucks and vehicles were lined up like a small-town car show.
“I don’t know where they’re doing this,” Skylar said as she stepped from the truck, the hot air immediately enveloping her.
