10
I ’m a fucking idiot.
Keeping my distance from Reese is non-negotiable. And yet…thanks to me, here she is. Sitting too close in the cab of my truck. Walking too close beside me down the sidewalk. Wearing my baseball cap and black sweatsuit like they belong to her.
Not to mention, I made her breakfast. I haven’t made breakfast for a woman since Savannah.
She didn’t eat much of it, but we’re going to work on that.
And then I had to go and hug her—the best damn hug I’ve had in a long time.
Fucking Grady and his idiot words of wisdom.
Bells jingle as I open the door to Zeke’s Hardware. Reese struts inside, and instantly, heads swivel.
Including my own.
She’s dressed in high heels and one of my grungy sweatsuits, but she looks like a million dollars. Even dressed down and incognito, Reese Austin is breathtaking. And that terrifies me the most. Because the need to keep her close clouds my logic. The rules of the ranch.
Her story from last night weighs on me. Deep down, I know I’ve only scraped the surface of what this girl’s running from. Something tells me she doesn’t even know herself.
I already hate her fucking manager for telling her she can’t gain weight. A gust of wind could blow her over.
A couple of customers turn as Reese slams into a rack of batteries, knocking a few packs to the ground.
“Oops,” she says, lifting her sunglasses on top of her head as she dips to pick them up.
“Keep the sunglasses on, will you?” I growl when she stands.
If Resurrection knew they had a world-famous superstar in their town…they probably wouldn’t give a shit. All they’d care about is city folk staying on their side of the grass. But it’s not a risk I’m willing to take. I’m familiar with the tabloids. With bad press. Getting mobbed is the last thing she needs. What happened at Nowhere was bad enough.
Reese sends me a scathing look over her shoulder. “What is your problem, Country Boy?”
You. You’re my problem. My incredibly beautiful, bratty little problem.
I shake my head, wishing I hadn’t brought her along. “While you’re busy trashing the place, grab me a pack of flathead screws, will you?”
Reese stares at me like I’ve just called a baseball play.
Sighing, I step around her and pluck a package off the rack.
“Have you ever been in a hardware store?” I ask wryly.
She tucks a wild curl behind one ear and huffs. “No. Have you ever worn high heels?”
“You got me there, princess.”
Rolling her eyes, she follows me to the cash register.
“New hired hand?” Jonas Farrabee’s squinty eyes focus on Reese as he scans the items. Fucker’s tongue is hanging so far out of his mouth it could be on the floor.
“Hi.” Reese wiggles her fingers at him. And suddenly I have the very strong urge to punch something.
I tuck the small plastic sack into my back pocket before taking Reese’s arm and moving her toward the door. I give Jonas a fuck off glare over my shoulder.
We exit the shop and turn onto Main Street. At the end of the block, we pass Dakota’s new bakery, the Huckleberry. It’s boarded off, still needing the sign and finishing exterior touches.
Reese stares at the mountains rising from the base of Resurrection. “It’s so beautiful here. Like a dream.”
Dream girl.
I shove the thought out of my head.
“What’s that?” Reese asks, pointing across the street at a red, white, and blue building.
“That’s the Legion.”
“And that is?”
I sigh. “Honey, I’ve barely had coffee.”
She bats her lashes. “You brought me along.”
I needle my brow. “Goddamnit.”
Ten minutes later, when I’m certain I’ve met my talking quota for the day, Reese stops and stares at the sole boutique in Resurrection—Luxe Loft. Its bright pink door has me and my brothers sidestepping it every damn time.
Her eyes are wide and filled with want.
Fuck. She wants to shop.
Against my better judgment, I lean in. Her hair tickles my nose, and I breathe in her scent. Christ, she smells like peaches and cream. I want to lap her up like a damn cat.
“Go inside.”
Planting her hands on her hips, she scoffs. “I think you’re forgetting something, Country Boy. I don’t have any money.”
I scrub a hand through my hair. “You need new clothes, don’t you?” I should take her to the Walmart in Billings, but there’s longing in her eyes, and I just can’t say no to it. “We’ll figure that out.”
Her lower lip sticks out in a stubborn pout.
I nudge her forward. “Just go look. Pick out what you would buy if you were Jane. If you didn’t have that prick of a manager bossing you around.”
Her eyes flash like she likes the idea.
