Page 46 of Sweet Escape (Whispering Oaks Ranch #1)

He loves me

? Pushing Up Daisies - Brothers Osborne

Olivia

The overwhelming blend of chemicals and hair products assaults me as I step inside the salon on Main.

It’s all boho vibes and earthy tones, emanating a sense of tranquility and relaxation you don’t see in older salons.

It’s less clinical and more intimate in a way.

My cousin, Sarah, recently took over ownership of the place, integrating extra spa services and upgrading some of the equipment.

It’s clear she’s put her heart and soul into it, and it’s a perfect reflection of her eclectic personality.

I missed the grand opening while I was in Denver, but I sent a pothos plant to congratulate her. Sarah’s always had a green thumb, but she prefers house plants to flowers, as evidenced by the abundance of them scattered around the salon.

Sarah’s best friend, Nia, is parked behind the reclaimed wood counter . She’s filing her nails when her gaze snaps to me. “Liv? Is that you? Oh my God, girl. I haven’t seen you in so long. How have you been? No way. Are you…”

I hold up a hand, cutting her off mid-rant. If you don’t get ahead of her, Nia will just keep talking. “Pregnant? Very. Sarah didn’t tell you?”

“Contrary to what you might think of me, and my proximity to Grammy, I’m not a gossip,” Sarah says, standing from where she’d been crouched beside her best friend. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?” She opens a new box of hair foils.

“I can’t reach my toes anymore. As talented as Wilder is with hooves, I’m not sure I trust him with my feet.”

Nia giggles, wordlessly guiding me to the spa chair. “How is the hot cowboy doing, anyway?”

“So, she’s gossiped enough for you to know about the hot cowboy.”

Sarah barks out a laugh, parking herself in the chair beside mine. “Oh, please. The whole town knows about the two of you. You aren’t exactly subtle, Liv. Didn’t you pay like $2,000 for him at the Blossom Festival bachelor auction?”

“It was $1,300, and I was coerced by Grammy.”

“Right. Sure. Let’s pretend the man isn’t a walking, talking wet dream.”

Nia prepares the basin for my pedicure, adding a variety of products I can’t even begin to name, but they smell heavenly. When I dip my toes in the water, the warmth spreads throughout my entire body, relaxing me into a state of pure bliss.

Sarah’s phone chimes in her pocket, and her face flushes when she glances at the screen. “Is it him?” Nia asks, excitement bubbling out of her as she makes grabby hands at the phone .

She passes it over, and Nia’s brown eyes widen to saucers. “Holy shit. What are you going to say?”

“I don’t know! I’m not good at this flirting stuff.”

I’ve never seen Sarah so flustered before, and it has my curiosity piqued. “Ok. Spill. Who are we talking about?”

She scrunches up her nose and looks away. “Do you remember Max from AP math?”

“The nerdy guy who used to sit behind you just to stare at the back of your head?”

After passing the phone back to Sarah, Nia starts massaging my right foot, the other one still soaking in the water. The way her fingers dig into my arches is indescribable, and I have to stifle an awkward moan.

“He did not!” Sarah squeals.

“He so did,” Nia says, drying her hand enough to hold it up for a high five, which I gladly reciprocate. “And he’s fucking jacked now. He was always kinda cute in a subtle way, but that man has aged like fine wine.”

Sarah grumbles something under her breath before continuing. “ Anyway … we've been talking for a while and he’s taking me to dinner tonight.”

“Look at you, making that man’s dream finally come true,” I say.

She rolls her eyes playfully. “You're insufferable since you came back from Denver.”

“You missed me,” I say.

She places her hand on my forearm, a small smile spreading across her face. “I did. I’m so happy you’re back.”

“Not to break up the lovefest”—Nia interjects—“but we can’t leave that man on read. He’ll get a complex.”

I hold out my hand, palm up. “Give me the phone.”

With a resigned sigh, Sarah complies, and I swipe over to her text messages.

Max: Can’t wait to see you tonight.

Sarah: Me too. What should I wear?

Max: Ideally, nothing.

“Wow. I never would’ve expected Max to be such a flirt,” I say.

“Right? So, what do I say?”

“You send him a sexy selfie, obviously. Go to the back room and stand in front of the mirror.”

Sarah disappears for a few minutes while Nia continues with my pedicure. We settle on a rosy-pink color for my toes, and she hums quietly as she applies the polish. When Sarah returns, she passes the phone back to me with Max’s reply front and center.

Max: Holy shit. We might not make it to dinner.

“What do I even say to that?” Sarah asks.

I contemplate her question for a second, then tap out a quick response.

“Liv... What are you doing?”

“Just teasing a little.”

“Do not send that before I can read it!”

