Cash (Lucky River Ranch, #1)

by Jessica Peterson

There’s a catch in my chest at his earnestness. “The ranch did just fine the other day when you quit early to take care of me. How many times do I have to catch you before you learn I’ll never ever let you fall on your face?” I hold up my littlest finger. “You said you got me. Pinkie promise I got you.” He looks down at my pinkie and blinks. For a second, I worry I’ve crossed some kind of line. I’m being too cheesy. Too vulnerable. I’m asking for too much. But then Cash hooks his broad pinkie through mine. “All right.” Two simple words, but they feel momentous. For someone as tirelessly responsible and careful as Cash, it’s a big step to play hooky. Even bigger step to play hooky with me.

“We got time,” Cash says softly. “All day, as a matter of fact.” Swallowing, I manage a scoff. “You’re really good at that.” “Good at what?” “Reading my mind.” I put my hands on his shoulders. He helps me get down from the counter, hands still on my hips. “I pay attention.” Stickiness runs down the inside of my leg. My eyes catch on my bruised wrists. The bite on my shoulder smarts. This man is wrecking me. Claiming me so that every time I move—every breath I take—I think of him. I’m hit by the urge to cry. Not because I’m sad, but because I’m just so overwhelmed by Cash’s ardent attention. The things he makes me feel are big and loud, and it’s terrifying to think I’ve stepped over some kind of boundary, walked off some kind of cliff, without even realizing it. And I know it’s too late to go back, because the last thing I want to do is the sane thing—the safe thing—and leave. I turn back to the stove and light the burner. I don’t have to ask Cash if he wants cheese in his omelet or hot sauce on the side. He doesn’t have to ask me if I want cream and sugar in my coffee. We know each other now. I like knowing Cash this way. I manage a smile. “I love it.”

We’re in the bathtub a week later when I fall in love with Mollie. It happens all of a sudden. Or maybe it’s been happening all along, and it only takes some bubbles and a good, hard laugh for the realization to finally crystallize.

The second we’re through the door, we’re ripping each other’s clothes off. Then we’ll either take a bath or hang in bed, where Mollie often pulls out her laptop and works while I try not to hump her leg like the horny dog she’s turned me into. I love watching her work. She’s thoughtful, thorough, and insanely talented. I love watching her work on the design of her boots the most. I also love when she asks for my input on things—from a possible collection of more functional boots for riding and working on a ranch, to the design of Bellamy Brooks’s website. Makes me feel like she appreciates me for something other than my Stetsons.

“Why? You like the bath. I like the bath. I like you.” She pulls her lips to the side in a sly grin. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

Can I say I’m in love with you instead? The words materialize inside my head, fully formed. The desire to say them aloud is urgent. This is too much to feel alone. I am too happy not to tell my favorite person about it. But I can’t, and that kills me.

You belong here, cowgirl. Hill Country is in her blood. And now Mollie Luck is in my blood, and I can’t imagine this place without her. “You did good, Mollie.” My voice sounds different. Glancing over Mollie’s shoulder, I see Sally and John B quickly look away. They were watching us. Can’t blame ’em—my girl and I are putting on a goddamn show. I hear Mollie’s phone vibrating in her back pocket. She ignores it. Clearing my throat, I try again. “Practice makes perfect. Do it again.” Mollie’s lips twitch. “Yessir.” “Is he making you call him sir?” Sally furrows her brow. Mollie sends a wicked little glance my way. “Isn’t he such an asshole?” My body pulses. “Don’t make me pull rank, y’all. Get this done.”

I catch his brothers watching us. Wyatt has said a few things to me about the change in Cash. How he hasn’t been this pleasant in years and how he seems to have some extra pep in his step. I haven’t told Wyatt about what Cash and I do after hours. It’s not my news to share. But Wyatt knows. Everyone knows. And go figure, Cash was right—people seem to be quietly happy for us. There’s no ribbing. No sideways glances. I just keep showing up to work, and everyone keeps respecting me for it. Simple as that.

