Just Say When (Lodestar Ranch #2)

by Elizabeth Bright

It should be illegal to look that hot on the outside and be that irritating on the inside. False advertising, that’s what it was.

“What’s going on?” she asked as she handed over my half-completed cowgirl flipping the bird under a Dolly Parton quote: Don’t be a lady. Be a legend.

“Sometimes when people rub each other the wrong way, it’s because they want to tear each other’s clothes off and rub each other the right way.”

“It’s those romance books you’re always reading. They give you unrealistic expectations.” Hannah sniffed. “I hardly think an orgasm is an unrealistic expectation. If I can get myself there in three minutes, he should at least be able to accomplish it in thirty. Basic care and consideration for the person you are literally inside of should not be too high a bar to scale. It’s a foregone conclusion that men will have an orgasm from every sexual encounter. The same should be true for every woman who wants it to be.” She stabbed the fabric with her needle. “The bar is so low it’s a tripping hazard in hell,” she muttered. That shut us all up.

That was the thing about Essie. She wasn’t nice, but she was kind. Even to an asshole like me who probably didn’t deserve her kindness. Mom had loved her, too.

What other people think of me is none of my business.”

People are so goddamned afraid of ruining their lives that they created all these asinine rules to prevent that. But it won’t work, because no one ever ruined their life by dying their hair blue or pivoting to a new career path. Life isn’t that serious.”

“People too scared of living their own lives so they have to come take all the fun out of mine. Why should I have to live my life in a way that makes them feel better about how they live theirs? That can’t possibly be my responsibility.”

If you spend your life running away, your past will always be chasing you, dictating every move you make. Run toward your future, baby girl, and you’ll make yourself a life worth living.

Two drinks turned me into a chatty sweetheart completely unphased by my own vulnerability. I was emotionally slutty. Disgustingly so.

“Giving up horses and moving to Antarctica to train polar bears to do flying lead changes and sliding stops would be a better idea,” I snapped. “Penguins,” Brax said. “Now, even I know that doesn’t make a lick of sense. How you gonna ride a penguin?” Zack asked. “Penguins live in the Antarctica. Polar bears live at the North Pole,” Brax explained. “So either you need to train penguins in Antarctica, or you need to train polar bears in the North Pole. You can’t mix and match.” I stared at him. He stared back. “I hate you,” I said with feeling.

“Jeans and cowboy boots on the bottom. Button down and tie on top.” She air circled the items with her fingertip. “It’s the clothing equivalent of a mullet. Business up top. Party on the bottom.”

“I’m sure I have no idea what’s in your pants, prig. But I’d hazard a guess it’s nothing interesting.” “I’d be happy to issue you a personal invitation and let you find out for yourself.” I braced my hands on the desk and leaned forward. “Just say when.”

Even if your heart isn’t taken, your body sure as fuck is, the same as mine, and you better remember that. While we’re married, it’s me or the vibrator. There are no other options, understand?