Ten Levi
One of the horses wriggle loose, bolting across the field like it’s on fire. My gut clenches, and I’m already moving, instinctively ready to chase it down, when I hear Sunny shout, “Dibs!”
Wait what? Dibs? This isn’t like calling shotgun on a truck seat!
I stand there, momentarily dumbfounded, as I watch Sunny sprint toward the barn. I’m still processing the whole “dibs”
situation when she reappears on Blue, my horse. With a rope in her hand, chasing after the stray.
What is happening?
I blink hard, trying to make sure I’m dreaming, as Sunny leans low over Blue’s neck, her body moving in perfect sync with the horse like she’s done this a million times before. The stray is fast, but Sunny is faster, closing the gap between them like she’s in a damn rodeo. She twirls the rope over her head, and in one smooth motion, it sails through the air, landing perfectly around the stray’s neck.
Did she just…rope that horse like it was nothing? I feel like I’m in some sort of alternate reality.
As she rides back toward us, the stray horse calmly following beside Blue, I stand still rooted in the same spot, my brain trying to play catch-up. She isn’t even breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, I’m over here questioning everything I thought I knew about this girl. The guys start cheering, Paisley practically jumping out of her skin, shouting, “That’s my best friend!”
I turn to Colton, who is grinning from ear to ear like he’s known this all along. “Did you teach her that?”
I ask, still half-expecting someone to tell me this is all a joke.
“Nope,”
Colton replies, shaking his head.
“We’ve just been working on trust with the horses. That’s all her.”
I watch as Sunny dismounts Blue with all the ease in the world, handing the rope with the stray to Colton like she does this kind of thing every day. My brain is still short-circuiting. “What… how…?”
She laughs, and I swear, that sound is like a damn siren’s call, making my chest tighten. “Didn’t I tell you I grew up on a ranch?”
And just like that, she turns and starts walking toward the barn to put Blue away.
Wait, wait, wait. She grew up on a ranch?
Colts been treating her like a newbie, and I thought… well, what did I think? Clearly not this!
I follow her, still trying to wrap my head around what she’s just said.
“What do you mean you grew up on a ranch?”
My voice comes out higher than expected.
I’m just shocked okay!
I clear my throat, “Colton’s been teaching you and Paisley as newbies. I thought…”
Sunny laughs again as she takes the saddle off Blue, hanging it up like she’s done it a thousand times.
“Paisley’s a newbie. My grandpa had a ranch, I grew up with that life. How else do you think I stayed on the mechanical bull when I was drunk? Muscle memory, boss.”
I stand there, staring at her, my brain still stuck in neutral. So, this whole time, she’s known exactly what she was doing? “Why didn’t you tell us?”
She shrugs, that playful smile tugging at her lips again, the one that’s quickly becoming my favorite thing to see. “Colton likes to teach.”
Unbelievable. I mean, seriously, is there anything she can’t do?
I can’t take it anymore. Before I know it, I’m crossing the barn, grabbing her wrist. She looks up at me, startled, as I pull her into the small office and shut the door behind us. I press her gently against the door, my hands braced on either side of her. Her eyes are wide, and her breath hitches—just enough to make the tension between us crackle like a live wire.
I lower my lips to hers, just brushing them, letting the anticipation build. I can feel her breath against my mouth, sweet and warm, and it’s like pouring gasoline on a fire. The hunger I’ve been fighting roars to life.
“You’re full of surprises, you know that?”
I whisper against them.
“Maybe I like to keep you on your toes,”
she teases, that sweet smile driving me wild.
God help me.
I crash my mouth to hers, the kiss starting slow—too slow for how much I want her. Her hands grip the front of my shirt, pulling me closer, and that’s all the permission I need. My hand slides to the back of her neck, tilting her head as I deepen the kiss. She tastes like sunshine and trouble, and I’m starving for her.
She gasps softly, and I swear it’s the most addictive sound I’ve ever heard. My control snaps. I lift her easily, my hands sliding under her thighs as I set her on the desk. Papers scatter to the floor, but I don’t care. Nothing else matters except her—her lips, her body pressed against mine, the way her legs tighten around my waist.
Her fingers thread into my hair, tugging just enough to make me groan against her mouth. “Levi,”
she whispers, her voice breathless and teasing. “Our friends are right outside.”
“I don’t care,”
I growl, nipping at her bottom lip. “Maybe they’ll disappear.”
She laughs, low and throaty, and it’s enough to send me over the edge. I pull back just enough to look at her—flushed, breathless, her lips swollen from my kiss. Her blue eyes shine with mischief. I brush my thumb along her lower lip, savoring the way her breath catches.