“Too late. And he already responded.” I pass her phone back, and her mouth drops open.

Sarah: Well…how hungry are you? ??

Max: Fucking starving, baby .

Sarah jumps up from her chair and starts pacing the floor. “Are we sexting? I have no idea what to do with this. Holy shit.”

“Breathe, babe. Just bring him back down to earth. Tell him he’ll have to wait for dessert unless he wants to give you an appetizer to hold you over.”

“Damn, girl. You’re good at this,” Nia says. “No wonder the hot cowboy knocked you up.”

It’s my turn to blush now. The reminder of my first encounter with Wilder and the subsequent ones that followed sends an unwanted rush of heat through my body.

“Oh shit. You’ve got it bad for your baby daddy,” Sarah says, deflecting from her predicament.

“You’re one to talk,” I say.

Nia sighs dramatically. “Fuck both of you. If I could have just a sliver of what you two have, I’d be on cloud nine right now.”

Sarah wraps her arms around Nia from behind, pulling her in for a hug. “You will. Someday someone’s going to see you for who you really are, and you’ll forget all about the piece of shit who didn’t value what he had.”

When I left for Denver, Nia and Mateo were blissfully in love and planning a future together.

I don’t know what happened between them, but it’s clear she’s been deeply hurt.

Nia's eyes turn glassy as she returns Sarah’s hug, and I’m struck by the need to tell them why I’m back in town, the pregnancy notwithstanding.

“Jake cheated on me with Amber,” I say. “I walked in on them fucking on my birthday.”

“That fucking slimeball! I have half a mind to fly to Denver and kick him in the balls.” Sarah’s nostrils flare as she plops down in the seat beside me once more, her arms crossed over her chest. “Amber, too. Whatever happened to the best friend code? ”

“I’m over it. Honestly, it was probably the best thing that could’ve happened. I met Wilder that same day and then—” I rub my hand over my bump, letting the insinuation hang in the air.

“Rebound baby. Nice.” Sarah smirks. “You’re stronger than I am. I would’ve entered my villain era with a swiftness yet unseen.”

“I could’ve, but then they would’ve won. They already took the best years of my life and turned them to ash. I don’t owe them my future happiness, too.”

Nia squeezes my ankle, switching to the other foot.

“I’m happy for you, Liv. Most people don’t get that lucky.

” She sweeps her braid over the opposite shoulder and dips the nail polish back into the bottle.

“Mateo already has his rebound baby. Didn’t even wait for the ink to dry on the divorce. Eight years out the window.”

“He didn’t deserve you,” Sarah says. “It might not feel like it now, but someone is out there waiting for you.”

Nia’s expression sobers, and she finishes the top coat before sliding my flip-flops back on my feet. “All set. Want me to take a picture so you can see them?” She teases.

“Very funny. I’m good. Besides, I don’t do feet pics for free.”

“Good point. Words to live by.”

“Thanks for this. It was nice to have some girl time.” I follow them over to the counter, rifling through my purse for cash.

“Nope. This one’s on me. Consider it a baby gift,” Nia says, “but you can feel free to bring me some of your famous cupcakes anytime.”

Not a moment too soon, the door to the salon opens, and I turn to find Wilder standing in the doorway with a familiar bag in hand.

“No way,” I say. “Is that what I think it is? ”

“If you mean Death by Chocolate Frozen Custard from Roscoe’s, then yes.”

“You drove all the way to Willow Valley for me?” I only mentioned my favorite ice cream shop once in passing, and he rushed out less than twenty-four hours later, bringing back two pints of my favorite flavor.

He stalks over to me in three strides, palming my belly. “There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you, Cupcake.”

“Ok. I need a hot cowboy. Where do I sign up?” Nia cuts through the thick tension that’s settled over us.

Wilder chuckles.

“This one’s mine, but he does have a couple of brothers.” I don’t know what possesses me to call Wilder mine, but the look in his eyes when the words tumble out tells me he’s not opposed to the idea.

He wraps an arm around my shoulder in response, pulling me into his side. “Griffin’s down bad for the unavailable vet, and Jaxon is too busy with his nose in the books to care about dating,” he says. “But we have a few single ranch hands who might be interested.”

“I’m not in any place to date, but thanks for the offer.” Nia flashes a forced smile. “I’ll just have to live vicariously through you two.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Sarah says. “We haven’t even had our first date.”

“And judging by those text messages, you’re not going to make it there.” I giggle.

Wilder eyes me curiously.

“Girl stuff,” I say.

“Got it. We’d better get out of here before this melts.” He slides his hand down my arm to intertwine our fingers. “You ready?”

I say my goodbyes and head out to Wilder’s truck, reflecting on what got me here and how far we’ve come in the last six months.