But it’s way too soon, right, to have a baby together? I mean, yeah, Cash has practically moved me in with him. And he looks after me. And makes sure I’m fed, and comfortable, and happy. He asks about my work. Takes an interest in my opinions. He doesn’t ever look at anyone else, and he only ever dances and drinks with me when we’ve been out at The Rattler. I come first. Literally and figuratively. Is Cash in love with me too? Looking into his eyes, I see softness and concern. I see interest. A little heat. They’re alive. Not tired or clouded over the way they were when I first met him. And isn’t that love? Someone else making you feel thrilled you exist despite the hardship and the heartache life brings?

Cash lifts a brow. “You havin’ second thoughts? About not using more protection?” “No,” I answer swiftly. “Not at all. I don’t think it’s any secret I’m addicted to you. To the sex we have.” One side of his mouth curls upward. “So you’re using me to get quality dick.” I laugh. Goddamn it, leave it to this man to make me laugh in the middle of a very real crisis. Is it a crisis, though? “You’re an all right dancer too. And your coffee is okay.” He chuckles. “Keep goin’. I like this game.” “Oh, please, last thing you need is an ego boost. You know how gorgeous and hardworking and sweet and selfless you are, Cash. I don’t need to tell you that.” He lets his head fall back on the headrest and rolls it to the right so he can smile at me. “But you just did. So I’m gonna tell you how gorgeous and hardworking and caring and genuine you are, Mollie.” I look away, hoping he doesn’t see how furiously I’m blushing. “You’re just saying that because you’re feeling guilty for possibly knocking me up.” “You think I feel guilty?”

Cash wasn’t upset when I told him I was late. As a matter of fact, the things he said almost made me think he wishes I was pregnant. Ordinarily, that’d raise my hackles. Is this guy trying to tie me down? Hold me back? Keep me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen? But I know Cash isn’t that guy. He’s got big dreams, and he respects the big dreams I have too. I think he just wants a family. I need to tell him. Now.

His eyes return to mine. “I respect your timing, Mollie. I’d never push you to do something you weren’t ready for. But if we did make a baby?” His Adam’s apple bobs. “Honey, I’d marry the shit out of you. Not because it’s the right thing to do, but because I’m in love with you.”

He takes my face in his hand, doing that thing where he wipes away my tears with the calloused pad of this thumb. “It’s no secret I’m in love with you, Mollie. I’ve been—” He clears his throat. “I wanted to wait for the right moment to tell you. Not when we’re naked or working or whatever. And that’s all we seem to do these days. Be naked or work.” I fist his shirt in my hand. “That so bad?” “I ain’t complaining.” He arcs his thumb over my cheek. “But I wanted this to feel special. I also don’t want you to feel alone after a pregnancy scare. I told you not to worry, and now you know why I said that. I’m in, honey. I have no idea how you feel or where your head’s at. But now you know what’s goin’ on in mine.”

“I”—kiss—“love”—kiss—“you.” He smiles against my lips. “That’s a fuckin’ relief.”

My heart sputters, then stops altogether. I open my eyes and see Mollie looking at me. A thick rim of tears lines her bottom lashes. Her eyes toggle frantically between mine. She’s looking for something. What, I don’t know. But somehow, I know deep down that I can’t give it to her. Certainty maybe? Is she asking me to make the choice for her to stay or leave? Course I’ll beg her to stay. Hell, I’m more than a little crushed those tests on the seat there didn’t give us a different result. I want Mollie to stay. I want her in my bed. In my life. I want to put a baby in her. But that ain’t my call to make. Begging would only muddy the waters.

“I am proud of it.” She blinks, a tear rolling down her face. “But I’m also proud of the life I’m building here. I want to go, but I don’t want to leave. In fact, I really, really want to stay.” My hands find her hips. I squeeze them and close my eyes. “Then stay, honey.”

I clear my throat. My voice is still hoarse with emotion when I say, “I want to make it crystal clear that I’d like you to stay on the ranch. I’d like that very much. But I also understand why you have to leave.”

“What I’m trying to say is, we both deserve to chase our dreams. Yours are in Dallas, and mine are here. In Hartsville. Rivers Ranch is my dream. Making it into the place it’s always meant to be. I want that more than anything. Or I used to want it more than anything.” I swallow. “Now I want you.” She puts her hand over my heart. “But you also want to be around your family. Make them proud. Watch them start their own families.”

