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“What do you want if you win?” I don’t need to think about it. “A kiss.” “A kiss?” she echoes, eyes wide. “That surprises you?” “Well . . . no. I guess not. But you could have had anything.” “There’s nothin’ else I want.” Her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink, and my heart thumps in answer. “Better get to it, then.”
It only takes me a handful of full breaths to slide her finger into my mouth and suck on the tip, my tongue swiping over the sliver once before it comes out. Far less than a minute. With the sliver on my tongue, I slide her finger free and wink at her. “How did I do?” Her glower and red cheeks are answer enough. “Is that how you get slivers out of all the ranch hands’ fingers too?” “Nah, just you, darlin’. You’re the only one special enough for that treatment.
lmao imagine
“I doubt Johnny would have wasted his first date with you getting drunk,” Anna adds. I tighten my hold on the receipt and ignore the heat crawling up my throat. “Does everyone know we were together last night?” Bryce takes a swig of her steaming black coffee. “Why? Was it supposed to be a secret?” “Well, no.” Anna tugs on the plastic straw in the lid of her iced coffee, creating a hair-raising screeching sound. “Then yes. We all know.
“Johnny is . . .” I start, releasing some of the tension in my fingers. “I don’t care if he talks about us. He’ll be the one that will have to deal with the curiosity once I’m gone.” “If there’s one thing Johnny doesn’t care about, it’s the opinion of others, Rory,” Bryce says. “He’s too unapologetically himself to give a shit about that.” “I’ve started to realize that,” I reply softly.
“He’s smitten by you. Are you smitten by him?” “Going right for the throat, Pops,” Bryce mutters.
“We made a stupid bet too. Like children. I used my chance to win something that would help me do what I came to Cherry Peak to do, but he only wanted something from me. Yet when he won, he didn’t take his prize.” “What did he want?” Poppy asks. I ignore the sparks of nerves in my belly. “A kiss.” Anna squeals and then slams a hand to her mouth as Bryce relaxes her features and leans back in her chair, laughing to herself.
“I would have kissed him. And not because of the bet. I wanted to kiss him before we even made it.”
“Eight years is one of the better age gaps I’ve heard of. You could always be one of those women who dates an eighty-year-old billionaire on his deathbed,” Poppy says. Bryce snorts a laugh. “Clearly, Poppy has thought of taking that route before. She got lucky and found a thirty-year-old billionaire instead.”
lmao
“Don’t be jealous, you hag. And don’t talk about me marrying anyone else around Garrison, or he’ll get jealous and have me walking around bow-legged for the next week.” Poppy cuts herself off and smirks. “Okay, on second thought, maybe do bring that up to him.” “You’re disgusting,” Bryce grunts, shoving Poppy by her arm.
LMAO
We’ve both experienced falling for someone when there are other forces at work that make it feel impossible. It’s daunting not knowing what comes next, but I can tell you without a doubt that it’s worth the risk, whether you stay or go.”
If I hadn’t given Brody a chance because I knew that he was supposed to go back to Nashville, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am right now, with a life that I could only hope for in my wildest dreams.” “I knew that Garrison was going back to Toronto, but I fell in love with him anyway. And it was the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life to let him go, but he came back. Even if he hadn’t, the heartbreak would have been worth it for the time we got together,”
“So, you’re saying I should what? Demand he kiss me?” “God no. He has to work for it still. Keep him on his toes, just don’t close yourself off to the possibility of something happening between you yet,” Anna says.
Johnny presses a finger to his lips and comes to stand right in front of me, close enough that when I drop my head forward, it rests against his shoulder. His arms wrap around me, anchoring me to his chest as I blink away the emotion in my eyes. “And I’m your sister,” I state into the phone. A kiss on my head comes as I wait for a reply. The weight of a large hand on my back, rubbing up and down my spine, is a steady reminder that I’m not alone. I’m not alone.
“There isn’t anyone else to talk to right now, Wanda. Just you, me, and Rory. And it’s up to you now whether you buy what we’re saying or not, but you’ve gotta drop that attitude before I tell your sister you aren’t worth knowin’,” he says. I open my eyes to stare at our feet, his threat shocking me.