I arch a brow. “Either get your ass in there or you’re coming with me to strip a saddle.”
Terror seeps into her green eyes. “Okay, okay.”
I chuckle as she struts those high heels across Main Street.
Twenty minutes later, when I’m finished with most of my errands, and a few extra stops that weren’t on my list, I slip inside the boutique.
Rita Foster, our resident town gossip, smirks. “You look lost, Ford.”
I feel lost, like I’ve wandered into the middle of a pink cotton candy world. Silk roses cover one wall, and a neon sign proclaims STOP THINKING, START SHOPPING. I wander aimlessly up and down the aisles, sniffing candles and touching things I’ll never buy.
“Reese?” I say, when I don’t see her.
“Over here.” Her blonde head pops up from a rack of brightly colored tops.
The puzzled look on her face brings a smile to my lips. “You look like you don’t know where to start.”
“I don’t.”
I take a step backward. “Well, don’t look at me.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I’ve never done this before. Well, for me before. Usually, I just go with what my stylist selects. Or what Gavin likes.”
I dab a finger against her bangles. “Did he pick those out?”
She jerks her arm back so fast you’d think I burned her. “No.” Her words are soft. Sad. “These are mine. I did that.”
Concern urges me to ask more, but I stay silent. This isn’t the place. Not when Rita’s watching us like a hawk. Not when we need to get back to the ranch.
Slowly, Reese explores the store, and I follow. She pauses at a case of shimmery necklaces.
“You like jewelry, honey?”
She flushes, looks back at the case. “Yes,” she says. “I like pretty things. I know that makes me shallow, but I do.”
“Nah,” I say. “It makes you, you. Hell, I’ve spent an entire paycheck on fishing lures.”
Resolve flashes in her eyes, and she grabs up her stack of clothes from a nearby chair. “I’ll be right back.” With a toss of her hair, she enters the dressing room.
Minutes pass.
The whip of the curtain has me turning. I almost lose consciousness. Reese stands there in a blue jean shirt tied at the midriff and tiny cut-off shorts.
“What do you think of this?”
God, where the fuck is this in my job description? Blood floods straight to my cock.
I shake my head, trying not to look at her. “They’re clothes,” I say, my voice hoarse.
Reese rolls her eyes. “You’re infuriating.”
Dragging a hand through my hair, I step closer. “Look. It doesn’t matter what I think. If you like it, get it.”
I don’t know if I’ve said the right thing or the wrong thing, because she stares at me, then shuts the curtain.
I busy myself by looking down at the tray of necklaces Reese was inspecting. They’re all cowboy-themed—tiny charms shaped like horseshoes, boots, and hats dangle from delicate gold chains. My mind drifts, imagining Reese wearing them around her slender throat. My pulse spikes.
“I’m going to get this,” she says, emerging from the dressing room.
I look up. Frown. “Just that?”
In her hands is a thin piece of fabric. Behind her, piled on the dressing room floor, a mountain of clothes as big as the Rockies.
She makes a face. “It’s all I have in my account. I checked.”
I reach into my back pocket and pull out my wallet.
Her big green eyes get even bigger when I hold out my card. “What is this?”
“My credit card. Go buy yourself whatever you want.”
She scoffs. “You’re a cowboy. You don’t have money.”
My gaze remains glued to Reese. “I was number one in the national league. You think I don’t have money? Think again.” Yeah, I’m fucking cocky. Though I’m the furthest thing from a broke farm boy, my brothers and I were hardly born with silver spoons in our mouths. Our parents made us work for everything. All my money from baseball is still sitting in the bank. Beer, outdoor gear—that stuff won’t drain my account.
My eyes land on Reese. Now that I think about it, I could use better things to do with my money.
Reese props her hands on her hips. “You don’t have enough money for me.”
I grin. “Try me, princess.”
“I could break your bank account,” she insists.
My cock flexes. That haughty fucking mouth. I hate how much it turns me on. All I want to do is shut her up with my lips.
Sick of arguing, I stride into the dressing room and scoop up the pile of clothes.
“What are you doing?”
I grunt. “Buying you clothes.”
She grabs my bicep. “No, Ford—”
“Woman, what do you want from me? You’re not happy when I yell, you’re not happy when I help. Are you ever goddamn happy?”
