Chapter 19
Aspen
“So, guess who has a date tonight?” I ask, with a smirk on my face.
“No way, really?” Jazz says. “Dawson called?”
“Yep. We talked for a little bit last night, and he asked if I was busy tonight.” The past few nights, I’ve been doing trail rides with Brooks.
We’ve gone every single night since he asked me to go after my night out on the town.
It’s been a lot of fun, and I’m getting a lot more comfortable on a horse.
Beck even said I’m starting to look like a pro, but I think he was just humoring me.
Unfortunately for me, it’s only intensified my attraction for Brooks. We talk about everything while we ride from the ranch, to my life before this, to books we like. Last night we discussed our favorite movies. I was shocked to find out how much he loves The Last Samurai.
Talking with him is dangerous, though, because I’m starting to get even more attached.
And I can’t do that with him. I’ll only end up hurting myself.
So when Dawson asked me to go out, I thought why not?
I owe it to myself. And who knows, maybe Dawson is the one.
Or at least maybe it’ll help me move past this little crush I have on my boss.
“So, where are you going? Do you need to borrow an outfit?”
“He said we’ll go to Melvin’s Tavern. I went there once with Zach and Brooks. I think I can put together an outfit with what I’ve got.”
“Well, I want pictures of this outfit before you go so I can approve. And I want texts after the date telling me everything. Unless you end up in his bed, then the text can wait until the morning.”
I laugh. “I’m not gonna sleep with him on the first date.”
She shrugs. “Wouldn’t blame you if you did. It’s been awhile for you. You need to get some.”
It has been awhile, and I’m starting to feel the effects of that. Literally everything Brooks does these days turns me on. Watching him put a saddle on a horse: hot. Lifting a big bag of feed: hot. Hammering something to fix a fence: hot.
I need to get my mind off of Brooks and on to someone more appropriate.
“Yeah, well, I’m not planning on anything happening, but I guess I wouldn’t say no if we were connecting.”
“That’s my girl. Alright, I’ve got one more cabin to clean before I’m outta here for the day. Don’t forget to text me. I mean it!”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
She laughs and heads toward the exit. I work on a few more things I need to do before the night shift closer gets here.
We had a ton of check-ins for the weekend.
School recently started back in our area, so people are loving the weekend getaways at the ranch.
I’m not complaining, though. I love getting to meet new people, and I’ve already met a few families who have been back a few times since I started working here.
I also can’t believe I survived my first summer season at the ranch.
It makes me wonder if I’ll still be here next summer.
I’m finishing up an email when I hear footsteps behind me.
“Hey.”
I turn to see Brooks casually leaning against the desk. He’s got a backward baseball hat on today instead of his usual cowboy hat, and he looks a little dirtier, which leads me to believe he’s been outside working somewhere. That would explain why I haven’t seen him much today.
“Hey. You been rolling around with the horses?” I ask.
He chuckles and smiles. He has a great smile. “Somethin’ like that. You wanna go riding later?”
My heart sinks. I want to say yes. There is literally nothing else I’d rather do than go riding with him. But I can’t. I have to stay strong. I have to get over this crush, and the only way I can think to do that is to try to date someone else.
“I can’t tonight.”
His smile fades a little. “Oh, you got plans?”
“I do actually. I’m going on a date.” I wince a little bit as I say the last word and hope he doesn’t pick up on it. I am excited about this date. I am.
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Oh, cool. You going with Dawson?”
“Yeah, he called me last night.”
“One day’s notice? That’s… anyways, where’s he taking you?”
“Melvin’s.”
“Nicest spot in town. You deserve nothing less. Well, good. Hope you have fun.” He’s smiling, but there’s a weird tension between us now. I hate it. We’ve gotten so comfortable with each other over the last week, I’d really hate for this to ruin it.
“Thanks. Maybe we can go riding tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I’ll be around.”
He taps the desk twice, his signature sign that he’s leaving, before he turns and walks away. It takes a lot of effort from me to not yell and tell him I’ll cancel all my plans for him, but I manage to keep myself composed.
I try to focus back on work, but my head is all over the place now, so as soon as Stacia, the night shift front desk attendant, gets in, I clock out.
I head back to my cabin and turn my music up really loud while I try to get in the headspace for this date. I know I shouldn’t need to hype myself up for a date, but I truly believe that I need to redirect my focus on someone else. This date will be good for me.
I get some of the frizz out of my hair and spruce up my makeup before deciding to wear a white sundress that I haven’t had anywhere to wear to yet.
Dawson texts me to double-check that I still plan on meeting him at the restaurant.
He wanted to come pick me up, but I told him I’d meet him there.
It’s not that I don’t trust him, it’s just this area on the ranch—my cabin and Brooks’s house—feels like a secret spot.
I don’t want anyone to know about it. It’s silly, really, but I text Dawson back, confirming that I’ll meet him at the restaurant.
I glance towards Brooks’s house as I lock my door. His truck isn’t there. I wonder if he went riding without me. I shake the thought from my head. I can’t be thinking about that tonight. Tonight is not about Brooks; it’s about Dawson. And most importantly, me.
Dawson looks just as handsome as I remember when I see him waiting outside of Melvin’s Tavern.
I was worried that all the alcohol from our initial meeting had made him look cuter than he actually is, but that’s not true.
He’s dressed in nice jeans and a red button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
He’s hatless tonight, which I’ve noticed is unusual for guys in Blue Haven.
Men like their hats around here. His hair is a little messy, but it gives him a rugged look that I kind of like.
“You look beautiful,” he says when I reach him.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“You hungry?”
“Starved.”
He smiles and ushers me inside the restaurant, and the only thing I can think is, ‘I wonder what Brooks is doing.’