“We’ve only been on one date,” she points out. “And your porch is nowhere near finished.” “Exactly.” I laugh, feeling it deep in my gut. “Let me take you out properly, Rory.” “I don’t need to be taken out. I liked being at home.” “You deserve to be wined and dined.”
I stiffen, and when Johnny tugs on my belt loop in an attempt to get my attention, I know he’s noticed. He does it again, but this time, I step to the side, forcing him to let go of me.
He yanks the door open, and Jill steps inside first. I keep pace with her and move past Johnny without planning on saying a word. The hand on my arm when I step around him ruins my plans. “What’s wrong?” he asks quietly, those long fingers keeping a gentle hold on me. One jerk and I’d be free. I stare straight ahead into the stable. “I’m fine.” “You’re lying.”
“If you want someone to flirt with while we’re here, I’m sure Jill is up to banter. You seem to be enjoying doing it already.”
“She likes you too, apparently,” I say bitterly. “Joker will be jealous when she smells her on me.” Seems Joker and I have a lot more in common than I thought. “I can’t say that I blame her for that.” “And why’s that, Rory?” he asks, attempting to poke into my head. I feign nonchalance. “No reason.” “Come on, talk to me—” “Ripley’s over here, Johnny,” Jill says. I straighten my spine. “Duty calls.”
“Stop playing hardball, Dad. The Steeles will take good care of her,” Jill says, standing close to me again, her hand on my arm. A glance over my shoulder at where Aurora leans against the side of the horse trailer, her arms crossed and eyes shooting hellfire at Jill’s hand, has me nonchalantly leaning away.
“My girl likes her, Rich. That’s all that matters to me.”
Footsteps pound the ground behind me before Jill’s falling into pace at my side. “I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.” “I don’t exactly.” Not yet. “Is that why she doesn’t like me? If you had said something, I’d have kept my distance.” “You’re fine, Jill. I’ve upset her myself.” “You didn’t do anything besides be nice,” she says.
“Why bother? You seem to know just about every thought in my head already.” “And that bothers you,” I state. She sucks in a breath, rolling her eyes up to the sky. “Yes, it bothers me. What gives you the right to read me so easily?” “I don’t know.” “It’s unfair.”
“What you want is for me to break myself open and spill every single thought I’ve ever had.” “When they involve me, fuckin’ right I do.” “They all involve you!” she shouts,
“From that first night, you’ve occupied my mind like a disease! It was curiosity at first. Confusion as to why you came for me that night and why I let you. I don’t believe in fate or coincidences, yet every single day with you, the universe tries to change my mind. “I shouldn’t be drawn to you the way I am. It’s trouble waiting to happen. You are heartbreak, Johnny. You’re fucking heartbreak, and I’ve signed myself up for it anyway!”
“What exactly should you have had to do to expect loyalty from me?” “I don’t know. Given you something, at least! We haven’t even kissed, Johnny. I haven’t done anything besides run—” It only takes one step forward to be able to take her face in my hands. I drop my head and brush my lips over hers, testing the soft, plump feel of her mouth.
“If you wanted me to kiss you, Rory, you should have just said so,” I whisper, splaying my fingers to touch as much of her cheeks as possible before pressing our mouths together.
“Do you have a habit of getting jealous, Aurora?” The use of my full name angers me as much as it did the first thousand times he’s said it today. “Don’t call me that.” “Call you what?” “Aurora. I’m not Aurora to you.” He leans close enough to kiss me but doesn’t. “Why not?” “Fuck you, Johnny,” I hiss before curling my hand around the back of his neck and kissing him.
“Don’t call me what everyone else does. I’m not everyone else to you anymore.”
“I wanted to throw mud at her head when she hugged you. It’s not fair, but I want to be the only one who gets to hug you like that.”
Lol
“I’ll take care of Frost, Wade. You’ve got my word.” “I thought you were happy with Joker. You’ve had ’er for years.” “I am. Frost isn’t for me.” His brows dip, realization hitting him quickly. “What is it with you boys and your lavish gift buyin’? My wife’s gettin’ expectations.”
Lol
“We ran into Eliza at the store the other day. She said you’ve been working longer hours?” Mom asks. “That must be why you smell like that,” Jos says, crinkling her nose. I lift my arm and sniff. “I don’t stink.” “If you have to smell your own armpit to make sure you don’t stink, you have a problem.”
