Page 3

brYNN ROSE

"Dammit, Brynn Rose, I almost had him this time." Geoffrey's eyes flash and his smile turns up at the corners in that way that used to make my teenage heart stutter.

I remember in an instant why I spent so many years secretly obsessed with this man.

You can’t buy good taste. As it turns out, I’ve always had it.

Well, maybe not in my Nick Carter phase.

That didn’t age well. But my Geoffrey Kingridge era, that was spot on.

His charm. His muscles. The way he can't stop his eyes from raking up and down my body like he's got every right to look. It’s intoxicating.

"He didn't have anything," Bowen adds with a laugh, dusting off his jeans. "He's been out here trying to get himself killed for the past hour."

"We're all out here trying to keep your wife happy," Geoffrey rolls his eyes, shooting his brother a look.

"Hey, what Priya wants, Priya gets." Bowen chuckles and tips his hat toward me. "I'll leave you to turn this place into whatever goat yoga is supposed to be. See ya, Brynn."

"See you Bowen.” I turn back to Geoffrey just in time to see him peel his sweat soaked shirt off his glistening body.

“Looks like you boys have been working up quite a sweat," I say, trying to keep my voice casual even though my body is responding to his proximity like a live wire.

"All that... exertion. Trying to win the Kingridge Cup? "

“No, that’s already on my mantle. Won it off Alex over at Pa’s place the other night.

” Geoffrey's grin turns wicked. “Besides, what you saw wasn't exertion.

That was just a warm-up. When I really exert myself.

.." He steps closer, close enough that I can see the mischief dancing in his dark eyes.

"Well, let's just say it involves a lot more heavy breathing. And it lasts a whole lot longer."

I shake my head with a laugh and take a step back.

He's close… too close. Butterflies flap in my stomach just the way they did back in high school.

Geoffrey and I were friends for a long time.

If I'd let him, we would've been way more than friends, at least for one night.

But I kept my distance. It wasn't what Mom wanted for me.

She wanted something more. She wanted something bigger than a small-town romance with a cowboy who'd never leave Sagebrush Creek.

The ghost of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Should’ve known you’d be the reason we’re out here making fools of ourselves… with goats, no less.”

I tilt my head, feigning innocence. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He smirks, slow and sexy as hell. “Just saying, you’ve got to be the only person in this world with a habit of dragging me into situations where I end up sweaty and slightly humiliated.

I haven’t forgotten you making me audition for that play or the matching denim dress and tux you had us wearing to prom. ”

“Please. You volunteered to wear that. You knew Justin and Brittany were setting trends.” I shake my head as the memories flood back to me. “And just so you know, I had no idea you’d be the one helping get this going. I didn’t exactly lure you here with promises of wine and foot rubs.”

He steps closer, the space between us crackling. “If you had, I might’ve shown up earlier. But there’s something in it for me too. So I ain’t mad.”

I swallow hard, my pulse tripping over itself. “What’s that?”

He leans in, voice dropping. “A chance to watch you bend in ways that are going to haunt me tonight.”

Heat flares in my cheeks and rushes lower into my stomach. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe.” His gaze lingers on my mouth. “But I’m not wrong. Let’s do this then, girl.”

The way he says it has me backing up a step like I forgot what air tastes like. I have to force myself to turn away.

“Right,” I murmur. “Let me just grab a few things from my car... before I start agreeing to things I definitely shouldn’t.”

"What do you need?" His eyebrows furrow as he glances toward my SUV.

"Props, mats, signage, you know, just the essentials. Oh, and a speaker so we can listen to some music while we set up. Don’t worry, I won’t force you to listen to any pop. You can choose.” I start toward the car and Geoffrey keeps pace with me.

"As long as it isn't that damned podcast, I'm fine with anything you want to hear.”

I stop. My blood runs cold as I turn to look up at him. "What?"

"Oh, don't act like you haven't heard that damn thing. Some asshole coming after my family with a robot voice and insider knowledge that's way too accurate for comfort. I’m done with it. Before I was put on this goat yoga project all I was doing was finding the face behind the voice.”

"Boots and Bitching?" The words taste like ash in my mouth. “Come on, it’s just fun right. No one takes it seriously.”

"I do. Thanks to whoever's behind that piece of trash, the whole world knows I got cheated on." His jaw tightens. For a split second, Geoffrey’s easy charm drops away to reveal something raw and hurt underneath.

My stomach twists into knots. "I was sorry to hear that happened to you."

"Yeah, well, it's what I get for thinking I needed to settle down just because my brothers have." He shrugs off the conversation as he moves toward my car. "Pop the trunk."

Guilt threatens to eat me alive. As Geoffrey starts unloading my supplies, I can't stop my heart from racing. But now it's for a totally different reason.