Chapter 1
COLTON
SIX MONTHS LATER
“And with that, I think all that’s left is to say welcome to Mills Corner,” my realtor, Bruce, says as I sign the last page in the stack of paperwork in front of me. “Congrats, she’s all yours.”
I feel my lips slip into a ghost of a smile as I take in the forty-five acres of farm land in front of us that I just purchased, and I let myself relax with the knowledge I’m finally home.
“You know, I was beginning to think this place wouldn’t ever sell,” Bruce says, looking over at the old farmhouse from where we’re standing on the porch. “I know she needs a lot of work, but something tells me this place might be exactly what you need right now.”
“Yeah, I think you may be right. Thank you again for all your help,” I tell him as he hands me the keys to the farmhouse before waving and heading off toward his old truck in the driveway.
“Sure thing. Feel free to call if you need anything,” he yells over his shoulder before taking off, stirring up a pile of dust behind him.
I can’t help but smile as I look around at the broken boards on the porch and the screen door that’s hanging just a little off its hinges.
Weird? Maybe. But it’s been almost six months since my rodeo career ended, and the idea of finally having a purpose and a project makes me feel like everything is right in my world again.
Grabbing the keys, I get ready to head inside and start a mental list of everything that I need to fix just as my phone rings.
“Hello,” I answer, pushing the front door open.
“Hey, man,” Hayes, my best friend and mentee of the last three years, greets me. “Are you officially a homeowner now?”
“Hell yeah,” I respond with a laugh. “All those years we spent on the circuit, but I never thought we’d end up as neighbors.”
“Yeah, yeah. I should’ve known you wouldn’t be able to stay away from me for long,” he teases, and I roll my eyes despite the fact that he can’t see me.
“Whatever you say,” I say, bending over to look at the massive hole in the hardwood floor.
“Anyway, I’m sorry I’m not there to celebrate your first night in town, but go have a drink at The Watering Hole on me tonight. When I’m home tomorrow, plan to come by the house and grab dinner.”
“You know, most of the time when people say have a drink on them, it implies they’re the one paying for the drink, right?”
“Listen, asshole. Not all of us are million-dollar bull riders, okay. I think you can afford the two-dollar beer in Mills Corner,” Hayes points out, and I shake my head.
“Yeah, yeah. Just pointing out the fact that you’re full of shit, as usual. But regardless, dinner tomorrow sounds great,” I tell him honestly.
“Perfect, I’ll let Mama know you’re coming. And I’ll tell her your favorite food is poppy seed chicken too.”
“Hayes, that’s your favorite food, not mine,” I point out.
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know that. And I’m fucking tired of eating food out of a bag.”
I chuckle, continuing to make the rounds around the living room.
Buying this place sight unseen may not have been my smartest idea, but it’s already the closest thing I’ve had to a home in the last ten years, and something tells me the work will be worth it.
Plus, it’s not like I have anything better to do now that I’m officially done riding.
“Are you still there, man?” Hayes asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, sorry, I got distracted. You know, it’s kind of wild to me that as long as we’ve been friends, tomorrow will be the first time I meet your family. You’re always talking about them, but until a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure they even existed.”
Hayes lets out a laugh, “Yeah, they’re real. A real pain in my ass most of the time, but they mean well. And with you moving in next door, something tells me you’re about to get more than your fill of the Phillips family.”
“You do remember there’s at least a mile worth of farmland between us, right? Pretty sure your mom won’t be walking over to borrow a cup of sugar anytime soon.”
“I’m afraid you’re drastically underestimating the determination of the Phillips women.
Once they put their mind to something, they’re pretty damn stubborn.
If either of them decides to develop an affinity for baking in the middle of the night, don’t think they won’t throw on their boots and make the trek. ”
I laugh at Hayes’s animated response just as I hear something shuffling in the direction of the bedroom. Confused, I listen to my best friend ramble on as I make my way down the hallway, the noise growing louder with every step.
“Colton, did you hear me?” Hayes shouts, just as I start to push open the door.
“Yeah, uh, give me just a— holy fuck!” I yell, taking in the chaos in front of me.
Across the large bedroom, there’s another smaller hole in the wood floor, and next to it, there’s at least ten squirrels, scampering around and trying to hide from me.
After a pause, one runs straight toward me, and I panic, running out of the room and slamming the door shut.
It hits the door with a loud thunk a second later while I fight to catch my breath.
“Dude, what the fuck is going on over there?” Hayes asks, clearly alarmed.
“Squirrels. Lots and lots of squirrels,” I breathe out, the fear evident in my voice.
My best friend bursts into laughter through the phone, but I ignore him, still trying to catch my breath.
