But now, as I pull up in front of Ryder’s brick house, that warmth fades a little. My stomach tightens as I cut the engine, the low rumble of the truck fading into silence. I sit there for a moment, my hands resting on the steering wheel, debating.
I want to walk her to the door, to do the thing a gentleman would—what a man should do after spending a long night and morning with a woman like her. Hell, I want to do more than that. I want to linger, to kiss her again before she goes inside, to leave her with something more than just a memory of the weekend we’ve shared so far.
But I don’t.
Because walking her to that door means more than just being polite. It means walking straight into a confrontation with Ryder, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. Not without coffee. And not at the risk of ruining the good thing we’ve had going for the past twelve hours.
So instead, I clear my throat and turn to her. She’s already unbuckling her seatbelt, her hand reaching for the door handle,but she pauses when she catches me looking at her.
“Thanks for the ride,” she says softly, her voice carrying that same warmth it always does, like she has no idea I’ve been sitting here, wrestling with my own hesitation, insecurities and unhealed wounds.
I nod, managing a small smile and lean over to kiss her cheek gently. “Anytime.” I then slip out of the truck, rounding the door to get hers.
“You going to ask to see me again tonight?” she asks, shooting me a grin while she hops out. She’s still wearing my hat, and I like the way it looks on her. Like it belongs there.
“I’ll pick you up at seven. I want to show you something.”
She smiles and leans forward for a kiss while I hook a hand around her waist, kissing her goodbye.
“See you tonight, Wilder.”
*****
Eleven hours later, exhausted from a long day of ranch work and taking care of responsibilities, I’m finally back in front of Ryder’s home, picking up Teagan for our surprise date night.
“What did you tell your sister you were doing tonight?” I ask as I back out of the driveway.
She shrugs. “I told her I made a friend at the rodeo that I’m meeting up with. She’s too busy with the last night of her bachelorette weekend to care what I’m doing. She said she didn’t need me tonight.”
I nod.Good. The less Ryder knows about who his fiancée’s sister is spending time with, the better for everyone in this town.
“So, where are you taking me?” she asks with a grin as she leans across the console and squeezes my thigh.
“It’s a surprise, but I packed us dinner. We’re going to head back to the ranch and grab a 4-wheeler so I can show you.”
Chapter 12 – Teagan
The drive back to Ashwood Ranch buzzes with conversation as I recount to Wilder my sister Shawna’s recent pool day with her friends and her increasingly over-the-top requests for her wedding in just two weeks.
“Okay, but we live on adairy farm,” I say, shaking my head. “She knows that. She grew up there, just like I did. And yet, she’s still asking my dad to somehow make it not smell like cow manure. Do you realize how impossible that would be? That’s like asking the sun to stay down, or for no birds to fly over the ceremony while they are getting married.”
Wilder’s deep laugh rumbles through the cab, and I can’t help but smile as I glance over at him. He’s grinning, wide and easy, and I like the way it softens his features, smoothing out the harshness of the frown that he normally wears.
The wedding’s taking place back in rural Pennsylvania, on the dairy farm where I grew up. My dad’s trying hard for Shawna’s big day, but the odds of him eliminating the constant stench of manure?
Slim to none.
With that said, I still intend on it being one of the most magical days of my sister’s life. She means everything to me, is my best friend and closest confidante, and if she wants it to smell a little less like shit, well maybe I’ll need to plant some scented candles around the property and clean the manure up myself.
I lean back against the headrest, my laugh fading into a thoughtful silence. The idea comes out of nowhere, dropping into my mind as if it had been waiting for the right moment:What if Wilder came to the wedding with me?
It’s ridiculous, really. I hardly know him—this weekend has been a whirlwind of firsts—but the thought of having him there, his calm energy, his quiet presence, feels strangely comforting. The idea of going back to the farm without a buffer between me and some of my family fills me with dread. I haven’t been back in four years, not since I left for college. And I know what’s waiting for me there: the weight of old memories I’m not ready to face and everything that I lost.
But would he even consider it? Would he see it as too soon, too much, or just plain unnecessary since this thing between us is only supposed to last the weekend? The thought lingers as we pull into the ranch, the truck rolling to a stop near the barn. He opens the door for me, and I hop out and make our way across the property toward the 4-wheelers parked nearby, his steady stride matching mine. For now, I tuck the wild idea of inviting him back for the wedding away, unsure what to make of it—or how things will feel when this weekend inevitably ends.
“You ever driven one of these before?” Wilder asks, nodding toward one of the 4-wheelers.
“It’s been years,” I admit, brushing my fingers over the rubber covered handlebars.
