Chapter 10 – Teagan
“Hey. You seen Wilder? We need Daisy brought into the arena for her event.”
“Nah, boss. Let me go check the stables and try to find him.”
I shoot up from where I’m half-hovering over the chair, spinning around at the sound of the first voices we’ve heard echoing down the barn’s alleyway.
My eyes go wide, frantic, and I glance at Wilder, who’s already back in his boxers and jeans, deftly fastening his belt buckle like he’s done this a hundred times before.
And I sure hope he hasn’t. Because something about what we just did felt sacred.
With a quick, calm efficiency that makes me feel like a clumsy mess in comparison, he tosses the used condom into the trash can in the corner.
Then he presses a finger to his lips, his expression commanding silence.
I freeze, heart hammering in my chest, as the voices drift past and eventually fade into the distance.
“They’re gone now,” he says, his voice low and even, like this whole thing is no big deal. He picks up my jeans and underwear from the floor and tosses them to me. “Get dressed, quick.”
I fumble to yank my clothes on, cheeks flushing as I try to match his cool demeanor. He steps toward me, his hands finding my waist with ease as he stoops to press a soft, lingering kiss to my lips as soon as my jeans are buckled.
“I should go before they come back looking in here,” he murmurs, his warm breath brushing against my cheek.
His eyes flicker with something more than just lust, something softer, as he pulls back and grins at me.
“But before I do… can I get your number, Teagan Keating? I’d really like to see you again. Soon.”
A grin stretches across my face as I look up at him, feeling lighter than I have in years. “You may,” I tease, brushing my fingers against his chest. “But what are you doing after the rodeo tonight?”
“You,” he responds without hesitation, his voice full of promise. He kisses me again, and goosebumps ripple across my skin like a tidal wave.
With one last look toward the door, he checks the hallway. “Looks clear. I’ll text you when I’m done here tonight. Want to come back to my place?”
I nod, biting my lip to keep from grinning like a fool, and slip out the door.
My boots click softly against the barn’s wooden floors as I dart down the long corridor, then across the dirt path that leads into the rodeo arena.
Exiting at section 10, I start making my way back toward my sister and her friends in section 70, a giddy smile plastered across my face.
I feel alive—more alive than I’ve felt in years.
I can’t believe I almost let this pass me by just because Wilder wasn’t sure about starting something with me before I left for school.
Even with my impending departure in a few days, I know this weekend spent wrapped up in him will be worth every second.
As I near section 50, still smiling like I’ve won the lottery, a flash of brown hair catches my eye. My steps falter because the guy standing there, looking calm and confident looks exactly like Wilder.
There’s no way he beat me inside.
“Hey!” I call out, my curiosity getting the better of me.
The man turns, his sharp eyes sweeping over me as he leans casually against one of the arena’s pillars, a cocky smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Whoa.
He’s Wilder’s twin—or at least, his doppelg?nger.
The resemblance is uncanny, but his vibe is completely different.
Instead of Wilder’s rugged cowboy look, this guy is sporting an Atlanta Falcons jersey stretched across his broad chest, black shorts slung low on his hips, and a baseball cap tilted over his face.
A pitcher of beer dangles casually from his hand as he smirks at me, completely at ease.
“You're not Wilder?” I ask, confused.
He smiles back at me. “Ah, shucks. I was hoping you were calling for me because we’ve met before, not because you thought I was Wilder," he chuckles. “I’m Cody Cameron. Wilder’s twin brother.”
“I didn’t… I didn’t know he had a twin,” I respond, shaking his outstretched hand.
Cody grins. “That’s because he’s embarrassed of me.”
I raise my brow as he chuckles. “Just kidding. But does that surprise you that he didn’t mention that to you? You must have spent some time around Wilder to know he doesn’t divulge too many personal details unless he feels that they're relevant to the conversation. Being a twin is one of them.”
I nod my head. And that’s probably an issue. How in the world do I ever learn anything about him? This is just for a weekend… at least, that’s what I tell myself.
“I’m Teagan Keating.”
“Nice to meet you, Teagan. How do you know my twin?”
“I just met Wilder last night at Baxter’s. I was there for my sister’s bachelorette party. To be fair, I haven’t known him for more than a day.”
“Well, I’m interested in hearing that meet-cute story, but that’s for another time,” he chuckles. “Your sister’s getting married in Lonestar Junction?”
“No, back on our farm in Pennsylvania, but her fiancé is from here, so she figured she’d have the bachelorette party in town.”
He raises his brows. “Who’s your sister's fiancé?”
“Ryder Davenport.”
Cody wrinkles his nose at the mention of Ryder’s name and scowls. “Does Wilder know that’s who your sister is marrying?”
“Um… no. I don’t think so. It hasn’t come up in the few conversations that we’ve had, but why would Wilder care?”
He opens his mouth like he wants to say something more to elaborate but thinks better of it before closing it and nodding.
“Yeah, you’re right,” he chuckles. “Well, Teagan, it was nice to meet you. Have fun with the wedding festivities and wish your sister good luck in her marriage for me. I hope I’ll see you around while I’m in town. I head back to where I live in Atlanta soon for the upcoming football season.”
“You play?”
He nods, “For the Atlanta Falcons. Been doing that for a few years now. Just in town visiting my family and checking up on things at Ashwood ranch while I have a break this weekend.”
“Oh, I see…”
He smiles again, tips his head and turns on his heel, heading back the way I just came from before I can ask anything more.
That was… weird.
Five minutes later, I finally make it to section 70, where my sister and her bridesmaids are all seated, watching the horse I’d helped warm up, Daisy, perform.
She’s doing amazing, a cowboy is perched on her back while he ropes a lasso around in the air, showing off his skills.
The crowd is loud and wild now, and it looks like the girls have devoured another round of hotdogs and drinks.
The floor is covered in trash as I brush off the seat next to Shawna and sit down with a smile and a sigh.
“Where were you?” She hisses in my ear over the loud country music and shouting, her eyes suspicious as I grin back at her.
“Got lost looking at the horses. One of the employees let me ride the one that’s performing right now.”
Her eyes widen. “You rode on a horse? That one? Are you okay?”
I nod and smile. “I’m fantastic.”
She grins and squeezes my knee affectionally before turning back to watch the show.
I smile again, still trying to catch my breath from what happened just a few minutes earlier with Wilder in the barn.
Sometimes, when life throws you curveballs, you need to take a pause and catch your breath.
But no matter how tough things get, eventually, you have to get back in the saddle.
And I couldn’t think of someone better to do that with than him this weekend.