9. Sorrel
SORREL
I’m putting the finishing touches on the guest cabin when I hear the rumble of an engine coming from down the road. Our guests were supposed to be here this morning, but no one had shown up. I was starting to worry they would be a no-show.
Squinting through the dusty windows, I catch sight of a big bus rolling in.
A bus that looks way too familiar. It kicks up clouds of dirt as they slow near the barn, and my heart skips a beat when I spot the bold lettering along the side of the bus: Denton Reed.
My insides plummet, seeing his name so bold and clear right here on my family’s ranch.
No fucking way.
My breath catches as the door swings open and out steps Denton.
There he is with that same charming smile and worn boots, but somehow, he seems more real here on my turf than under the bright lights of his stage.
I blink, trying to process it—wiping at the dust on the window with the rag in my hand as if what I’m seeing might be an illusion.
What the hell is he doing here?
Dad is walking out of the main house to greet them, and the one with wild hair that looks like he just rolled out of bed runs up to shake his hand. Denton catches me staring through the window, and I drop to the floor. My hand flies to my chest pounding.
I slowly rise, turning back to the window and peek out the bottom—he’s laughing at me. I mean, I am hiding like a little girl who just got caught watching her crush. Even so, is this some big joke to him?
Who does he think he is, showing up here like this?
I said no for a reason, and now he’s here on my family's ranch. That’s it, I’m ready to give him a piece of my mind.
I throw the rag down on the floor in frustration, then walk out the front door and down the steps of the cabin.
I stop inches in front of him and put my hands on my hips.
But then, the rest of the world fades away as we lock eyes. The bustling of the ranch, the other trucks, even the dogs barking in the distance. It all fades out, a strange feeling stirring inside of me. Excitement? Anger? Nervousness? Maybe a little bit of everything.
This is going to be a lot more complicated than I thought.
He looks me over like it’s no big deal, like showing up here is just another stop on his tour. I stiffen, crossing my arms.
“Well, look who decided to crash the party,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
Denton gives me that easy grin, unbothered. He lowers his eyes to my mouth, now smirking, like he knows something I don’t.
“Well, it’s good to see you too, cowgirl. Thought me and the boys would take a little vacation. No pressure, no big scenes. Just some quiet time and maybe a little cattle wrangling.”
I raise an eyebrow, not quite buying the “no pressure” part.
“Right. And I’m just supposed to roll out the welcome mat?”
He shrugs, hands in his pockets. “I’m here to relax, not complicate things. Figured I’d keep it simple.”
I study him for a beat, trying to read what he’s really thinking.
Turning on my heel and heading toward the cabin door, I call over my shoulder.
“Well, don’t get too comfortable. We’ve got a busy week ahead, and I’m not making it easy for anyone.” Looking back over my shoulder, I make sure he’s following. I catch a sly grin. He’s laughing softly behind me.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” he says.
I whip around to face him at the entrance of the cabin, forcing a tight smile. “All right. Let’s get this over with. Follow me.”
Denton falls into step beside me like we’re old friends. Like he hasn't just casually shown up at my front door with a tour bus and a smile that makes me barely able to stay upright every time he aims it my way.
“This is the guest cabin,” I say, waving my hand across as if I were on a game show, showing off a fancy new car.
“Five bedrooms, three bathrooms. Full kitchen and a porch with a view. Jo, our cook, will make all three of your meals per day. There are snacks in the pantry if you get hungry in between meals. You can leave any dishes in the sink and Lucy will get to them, but be respectful and try to clean up after yourselves.” I spit it all out sounding like a drill sergeant.
Denton chuckles softly. “We ain't a bunch of heathens, Sorrel.”
Ignoring him, I keep walking, boots clacking loudly on the hardwood floor in the silence. The rest of his crew tramples into the cabin like a stampede, laughing and slapping each other on the back like a group of teenage boys.
This is going to be a long ass week.
Denton introduces them all one by one. “This is Johnny, lead guitarist; Grady, bass player; Parker, drummer; and Ray, pretty much does it all and we couldn’t do any of it without him.
“Hey, I’m Sorrel,” I wave.
They all say, “Hi, Sorrel,” simultaneously.
