“Well, thank you for driving down to get me.” I’m trying to be gracious.
She barks out a short laugh. “I didn’t exactly have a choice.” Her gaze is focused on the road. The wet and cold seep through me as the windshield wipers rhythmically swipe back and forth.
Jessamine is wearing a thick denim jacket. “Would you mind if I turn on the heater?”
She reaches forward and hits the defrost button. Cold air blows unto the dash and a chill seeps through me.
What have I gotten myself into?
CHAPTER TWO
Isabella
When Tucker toldme the drive from Denver to his ranch took about two hours, I now realize he should have added… in good conditions.
Traffic, then visibility, then a nearly washed out rutted road extend the travel time by an additional hour and a half. After attempting to make conversation on a few different topics, I eventually give up and watch the passing scenery.
Obviously, Tucker’s little sister not only resents having to pick me up from the airport, she resents my very existence. The headache building behind my eyes keeps me from imagining a similar reception from the rest of his family.
His mother, his grandmother, how many brothers? His children? Occasionally I check my phone, but Tucker still hasn’t texted me.
How long does it take a handful of brawny young men to fix a fence?
“I doubt he’ll look at his phone. Cell service on the ranch is pretty spotty and it’s not like he works behind a desk.” It’s the longest stream of words she’s put together in the entirety of our drive.
Her attitude throws me off. Antagonism radiates from her, and I have no idea what to say.
Most people like me.
I take a deep breath and remind myself this isn’t about me, personally. Right? How can she hate me? She doesn’t even know me.
I need to be patient.
From what I understand, since Tucker’s dad passed away a few years ago, Tucker’s the man of the family. As the oldest of four kids, he’s taken on the burden of his family’s legacy by overseeing operations on the ranch where they all grew up.
Most of them still live on the property.
It had sounded romantic and exciting while we sat on the beach sipping Mai Tais. In this moment, it’s morphed into something more complicated than I could have imagined.
I’m freezing, tired, and suddenly anxious about my decision.
Jessamine drops the truck into the lowest gear possible to climb a hair-raising section of the road which causes me to grip the edges of my seat. We crest the rise and a large house with some outbuildings comes into view. It must be Bear Creek Ranch.
After carefully executing the hairpin turns to the valley below, my future sister in law pulls the truck next to a large building which I assume is some sort of barn. It’s still pouring outside, and what must normally be a dirt and gravel parking area resembles something of a mud pit.
I take a few deep breaths. My hands are shaking.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I just need to get myself from point A to point B.
In my heels. Which are likely ruined already.
They’re only shoes? Right? Eight hundred-dollar shoes. But who’s counting? Money isn’t the issue here. I love him, right?
I do love him, don’t I?
