Chapter Ten
Skylar couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
Rawley truly was an amazing man. His dark eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed, and his strong jawline.
The man had it all. She just wished he wasn’t in such a dangerous profession.
The thought of him in a shootout, blood seeping from him, made her stomach clench with fear.
His hand slowly moved along her bare arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake, but it was just a comforting touch, not suggestive. She could stay right here forever, snuggled against his solid chest, breathing in his aftershave.
Half an hour later, there was a sharp knock at the front door. The dogs erupted into deep, territorial barks, but when Rawley stood and commanded them with a firm ‘Hush,’ they immediately sat at attention, ears perked. He pulled a crisp twenty from his worn leather wallet.
“Stay,” he said as he walked to the door, his sock-clad feet silent on the hardwood. He opened it, revealing a teenager clutching a steaming pizza box. “Here you go.” Rawley handed him the money.
“You already tipped online,” the boy said, shifting from foot to foot on the porch.
“I’m in the middle of nowhere, that’s for you.” Rawley’s voice was kind but dismissive.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.” The boy’s face lit up as he pocketed the cash.
“You’re welcome. Have a good evening.”
“Yes, sir. You too.”
Rawley chuckled as he closed the door, walked to the living room and placed the box on the coffee table, its heat fogging the polished wood.
“I’ll get plates and paper towels,” he said, stretching his tall frame.
“Hurry. I’m starving.” Skylar’s stomach growled audibly.
“Yes, ma’am.”
As he walked to the kitchen, Skylar opened the box and groaned at the intoxicating aroma of garlic, basil, and spicy pepperoni that wafted up in a cloud of steam.
After demolishing all but the last two slices of the pizza, they nestled deeper into the plush couch to continue watching the movie.
The light from the screen painted the room in shifting shadows.
Within twenty minutes, his breathing changed, deep, rhythmic breaths that whispered against her ear.
She carefully removed herself from his loose embrace and propped herself up on one elbow to study his face.
His usual alertness had faded completely, worry lines smoothed away.
His dark eyelashes, impossibly long and thick, fanned out against his cheekbones, casting delicate spider-leg shadows from the glow of the table lamp.
She hesitated, then slowly reached out with trembling fingers to brush a wayward lock of his hair from his forehead.
The strands were silky against her skin.
His head lay at an awkward angle against the armrest, she knew she should wake him before he woke with a crick in his neck, but she selfishly stole these quiet moments to memorize the curve of his jaw, the peaceful vulnerability that sleep had granted him.
Sighing, she had to wake him. She gently shook his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath his cotton shirt.
“Rawley?” she said, watching his eyelids flutter, then he opened them, revealing eyes cloudy with sleep.
“Hey. Did I fall asleep?” he asked as he sat up, the couch creaking beneath his shifting weight.
“Yeah, but not for long. We should go to bed. I know you have to be exhausted.”
“Okay. I am tired.” His voice was rough with fatigue.
Skylar got to her feet, the hardwood floor cool against her bare soles. She put her hand out to him, and he took it. She pulled him to his feet.
“I’ll get my case.”
“I have to check the doors. I’ll bring it when I come up. Go ahead, baby.” He kissed her forehead, his lips tender against her skin.
“Alright. I might be asleep before you get there.” She smiled drowsily.
“I won’t be far behind you.” He walked toward the kitchen, his shadow stretching long across the dimly lit hallway as she climbed the stairs, each step creaking softly beneath her tired tread.
The following afternoon, Skylar sat in the passenger seat as Rawley drove them down the winding dirt road to Seth’s sprawling ranch. The Montana sun beat down on the windshield, making the dashboard shimmer with heat. She fidgeted with excitement at the thought of seeing Ryan and everyone.
“How long have you known Seth?” she asked, watching the Ponderosa pine trees blur past the window.
“Since grade school,” Rawley said, his hand reaching out to tug on her ponytail.
“I’ve known Ryan since fifth grade. I was the new girl in school, and she spoke to me right away. We’ve been inseparable since.” Skylar glanced around. “I wonder how many people show up for this cookout.”
“Hard to say, but probably Seth’s brothers will be here, too.”
“I met them and all the ranch hands at the engagement party. They’re great guys.”
“Yeah, they are.”
Rawley pulled into the gravel driveway of the ranch, dust billowing behind them, and parked close to the red barn where other trucks and vehicles were lined up like a small-town car show.
“I don’t know where they’re doing this,” Skylar said as she stepped from the truck, the hot air immediately enveloping her.
