Cash (Lucky River Ranch, #1)

by Jessica Peterson

“At first, I couldn’t fucking stand you.” I scoff. “And now I can’t fucking stand how much I want you.” His eyes look positively feral. “Ask me.” “Ask what?” “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.”

“So you like the ’stache,” I manage. “On everyone else, I hate it. On you?” Mollie’s nostrils flare. “It’s like the second coming of Tom Selleck.”

😂😂😂

I hear the smile in her voice when she says, “I like that nickname better.”

Honestly, anything is better than City Girl...

And, yeah, I feel like making him an omelet is the least I can do after he defended my honor like some old-timey Clint Eastwood character in a Western.

No way Dad intentionally brought us together, knowing we’d end up being good for each other. No fucking way, right?

😏

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.

😍😭😍😭😍

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.

💀💀💀😂😂😂

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.

Furrowing my brow, I head for the bathroom. “Of course I’m still taking birth control. What kind of question is that?”

There's been a lot of talk about birth control... I'll be real shitty if she gets pregnant...

“Good. And then you’ll sell the ranch.”

Yo this woman is really pissing me off.

Holy God, did Cash get me pregnant?

I swear to fucking god...

“One line means negative, right?” Cash asks, squeezing my hand. “It does, yeah,” I say.

THANK GOD!!!

“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.”

“You’re gonna be the fish out of water this time. And from what Garrett told us, Aubrey isn’t going to take kindly to a cowboy. Least of all one who’s dating her daughter.” “I’m not wearin’ my hat.” I smile at him. He smiles back. “But you’re bringing it with you. And you still got the Wranglers. And the farmer’s tan. It’s the mustache, though, that’s the dead giveaway.”

She’d look every inch the spoiled heiress if it weren’t for her farmer’s tan. Can’t help but smile when I take in the lines on her chest and arms.

We all deserve a happy ending. I won’t get mine unless Mollie’s in it.

But he did admit to being nervous to meet her, which I thought was kinda cute.

Aubrey scrunches her forehead. “You have a laptop?” “Mom, he has a huge job overseeing a quarter of a million acres of land. Of course Cash has a laptop.”

💀😂

“Seriously.” Aubrey’s eyes cut to me. “Don’t waste time like I did trying to be someone you’re not. What’s all this money for if not to make you happy? Go be happy.”

Alright I guess she's ok...

Having a boyfriend who’s a filthy-mouthed cowboy in the sheets but an absolute gentleman in the streets sure as hell has its perks.

😂😂😂

I blink, genuinely shocked. “Wait, wait. You trust a cowboy?” Mom’s lips twitch. “No two people are alike. Same goes for cowboys.”

“I truly cannot wait.” She rubs her hands together as she looks at the house. “Cowboys, here I come.”

😂😂😂

“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.”

My stomach seizes as the scene takes shape before me. Wyatt is standing with his hands held up, his hat tipped back on his head. John B is aiming a rifle—Wyatt’s Beretta, from the looks of it—at his chest. There’s shouting. A scream. Sally is at John B’s side, her chest rising and falling.

Uh oh...😅