“Wait, wait, wait. You mean to tell me that you spent the last fifteen years of your life riding on the back of a bull, and you let out a scream like that at some woodland creatures?”
“The bulls aren’t in my fucking bedroom, asshole,” I breathe out, just as a large rat runs across my foot, causing me to yelp in surprise and Hayes to laugh even harder.
“Fuck, I didn’t know I was moving onto a set for National Geographic,” I mutter. “I think ol’ Bruce left a few things out of the information packet he emailed me last month.”
“Dude, I told you. I’m happy to have you in Mills Corner, but that place is a dump. I know you’re excited to work on it, but I think you might have bitten off more than you can chew with this one.”
Adjusting the cowboy hat on my head, I blow out an annoyed breath before responding. “It’s gonna be fine. It may just be a little more work than planned.”
“Whatever you say, man. Anyway, I’ve gotta get ready for my ride tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Sounds good, I’ll see you then,” I tell him, hanging up and turning to look back at the house. I feel the small pang of sadness that usually comes when Hayes mentions riding, but I push it aside and center myself by focusing on what’s in front of me.
“All right,” I mutter. “We’re gonna get this place organized, but first I need a fucking beer.”
“Just a Michelob, please,” I tell the bartender as I settle in at the bar of The Watering Hole later that evening.
She nods and heads off to grab my drink as I take in the scene in front of me.
According to Hayes, this is one of the only restaurants in town, and it's packed for a Friday night. The large room has one of the biggest square bars I’ve ever seen in the middle of the room, and there’s at least thirty tables squeezed in the space behind me.
Toward the front of the room, there’s a large dance floor and stage.
The stage is empty, but it’s still kind of early, and it hasn’t stopped a group of locals from line dancing to an old Brooks and Dunn song coming through the speakers.
“Thank you,” I say to her as she slides my beer in front of me.
“Sure thing, Sugar. Do you need a menu?”
“Yes, please,” I respond, and she pulls an old laminated piece of paper out from under the bar.
“I’ll give you a bit, and then I’ll be back to check on you,” she tells me before she walks away.
The waitress hasn’t been gone for more than a minute before a woman slides onto the barstool beside me.
“Hey there, Cowboy,” the woman teases, and I look over to see her gesturing to the brown cowboy hat that’s pretty much a permanent fixture on my head.
I open my mouth to respond, but find myself staring at her instead.
She’s by far the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
Her long brown hair is curled around her face, and her brown eyes hold just a little bit of mischief as she stares at me.
And not to mention the fact that her jeans and tank top point out every dip and curve of her perfect, tanned body.
Before I can say anything, the lights go out and everyone around me cheers. My face must show my confusion because she laughs before leaning in to whisper, “After eight, they kill the lights and let the band take over.”
Sure enough, the stage lights come on, and the room fills with a hazy glow between the neon signs and the small smoke machine on stage.
“So, Cowboy, what brings you to Mills Corner? Something tells me you aren’t from around here,” she says, taking a sip of her drink.
“What gave me away?” I ask, fighting the urge to smile.
“Well, if you haven’t noticed, every woman in this place has been drooling over you since you walked in. Pretty sure we’d know if you were from around here. Plus, I’ve lived here my whole life, and I know everyone,” she answers as the band starts to play on the stage in front of us.
“That’s fair,” I admit. “Anyway, I must have missed your name.”
“Nope, I don’t think you did,” she says, staring at me for a moment before breaking into a fit of giggles. “But since you asked, I’m Lulu.”
“Nice to meet you, Lulu. I’m Drake,” I say without thinking.
Over the years, I've gotten used to giving people my middle name to avoid the rodeo girls who just want to say they took me for a ride. I realize it’s not necessary anymore now that I’m retired, but I guess old habits die hard. “Are you here by yourself?”
Lulu rolls her eyes before gesturing to the dance floor, where a girl is standing in the middle of the line dancers, making out with a guy in a backward ball cap.
One of the dancers knocks into them, but they ignore it, continuing to kiss in the middle of everything.
“I wasn’t supposed to be. My cousin dragged me out to dance with her, but she ditched me when she saw her on-again, off-again boyfriend here. ”
“Oh, well, I'm honored you picked me to keep you company then,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes.
“Don’t let it go to your head now, Cowboy. You just happened to be sitting next to the only empty barstool in this place, and the boots I let Amelia talk me into wearing are killing my feet.”
I take a sip of my beer before I say, “Hmm, I guess that really worked out for me then, huh?”
“I guess we’ll have to see how lucky you’ll get tonight,” she shoots back, and I can’t help but smile. Looks like there might be more surprises than I thought in Mills Corner.