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But then my best friend holds a hand up to her forehead and grins, her dimple so deep that I can see it from here.

Fuck being cool.

I don’t miss the way her eyes flick over my body when I pull Joker to a stop beside her, just far enough so that the dust we kick up doesn’t get on her clothes.

“Ma’am.” I touch my fingers to the brim of my hat. “Wasn’t expecting to see you out here today.”

Sally is at Lucky River Ranch a lot. It’s awesome. And awful. If she’s out here at the barn, it’s because she’s tending to our animals. As foreman, I would know about that. If she’s not with the animals, then she’s in the kitchen at the New House, helping Patsy prepare a meal.

It’s not totally out of character for Sally to visit us cowboys unannounced. But her just showing up like this has alarm bells going off inside my head.

Or maybe that’s just last night’s leftover vibes coming back to haunt me. Everything about my interaction with Sally felt undeniably real, and I’m still recovering from the emotional hangover that gave me.

Sally holds up a gigantic thermos. “I made mulled cider.”

“You spike it?”

“Of course I spiked it. Thought y’all might want to warm up after working in the cold.”

This girl. Her kindness. Her thoughtfulness. That pretty smile. And the whiskey I know she put in that cider. It’ll be Jack Daniel’s. My favorite.Ourfavorite.

Aw, Sunshine, how could I not fall head over boots for you?

I smile down at her. “Cold’s not too bad now that the sun’s up.”

“You sayin’ you’re gonna make me drink alone?”

I love how her accent gets thicker the longer she’s home.

“I got work to do. I’m the boss now.”

Her dimple makes another appearance. “You are.”

“My brothers would chew me out for playing hooky.”

“I bet they would.”

“It’s not even noon.”

“You do love a scandal.”

I tilt my head, my heart squeezing at her good mood. “You got an answer for everything today, don’t you?”

That mean she got laid last night? I absolutely don’t need to know if Sally got laid last night.

Shit, I’m dying to know. The thought of another guy touching her, not taking his time with her?—

I seered.

The sunlight catches on her eyelashes. “You gonna drink with me or not?”

“Are we invited?” Duke rides up beside me.

Sawyer tips his hat. “Hey, Sally. Everything okay?”

Sally strides forward and runs her hand over Joker’s glossy brown neck. “Y’all tell me. Wyatt here is about to turn down my cider. Yes, it’s spiked, and, yes, I used whiskey.”

“You really must be sick,” Ryder says to me.