Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Cosmo
I leaned back in the driver’s seat of my truck, parked outside the feed store on Main Street, waiting for old man Carter to finish tallying up my order.
The sun was high, baking the asphalt, and I had the windows down, letting the warm breeze roll through.
Red Rock Ranch kept me busy, but days like this, when I got to slip into town and handle the talking side of things, felt like a break.
Damian could brood over the cattle all he wanted, and Christian could wrestle horses till his hands bled.
I liked people and liked the game of it.
Convincing suppliers to cut us a deal and charming the locals so they’d keep buying our beef was my thing, and I was good at it.
My phone buzzed on the dash, and I grabbed it.
A text from Damian said, “Don’t forget the salt blocks.
” I rolled my eyes and typed back, “Already got them. Relax.” He didn’t reply, which was typical.
I tossed the phone down and checked the time.
Carter was taking forever, and my stomach was growling.
The diner was just across the street, its red-and-white sign promising pie and coffee.
I could kill an hour there, grab a bite, and still make it back to the ranch before Damian started barking about schedules.
I hopped out of the truck, locked it, and jogged across the road. The bell above the diner door jingled as I stepped inside, and the smell of fried onions and fresh bread hit me. Sally, the waitress who’d been here since I was a kid, waved from behind the counter. “Hey, Cosmo. Usual?”
“Yeah, but throw in a slice of that pecan pie too,” I said, sliding into a booth by the window. “Been a long morning.”
She laughed and scribbled on her pad. “You boys at Red Rock never slow down, do you?”
“Not if Damian’s got anything to say about it,” I said, grinning. She shook her head and disappeared into the kitchen.
I stretched my legs out under the table, scanning the room.
It was the usual crowd. Ranchers in worn hats, a couple of old timers arguing over coffee, and some kids from the school sneaking fries before practice filled the place.
Then I saw her. She was sitting at the counter, sipping an iced tea, her back to me.
Dark hair spilled over her shoulders, and she had on this red dress that hugged her curves in a way that made me sit up straighter.
She wasn’t from around here because I’d have noticed her before.
She might be a tourist or someone passing through Costa Solara.
Either way, she stuck out, and I wasn’t complaining.
Sally came back with my plate—burger, fries, and that pie—and I nodded at the woman. “Who’s the new face?”
She glanced over and shrugged. “Dunno. Came in about twenty minutes ago. Ordered a tea and a salad. Quiet type.”
“Quiet’s fine,” I said, taking a bite of my burger. “She's staying long?”
“Ask her yourself,” Sally said, smirking. “You’re the charmer, ain’t you?”
I laughed and wiped my hands on a napkin. “Fair point. Keep the pie warm for me.”
I slid out of the booth and strolled over to the counter, leaning against it a couple of stools down from her.
She didn’t look up, just stirred her tea with a straw, but I caught a glimpse of her face.
Sharp cheekbones, full lips, and eyes that looked like they’d call me out if I stepped out of line caught my attention. She was my kind of trouble.
“Afternoon,” I said, keeping my tone light. “You new around here, or am I just bad at remembering pretty faces?”
She turned her head, sizing me up with a raised eyebrow. “Smooth,” she said, her voice low and a little husky. “Does that line work often?”
“Often enough,” I said, grinning. “I’m Cosmo. You got a name, or should I guess?”
She took a sip of her tea, then set it down. “Geraldine. And no, I’m not from here. Just passing through.”
“Passing through Costa Solara’s a choice,” I said, sliding onto the stool next to her. “Most folks don’t stumble into a ranch town by accident. You on vacation?”
“Something like that,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Needed a break from the city. Figured this place might be quiet.”
“It is, till it isn’t,” I said. “You picked a good spot, though. Diner’s got the best pie in town, and the view’s not bad either.” I nodded out the window at the rolling hills beyond Main Street.
She followed my gaze, then looked back at me. “You sound like a tour guide.”
“I could be,” I said, leaning in a little. “I run Red Rock Ranch with my buddies. Know this place inside out. You need a guide, I’m your guy.”
She smirked, but there was a spark in her eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind. For now, I’m just trying to eat my salad in peace.”
“Fair enough,” I said, holding up my hands. “But if you change your mind, I’ll be over there finishing my pie.”
I slid off the stool and headed back to my booth, feeling her eyes on me.
I liked her already. She was sharp, confident, and didn’t fall over herself to flirt back.
That made it more fun. I dug into my food, keeping her in the corner of my eye.
She finished her salad, paid Sally, and grabbed her bag, heading for the door.
I was about to call out something clever when the sky outside darkened, and a low rumble rolled through.
Rain started falling. Storms popped up fast around here, and this one looked mean.
I watched Geraldine step outside just as the first drops hit, then saw her jog across the street to a little silver sedan.
She fumbled with her keys, and I smirked, thinking she’d be fine.
Then the drops turned into a downpour, and she ducked back under the diner’s awning, swearing loud enough for me to hear through the glass.
I grabbed my hat from the booth and headed out, pie forgotten. She was shaking water off her arms, her dress clinging to her in ways that made it hard not to stare. “Car trouble?” I asked, stepping up beside her.
She glared at the sedan like it’d personally offended her. “Won’t start. I turned the key, and it just clicked. Piece of junk.”
“Lemme take a look,” I said, jogging over to it. The rain soaked my shirt in seconds, but I popped the hood anyway. Battery cables looked fine, but I wasn’t a mechanic. I slammed it shut and ran back to her. “Yeah, it’s dead. You got roadside assistance?”
“Not out here,” she said, pulling her phone out. “No signal either. Perfect.”
I glanced at the sky. Rain wasn’t letting up, and the wind was picking up. “Look, my ranch isn’t far. I can drive you there, get you out of this mess. We’ve got a guy who can tow your car later.”
She hesitated and crossed her arms. “I don’t even know you.”
“Cosmo Parsons,” I said, tipping my hat despite the rain. “Red Rock Ranch. Ask Sally inside. She’ll vouch for me. I’m not some creep, just a guy with a dry truck.”
She glanced back at the diner, then at her soaked dress, and sighed. “Fine. But if you’re lying, I’ve got pepper spray in my bag.”
“Noted,” I said, grinning. “Truck’s over here.”
I led her to my pickup and held the passenger door open while she climbed in.
She smelled like rain and something sweet, maybe perfume, and I caught myself staring at her legs as she settled in.
I shut the door and ran around to my side, hopping in and cranking the engine.
The heater kicked on, and she rubbed her arms, shivering.
“Thanks,” she said, quieter now. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
“Storms sneak up around here,” I said, pulling onto the road. “You’ll dry off at the ranch. We’ve got coffee, food, whatever you need.”
She nodded and looked out the window as the town faded behind us. “Red Rock Ranch, huh? Sounds big.”
“It is,” I said, and my friends run it. Damian’s the boss, Christian’s the cowboy, and I’m the one who keeps it all from falling apart.”
She smirked again. “Sure you are.”
“Hey, someone’s gotta talk to the world,” I said, shooting her a look. “You’ll see place is nice. You can crash there till your car’s fixed.”
She didn’t say anything, just watched the rain streak the glass.
I kept driving, the dirt road to Red Rock turning muddy under the tires.
She was a city girl, no doubt, with those curves and that attitude, but she didn’t seem fazed by the chaos.
I liked that. It made me wonder what else she could handle.
“Almost there,” I said as the ranch gate came into view. “Welcome to Red Rock, Geraldine.”
She glanced at me, her lips twitching. “Let’s hope it’s drier than the diner.”
I laughed and pulled through the gate, already thinking about how to keep her around a little longer.