one
Diamond
If my dad can manifest a tomato the size of his head, I sure as hell can manifest the man of my dreams.
How hard can it be to send a wish to the universe for a cowboy hunk on horseback to arrive in Kissing Ridge and sweep me off my feet? A real one, too. Not just a wannabe cowboy. I’ve had my fair share of those. I want an honest-to-god cowboy with strong hands and a true heart. Someone who treats me like a precious gift.
Surely, that’s not too much to ask?
“Are you sure you don’t want some of this?” Dad asks as he slices the very tomato he’s been dreaming about for weeks. Seriously, it’s a damn tomato, and you’d think he’d just won the lottery.
“Yeah, Dad. Thanks, though. You enjoy it.”
He returns to his task of slicing the mammoth tomato for his sandwich, and I scroll through my Instagram feed of hot-as-hell cowboys. Not like Kissing Ridge has a shortage of them. In fact, there are many I’ve had an eye on over the years. Sadly, every single one of them was straight, taken, or too close a friend.
My finger pauses on a photo from last year’s National Rodeo Championship. A bronc rider with a stare that could melt asphalt and promised to wreck any heart in his path.
Rhett Cuglietta. The sexiest cowboy on this side of the Rocky Mountains. It’s a shame he hasn’t made a stop in Kissing Ridge yet.
With a sigh, I save the image to my growing folder of fave cowboy pics and briefly wonder if now is the time for me to consider taking my best friend Levi up on his offer to travel to a rodeo with him. I bet he’d know which rodeos Rhett could be at. That feels a wee stalkerish, but I’m fairly certain Rhett is meant to be mine, so wouldn’t that make it kismet or something?
“Have you ever tried a fried tomato, Dee? I hear they’re good.”
Someone please take away my dad’s cooking channel.
“Can’t say that I have, Dad. You try it and let me know.”
My dad hums as he rattles around in the kitchen, and I return to manifesting Rhett via my version of a Ouija board: Pinterest. A cowboy-themed wedding vision board seems appropriate here. If I include sex toys, that might be too much. Or would it? How does one conjure a living cowboy without going overboard about it?
My phone rings, pulling me from my fantasy wedding outfit and debating the pros and cons of vibrating butt plugs on a honeymoon. Something tells me a guy like Rhett might not be into that, but I’m not one to lack optimism.
“Dee! Are you sitting down? I have huge news that you’re gonna love!”
Levi has been my best friend since we met at a rodeo function and discovered we worked better as friends than anything else. If anyone knows something I’ll love, it’s him.
“I’m listening.”
“I was just at the training barn and overheard Hunter talking about the rodeo school and staffing.”
Levi’s breath comes in spurts, like he’s trying so hard to form sentences and speak at a normal volume.
“Oh? Did something happen?”
“Ohmygod Dee.” The dam breaks, and Levi gushes out the rest, unable to hold his excitement back. “A champion bronc rider is coming to teach and ride the western circuit!”
Sitting up, I grip the phone and press it to my ear.
“Is his name Rhett?”
His excitement drops a little. “How did you know that? I was hoping to surprise you.”
“Are you serious? His name is Rhett? The same guy who won the National Championship last year with a record-breaking ride?” Okay, I’ve stalked him for a while and know some of his stats. I’m thorough with my obsessions.
“Yeah, I’m serious. Hunter said Rhett is on full time to help manage things, mentor bronc riders and join the circuit with them. Well, with us since me and Hunter are the ones who do the travelling now. But like…I get to hang out and compete with two fucking rodeo champions, Dee! This is my life!”
Levi’s laughter is excited and exuberant. I’m stunned as he chatters away in my ear. He’s happy for the career aspects, and I’m definitely happy for him about that, but…did my wish to the universe actually get answered?
I rarely remain quiet. In fact, it’s almost as rare as Dad’s giant tomato. It’s not for a lack of words either. There are just too many to come out, and I don’t know which ones to say first.
