“Done.” Ridge clinks his beer can against my water.
The rest of my time around the fire passes far too quickly. The men here spend all of their time teasing each other, eating countless burgers, recalling funny memories from their time in the service, and remembering what it means to come home.
“What are you thinking about?” Bronco asks me as we walk back toward his place. It’s dusk, the sun having set already and the crickets are singing love songs tonight. Menace is following along with us, content to stay close to my side.
“I’m thinking about you.”
“Me?”
“And what a good thing you’ve done here with Valor Ranch. It’s really cool, Bronco, and it’s exactly what these guys need.”
“It was Vale’s idea,” he says the words softly, and they hang between us. The ghost of my brother will always be the quiet third wheel. Not unwanted but not letting either of us move forward either.
“You brought it to life though,” I point out.
He shrugs and doesn’t say anything. Of course, he doesn’t. I’ve never seen him take credit for anything. He’s content to simply be in the background, unseen and unnoticed but quietly making sure the world is still spinning.
As we approach the house, he fights a yawn and manages to say around it, “I’ll get the guest room set up for you. Won’t be much but it’s clean.”
I stop him on the front porch. “I think I’m going to stay out here for a minute. Maybe record a live video for viewers following the auction.”
He nods and disappears into the house.
While he’s gone, I set up my phone on a mini-tripod, fluff my hair twice, and hit the button to go live. Talking to the camera feels natural to me. Maybe it’s because I love this farm so much or my heart is so filled after spending time with these amazing cowboys. Whatever the reason, it’s easy to chat with the viewers. I watch the reactions and comments come in, responding to them in the moment.
Then Bronco opens the door and steps back outside.
I gesture him close to me, so viewers can get a look at him. “And this is Bronco, one of the cowboys from the ranch.”
He gives the phone a nod, tips his hat, and mutters howdy.
They eat it up. Comments are flying in even faster as dozens of hearts and likes fill my phone screen.
“Just to be clear, he’s my cowboy,” I chuckle to keep it light. I shouldn’t have said that, but I already hate the comments. He isn’t up for auction. He’s mine, and the whole world should know that. Or at least, all these girls in their low-cut shirts with their boobs spilling out the top.
“Damn straight,” he says.
Then he does the unthinkable.
Right there on camera, he pulls off his Stetson, drops his head, and kisses me. If I thought the chaste peck in my little kitchenette was hot, this kiss is scorching. His tongue invades my mouth, plundering and claiming every part of me.
I lose all sense of reality, grabbing fistfuls of his shirt and plastering myself against his big, warm body. His hands roam, one finding the back of my neck and cupping me so gently while his other goes to my hip, kneading my flesh in a possessive hold that has me nearly melting into a puddle.
When he lifts his head and stares down at me, I could almost swear that the kiss meant something. I could almost swear that everything I’ve felt for him all this time wasn’t one-sided at all.
Then Menace makes a soft noise. Suddenly, I’m back down to earth and realizing that I’m still live on camera. I manage to stammer out a closing with heated cheeks and a body that’s buzzing, all thanks to the handsome cowboy next to me.
The moment the camera clicks off, and I’m certain we’re not live anymore, he opens his mouth. I wait for him to speak, my heart pounding so loudly that surely every cowboy on this ranch can hear it.
He doesn’t say anything.
My heart sinks.
“What was…that?” The words are a hoarse whisper torn from my throat.
He shrugs. “That was theater…for your audience.”
And my pounding heart shatters right there on the porch.
