The next few minutes were a whirlwind of sweaty kids, sani-wipes, crumpled trash, and ripped ketchup packets. But my gut still hummed with tension from whatever just happened between us.
EIGHT
Jesse
The drive back to Meadowbrook flew by. Hollie was an animated conversationalist, and I loved talking to her. For over an hour, we chatted about horses, rodeo, and ranch life. She had questions about Tag’s business,Meadowbrook Performance Horses, and I was happy to oblige.
We left the city far behind, gently winding through the backroads. The chatter in the backseat diminished as Nora drifted into dreamland, and Izzy and Cade whispered so they wouldn’t wake her. Eventually, I parked the truck between Cabin A and Cabin B. Meadowbrook Ranch was shrouded in darkness aside from the big house lights glowing behind us. I could’ve driven down the main driveway—it was the only one we really used, but it would’ve alerted everyone and their cousins that we had arrived. I didn’t want that.
Instead, I took the route that added six minutes to our drive but allowed the truck to sneak in the back way. It was selfish, but I wasn’t ready to say goodnight to Hollie and the girls. As soon as my feet hitgravel, I’d need to check on the groom, do a final sweep of the barn to make sure the ranch hands did their job, and lock up for the night.
By all accounts, today was a terrible day. But I feltfantastic. And I didn’t know if I should be thankful to Hollie for that or terrified of what it could mean. What I said at McDonalds was reckless but true. Hollie mattered to me, even if I didn’t fully understand why.
As soon as I shifted into park, the back doors opened and the kids tumbled onto the gravel drive. Hollie, though, sat still. Not even gathering up her bag yet.
“Want me to help you out?”
“Not really.” She whispered.
The twinge of hesitation in her tone made me frown. I looked at her. “You good?”
“Yeah.” She laughed. “I just…had a great evening, and I’m not ready for it to be over.”
I blinked, words leaving me.
She backpedaled, squeezing her eyes shut. “That—probably made me sound insensitive. What Imeantwas that there were a lot of terrible things about today, but I enjoyed being with you.” She quickly added, “And Cade, too. My girls like you both.”
When she peeked open her eyes, our gazes held.
I didn’t know what was happening, but the feelings coursing through my body rang the alarm in my brain. It had been so long since I’d desired another woman that thewantfelt foreign—like water surging through old, dry pipes. I opened my mouth to say I felt the exact same way but her eyes dropped to my mouth. Fire exploded through my torso, sending shrapnel into the furthest corners of my resolve.
Whatever this was, she wanted it, too.
I told myself there were a thousand reasons I shouldn’t come anywhere near my boss’s sister in law. But for some reason, my brain couldn’t drum up a single one.
A voice rang, “Mom!”
She wrenched her focus toward her children and opened the door.
I forced myself out of the truck. “Son, go ahead and get ready for bed. I’ll be there in a few.”
Cade sauntered off to our permanent home—Cabin A—located just a stone’s throw away from the guest cabin Hollie and the girls would be staying in—Cabin B—which was an equal distance from Cabin C. The trio of cabins was situated behind the main ranch house alongside a creek. They had a rustic appeal, and were situated just far enough into the line of trees by the creek that they were private, almost secluded from the rest of Meadowbrook.
And all of them were completely dark which meant the guests staying in the cabins for the wedding were probably still up at the big house. Hollie and the girls were sharing their cabin with Jackie and Estelle and Cabin C was housing some Thompson cousins, an aunt, and an uncle.
I raced over to Hollie’s door and helped her descend onto the driveway. She slipped her soft palm into mine and gingerly tested her ankle. I asked, “How’s it feel?”
“Honestly? Fine.”
“You want me to carry you in?”
“Well, I don’t?—”
To my immense frustration, a voice called from up the hill. “Hollie!”
She let go of my hand. “Jackie?”
Jackie, a silhouette in the darkness, strode down the hill toward the cabins. “Oh my gosh! It’s about time!”
