Page 29 of Bouquets and Buckles
“It’s ok. Go.” She jerks her head and fastens her jeans, then turns. Only, she falters for a second and quickly pulls my hat off and thrusts it back into my hands before she vanishes out of the stall.
Slipping away from me without an opportunity for a proper goodbye.
Chapter 21
“You can’t leave town. Stay.” Brad crosses his arms. “What the fuck are you gonna do, Sky? Have the world’s most miserable New Year pity party all by yourself?”
I’m being stared down by my best friend and his boyfriend, who are determined to keep me here stuck in torturous longing for the man sleeping in the room across the hall.
Because even though Brad and Flinn have their own home on this ranch, they’ve been my own personal shadows since arriving back.
Under normal circumstances, this is exactly how things would be between us if I ever came to stay. We’d be in each other’s back pockets from dawn until long after midnight.
Except now, I’m painfully aware of the other Rhodes man in this house, who I haven’t seen since our near miss at the stables yesterday morning.
“Look, it’s only three more sleeps until New Year’s Eve.”
“And you know he’s going to be fucking insufferable if you don’t stay, so do me a solid, would you, please, love?” Flinn looksup from his phone where we’re all sitting around the farmhouse kitchen table.
The one I was splayed out on, covered in whiskey and Lucas Rhode’s wicked mouth only a few nights ago.
“Fine. Fine. I’ll stay for your silly little party.” I tease. “But in return, you gotta help me get my tire and stealth-rescue my car.”
“You sure you don’t want to just claim it got stolen? We could torch it and dump it out on a back road somewhere?”
“Oh my god. Are you insane? I don’t need Sheriff Hayes on my ass, thank you.”
Brad chuckles. “He’s hot. I wouldn’t mind that man being all up in my business.”
From across the other side of the table, Flinn gives him an eye roll. “I’m literallyright here.”
“Oh, don’t pretend like you haven’t checked that man’s ass out in a pair of jeans before.”
“Either way,” I interrupt the man-crush going on over our local Sheriff. “We’re not disposing of my car. Don’t be ridiculous, Bradford Rhodes.”
“What? It’s an ugly fucking ride.” He shrugs, gets up and starts rummaging in the fridge.
“It’s served me well, I’ll have you know.” I huff.
“Ok, so let’s make a plan to get your tire sorted and grab your car.” Flinn ignores his idiotic boyfriend and taps on his phone screen. “The garage is open today but closes again until after the new year. So today’s our chance to get this shit done.”
“Thank you, Flinny. At least one of you assholes is helpful.”
“Hey, Dad… you need anything from town? We’re going in to sort out Sky’s car.” Brad calls out, and that’s when I feel his presence.
My cheeks immediately heat, and I have to fight every urge in my blood to turn around in my chair. I want to throw myself into his arms so goddamn badly it hurts. Which is why I can’t letmyself even glance his way, because if I do, it’ll be too obvious. There isn’t a chance in hell I could keep my head on straight or emotions in check when it comes to that man.
The familiar deep, rich sound of him clearing his throat sends goosebumps flying over my skin. “I’ll text you a list.”
“Sweet. Anything you want us to pick you up for dinner?” Brad heads over to collect our jackets, and yet I keep myself rooted firmly in place. Pretending to read something on my phone.
“No, I’m good. You kids do your own thing for dinner.” That’s all he says, and then as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone.
I hear Brad and Flinn chatting animatedly as I trail after them out of the house, and we all pile into their truck, but I’m only half paying attention to anything in my surroundings. My mind is stuck in a loop of memories of Luke’s touch, his kisses, his lips tipping up into a small smile.
The guys occupy the front seats, and as I buckle myself in, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
Brad’s Dad: