Eleven Sunny
Stepping out of the barn, the late afternoon sun kisses my skin as I smooth down the front of my dress. The baby pink fabric hugs my waist just right before flowing out and stopping mid-thigh. It’s one of those dresses that gives you that extra boost of confidence.
Paisley and I went shopping yesterday. Desperate to find a cute outfit for the rodeo today. I found the cutest cowgirl boots—white, dotted with tiny sage green flowers. I feel like I’ve just stepped out of a country song, my hair is down, loose waves catching the light. I feel good, and I hope it shows.
Paisley bounces beside me, her energy contagious, as we make our way outside to where the guys are waiting by their trucks. Levi and Colton are stood side by side, laughing about something. And then there’s Knox, Bodhi, Hunter, and Noah leaning against Colton’s truck.
The moment they spot Paisley and I, the whistling starts. Knox lets out a loud whoop, while Hunter, Bodhi, and Noah are whistling like crazy. If ever a girl needs to be hyped up, these are definitely the guys to do it.
“Pais, you’re with me,”
Colton calls, throwing her a grin. “We need to break up the testosterone in these trucks.”
Paisley giggles and skips over to Colton.
Our friends pile into the trucks, leaving me standing there… alone with Levi. Oh, boy. I can feel his eyes on me, trailing up and down my body like he’s trying to memorize every detail. And when our gazes finally lock, he gives me one of those slow, lazy winks that sends a rush of warmth straight through me.
Okay, Sunny, you’ve got this. Head up, shoulders back. You look good, and you know it. Confidence is key…even if you’re shaking inside.
“Please excuse the French that’s about to come out of my mouth,”
Levi drawls, his voice low and velvety. That Southern accent doing sinful things to me.
“Holy. Fucking. Shit. You look…WOW.”
I bite down on my bottom lip trying to hide my smile as I feel my cheeks getting warmer.
“Please don’t hide that smile of yours, it lights up every room.”
“You’re a sweetheart, you know that?”
I laugh, though it comes out more breathless than intended.
Pull it together, girl.
I clear my throat, “plus, you don’t look too bad yourself.”
He chuckles, the sound deep and rich, I swear it vibrates in the pit of my stomach.
“Not too bad, huh? I’ll take it.”
Take me instead. Take all of me! Seriously, Sunny, chill.
I roll my eyes, but the smile tugging at my lips betrays me. Levi’s good at that—teasing me in just the right way. And don’t even get me started on the way that man kisses me. Like I’m something precious, something he wants to savor but can’t resist devouring all at once. Levi opens the truck door for me, holding out his hand to help me in. His fingers are warm, sending a spark of electricity through me the moment we touch. I glance up at him, and there it is—that intense look he always gives me, like I’m the only person in the world.
“Thank you, sir,”
I tease, sliding into the seat.
He chuckles, “My pleasure, ma’am.”
He tips his hat before closing the door.
As he walks around the front of the truck, I sneak a glance at the way his muscles move under that snug shirt of his. How is it even legal to look that good? Focus, Sunny. I remind myself. But honestly, it’s hard to focus on much else when Levi’s involved.
As we pull onto the highway, the windows down and the breeze whipping through the truck, I feel my hair swirling around my face. I smooth it back, trying to keep it from going full wild mode, but it’s no use. Not that Levi seems to mind. Every now and then he glances over at me, a grin plastered across his face, his dimples on full display, like he’s enjoying the mess I’ve become. I catch him staring again, his gaze sliding from my thighs up to my face.
“You got something on your mind, cowboy?”
I tease, raising an eyebrow.
“Just thinkin’ how damn cute you look with your hair all over the place,”
he drawls.
Cute. Right. Because nothing says sexy like looking like I’ve just been through a wind tunnel.
“Sure, that’s what you’re thinking,”
I reply, giving him a side-eye. “You’re not fooling anyone.”
He laughs, the sound is pure trouble.
“You’re right, that’s not what I’m thinking,”
He reaches over, slowly running a hand down my thigh, his touch searing my skin like he’s branding me as his own. I’m not going to lie; it makes my heart do a somersault.
He lowers his voice as he says, “I’m thinking about how good that dress of yours would look on my bedroom floor,”
I try to ignore the way my whole body tingles just from his words. The way I have to squeeze my thighs together to ease the ache.
Stay cool, Sunny. Don’t let him see you sweat.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Knox, Bodhi, and Hunter are all crammed into the backseat, acting like hyperactive children, I would have pounced on him without a second thought.
What? Don’t judge me! A girl has needs.
Speaking of the circus in the backseat.
“Are we there yet?”
Knox moans dramatically. Levi quickly removes his hand from my thigh as Knox leans forward, his face inches from mine, and I can see the puppy-dog eyes in full effect.
Levi rolls his eyes but keeps his gaze on the road. “We’re not even halfway there, bud.”
Hunter groans from the other side, “I’m starving! We need snacks.”
“You had snacks like, ten minutes ago,”
I laugh, glancing back at him.
“That was ten minutes ago! We need sustenance,”
Bodhi whines, chiming in with the same level of over-the-top desperation.
“I’m wasting away back here.”
“Wasting away? You just had a whole bag of chips,”
I remind him, laughing at how dramatic they’re being. These are full-grown men, but the longer we’re in this truck, the more they start to resemble toddlers.
Knox leans over again, even closer this time, eyes wide. “Sunny, help us. We’re suffering.”
Levi lets out a chuckle, shaking his head. “I swear, I’m about to pull this truck over and leave y’all on the side of the road.”
“Such cruelty,”
Hunter gasps, pretending to faint against the window like we’re in the final act of a soap opera. “How could you, Levi?”
I snicker, trying to keep a straight face, “We could let them starve,”
I suggest, biting back a smile. “Survival of the fittest, right?”
“That’s a great idea, Sunshine!”
Levi says, giving me a quick wink.
“You guys are so mean!”
Bodhi adds as he crosses his arms, pouting.
“Y’all are acting like I didn’t come prepared,”
Levi says, reaching over into the back seat, digging around in a backpack. The guys watch with eagle eyes as they see potential snacks on the horizon.
Levi pulls out a large Ziploc bag full of cookies and tosses it into Hunters lap. “Here. Go wild.”
Bodhi snatches it, ripping the bag open. “Cookies!”
he yells, the level of excitement in his voice completely inappropriate for the situation. You’d think he’d just been handed a winning lottery ticket.
“Hey, save some for us!”
Knox shouts, grabbing a handful before Bodhi can hoard them all.
“I’ll die if I don’t get one!”
Hunter adds, diving in.
Meanwhile, Levi’s grinning beside me, shaking his head. “Children,”
he mutters under his breath, and I can’t help but laugh.
As they continue bickering and stuffing their faces with cookies, Levi reaches into the console between us, his fingers brushing against my thigh for a split second before he pulls out another Ziploc bag. This one’s smaller, bursting with more cookies. My eyebrows lift in surprise as he hands it to me.
“These are for you,”
he says, his voice quieter, almost shy. “Made ‘em this morning.”
I blink at him, my mouth falling open slightly. “You made me cookies?”
Levi shrugs like it’s no big deal, but the corner of his mouth twitches up in that cocky, dimpled smile that drives me crazy. “Yeah. Peanut butter’s your favorite, right?”
Oh no. This man isn’t just dangerous to my hormones; he’s dangerous to my heart. Who even makes cookies for a casual fling?
My brain short-circuits for a second. “What… How did you know that?”
He gives me a look like it’s obvious. “I asked Paisley.”
I can’t decide whether I want to melt into a puddle on the floor of the truck or throw myself out the window because, let’s face it, I’m done for. This man is lethal. Forget his smirks, his dimples, or the way he makes me feel like I’m the only person in the world when he looks at me. No. Levi Monroe just knocked me out with a bag of peanut butter cookies.
“Thank you,”
I manage to say, my voice a little breathless.
“My pleasure, sugar.”
He glances at me, his eyes warm. “Hope you like ‘em.”
Hope I like them? I want to laugh. He could’ve handed me burnt, rock-hard cookies and I’d still think they were the best thing in the world right now.
I open the bag and take a bite of one of the cookies, my taste buds practically dancing as the rich peanut butter flavor hits. They’re soft and chewy, just the way I like them.
Of course, he’s made them perfectly.
“These are amazing,”
I admit, my voice a little softer than I intended. I look at him, and for a second, we’re in our own little world again, the chaos in the backseat fading into the background.
But as quickly as we slip into our own little world, we’re pulled away even quicker. A loud groan comes from the backseat.
“We’re out of cookies!”
Knox announces, shaking the empty bag like it’s the greatest tragedy to ever befall humankind.
Levi sighs, glancing at me with an exaggerated defeated expression. “See what I have to deal with?”
I laugh, popping another cookie into my mouth.
“Honestly, you’ve got your hands full with these guys.”
“Tell me about it.”
He shakes his head, but there’s a smile tugging at his lips.
***
We pull into the rodeo grounds, the place is buzzing with energy—trucks, trailers, and cowboy hats as far as the eye can see. The smell of fried food mixes with the music playing over the speakers, making the whole place feel like the quintessential country fair.
Levi parks, as we all pile out of the truck, Bodhi and Knox are already hyped about the roping competition. But when I glance over at levi, expecting to see him just as pumped, he looks…tense. He’s looking around, jaw clenched tight, his arms crossed as if he’s holding himself back from something. I nudge him with my shoulder.
“Hey, you okay? What’s got you so wound up?”
He looks down at me, and for a second, I think he’s going to let me in. But then Bodhi interrupts, “Rodeos give Levi PTSD,”
Levi rolls is eyes.
“His ex was a huge buckle bunny, cheated on him with a few bull riders. Been avoiding women ever since.”
My heart squeezes a little. I didn’t expect that. And now I get it-why he was so hesitant at first, why he agreed to just having some fun. I feel an urge to tell him I’m sorry he had to go through that. But instead, I lean a bit closer, keeping my voice soft and only for him. “Her loss. My gain.”
He looks down at me, shoulders visibly relaxing as those beautiful dimples finally make an appearance.
There he is.
Just then, Hunter strolls over catching the tail end of what Bodhi said. “Funny timing, I think I actually saw Taylor at the gate with a bunch of the bull riders. She was wearing this shiny dress. Odd choice for a rodeo, but hey, she’s not exactly normal.”
Levi rolls his eyes, and I watch as his shoulders drop a little bit more.
“I didn’t think you’d be into girls with shiny dresses,”
I tease. He chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I’m not. I’m into girls who spill their coffee on me.”
I feel my cheeks start to burn but before I can actually react, Noah looks at Levi, confused, as he says,
“What a strange thing to be into. Like that’s super specific.”
Levi and I look at each other, bursting into laughter, Noah looks so confused, bless his heart.
***
We find seats, all of us cheering as the events unfold. I catch Levi glancing at me, like he’s more interested in watching me than the action in the arena. And every time a guy so much as glances my way, I swear Levi’s jaw tightens a little.
Before I get a chance to tease him about it, Colton yells over the crowd, “Hallie! Over here!”
Paisley and I both look in the direction he’s calling, and as soon as I spot her, I’m momentarily stunned. She’s striding toward us, dark chocolate hair catching the light. She’s petite, but she carries herself with this natural confidence that immediately draws attention. And don’t even get me started on her face—she’s stunning, with those dark brown eyes that seem to take everything in with a sharp, knowing glance.
“Wow,”
I mutter under my breath. She’s got that effortlessly cool vibe, the kind that makes you want to be her best friend but also a little jealous of how put together she looks in just jeans and a simple tank top.
“Hey, y’all!”
Hallie calls out, her smile wide as she jogs over, “Am I late?”
“Right on time,”
Colton says, pulling her into a hug.
As soon as she steps back, Levi pulls her into a bear hug with a smile. Then, she turns to Paisley and me, and I realize neither of us knows what to say. Do we wave? Hug? Luckily, Hallie breaks the ice.
“And you two must be Sunny and Paisley, right?”
she asks, her voice warm but laced with a playful edge, like she’s already sizing us up in the best way possible.
“That’s us,”
I say, offering my hand, but Hallie pulls me into a hug instead.
“Nice to finally meet you girls!” she says.
“Levi wouldn’t stop talking about y’all.”
She adds but only looking at me this time.
Has Levi told her about me?
We start chatting, and within minutes, it’s clear Hallie is exactly my kind of person. She’s got this dry, sarcastic humor that has me cracking up almost instantly. It feels like we’ve known each other for years. As we’re all talking with Hallie, I catch a glimpse of Bodhi in the arena, waiting for his and Knox’s turn. He looks relaxed, his usual cocky grin in place. But then, something shifts in his expression. His eyes zero in on Hallie, even from a distance. And that grin of his turns into a full-on, cheeky smirk when their eyes meet. Without missing a beat, Bodhi lifts his chin slightly, making sure she notices, then—yup, there it is—he winks at her. And I file that juicy information away for later.
Interesting.
Bodhi and Knox are up next in the team roping event. The second their names are announced, I jump to my feet, my heart pounding with excitement. “Let’s go, boys! Show ‘em what you’ve got!”
I yell, cupping my hands around my mouth. I’m practically vibrating, already imagining them out there crushing it. I let out a whistle so sharp it probably rattles a few eardrums, but I couldn’t care less. These are our boys, and if I lose my voice by the end of the day, so be it.
Beside me, Levi watches with that soft, amused smile that makes my heart do a little backflip. He doesn’t say anything, just shakes his head at me, clearly entertained by my enthusiasm. I shoot him a playful look. “What?”
I tease, nudging him. “Can’t let them think we’re half-hearted supporters.”
He chuckles, then stands up beside me, fingers in his mouth as he lets out a whistle that blows mine clean out of the water. “Let’s go, boys! Get it done!”
His voice booms out over the arena, sending a ripple of excitement through the crowd.
My grin widens, and soon enough, Paisley, Hallie, and the rest of our group are on their feet too, hollering. The people around us give us a few side-eyes, but if they wanted peace and quiet, they came to the wrong place. This is a rodeo, and our friends are up—no way we’re sitting still for this.
Out in the arena, Bodhi steps up first. True to form, he’s strutting with that cocky grin plastered across his face, tipping his hat to the crowd as if he’s a movie star on opening night. I roll my eyes, smirking, but I can’t help but be proud. That swagger is so Bodhi. He loves the spotlight, and we all know he’s going to milk this moment for all it’s worth.
The second the gate opens, Bodhi transforms—no more showing off, all business. He and his horse explode out of the chute, moving so fast they’re almost a blur. My breath catches as I watch him work. He swings his rope in a perfect arch, and with a clean throw, he’s got the steer in a flash. His rope snaps tight, and before I can even blink, he’s got the steer on it’s side, tied and secured. The timer stops, and the crowd erupts.
“That’s what I’m talking about!”
I scream, clapping like a seal. My throat is already raw, but I couldn’t care less. Bodhi just crushed it, and everyone knows it.
Next up is Knox, Bodhi’s partner in this event. Knox doesn’t have that same showy style; he’s quieter, but there’s a focused intensity to him that’s mesmerizing. He doesn’t waste a second—just mounts up, gives a little nod, and readies himself. As soon as the gate opens, he’s off. He and his horse move as if they’re one, smooth and synchronized, and it’s like watching some kind of dance. Every move he makes is calculated, focused.
“Let’s go, Knox!”
I yell, my voice mingling with Levi’s deeper shouts beside me. We’re all yelling, clapping, and cheering like this is the rodeo Olympics. Knox ropes his steer with pure precision, then quickly secures it, shaving precious seconds off their combined time.
The final score pops up on the board, showing their time—fast, nearly flawless. We all practically jump out of our seats, screaming and cheering as Bodhi and Knox make their way over to us. They’ve won, and from the look on their faces, they know it too.
Without thinking, I leap off the stands, sprinting toward them like a crazed fan. “You guys are incredible!”
I yell, throwing my arms around both of them the second I get to them. I’m hugging them like they just won the World Series, which, in my head, they basically did.
Knox chuckles, squeezing me. “Thanks, Sun. We did our best.”
“Best? You were both incredible!”
I say, pulling back to look at them with a wide smile. Bodhi grins, ruffling my hair like I’m a child.
Annoying boy.
“We couldn’t have done it without your cheering,”
Bodhi says with a wink.
Rolling my eyes, I step back, suddenly feeling the unmistakable pressure in my bladder. I grimace slightly. “I’ll be right back. Drank my slushy too fast,”
I say, excusing myself to head towards the bathroom.
When I come out of the disgusting porta-potty, feeling a whole lot better. I scan the crowd for my group. They are all gathered near one of the concession stands. But there’s no Levi.
My gaze shifts, and that’s when I see her—a tall blond wearing a shiny dress, standing way too close to Levi. Her hand sliding up and down his arm, a flirty smile on her face as she whispers something in his ear. Levi doesn’t look impressed, his expression clearly agitated as he takes a step back, but that doesn’t seem to put her off. A sudden wave of irritation washes over me.
That’s not your cowboy anymore, missy.
And maybe there’s a smidgen—okay, a mountain—of jealousy brewing. But hey, shiny dress Barbie started it. I glance over at our friends, but they are too busy getting drinks to notice what is going on.
Without a second thought, I make my way over to Levi and the blond, stepping right between them like she isn’t even there.
“Hey, handsome,”
I say sweetly, placing my hands on the back of Levi’s neck.
Before he can react, I jump up, wrapping my legs around his waist. Instinctively, his hands go to my ass, holding me securely against him.
“Hey, sugar,”
he growls against my lips in that deep, possessive voice that sends shivers down my spine.
I don’t waste any time. I press my lips to his, the kiss starts off slow but quickly heats up. His mouth moves against mine with a hunger that makes my toes curl. His grip tightens, fingers gently digging into my ass cheeks, pulling me even closer as his tongue teases mine. It’s the kind of kiss that makes everything else disappear, the world fading away until it’s just us, lost in each other.
I hear the blond huff in annoyance before storming off, but I really don’t care. All that matters is the way Levi is kissing me, his lips and hands communicating everything he can’t say out loud. The intensity, the need, the raw desire. It is all there, pouring into me with every movement of his mouth.
When we finally break apart, our breaths coming in heavy pants, Levi doesn’t let me go. He keeps me pressed against him, his forehead resting against mine. “Jealousy looks good on you, Sunshine,”
he murmurs, his voice low and rough.
I chuckle softly, still trying to catch my breath. “Just saving you from the vultures,”
I tease, though I know there is more to it than that. There is something about the way that girl looked at him that stirred up a possessiveness in me I didn’t know I had.
Levi let’s out a breathy laugh, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Mhmm,”
he hums, causing full body tingles to rush over me.
How does he do this?
I reluctantly jump down from his grip, putting a little distance between us as I try to get my racing heart under control. Just in time too, because our friends are making their way back over, completely oblivious to the little scene that has just played out.