Reese deflates, and I’m horrified when tears spring to her pretty emerald eyes.
Covering her mouth, she turns and rushes out of the store.
“Shit.” I look at Rita and toss the clothes on the counter, along with my card. On second thought, I add a gold horseshoe necklace to the pile. “Ring it up. All of it. We’ll be right back.”
I find Reese on the street corner and hustle up to her. “You want to tell me why you’re out here pouting so I don’t have to guess?”
I expect fire and brimstone in her green eyes, but I don’t get that. Reese crosses her arms, hugging her waist. “I don’t want to owe you anything, Ford.” Her voice is so soft, so sad, it momentarily stalls my heart. “I have money of my own and it pisses me off that I can’t get it.”
“You will get it,” I say sharply. Suddenly, it’s all I want to do for her. She’ll get her money. I’ll make sure of it.
I place my hand on her shoulder, and she looks up at me. “But until then, there’s no shame in accepting help, Reese. Especially when you have nowhere to turn. God knows I’ve taken more than my fair share.” She tilts her head at me curiously, and I plow ahead, not wanting to get into that story. “We’re cowboys. We help our own. Help our neighbors. You’re on Runaway Ranch now, and we got you.”
“But I worry about it. You accept help, you owe people. They cash in. They hold it against you.” She shivers. “Until it hurts.”
I battle a rush of unease. What the fuck does that mean?
I slide a finger beneath her chin, tilting her stubborn gaze up to mine. “I ain’t plannin’ to cash in. Besides, you’re working at the ranch, right? This will just go on your tab. You’ll pay it off yourself. In the meantime, I stopped by the bank earlier and got you this.” I pull a folded account application from my back pocket. “Fill it out and we can stop back by the bank to open your own account.”
“Really?” Her voice trembles as she stares down at the slip of paper like it’s a bar of solid gold.
“Really,” I husk.
She looks up at me, and…fuck. The gratitude shining in her eyes. Something this little shouldn’t mean this much.
I tug at the brim of her baseball cap. “Besides, if I’m going to hold anything against you, it’s me saving your ass the other night at the bar.”
That earns me a smile. A small one, but I’ll take it.
“Ford?”
Our heads swivel at the deep voice.
Charlie and Ruby stand on the street corner, staring at us.
I clear my throat. “Hey, C. Long time.”
A grin quirks Charlie’s bearded lips. “Surprised to see you out and about after the way you tore up Nowhere last night.”
I suppress a groan. Fantastic. The gossip mill is already in full swing.
“This is Reese. I’m, uh, showing her around.”
“We haven’t met,” he says, offering a big hand. “I’m Charlie.”
Reese takes it. “Nice to meet you.”
“How’d the flower shop hunt go?” I ask Ruby.
Ruby shakes her head. “It already sold.”
“Damn,” I say. With the burgeoning small-town boom, Resurrection’s real estate gets snapped up quickly.
“Ford Montgomery, you forgot some things.” Rita steps onto the sidewalk, smirking. “You’re all set.” Before I can say anything, I have six bright pink shopping bags in my hands.
Charlie and Ruby trade amused looks.
Reese’s mouth bounces with an almost-smile.
“We’ll let you get back to your shopping,” Charlie says, a sly look in his eye.
Ruby claps her hands together. “You should come to dinner tonight,” she says, her hopeful gaze pinned to Reese. “At the house.”
“Oh, uh…” Reese’s eyes flick to mine. So do Charlie’s.
“Please,” Ruby presses. “Everyone’s coming.”
“Sure,” Reese agrees.
Ruby beams. “Great. Six o’clock supper.”
After they walk off, Reese turns to me. “I don’t have to go,” she says quietly.
It feels like a warning, a way out so I don’t have to spend more time with her.
And yet, what do I fucking do?
I give an easy shrug. “Gotta eat, don’t you?”
“I ate already. Breakfast, remember.”
“More than once a day, honey,” I say, softening the scold with a smile.
My chest tenses when she hesitates. I nudge her shoulder with mine. “You’re from Georgia. You like peaches, don’t you?”
Reese tips her head, her cheeks turning a sweet shade of pink. “Yeah, I do.”
“Okay. I got a peach pie with your name on it.”
Clearly, I’ve gone insane.
But right now, all I can think about is seeing her again. Tonight.