Her eyes fill all over again as she nods her head. “I understand.” “But I don’t wanna let you go.” I squeeze her hips harder. “Even just to go sign that paperwork. I can’t fuckin’ stand the thought of you sleeping somewhere else. I’m worried…” She looks at me. “You’re worried about what?” I glance down at my lap. “That you won’t come back to me.” “I’m coming back, Cash.” She tips up my chin with her thumb. “But if you’re that worried, then you should come with me.”

“Maybe…I mean, who knows what can happen? I just want to be with you for as long as I can.” I glide my hand up her side and cup her nape in my palm. She’s soft here, delicate, and her eyes go hazy when I draw my thumb down the column of her throat. “I’m yours, honey.”

And then, from Wyatt, “She’s the one, isn’t she?” I don’t bother denying it. I just shove my hands into my pockets and watch the front door. That’s all the answer he needs. “Don’t forget Mom’s ring is still in the safe,” he continues. “If you wanted to give it to Mollie.”

“See? You’re charming when you wanna be. You’re treating Mollie right. You know what you want. Who you are. You work harder than anyone I know. If Aubrey ain’t impressed…” Wyatt lets out a low whistle. “Who cares?” “Mollie does.” My heart lifts when I see the front door open. “Which means I do too.”

It’s rare—special—that not only do my brothers and I love each other, but we like each other too. Which is exactly why I can’t tear myself away from this place. But if I did get away more often—if, say, I had to accompany Mollie to Dallas a couple of times a month—my brothers would cover for me. They’re not going anywhere. I just have to show Mollie—and her mom too—that I’m willing to compromise so that my girl and I don’t have to sacrifice our dreams to be together. We all deserve a happy ending. I won’t get mine unless Mollie’s in it.

Mom sighed. “I know, sweetheart. You have a good head on your shoulders. But I’d like to think I do, too, and then your dad showed up, and we all know what happened then. Cowboys are selfish. They’ll make you think they’re in love⁠—” “Can you not talk about my dad like that?” I could practically hear Mom blinking in surprise. “Goodness, Mollie, what’s gotten into you? You’re asking me to give this guy a chance, but I can already tell he’s worked a number on you.” In bed, yes. And in life, too, I guess, in all the best ways. “If you’re saying that he’s helped open my eyes, then yes, that’s true. But he’s not pulling a fast one on me. You’d realize that if you met him. Remember you promised you’d do better?”

She turns her wide eyes to me. “What? You could’ve prepared me a little more. There are cowboys, and then there are cowboys.” “She’s right,” Cash says solemnly. “I’m the second kind.” I want to slap him and kiss him at the same time. “Since when are you so cocky?” I ask, knowing full well what his answer will be. One side of his mouth hitches up. “Since forever.”

“If we made men’s boots, you’d be first on the list to model them.” “Would I have to take off my shirt?” “Yes.” “Count me in.” He grabs my leg when I try to sit in the chair next to his. Without another word, he guides me onto his lap and puts his hand on my thigh. “Y’all have some real talent. The boots you make are beautiful.”

“How’d I know you’d pick those up first?” Cash rises with a small grunt and saunters over to the kitchen. “Pretty. Just like you.” “You know, you don’t have to lay it on so thick.” I lean my head against his shoulder. “You’re getting laid tonight regardless of how much you compliment me.” “Is that a subtle hint for me to chug this wine?” Wheeler holds up her glass.

“You’ll win her over. And you’ll be wearing this hat while you do it.” I take the hat from her. “I’m confused. She hates cowboys, right?” “She hates people who don’t keep their promises.” “But the hat—it’s gonna rub it in her face, the fact that I’m not at all what she wants for you.” Mollie takes the hat back and goes on her tiptoes to set it on my head. “Once she gets to know you, she’ll realize you’re exactly what she wants for me. I’m dating a cowboy. One who’s a very good man. The sooner she accepts that, the sooner we can all move on from all these dumb assumptions we have about each other.” My heart’s doing backflips now. Leave it to Mollie Luck to continually leave me speechless. She’s not trying to change me. To dress me up or smooth over the fact that I got rough hands and a rougher past. In fact, she’s putting all that front and center.

I pull out Mollie’s chair. “I think we’re all surprised I ended up here. Mollie and I didn’t exactly get along when we first met.” “So I heard.” Aubrey watches Mollie sit in the chair. I push her in, then reach for Aubrey’s chair too. “I’m all right, thanks.” “Yes, ma’am.”

