‘And what’s that?’
‘Fun,’ I say, hoping she doesn’t register the slight hesitation. ‘A chance to spend time with a beautiful, fiercely intelligent, ambitious woman.’
Her eyes scan mine, looking for truth.
‘I can’t let this get out of hand,’ she says resolutely, like she’s one step from pulling away from me. Like I’m not getting through to her and this is over.
My heart quickens. ‘Okay, how ’bout this?’ I say, thinking fast. ‘You’re right. We’ve let this get too big, too fast. We’ve barely had a minute apart since Fort Worth. So, maybe we need some new playing rules, just to be extra safe.’
Her throat shifts delicately as she swallows. ‘I’m listening.’
‘From now on, it’s separate rooms, as well as behind closed doors. Whatever happens in bed between us, that’s it. No more falling asleep together, no more waking up together.’
A tiny crease forms between her brows, like she’s weighing that up.
‘I promised you could trust me, and I meant it. You can trust me, Bailey. You can trust me not to hurt you.’
She expels a long, slow breath. ‘It’s just— My life is so far removed from bull riding, and you’re …’
‘Not looking for anything more than this,’ I cut her off quickly, refusing to wonder what she’s going to say. The truth is, I’vespent my adult life running from commitment and relationships, protecting myself from the pain of loss. I’m damn good at it. Bailey, I realise now, is way less so, despite what she’s been through. Chalk it up to her big, beautiful heart that she still wants more from me, even after what she’s been through.
I force a smile. ‘Relax, baby. We’ve got this.’
She nods once, but looks far from relaxed, so I do the one thing I know will ease her out of this state. I kiss her like my life depends on it, like her life depends on it. I kiss her hard and fast and relish the taste of her against my mouth, thinking there’s probably nothing that feels quite so perfect as her, in this moment. I hold her body against mine, knowing we have a week left, knowing I’m okay with that—but that I sure as hell don’t want to waste another minute of that week arguing.
Chapter Eighteen
Beau
There’s just something about the light here that lands different. The glow of the sunlight is unlike anything anywhere else in the whole damn world. I’ve driven this a thousand times: the wide, open road that snakes through Goodnight, and beyond it our family property, Coyote Creek Ranch.
But I’ve never driven it with someone before.
Not someone like Bailey, who’s been sitting beside me for the past six hours, quiet and thoughtful, but stillwithme, her legs folded or carefully tucked together, her hands clasped in her lap to stop from reaching out for me. We talked most of the way—or she asked me questions, and I let her—for once treating this like an interview rather than a game of cat and mouse. A game where I give as good as I get.
Out here, even the air smells different. I push down my window and smile as it hits me in the face, that mix of trees and tar, ofbirds and beasts, cows, wild bees, honey, milk, freedom. I grin from ear to ear as I turn to find her already looking at me, and then beyond, to the scenery that’s passing us by in a blur. I slow down unconsciously, giving her a chance to soak it in like I am, and watch as her eyes chase the tops of the trees, the darkening sky, then move back in front of us, to where the afternoon sun’s cutting like a golden blade over the road.
The old Haines house comes into view, high on the hill—my whole life, it’s always been that way. Just the same little house in the distance, the rolling fields and spotted cows in the foreground, thatches of yellow flowers bursting against the vibrant grass. The sound of late summer crickets is almost deafening, but at first I don’t hear it, because like the Haines house, that’s just one of those things that’s always been here, a part of this, and me. I breathe in deep. Yeah, this is a part of me alright.
We drive past a school, and Bailey glances over. ‘Did you go here?’
‘Sure did.’ Around the corner, there’s a church and a library, and then the main street, so achingly familiar I feel it like a bull’s stepping right on my chest.
‘Slow down,’ she murmurs, leaning forward. ‘Actually, can you stop just a minute?’
I pull into a parking space outside Rhett’s, the general store. Bailey’s frowning as she looks through the front window, eyes devouring the scene. I try to see it as she might, without the rose-coloured glasses of a man who thinks he grew up in just about the best damn town in the world.
Goodnight is old and the buildings reflect that, with their Western-style facades and quirky names. But over time, the town’s become a bit of a haven for people wanting to get out of the cities. Covid started it, and all the lockdowns, then bit by bit word spread, meaning it’s not just the OGs who live here now, people like us who were basically born with the town. There are hipster folk too, with their faux dirty overalls and fantastic coffee, plus there’s a small art gallery-come-boutique and a craft co-op. They’ve started a summer fair in the main street, the kind of thing that calls people from far and wide, with a travelling theatre troupe and special food trucks. Lights are strung from building to building, with flags proclaiming the date of the next town market—we just missed it. But the street still bears the markings of having been all dressed up, nice and special. I glance toward the town bar, the Silver Spur, and think I spy an arrangement of sunflowers in the window. Almost makes me laugh, to think of the guys in there pulling that together.
‘Wow,’ Bailey says, drawing my gaze back to her face.
‘Wow?’
She glances at me, smiles tightly. ‘Somehow, it’s just exactly how I imagined it, and nothing like I thought it would be. It’s like something out of a movie,’ she says, reaching for her notebook and scribbling down a few indecipherable lines. ‘I love it.’
I don’t know why, but hearing her praise my town like that, so open and honest, makes my heart race. I nod once, keeping my expression neutral. ‘Not much open now—just the Silver Spur, and Ruby’s down the far end.’ I nod toward the diner that started serving Chinese food after Ruby’s second marriage to a guy she met overseas. ‘But we can stop, if you want to have a look around.’
‘I should get to my hotel, check in.’ There’s determination in her voice. It warns me she’s preparing for an argument.
