Alive and Wells (Wells Ranch, #1)

by Bailey Hannah

We step out into the sunshine, and he grazes my back as he steps to the outside. The road edge.

Iykyk

Austin’s hand grips my headrest as he turns to back out of the stall.

“Not if we text, darlin’.”

I am melting every time Austin says darling’, but I can’t picture how it would sound with a Canadian accent ☠️

When his thumb starts to draw small shapes on the back of my hand, I’m filled with butterflies.

“It’s not his fault that he got the short end of the stick… y’know, when it comes to brains.”

Using 90s country lyrics as banter… Brilliant

She’s the sunshine of this ranch, bringing light into the parts of me that I thought I’d always keep hidden in the dark.

“Cutting down the goddamn lilac bushes.”

“On the off-chance you stay until next spring, you’ll never have to think about him again.”

“It’s okay. I get it… You make me nervous, too.” His cheeks turn pastel pink, and he stares down at his dusty cowboy boots.

“You do. When the time comes where I can do this,”—his rough hand gently cups my chin and his throat bobs with a hard swallow—“without feeling every muscle in your jaw tense, I’ll kiss you until you’re unable to breathe. And a whole lot more, if you’ll let me.”

It just takes time. Trust.”

I’m trying to remember the last time I hugged someone. Felt the weight of a body pressed into my chest, the warmth of breath against my neck.

“You’ve had so many things happen to you—things the most resilient people I know wouldn’t come back from. Yet somehow, you’re still the sunshine of this damn ranch.

“I’ll wait as long as I need to for you to trust me,” he says.

“I’m not usually one to interrupt… Hell, I love a good fuck in the barn as much as the next guy. But you two are right in the way of the tack room.”

“Oh, and Austin?” She stops in her doorway. “If you want me to stay, you need to cut this shitty attitude. I’m not interested in hanging out with a grumpy asshole. Whatever you’re thinking about right now—you either drop it by the time I’m back or we can talk about it.”

Girl knows her worth finally!!! We are not interested in grumpy jaded men.

shit, shave, and shower.

“Cecily texted me. I’m here to give her a ride,”

The innuendo of this statement

I place my hat on her head to show it to everybody else.

slowly peel open the passenger door, carefully slipping my hand in to keep her from falling out. With her cradled in my arms, I walk down the dark path. As I fumble with my doorknob, she stirs, mumbling something incoherent and curling in closer, so her head is tucked under my chin.

“Darlin’, I don’t want to hear you thank me for doing the bare minimum

“I’m not dealing with you. I’m here because I want to be. I want to sort this shit out together. Because this,”—my finger circles between us—“thing that’s happening with us is worth it. You’re worth it.”

“But if you’re looking for a ride that’ll make you feel alive and possibly cause serious bodily harm, I’m right here.”

“I’m the lucky one. I don’t deserve you for a damn second, darlin’. But, if you let me, I’ll work every day to become a man who’s worthy of loving you. I’ll give you more of myself than I did with any girls from my past, and I’ll treat you better than any of the guys from yours.”

“You okay, darlin’?” he calls out to me. I give him a shaky, uncertain nod. I think I’m okay. Then he turns and says, “You KJ?” And Austin, my fucking cowboy, smashes his fist straight into KJ’s nose.