Yeah, I don’t have a ton of money. Not yet. And my family’s kind of a mess. But I love them, and they love me. I take care of my own. I’ll protect this woman till my last dying breath, and while I’m still alive, it’ll be my mission to help her make her dreams come true.

She’s quiet for a beat. Mollie’s eyes fill all over again. “Maybe I didn’t think I deserved it. Being able to keep my life here and keep you. Feels like I’m getting away with something. Like I’m going to be punished for not doing things the way I’ve been taught they should be done.” “Making your dreams happen?” I ask. “That feels like a crime?” Mollie’s crying again. I don’t miss how Aubrey reaches over and grabs her daughter’s other hand. “That’s all I ever wanted for you, you know. For you to make your dreams come true.” Aubrey sniffles. “I just don’t want you to give up on the dreams you have here. You’ve worked so hard. Your boots are beautiful. I guess I assumed that if you ran off with a cowboy”—Aubrey cocks a brow in my direction—“you’d abandon all that. But now I’m starting to see I was wrong.”

Wheeler grabs my arm as she takes in the tall cowboys at the table. “I think I’m going to like it here, Mollie.”

Hahahah

Cash’s foot finds mine underneath the table. His eyes dance with mischief. The man is forever finding ways to touch me. Tease me. I love it.

“She’s starting a cult, isn’t she?” Ryder asks Sawyer. “I’ve always wanted to be in one of those.” Sawyer nods. “She’d make a great leader. Very charismatic.”

Lol

I’m still smiling, but now I also feel like I’m going to cry. “As much as I appreciate the compliments, I’m not starting a cult. Yet. Instead, I’m starting a new ranch. Or would it be creating one? Combining one? Setting a new ranch up? I, um, didn’t think that verbiage through.” Cash’s eyes flicker. “Don’t have to be perfect, Mollie.” “It just has to be with you,” I blurt, then turn the laptop around so that he can see the horseshoe logo I designed on the screen. The ends of the horseshoe are pointed down, so the words Lucky Rivers Ranch are wrapped around the horseshoe’s curve at the top. “You helped make plans for Bellamy Brooks. I want to help make plans for Rivers Ranch. Run it with me—your ranch and mine. Not as my foreman, but as my partner. Total equals. We’ll put everything together, pool our resources, and turn our ranch into the one you’ve always dreamed about.”

Cash, of course, doesn’t care about that. Instead, he licks into my mouth and says, “On one condition.” “Name it.” His kiss deepens. Sucking on my bottom lip, he nicks it with his teeth, then pulls back. “Marry me.” My heart explodes. A starry, happy rush fills my skin, like my pulse has dissolved into a million tiny pinpricks of light.

I smile, eyes welling with tears. “You proposing to me, cowboy?” “Only because you proposed to me, cowgirl.” “It’s a hell yes for me.” He grins. “It’s a hell yes for me too.”

“One other thing,” he says when he finally allows me to come up for air. “I think I like the sound of Lucky River Ranch better. You added a letter to your name—Luck became Lucky—so let’s take one away from mine. Evens it out. Since we’re equals and all.”

“I heard something once.” Mollie reaches up to touch my Stetson. “About what needs to happen when you wear a cowboy’s hat.” I yank on her jeans, pulling her closer. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?” “Something about…” She taps a finger against her lips as she pretends to think. “Hmm. I think it goes something like, Wear the hat, ride the cowboy.” My dick throbs. “Funny, I’ve heard the same thing.” “Here?” She glances up at the barn. I grin. “Here.” “We do need to christen this side of the ranch.” Taking my hand out of her pocket, I reach around to unbutton her jeans and pull down the fly. “Which means you need to take these off.” She puts a hand on my chest. “But someone could catch us,” she says with mock concern. “Ride fast and ride hard, then. You know how.”

“Someone’s definitely going to hear us,” I manage. “I don’t care. More.” I chuckle. “I’ll do my part”—I suck on her clit—“and you do yours. Ride my mustache, honey. Like you mean it.”

When the rush recedes and Mollie sinks down onto my mouth, spent, I press one last kiss to her pussy. “Only you. You’re the only one I want wearing that hat.” I can’t see her face, but I know Mollie is smiling when she says, “Yes