“You should probably leave through the stables instead of through the tack room. Before whoever is in there leaves. We’ll talk. I promise.”
After tucking a few stray hairs behind her ear, I press another kiss to her cheek. Then I watch as she walks away. I watch as if there isn’t a pain in my chest, rivaling the pain in my shoulder.
Chapter 1
Miranda
“Miranda, honey, can you come in Sunday? Sadie’s on the schedule, but you know she won’t be in. She hasn’t been here in two weeks, so I really need to be in the office getting caught up.”
I bury my sigh. Mrs. Crawley acts like she does work in the front, regardless. Since I started working here, I’ve never really seen Mrs. Crawley do anything outside the office besides gossip. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a wonderful lady… I just don’t imagine it would make much difference even if Sadie did come in. But I don’t want to argue. I haven’t worked here long, and I really do need this job. No matter how much it sucks the life out of me.
“Yeah, no problem,” I say with a shrug. At least it will be a few extra dollars in my pocket. Every dollar gets me closer to getting out of here.
“Thanks, dear.” She pats my back before walking away.
Every single time I walk in here and punch my card at the ancient time clock, I question my sanity. I loved my job at Boulder Ranch. I was good at it. In fact, Tate Garrison, the owner, brought me into his office the day I gave my notice. He asked me why I was leaving and if there was any way to change my mind. He doesn’t usually get so involved in the day-to-day, so I was shocked when he came out to the stables to find me. And when he asked why I was leaving, there was no way I’d tell him the truth: I can’t face Hayden Scott.
“Miss?” An old woman interrupts my thoughts. “Miss, can you show me where the Parmesan cheese is? I’ve walked this damned store three times, I swear.”
My annoyance disappears as soon as I meet the old woman’s friendly gaze. “Sure. I’m on my way out but follow me. I could never find it either.”
After quickly untying my apron and hanging it by the register, I lead her to the aisle where the spaghetti is. I will never understand why they don’t just stock it with the rest of the cheese. I guess that would make too much sense. The woman breaks into an excited grin as soon as I point it out, so I sneak out while I still have a chance. I punch my timecard and slip out the side door and into the crisp early-spring air. It finally feels like spring. Smells like it. There’s no real way to explain the way it smells when the earth is finally coming back to life, but combine that with the fragrance of fresh-churned dirt anda hint of the fertilizer they spray on the fields, and you have the official scent of spring in Cole County.
Rodeo season starts back soon. While most of the county is excited for opening night of the Cole County Rodeo, I just feel depressed. It’s a reminder of the things I’ll be leaving behind. I can’t keep living in the small barndominium on my parents’ property forever. I could have easily moved out, but there was no point if I was staying local. Not when the place is comfortable, practically brand new, and I have privacy. It sits pretty far back on their land and is separated by a field and a small copse of trees. Add in the scattered trees along my house, and I forget I’m even on their land some days.
At twenty-six years old, I’ve never lived anywhere besides this small town just outside of Groverton in Cole County. It’s time to go. Hell, it’sbeentime to go. Staying home has always been the easy way out. Moving will likely mean no more working on a ranch and tending to animals, but I have an entire college degree that I don’t use…not that there are many options that interest me where I can use my English Lit degree. But I’m sure there’s something out there in Carruthersville.
For months, I’ve tried to forget the way Hayden’s mouth felt on mine. The way his hands heated my skin through my clothes the first time he touched me. The way his hard length pressed against me as he held me tight in the supply room at Boulder Ranch. Jesus. Heat spreads through my core as I walkacross the small parking lot. This is why I need to get away from here.
“Do you have a minute?”
A man’s voice shakes me from my thoughts. I look up to find Tate Garrison leaning against the side of my truck. He’s wearing a fitted white T-shirt with an open flannel shirt over it. I can definitely see why every woman in the county feels a tiny twinge of jealousy towards Joy for finally being the one to snag him. As usual, his nearly shoulder-length dark hair is perfectly messy beneath his hat. Grasping my chest, I wait for my heart rate to return to normal before I resume my steps and respond.
“Hey. What are you doing here? You scared the shit out of me,” I say, my hand still covering my racing heart.
“I need a favor.”
Squinting my eyes, I wait for him to speak. He’s about to ask me to come back to Boulder Ranch; I can feel it. I hate confrontation, but I can’t say yes. If the Universe cares about me at all, Tate is here for something else.
“Can you come back just until we hire someone and get them trained? We’ve been looking since you turned in your notice, but we’re having a hard time finding help.”
I’m shaking my head before he even finishes the question. “I can’t. I don’t want to leave Mrs. Crawley high and dry. Plus, I’m moving soon anyway. I’m sure you’ll find someone soon.”
Tate straightens and steps closer to me, looking both ways before he speaks. “Please don’t say anything, but we just found out Joy is pregnant. You know how she is. I don’t want her overdoing it, and she doesn’t want people to know right away since…” he trails off, but the pain in his eyes is enough for me to fill in the blanks. “She’ll work herself to death when I can’t be there to help. She’s basically doing the job on her own. The girl who took her place didn’t work out. Please?”
Dammit.Joy and I didn’t start off as best friends, but we became pretty close as time went on, and last season drew to a close. Between coming in to help out and then training her replacement, we continued working together a lot up until I left. Tate basically said the only thing that could make me consider going back. But I can’t agree to stay forever, no matter how much I want to help my friend.
“Tate…”
“Please,” he repeats, and the rawness in his voice is a knife through my heart.
“I can’t stay indefinitely… And what about Mrs. Crawley?”
“Just tell me how long you can stay. Whatever it is, I’ll take it. And Mrs. Crawley will be fine. The job you filled had been open for like two years.”
I search his eyes, trying to figure out what he isn’t telling me. Trying to figure out if he knows something happened between Hayden and me. But all I see is honesty and sincerity, so I knowI’m just being paranoid. Even if he did know something, Tate isn’t the type to play matchmaker. My stomach bottoms out at the thought of running into Hayden. Taking a slow breath, I remind myself that Joy is a friend. And she needs my help.
“Two months.”
