Cash (Lucky River Ranch, #1)

by Jessica Peterson

“Sorry, I’m here. I just got to Hartsville and…I think I may have just had an Outlander moment? But a Western-themed one, with a saloon and a cowboy.” My best friend and business partner’s raspy laugh pours through the speakers. “Bring cowboy Jamie back to Dallas. Tell him city life is better.”

Love the reference!

Usually, I’m busy, but when I’m not, I never want to be without reading material at hand.

Same

“You gotta move with the horse.” Cash nudges my backside with his pelvis. “Otherwise, you’re gonna end up getting hurt.” It’s all I can do not to sputter as he rolls his hips, urging me to roll mine too. My scalp prickles as a wave of unwelcome desire moves through me. “Um. Ahem. I…feel like I’m humping the horse while you’re humping me.”

I don’t know who I’m riding anymore—the horse or the cowboy.

Maybe Cash isn’t an asshole just to be an asshole. Maybe he’s grumpy because he’s been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for over a decade. He’s lost his parents. Raised his brothers. Lost my dad.

He’s wearing a baseball hat. A backward baseball hat.

You don’t know how fun I can be, sweetheart. You want me to teach you how to use those legs? Let me get between ’em, and I’ll show you exactly how it’s done.

“You’re anything but easy, Cash.” Honey, you kiss me, and you’ll see just how easy I can be.

I groan. “She’s not who I thought she was.” “Aw, yeah. The plot thickens.” “There is no plot. I’ll have you shoveling shit all day tomorrow if you don’t quit your talking.” “You’re the one who hasn’t hung up.” “I’m hanging up!” “You have condoms at the cabin, right?” “Fuck off.” I glance down the hall at the bathroom door. Shit, do I have condoms?

Fuck. Fuck me, I don’t just have a crush on Mollie. I don’t just want to sleep with her. I want all of her. And I can’t deny anymore that I want to be that guy for her. The one she dances with. Who protects her from scumbags like Roddy and Slick here. The one who shows her what a true partner could and should be. I can be that man, Mollie, if you’d let me.

“Don’t,” I whisper. “Don’t what? Tell you that I was wrong? That you’re everything I thought you weren’t? Big-hearted and generous and smart as hell and, yeah, fuckin’ beautiful? Sexy as hell?” Cash’s eyes graze my face. “Tell me to go, then. Tell me to let you go, and I will. But you gotta say the words, honey, or⁠—” “Or what?” I blame him calling me honey for this sudden burst of bravery. “You’ll give me what Palmer couldn’t?”

“Ask me to give you what you want.” I stare at him. “I can’t⁠—” “But you can.” He steps closer, melting his hips into mine. “Because you gotta know by now, I can’t deny you anything, Mollie. Not a fuckin’ thing.”

“I gotta feel you comin’, honey.” His Adam’s apple bobs. “You gonna come this hard on my dick?”

One hand on the wheel, I put the other on the back of her head. “Little less talkin’, honey.” “I hate being told what to do.” “Then you’re gonna hate me.”

My dick twitches at the idea that I turn Mollie on so much—so often—she had to call a friend for relief. Aw, honey, you know you’re only gonna find relief if it’s with me.

And, yeah, maybe the fantasy of knocking you up turns me on in a way it shouldn’t.

“You’re a cowgirl now, honey. And cowgirls can’t be tamed. Wouldn’t dare to try.”

“So let me take care of you. I know you probably have a million things to do this morning on the ranch, but I propose you don’t do any of them and stay in bed with me instead.” The edges of his eyes crinkle as he searches my face. “I do have a million things to do.” “Make me all of them.”

“You said you got me. Pinkie promise I got you.”

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.

Can I say I’m in love with you instead?

“Just because you’re not perfect doesn’t mean you’re broken.”

“I don’t need perfect. Your parents didn’t need it. World doesn’t need you to be perfect either. We just need you. You and your messes. You light up a room just by being in it, honey.”

“There’s nothing about you that needs fixing. Anyone that makes you feel otherwise, they ain’t meant for you.”

“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.”

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.”

And then, from Wyatt, “She’s the one, isn’t she?”

“Don’t have to be perfect, Mollie.” “It just has to be with you,”