Chapter 10
JUNE
Three ridiculously attractive cowboys are staring at me across a table loaded with enough food to feed a small village, and I’m trying very hard to act like this is normal.
Except, it’s not. Nothing about my life right now is.
I’m seated at a large square table. Seth sits directly across from me with those intense blue eyes, Kai to my left, Carter to my right. The arrangement feels intentional, like they wanted to surround me, like I’m the center of their lives.
I’m definitely not complaining.
“The food smells incredible,” I say, inhaling the aroma of perfectly seared steaks, buttery mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, salad, and fresh bread.
“I love home-cooked food more than anything, but living alone makes me lazy. Most nights it’s scrambled eggs or whatever I can microwave in under three minutes. ”
“That’s tragic,” Kai says, already loading his plate like he hasn’t eaten in weeks. “Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures.”
“Easy for you to say. You have a personal chef.” I nod toward Seth, who’s cutting into his steak.
His lips twitch. “Someone has to keep these two from starving.”
“He’s being modest,” Carter adds, passing me the bowl of mashed potatoes. “Seth’s the only reason we eat actual meals on the road. Without him, Kai and I would survive on gas station burritos and energy drinks.”
“I resent that.” Kai points his fork at Carter. “I can cook.”
“You can burn things, which is different.”
“I set a pan on fire once, and suddenly I’m banned from the kitchen forever.”
“You set the ceiling on fire.”
“In my defence, the smoke alarm was broken, so I had no warning.”
“The warning was the flames shooting toward the ceiling.”
“Details.” He snorts, which turns into a chuckle.
I laugh, spooning more mashed potatoes onto my plate.
They’re impossibly creamy, rich with butter and garlic, and I could probably eat the entire bowl by myself.
Except, I’m feeling a bit off where there’s a low heat simmering under my skin that’s been building since dinner started, but I figure some iron from a good steak and proper food is exactly what my body needs.
“So,” I say, cutting into my meat, “the rodeo kicks off the day after tomorrow. When do you guys find time to train with everything else going on?”
“We make time,” Seth answers. “Early mornings, sometimes late at night if we run out of time.”
“You should come watch us sometime,” Carter offers. “See what goes into it before the actual show.”
“I’ll definitely be at the rodeo. Already have my ticket.” I take a bite of steak, which is perfectly cooked, pink in the middle, and have to stop myself from moaning out loud. “God, this is incredible.”
“Just incredible?” Seth raises an eyebrow.
“Fine. Life-altering. I may never eat my own cooking again. You’ve ruined me for all other food.” I fan myself dramatically. “Is it warm in here, or is it just the steak?”
Nobody answers, but I notice Kai and Carter exchange a quick glance.
“I went to a bull-riding event last year,” I continue, ignoring whatever silent conversation they’re having. “Local riders, nothing as big as your circuit, but it was amazing. The energy in the crowd, watching those guys hold on…”
“You’ll have to introduce us to the local riders,” Kai says. “Always good to meet the brave ones.”
“Brave or crazy. Fine line in your profession.”
“We prefer ‘calculated risk-takers.’ ”
“I bet you do.”
The conversation flows easily as we eat.
I’m hyperaware of the warmth spreading through my body, not just from the food, but from something deeper, like a low fever that keeps building.
I take a sip of juice and try to focus on the meal, but there’s a flush creeping up my neck that has nothing to do with the temperature of the room.
The guys keep reaching across the table, refilling my glass before it’s empty, pushing dishes toward me, making sure I have everything I need. It’s unspoken but obvious that they’re taking care of me. Looking out for me.
I’d forgotten what that felt like.
The last time someone truly looked after me was years ago, when I was young and my parents handled everything. Now it’s just me, navigating life alone, making my own decisions and dealing with my own problems. Having three people actively invested in my comfort is… cozy and reassuring.
I’m about halfway through my steak when Seth asks, “So what is there to do in this town? Besides bars, cafés, farming, and rodeos.”
“That pretty much sums it up.” I grin, dabbing at my forehead with my napkin—when did I start sweating? “Though, more people have been moving in lately. Younger crowd. The town’s growing, but at its core, it’s still rural Montana.”
“Any hidden gems?”
“Well, there’s a book club at the local bookstore.
Meets monthly.” I shift in my seat, trying to get comfortable despite the warmth pooling in my stomach.
