5. Five
Five
Kyla
I stretched out on the bed, feeling the cool sheets hit my skin, the memory of hours prior still crystal clear in my mind. Rhett was everything I’d never had before. He was one hundred percent focused on me.
I could still feel his rough hands on my soft skin, his lips on my neck, the heat as he filled me. We came together, both of us completely breathless and immersed in each other. Our bodies calmed as Rhett trailed sweet kisses all over my skin, almost as if, even though we had both found the perfect ending, he was ready to make it happen again. That had never happened to me before. Orgasms were few and far between when I was with David, but with Rhett it was an entirely new experience. A part of me couldn’t wait to feel that again before I left. Maybe I could extend the one night to be one more night.
I reached out across the bed, my eyes flying open when I felt nothing but sheets. I shot up, looking at the empty space next to me. Rhett’s warmth was long gone. After getting past the initial shock, I looked around the room. It was dark when we came in, and we were so quick to remove every piece of clothing, we hadn’t even bothered to see where everything landed. My clothes were folded and placed on the ottoman at the end of the bed. The boots he had taken off the night before were gone, and his jeans that I had ripped off of him were laid out over a chair.
Did he really just leave me here alone?
By the looks of it, he did.
My stomach dropped and I felt nauseous. Not only were last night’s events not in my character, I even told him that.
This just proved why I never did this.
My mind began to race. I was in the guy’s house, alone, completely naked, vulnerable, and to top it off I had no idea how to get out of town, or if this place had any cell phone service.
Grabbing the sheets in a hurry, I climbed out of bed, wrapping the white fabric around my body as the queasy feeling got stronger. I vaguely remembered dropping my phone on the dresser last night as I was tangled up in Rhett’s arms, not thinking about what would happen come morning. My first thought was to text my best friend, Grace, and beg her to find me a way out of here. She was, after all, the only person I shared my location with. But what I saw instantly changed my state of being .
A small piece of cream paper sat next to my phone. Messy, but legible handwriting caught my eye.
Good morning, beautiful. I’m sorry to leave you so early, but I promised I’d help move the cattle. It won’t take me all day. Once we get them moved, I’ll come back. I’m dying to see you again. I made coffee, left the pot on. It should still be warm for you, unless you sleep all day. Even if you do, I’ll wake you when I get back. Make yourself at home, venture outside if you’d like, my sister is around somewhere. Please stay. I leave tomorrow on the circuit for a while . . . but I’d really love to see you again. I’ll kiss you soon. R.
In an instant, the nausea was gone.
My shoulders relaxed.
No one had ever left me a note like this before. There really wasn’t any need, but my eyes still read the last line over and over.
I’ll kiss you soon. I’ll kiss you soon.
Running my fingers over the words, I smiled to myself. Licking my lips, I turned my phone over, tapping the screen alive. I needed to talk to Grace, but before I could even think about dialing her number I was greeted with a plethora of missed calls and texts.
Grace
Did you decide to stay in Boise?
Call me when you get to a hotel.
Ky, I need you to respond to me. Unless you’re driving, then drive.
Okay you missed a phone call. You never miss phone calls. I’m starting to freak out.
KYLA RICHARDS ANSWER THE PHONE!
Oh Kyla . . .
It’s been fourteen hours since your last text, if you don’t text me back in fifteen minutes, I’m calling the police and starting a search party
I knew she was half-kidding, but I hit the FaceTime icon. Keeping the camera off so Grace didn’t get a show, I grabbed my pile of clothes and headed towards the bathroom.
“You had seven minutes.” Grace’s voice filled my ears. “Why is your camera off?”
“Because I’m getting dressed. Hello to you too.” I chuckled, throwing my tank top over my head.
“You scared the shit out of me. Where are you?”
“Idaho. On a ranch.”
“Be more specific, please.”
“I honestly don’t know. You have my location,” I reminded her.
Grace Flint was, without a doubt, the one person I leaned on. She was the one thing in my life I knew was never going anywhere. When I left David, and didn’t know what I was going to do, she let me stay in her one-bedroom apartment. I slept on her couch for months before I finally decided to leave Arizona. Grace knew my every step and I trusted her to keep me safe, no matter where I ended up.
Grace’s face turned out of focus as she tapped away on her phone—her eyebrows pinched, biting her bottom lip. I laughed, running my fingers through my hair, suddenly wishing I had a toothbrush. I turned my camera on and lifted my phone just in time to make the best eye contact FaceTime would allow with Grace.
