Cowboy Casual (The Calloway Ranch #1)

by Holly Renee

For my mama⁠— Who has loved cowboys for as long as she’s loved me.

One of the very first things my grandmother taught me was that men ain’t shit.

“Sometimes you gotta face the music, even if it ain’t your favorite tune,”

That girl had been so desperate to be wanted, she shrank herself down into someone easier.

“But then they keep making more cowboys and I keep drinking tequila. It’s exhausting.”

She was fire, and I was fucking drowning in her.

She threw it back hard and fast like the liquor could burn the memory of me off her tongue. Good fucking luck, sweetheart.

“Please. If that was my ex, I’d be on my knees barking like a damn dog.

“I know you, Blaire,” I murmured, my voice low and gritty. “It doesn’t matter how hard I tried to forget.”

If I wasn’t careful, Blaire Monroe was gonna finish what she started all those years ago, and there’d be nothing left of me when she did.

“Hey.” Hunter pouted, his gaze flicking between me and Maggie before it finally landed on her. “I’m not that bad.” “It’s a group project kind of thing.” I twirled my finger in a circle, motioning among the three of them. “It doesn’t matter how fun you are, Hunter. You all have been a group for a long time, and you’re evaluated on your group’s performance.”

“Well, maybe I should join y’all’s group instead.” Hunter moved his chair closer to Maggie’s, but she quickly raised her foot, pressing her boot against his seat between his legs to stop him. “We’re currently closed to new members.” Maggie grinned, and Hunter pressed his hand to his chest as if she’d wounded him. “You two met today.” “Right.” Maggie nodded. “And now we’re closed.”

“Is attention what you’re looking for?” His voice was low and rough. “You know you can always tell me what it is you need.”

I hated myself for ever letting her believe she was hard to love when loving her had been the easiest thing I’d ever done.

“Don’t call me daddy unless you want me to put you on your knees.” The words came out on a growl.

You may not want me, but let’s get real fucking clear that I have never stopped wanting you.”

“But if you’re going to walk around in something like this, with every bastard in here wishing you were his, then I want my cum running down your thighs when you do so.”