Dad walks in last, clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention. “All right boys, listen up. Sorrel will be your go-to person for the week but please don’t use and abuse my sweet daughter or there will be hell to pay.”
No one says a word back; all too intimidated by him.
Dad is a rough-looking old cowboy who wears a permanent scowl.
He has salt-and-pepper hair and tan, wrinkled skin from spending most of his life in the sun.
He only ever wears cowboy-cut Wrangler jeans that are always starched and pearl-snap short sleeves in the summer.
He doesn’t ever leave the house without his cowboy hat and a pocketknife strapped to his belt. He’s as cowboy as they come.
He turns on his boot and walks out of the cabin, the sound of his starched jeans swishing back and forth.
Oh Dad, I sigh.
“Damn he’s intense,” says the one who I think is Grady.
I laugh under my breath and look out the window over the kitchen sink to see Johnny wandering toward the barn.
He starts striking up a conversation with one of the ranch hands, pointing to his chaps and making big hand gestures.
Denton walks up behind me, looking out the window.
He shuts his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Johnny can kind of be a handful, but I’ll make sure I keep him in line.”
Before I can respond, Parker, the one with curly hair and a round face, calls out.
“Hey, Denton, this place is badass. Do we get to ride today?” He’s carrying two guitar cases and has four cowboy hats atop his head.
“Tomorrow,” I say before Denton can answer. “You’ll meet with me at five a.m. sharp to feed the horses and clean stalls. We’ll have breakfast at six a.m. and then we’ll be moving cattle after breakfast. You’ll need to prove you can handle a horse before I take you anywhere near our cows.”
Denton smirks. “Looking forward to it.”
Grady moans. “Manual labor at five a.m.—are you serious?”
I shoot him a sharp look and then aim it back at Denton.
“This isn’t a beach vacation, Reed. I know you rodeoed in college, but it’s different out here. Someone gets bucked off or trampled, they could get hurt badly or even worse, die. This is our way of life, and we respect it and the animals. It’s not a show for us.”
He raises his hands and leans back against the counter, crossing one leg over the other. “Hey, I’m not here to play anything. Just here to breathe for a while and get back to my roots.”
My brows knit in response. Denton moves his face closer to mine, just inches away.
Lowering his voice, he says, “And by the way, I really like it when you get sassy and call me by my last name.”
I can feel his warm breath on my neck, and goose bumps prickle my skin. He’s flirting with me, making it hard to focus. I turn away, my cheeks red. I push off the counter and walk away—unable to ignore the way he sends electricity down my spine.
It’s one week. I can get through it. Or maybe this entire week is going to be one big disaster.
“Just keep your boys in line,” I say flatly, ready to finish the tour.
I leading him to the master bedroom, stopping outside the door while he wanders in. I sigh impatiently, looking down at my watch. It’s already suppertime. Denton finally comes out of the master. He hasn’t stopped smiling, acting as if he belongs here.
“Well,” I say reluctantly, “Jo made enough food to feed a small army tonight. You guys better get some supper. Dinner is in the main house.”
Denton’s eyes light up. “Will you be at dinner?”
I bite the inside of my cheek before answering. “I’m not missing out on Jo’s cooking. You better get some before it’s gone.” I leave them to unpack and get settled and make my way to the main house.
My mind still can’t comprehend him just showing up here like this. I didn’t even give him my damn phone number, so how the hell did he find our ranch?
Sure, I guess anyone with half a brain could google my last name and the ranch would pop up first thing.
But never in a million years did I imagine Denton Reed would be one of our guests.
Sure as hell makes it harder to suppress the feelings I’ve been trying to bury since the other night, and now I’m forced to face them.
There’re too many emotions I need to face, and it all feels overwhelming.
I don’t want to feel anything. I want to sink into the numbness of it all—I’m so fucking tired.
Emotionally, mentally, in every damn way.
I’m not ready to go down that road again.
Not even for a smooth-talking country music star with sparkling green eyes and a voice—God that voice.
Every time he talks to me, I feel a heat spread through my entire body.
I’m like a damn Roman candle on the verge of shooting sparks in every direction.