“Not sure, but damn, I can smell charcoal and mesquite smoke.” Rawley inhaled deeply.
“Me too. Let’s check the house.” She took his hand in hers, his palm warm, and they strode across the yard, gravel crunching like broken glass underfoot. Rawley leaned close to her, his breath tickling her ear. “Did I tell you how much I like those red toenails?”
“I think I did hear you mention that once or twice.” She smiled when he chuckled.
“Seriously, though, you look nice.”
“Thank you.” She glanced down at her crimson sleeveless blouse and crisp white shorts. Her freshly painted red toenails caught the sunlight and sparkled like tiny rubies when the sun hit them in her T-strap sandals. She was happy she’d made the right choice.
“Skylar!”
****
Rawley felt Skylar’s fingers slip from his as she tugged free and sprinted across the sun-dappled yard toward her friend.
The women collided in a tangle of laughter, rocking back and forth in a fierce embrace.
He caught sight of Seth leaning against the post on the porch, beer bottle dangling between fingers, shaking his head with the weary tolerance of someone who’d witnessed this scene countless times.
“They talk every damn day,” Seth called over the women’s excited chatter. “Hours on the phone, hundreds of texts, meet up whenever they want, but you’d think they’d been separated for years.” He descended the steps, boots heavy on the wood, and extended a hand rough from ranch work.
“How are you, Seth?” Rawley clasped the offered hand.
“I’m well. Yourself?” Seth’s eyes crinkled at the corners.
“Same. Congratulations on getting that mare trained. I’m sure she’s another champion in your stable.”
“She sure looks it. Got her mother’s stride and her sire’s temperament.” Seth looked toward the corral. “So, I was surprised when Ryan mentioned you and Skylar were an item.”
“Why? She’s not the first woman I’ve dated,” Rawley replied with a grin.
Seth chuckled. “That’s true enough, but I’ve never seen you bring one to any kind of gathering before.”
“She brought me.” Rawley’s lips quirked into a smirk.
“But you did come along.” Seth slapped his shoulder, the impact solid against Rawley’s frame. “I’m just messing with you. Skylar’s a wonderful person.”
“Yes, she is.” Rawley’s gaze drifted to where Skylar stood, her blonde hair catching the late afternoon light as she linked arms with Ryan and steered her friend toward them. The women’s shoes kicked up little puffs of dust from the dry ground.
“Do me a favor. Don’t hurt Skylar because I have a feeling Ryan would take it out on me.”
“I’ll do my best not to.”
“Do you want a beer?”
“No, thanks. I’ll get one later, Seth.”
“Ryan, this is Rawley Bowman,” Skylar announced, her voice warm. “Rawley, this is my best friend, Ryan Carroll.”
“Ms. Carroll,” Rawley said, taking the hand she offered.
“Please, call me Ryan,” she insisted, cobalt blue eyes assessing him frankly. “It’s great to finally meet you.”
“My pleasure.”
“As soon as my brothers get here, I’ll tell Ringo to start the steaks,” Seth said. “We’ve got a full house tonight.”
“How many?” Skylar asked.
Rawley watched, amused, as Ryan counted dramatically on her fingers, her engagement ring flashing in the sunlight before she turned to Skylar with a theatrical sigh.
“Sixteen of us. Seth’s parents aren’t here yet either, but I think they’re all coming together.”
“Speak of the devil,” Seth said, nodding toward the long gravel driveway where two dust-trailing pickup trucks appeared, their engines growling as they pulled up to the weathered barns. A swirling cloud of golden dust rose behind them, backlit by the sun.
Hours later, as Rawley guided his truck along the winding road back to his ranch, he glanced over at Skylar. Her silhouette was outlined against the passenger window, her ponytail catching the occasional flicker of moonlight through the trees as she stared into the velvety darkness.
“You’re awfully quiet,” he said.
“Are you saying I’m usually loud?” Her voice had that tease to it he’d grown to crave.
“Did I say that? I just mentioned that you were quiet.” He adjusted his grip on the leather steering wheel.
“Which means, I’m usually not.” She turned her face toward the window, but not before he caught the mischievous curve of her lips in the dashboard light.
“Those are your words, not mine.”
“Whatever.” She traced a finger along the condensation forming on the window.
“Is there some reason you want to have an argument?” He chuckled when she snorted out a laugh that filled the cab.
“No. I just like giving you a hard time.” Her eyes sparkled with playfulness.
“Baby, I love giving you a hard time,” He whispered.
Skylar laughed, then looked at him. “Ryan thinks you’re gorgeous.”