Page 29 of Here With Me

A hand finds mine and pulls me up. The moment I went down, I instinctively closed my eyes and mouth, and as soon as I sit up, I blow out a breath.

“You okay?” Fisher kneels in front of me, his hand still squeezing mine, and I quickly yank it out of his.

Glancing up, I find everyone staring at me. Ayden’s mouth is agape while Ruby struggles not to laugh.

“I’m so sorry, Noah. I tried to warn ya, and then...I dunno. You went down so fast. I couldn’t catch you in time.” Ayden’s voice is full of sincerity, and I should accept his apology, considering it’s not his fault, but right now, all I want to do is run away.

“Let’s get you to your feet, sweetheart.” Dad grabs my hand and helps me to stand.

I avoid Fisher’s death stare as I wipe the shit off my clothes.

“You alright?” my dad asks, helping me brush my shoulders and arms.

Ruby comes over and fusses with my hair.

“Physically, yes.” When I inhale a sharp breath, I immediately regret it. That smell is coming fromme. “If you’ll excuse me—” My gaze shoots to Fisher’s before meeting my father’s eyes. “I’m gonna go home and shower. I’ll be back within the hour.”

“Sure, sweetie. I’ll have Ayden show Mr. Underwood around, and you can take over when you’re back.”

My back goes ramrod straight at the thought of being alone with Fisher.

“I’m already behind on my trainin’ schedule and will be even more now. Can’t Ruby give him the grand tour?” I argue. Besides the fact I don’t want to talk to him, I don’t like falling behind.

“Oh, I’d totally do that!” Ruby squeals. “I’d be happy to show Mr. Underwood ’round the ranch.”

Relief floods my veins when my dad takes the bait, and I excuse myself to leave.

No amount of soap will wash away the embarrassment I feel right now.

As soon as I walk in the door of my cottage, I get a FaceTime call from Magnolia.

“What in the fresh horse shit happened to you?”

I scowl as I walk through the kitchen and make a beeline for the bathroom. Before I got in my truck, I removed my boots, jeans, and shirt, and then tossed them in the bed. I’d rather drive half naked than stink up my truck.

“Ruby text you?”

“She told me ya took a stumble and to check on you.” She chews on her bottom lip. “And then said somethin’ about a super-hot farrier that you were avoidin’. On a scale of one to Henry Cavill, how hot are we talkin’?”

Goddammit, Ruby.

“It’s not what you think.” I set my phone down on the vanity and wrinkle my nose at the reflection in the mirror. Then I pull the ponytail holder out, and my hair falls around my shoulders. “Aren’t ya supposed to be at work?”

“I took a mental health day.”

I thread my fingers through my knotted hair and smirk. Magnolia’s worked at Main Street Café for the past three years and has complained about it for just as long. “Mrs. Blanche let ya do that? She’s gonna fire you soon. You know that, right?”

“I’d like to see her try.” She scoffs. “If she’d listen to my fun drink ideas and branch out with new pastries, we could expand our customer base. Instead, I’m stuck makin’ coffee for the senior citizen crowd. How am I ever gonna meet my future husband if the only male population I talk to are ones with dentures and bifocals?”

“You think your froufrou drinks are gonna bring in men our age? You’d be better off askin’ to change the uniform to crop tops and booty shorts if that’s your angle.”

“Of course not, but I have an idea. The drinks would attract a younger crowd. Women in their twenties and thirties. See where I’m goin’ with this?” She taps her temple like she’s a genius.

Laughing, I nod. “Yeah…guys will start to flock in to meet the women. And of course, one will fall in love with you, and the rest will be history.”

“Exactly!” she emphasizes. “My plan is foolproof. But thanks to my boss, I’ll die an old maid just like her.”

“You could always apply to work at the ranch,” I remind her. “There are plenty of male ranch hands here.”