Lol
Mom starts firing off questions instantly. “How is it going? Does it look good?” “The porch?” “Sure.” Josette snorts a laugh. “I think she meant with Rory, bro.” “Oh. I think it’s going good?
Lol
“Why is she here?” The awe in her voice hits me square in the chest, threatening to empty the air from my lungs. “She’s yours.” “Mine? I don’t know a damn thing about horses!”
Now, let’s get you up on this girl’s back so we can go.” “Is it hard?” I blurt out. His eyes snare mine, crinkling at the corners as he smirks. “Around you? Always.” “Johnny!” I ignore the heat flooding my cheeks and try to appear serious. “I meant riding.”
Lmao
My mouth cracks open with a smile as I ask, “This is your house?” “Yeah, darlin’. It was on Steele Ranch property when they first bought it God knows how long ago, and nobody made any use of it until I bought it from Wade two years back. A work in progress still, but she’s home,”
“What did you wish for?” I can hear the thump of my heart in the night. Or maybe that’s his. Unable to help myself, I turn my head back to look at him. The affection in his eyes shifts the world beneath my feet as he speaks. “You, Rory. I wished for you.”
“You’re incredibly hot.” He shoves his nose into my hair and chuckles. “Thank you.” “I meant you feel hot. You’re a full-blown heater when you sleep. I prefer to sleep in the cold.”
Lmao
“Don’t tell me you had the poor girl stressed about meeting family this morning, Jonathan,” Eliza scolds, patting her thigh to call Tracker over. He—I looked this time—abandons me just like that, and I straighten instantly, pulling in a breath. Johnny smirks. “She never asked me to clarify.”
“Jesus, woman. You’re goin’ to scare off my employees. This is because of those women of yours,” Wade mutters between bites of extra-crispy bacon. “Don’t speak about my friends in that tone, Wade. One of those women is your future granddaughter-in-law, in case you forgot.” “As if Brody’d ever let me,” he grumbles.
“If we’re at Johnny’s, does that mean he has to clean up everyone’s dishes?” Loren asks. “Fuck no—” “Yes,” Eliza cuts me off. Rory pinches her plate, lifting it. “I’ll help.”
“I need a few days off.” Aurora’s thigh tenses beneath my palm, and I start massaging it. “I’ve got to go with Rory somewhere.” “You gonna tell me where?” “You know where, Wade,” Eliza says softly, glancing between Aurora and me. “You don’t want to go there, Rory,” he grunts.
“Okay, sweet girl. When are you leaving?” Eliza asks. Aurora doesn’t hesitate. “As soon as possible.” “And you’re goin’ with her?” Wade’s focused on me now. “You’ll take care of her? Beat that fucker’s ass if he steps out of line?” “I will,” I declare.
“Did you ask one of the girls about what it means to put my hat on your head, baby?” “Maybe.” I shrug, keeping my lips flat and straight. “Maybe,” he repeats, his voice growing all deep and growly. “It’s typically bad manners to meet your girlfriend’s father with a hard-on.”
“Do you know anyone with the last name Bennett?” Rory asks. Lee visibly jumps at the sound of her voice, his cheeks blanching as if he’s seen a ghost. Or heard one, more like. “No.” Rory’s next words are little more than an exhale. “You’re lying.”
Despite all the things I wish I had, I never needed a father growing up. How could I have when I had a mother who filled both roles the way she did? But when I met my stepfather, I didn’t hesitate to let him in to take some of the weight from her shoulders. We formed a family made from love and care, not obligation and resentment.
I let Aurora go, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t going to still keep an eye on her.
Lol
“What are you doing here, Johnny? Why are you standing in the rain when you could be somewhere warm and dry? I told you I wanted to be alone.” “And you thought I’d let you wander around in an unfamiliar place on your own when you’re upset? Come on, darlin’. You know better than that.”
“You tell me, Rory. Why do you think I came after you? Yes, I’m a nice guy, and yes, I was looking out for you. But we both know it’s so much more—” “I love you, Johnny.”
“Say it.” “I love you, Aurora Bennett.” “Then kiss me in the rain, you helpless romantic,” she demands, voice hoarse and breathless.