“You’re perfect,”
I whisper, my voice rough.
“Did you know that?”
She avoids my eye contact, and for a second, she looks vulnerable, almost shy. It’s enough to make me want to devour her all over again.
Just as I lean in, we freeze.
“Bodhi, stop whipping me with that damn crop!”
Hunter’s voice echoes from outside, loud enough to shatter the moment.
Sunny’s eyes widen, but before we can react, Paisley’s voice rings out sharply,
“Bodhi! What did I tell you about the crop! Hand it over.”
She can’t hold it in any longer. She bursts out laughing, her forehead dropping to my shoulder as she tries to stifle the sound. I can’t help it. I’m laughing too, the absurdity of the situation cutting through the heat.
“Well,”
I murmur, resting my forehead against hers, “that definitely killed the mood.”
“Maybe next time, cowboy,”
she says, grinning as she brushes her fingers against my jaw.
Her lips are swollen, her cheeks tinted pink, and the thought that anyone else might ever see her like this makes something dark and primal stir in my chest.
“There’s nothing you can’t do, is there?”
Sunny grins, her fingers playing with the collar of my shirt.
“Maybe, maybe not. Guess you’ll just have to stick around and find out.”
I chuckle, pressing a quick kiss to her nose before stepping back and helping her off of the desk, “Oh, I plan to, Sunshine.”
I keep my hands on her waist, feeling that jolt of warmth that somehow feels both exhilarating and grounding. Her feet hit the floor, but I don’t step away just yet. I let my fingers linger on her hips, enjoying the way she’s looking at me like I’m something worth waiting for. She bites her lip, and I know I’m grinning like a fool, but I don’t care. Not with her standing here, looking up at me like that.
I reluctantly let go, stepping back and clearing my throat, trying to gather myself.
“We should, uh… probably head back out there before they start looking for us.”
She chuckles, “Wouldn’t want to keep them waiting.”
With one last, lingering look, she turns and heads for the door, glancing back over her shoulder at me like she knows exactly what she’s doing. And damn it, she does. We step out of the barn, and I barely make it two steps before we hear a loud crash, followed by Hunter’s voice echoing across the yard.
“We tried to stop them,”
paisley chuckles, leaning against the barn, arms crossed.
“Get back here, Bodhi! Just let me get you back once. I swear I won’t do it hard!”
Hunter’s chasing Bodhi, while holding a riding crop with what looks like a mix of frustration and sheer determination.
Bodhi is sprinting across the yard, his expression somewhere between panic and glee, twisting to dodge Hunter’s attempts. “Sunny! Help! He’s lost it! Rope him, would ya?”
he calls out, trying to zigzag in a way that would throw Hunter off his path. Sunny turns to me, her face dead serious, like we’re dealing with an emergency situation here. I nod, mirroring her look with exaggerated seriousness.
“I’ll get the rope,”
I say, my voice loud enough for the guys to hear.
As soon as I take a step back toward the barn, Hunter holds up his hands, coming to an abrupt halt.
“No, no, no! I’ll stop, no rope needed! I promise!”
he says with a nervous chuckle, his eyes darting between me and Sunny, like he’s actually afraid she would do it.
Sunny and I exchange a look, the tension breakin—we burst into laughter. She leans forward, clutching her stomach, her laughter ringing out across the yard like music. I can’t help but join in, the sweet sound infecting me. Hunter drops the crop with a dramatic sigh, crossing his arms and muttering something about “taking things too far,”
while Bodhi doubles over, catching his breath.
Sunny wipes a tear from her eye, shaking her head at the two of them. “You two are like a pair of feral children. Can’t leave you alone for five minutes without something like this happening.”
Bodhi, still catching his breath, shoots her a grin.
“It’s Hunter’s fault! He’s holding a grudge over that little tap I gave him earlier.”
Hunter scoffs, pointing an accusing finger at Bodhi.
“A tap? That was a full-on swat! I almost fell off the damn fence.”
Sunny’s grinning now, clearly enjoying the banter as she gives Hunter a mock-serious look.
“Poor Hunter, all victimized over here. Do we need to bring out a new rule for no crop-chasing?”
Hunter huffs, throwing his hands up. “Probably wouldn’t hurt with him around.”
But even he’s smirking now, the grudge momentarily forgotten.
I glance over at Sunny, who’s watching them both with an amused smile, shaking her head. I know this is just another chaotic day at the ranch for her, but I feel an unexpected warmth settle over me. She fits in so well here, and for some reason, knowing that makes everything feel… right.