Page 45

Chapter13

After three longhours of learning everything about horses I was tired, hot, and dirty.So I took a long shower and ordered dinner in my room.I had zero plans of doing anything other than writing andpassingout.

Until I couldn’tsleep.

My mind wouldn’t stop.If it wasn’t horses it was lines I needed to get right.And of course I kept drifting off into a hundred different ways to talk to Colt.The man had been completely absent for the last three days.I assumed it was work.His sister, on the other hand, had temporarily moved in for part of the summer with her husband andtheirson.

Her husband was delightful.David was smart, funny, easy on the eyes, and kind of like a big brother.I enjoyed two delicious dinners with them.No one mentioned the missing man in question, which I thought was odd, but since they didn’t bring up his absence, I didn’teither.

Which was stupid because now I was sitting up wondering where the hell he was.Did I mention the man had zero social media presence?None.The company was all over the place but Colt Landry was aghost.

So I couldn’t even stalk him through the power of theinternet.

Which was when I had a brilliant,terribleidea.

I grabbed my computer, called up my email and began towrite.

Colt,

I went six months without seeing you and now three days hurts.I miss you.I miss your grumpy frown.I miss your lips.I miss the way I feel whenyou’renear.

I know you’re angry and hurt.I know you’re busy and stressed.I don’t want to push into your world when you weren’t expecting to see me, but maybe we can use this opportunity to get to know each other.I’d like to befriends.

I held my breath as I stared at the blinking cursor.How did I end this?“Sincerely” was entirely too formal.“Yours” was too ...something.“Thanks” was allwrong.

But would “xoxo” betoomuch?

I stared and stared.“Fuck it.”I typed in the four letters andhitsend.

It was in Cowboy Colt’shandsnow.

Annie,

I can still call you that, right?That’s how I think of you.It’s how I addressed the ten unsent messages in my inbox.If you want to be Lily instead I understand.That’s yourrealname.

But don’t you think there’s something to staying Annie and Cowboy a littlelonger?

I’d like to be friends.Can westarthere?

x

Colt

Istaredat the email for a good five minutes.I’m pretty sure I didn’t breathe more than twice that whole time.Just enough to stayalive.

I hitreply.

Cowboy,

I’d like to stay Annie.When I was her I was happy.She saw you smile.You don’t do that here.I know we really don’t know each other, but I swear you know me better than most.I’d like to think I know youbetter,too.

So yes.I think there is something to staying Annie and Cowboy.I think weneedthem.

Yours,

Annie

What would the turn around time be on emails with Colt?He was a busy man and I imagined his days were flooded with work.He probably wouldn’t even see my messages until late at night,likethis.