“I usually go with my friend Sophia, who inherited a ranch last year when she moved here. Along with three cowboys, actually.” I smirk at them. “Seems to be a pattern in this town.”
The guys are watching me with varying degrees of interest, and I remind myself that I’m not chatting with Hazel. I need to filter.
“What kind of books?” Kai asks, leaning back in his chair with that troublemaker grin.
“Romance, mostly. We rotate through different subgenres.”
“And you sit around discussing the men’s… narrative structure?” He waggles his eyebrows. “Their character development? Their butts?”
Carter nearly chokes on his drink, laughing. “Okay, I need to hear more about this book club. Are applications open?”
My face floods with heat, and not just from the fever-like sensation that’s been building all evening. Across the table, Seth just grins at me, slow and knowing and infuriatingly smug.
“Oh, I knew you and your friend were checking me out today,” he says casually.
“You did not.”
“Why do you think it took me so long to pick something up?” He takes a leisurely sip of his drink. “I could’ve been done in two seconds. But I had an audience, so I figured I’d give you something worth watching.”
I stare at him. The quiet, brooding cowboy who barely spoke at the photo shoot is sitting across from me, looking like he just won a prize. So much for mysterious and reserved.
“You’re shameless,” I manage.
“I’m aware of my assets.” He lifts his chin slightly, and there’s a cockiness there I haven’t seen before. “We’re used to being watched. Might as well make it memorable.”
I remember the night I picked him up from jail and how different he’d been with his guard down. Sweet and vulnerable and absolutely adorable. Right now he’s all confidence and control, but I’ve seen underneath that armor. I know what’s really there.
“You’re all used to the attention, aren’t you?” I tease, pushing vegetables around on my plate. The heat under my skin is getting harder to ignore. It’s spreading from my core outward, making my clothes feel too tight, my skin too sensitive. “All that practice being gawked at by adoring fans?”
“It’s really not that much attention,” Carter says modestly. “A few fans here and there.”
“And the Reddit posts?” The words escape before I can stop them, and I immediately want to crawl under the table and die.
Kai’s eyes light up. Seth chuckles under his breath. Carter looks surprised, then delighted.
“Well, shit,” Carter says, grinning widely. “Sounds like someone’s been doing research. Should I be jealous that Kai’s getting all the online love?”
“So you saw the posts,” Kai says, practically glowing with pride. “All of them?”
“I… heard about them.”
“She’s lying,” Seth observes. “Look at her face. She saw everything.”
My mind flashes to the image Hazel showed me, the very detailed illustration of Kai’s cock with the Jacob’s ladder piercing that apparently has its own devoted fan following. I’m blushing so hard I might actually spontaneously combust, and the heat already building in my body isn’t helping.
“Fine,” I admit, unable to meet anyone’s eyes. “I may have seen one illustration.”
“Of what, specifically?” Kai is preening now, leaning forward with obvious delight.
“Oh my God, stop. I’m not discussing this at the dinner table. Or ever. Can we please talk about literally anything else?”
“But you brought it up—”
Carter kicks him under the table. “Let her eat in peace. You can interrogate her later.”
Kai laughs, holding up his hands in surrender.
The ache that’s been simmering in my stomach sharpens, and I press a hand to my abdomen without thinking.
The heat is constant now, waves of warmth rolling through me, making my skin feel too tight for my body.
I pick at my remaining vegetables, trying to act normal, but there’s sweat beading at my temples and my hands aren’t quite steady.
What is wrong with me?
“You okay?” Carter asks, studying me with sudden concern. “You look flushed.”
“Just full.” I wipe my forehead with my napkin, trying to play it off. “Think I’m going to sit on the couch for a bit.”
“Do you want dessert?” Seth offers. “There’s apple cobbler. Ice cream.”
God, that sounds amazing, but my stomach twists at the thought. The ache is deeper now, pulsing with each heartbeat. “Maybe later. I just need to rest.”
I push back from the table and stand, and the room tilts.
My legs feel like they’re made of jelly. There’s a tremor running through my whole body, and the heat has spread everywhere now. My skin and insides are burning. I feel like I’m running a fever and freezing at the same time.
I make it to the couch and sink into the cushions, pressing a hand to my forehead. Definitely burning up. The ache in my stomach is intensifying, radiating outward into my limbs, and I have to close my eyes against another wave of discomfort.
What is happening to me?