My phone buzzing on my nightstand wakes me up. Glancing at the clock, I see it’s three in the morning.
Cowboy Cash
You’re so pretty.
Are you drunk? It’s the middle of the night.
Cowboy Cash
Oh fuck. I actually sent that?
Yes
Cowboy Cash
Can I unsend it?
No
Cowboy Cash
May as well go all in then. I can’t stop thinking about you, baby. Your mouth pressed against mine. All I’ve been thinking about since lunch is pressing my lips against your skin. All your skin. Tasting you and feeling you on my tongue.
I visited my best friend tonight, and while he droned on about his bar and his dogs, and some girl he likes, all I could think about was your mouth. And how it would feel.
And you smell so good.
Go to sleep, Cash.
Cowboy Cash
Goodnight, Hurricane.
Rolling my eyes at his middle of the night confessions, I roll back over, cuddling under the blankets. Duke is his best friend? It seems fate isn’t done toying with me yet.
And am I ‘Hurricane’? Why?
Too many unanswered questions tonight. I fall back to sleep smiling at his texts.
The sun the next morning is warm, streaming through my window. After getting dressed in an old Reba concert tee, skinny jeans, and hiking boots, I wrap my hair on top of my head, spray on some perfume, and hop down the stairs to breakfast.
Yesterday, Cash mentioned he had a slow day today since moving the cattle is done, and most of the mamas are being left to hang out with the calves and do their own thing. His ranch hands handle the heavy work and he’s practicing for the rodeo season. So, I have a plan.
“Good morning, Lizzie!” I greet the older woman warmly as I sweep into the dining room. I’ve just been here a week and already have strong maternal feelings toward the kindly woman.
“Hi, Callie! Don’t you look cute today. What are you up to?” She smiles, setting a coffee cup in front of me, filling it to the brim before sliding the cream pot toward me. The last few days, it’s been almost entirely just me and her in the little bed and breakfast. We have gotten into a somewhat comfortable routine.
“So, I was thinking. I saw Cash yesterday and he mentioned things being a little slow up at the ranch.” At the mention of her nephew, her eyes fill with love. “I was hoping to drop by, sort of a surprise, you know? Except I have no idea where the ranch is.”
“Oh, that’s easy.” She carries on with far, albeit easy, directions up to Colter Ranch. It’s about a twenty-minute drive butrelatively straight forward.
“Thanks, Lizzie. Don’t warn him!” I tell her as I gulp down my coffee and head out the door. I have a to-go coffee for him and a bag of pastries from Lizzie’s kitchen she insisted I bring.
“You shouldn’t show up empty handed, especially not first thing in the morning.”
Carefully putting my treats on the empty passenger seat, I set off on my adventure. It’s early, eight thirty, so I should be there by nine. Considering the night he had, I’m hoping he’s not hungover but also not already out and about for the day.
Pulling into the open gates, under the huge wooden arch reading Colter Ranch with its bucking horses, I am, again, reminded of being on a movie set except this movie is less small-town-romance and more dude-ranch. I rumble over metal grates; I assume to keep the cows from escaping.
