Page 29 of Wrangled and Tangled (Raven Peak Ranch #1)

T alking about my parents isn’t something I normally do, especially not with hot men who I’m currently interested in dating.

Yet Spencer pulls it out of me, and I find myself wanting to tell him everything about me.

It’s not the way his slow drawl makes the hair on my arms stand up, it’s the way his eyes light up with every crack of lightning as he looks at me from under the stormy sky.

I want him to know me well enough to complete my sentences, to buy me little trinkets just because he thinks I’ll like them.

Shit people do when they’re in love.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” he says as if it’s still fresh, and I grunt out a thank you as a lone tear escapes. It’s not sadness, it’s acceptance of what happened and what I’m sure is coming. I know the questions will stop, and whatever hate is spewing on the internet will be over soon enough.

I just hope whatever this is between us never ends.

My phone rings, Macy’s name flashes across the screen, and I watch Spencer’s body go rigid.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak to her,” I tell him, willing him to look at me. Instead, he looks up and watches the lightning flash. It sparks in his green eyes, reflecting back to me, and it’s almost more enchanting than just watching it light up the sky.

“Hey Macy,” answering her call, the line’s fuzzy when she speaks, and I have to move around to catch her voice. Finding it on the edge of the tailgate, I turn my back to him and listen.

“–fake still, I expected… Staci… more discretion…promised,” she yaps, and I only catch tidbits.

“I don’t know what Staci promised you, but this fake engagement is off,” I tell her, keeping my back to where Spencer’s laying down. “It never should’ve happened.”

She squawks on the other line, yelling something about how this was for both of us , but I can’t understand her. Every other word is filled with static, and honestly, I’m fed up trying.

“I’m a little busy right now, but when I get back to better service, I expect to see a breakup posted,” clicking the button to end the call, I let out a relieved sigh just as the sky lets out a crack of thunder louder than I’ve heard all night.

Jumping back, warm arms circle my waist and cushion my head. Spencer’s looking down at me, chest heaving, muscles flexing, and I pray to any God that will listen that he’ll kiss me again.

His long blonde lashes fan against his cheek as he looks down at my lips and then back up.

His tongue pokes out, wetting his bottom lip.

Suddenly, I don’t care that we’re laying on a metal truck bed in the middle of a pasture during a lightning storm.

Spencer’s soft stomach brushes against my side, and I shiver.

“We should get back,” he whispers, mouth only an inch from mine. “Briar’s gotta be lookin’ for us.”

I nod, clearing my throat and wishing the lump there would go away. He hasn’t moved, though, and my heart constricts, hoping he’ll close the distance to my mouth.

When he doesn’t, my eyes drop along with my hopes. Scooting out of his arms, I move to the edge of the truck bed and hop off, Spencer following suit. The lightning’s been quiet for a few minutes, leaving us with a star-studded clear sky.

It’s beautiful out here. I can see the two of us getting lost in each other, blanketed in nothing but the starry night. Spencer reaches back to grab the quilts and then closes the tailgate. When I look up, Spencer’s looking at me with something akin to want in his eyes.

He smiles and guides me to the truck, placing his hand on my lower back.

The contact makes my body heat, and I wish he would fucking kiss me already.

At the door, he pulls it open and allows me space to get in.

Leaning into the cab, he creates the most minimal amount of space, and my breath catches.

The click of the seatbelt across my chest and lap breaks my observation, and my eyes flick down and back up to where he’s smiling and shaking his head. With a small chuckle and wink, he backs out of the cab and shuts the door.

Back at the house, Spencer parks the truck beside a blue one I recognize from Maxine’s house. The lights are on, and the doors unlocked. Spencer laughs when he opens the door, and I understand once I peek my head around the corner.

Briar’s roped Lucy into what looks to be a spa day, but they’re both crying, wrapped in each other’s arms on the couch. Their faces are covered in white masks, lips covered in a similar fashion as tears drip down the surface of their mask.

Lucy sniffles and laughs once she sees Spencer’s expression. His eyebrows are raised, arms crossed over his chest. “Should I be concerned?”

Briar startles as if she hadn’t heard us come in and stands. Hip popped out, one hand sitting on top, she removes the lip mask from her face with a sour look, “You never called me back.”

Uh-oh, Daddy’s in trouble.

“Shit,” he says, closing his eyes and rubbing them with his fingers. “I got busy and forgot.”

“Yeah, I figured, so now I get to scroll the internet seein’ all my friends havin’ a fun summer by the pool,” she’s tapping her foot along with her words as if to punctuate how upset she is.

“I’m sorry, Flower,” he says, looking around the room.

“But it doesn’t look like you’re lackin’ in the fun department.

I thought you were meant to just be grabbin’ stuff and headin’ back to Mawmaw’s?

”“I am, but don’t skate around the point.

It’s not the same, and you know it! Aunt Loo!

?” She shouts, looking at her aunt for backup. Lucy throws her hands up and stands.

“I’m not your parent, Bee,” she says with puckered lips, “but I understand where you’re both comin’ from.

Give your dad a break, okay? He’s only one man, he can only do so much.

” Then she turns to her brother and scowls, which looks ridiculous with the mask still covering her face, and says, “And, you should have called, we were worried.”

Her eyes scan over me, but she doesn’t hurl any insults or look at me like I murdered her boyfriend, so I’ll take that as a win.

“I know, I’m–”

“Sorry. We know,” Briar blurts with an eye roll.

“It was my fault,” I speak up, and all of their eyes swing my way. “Really Briar, don’t blame your dad. I don’t like storms, so we had to pull over and wait it out.”

Her face softens, and she gives me a little pity smile. Lucy doesn’t say anything, only picks up her things, and plops down onto the couch beside Briar.

Spencer’s got a scowly look on his face, and I wonder what I said that I shouldn’t have.

“I understand,” Briar huffs, “still, it’s a crappy feelin’.”

Spencer rounds the couch and bundles her up in his arms. She lets out a laugh and bats playfully at his arms.

“Other than Mr. Forgetful over there, how has your day been?” He asks, seamlessly turning the conversation to a livelier topic.

Briar goes on about the pictures she’s seen, how many people were there, and why she feels left out. Having once been a teenager, I get it, especially coming from a small town where friends were slim and things to do were even slimmer.

“Oh, and if I have to see one more picture of Clara and Sam kissin’ all over social media, I might barf,” she laughs and asks, “What about you two? Do anythin’ fun today?”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes when I look at Spencer.