“Idaho. In the middle of nowhere, a town called Alpine Ridge?” she said, her voice calmer now that she could see my face. “How small is this place, all I see is a main street and bar . . .”
“Don’t forget the ranch.”
“There’s a story here.” Grace placed her phone down, tilting it up on something to keep me in view. She sat down at the kitchen table, cup of coffee in front of her steaming as she settled in for my response. I held my phone out in front of me as I began to take in Rhett’s house.
“There is,” I assured her, biting my bottom lip to keep my smile in.
The light filled Rhett’s living room, leading into the open concept kitchen. The colors were the same light and dark browns, splashes of red and orange, but as promised, on the very modern coffee maker, there was a full pot of coffee waiting for me. He had even gone the extra step and set a large mug next to the carafe.
“Oh hell,” I muttered, picking up the mug. Is this how a woman was supposed to be treated? Or was it just Rhett? My stomach twisted as I inhaled, memories of his smile flashing in my mind .
“What—Are you going to tell me the story?”
“I met a cowboy,” I said simply.
“Ky, I need more details.” She paused, clearly scoping out the living room behind me. “Are you in his house!?” she shrieked.
“He made me coffee and even left a mug.” I lifted the mug into view.
Grace’s eyes grew wide as she leaned into her phone, her copper hair falling on the desk. “Excuse me?” she asked, incredulously.
I shook my head. Knowing me, I was taking the simple gesture over the top—making it out to be something it wasn’t. I was instantly jumping to conclusions thinking that this was him being a gentleman.
“He probably just did it so I didn’t go snooping.”
“You said he’s a cowboy. He’s probably more polite than you think.”
Rhett’s words from last night rang in my ear, a woman as beautiful as you deserves nothing less than to be worshiped. Let me worship you, Kyla. Oh, and how he worshiped. My body hummed at the memory. His fingers trailing down my hips and thighs, finding that most perfect spot as his eyes bore into me. The tension, the build, the release . . .
I looked at the mug, feeling my lips twitch in a smile. I knew I had been silent for far too long. I blinked, trying my hardest to erase the feel of his fingers.
“He left me a note,” I muttered quickly, placing the mug on the counter.
“I’m begging you to tell me the story,” Grace pleaded, her voice basically a groan when she said “begging. ”
Taking a deep breath, I filled the mug with coffee, and opened the fridge—thanking the coffee gods that Rhett had creamer—as I started to relay the entire night to Grace, starting with his opening line and ending with the note I had found next to my phone.
“It does not say ‘I will kiss you soon,’” she said with a swoon in her voice. She had relaxed, her chin resting on her palm as she listened, her eyebrows knitting together as even she seemed to melt.
“It does. It also said to make myself at home and find his sister. I’m honestly not sure if I should just stay here and watch some television, maybe start reading one of his books . . .” Taking a look at the bookshelf I noticed titles like: Not my First Rodeo, Chasing the Rodeo, and Rodeo at Heart. “Nevermind, maybe I won’t read.”
“No. Go outside and take a look at the ranch, find him on a horse and then drag him back to his place before you head to Washington.” Grace pointed at the screen. “You need this”—her hands began to circle in front of her—“tiny escape. You’ve been through hell. You don’t have to be in Washington until August, right? You have three months before you even start the new job. Stick around the ranch for a while. Spend time with Rhett.”
“According to his note, he leaves tomorrow for a rodeo.” I waved the note in front of the camera, widening my eyes at her to try to prove a point.
“Then go with him. Experience something you’ve never experienced before, and then when it’s time you can go back to your normal life. Let this be the Summer of Cowboys.” Grace moved her hands across the screen as she said the last three words, basically crafting a title for my summer .
“You make it sound so easy, when it’s not. I have to get to Washington and find a place to live.” I looked down to avoid her all-knowing stare.
“You have three months. What happened to your plan? Your bucket list? Sure, you saw the Grand Canyon, but that’s all. Now you’re suddenly out of time?” Grace questioned.
I heaved a sigh and fell onto the couch. “You know it was hard for me to leave teaching. Leaving Arizona in general was hard.”
Just the memory of leaving my job halfway through the school year stung like a thousand bees. I loved my job. I loved teaching. Seeing the kids’ faces light up when the book finally made sense, or the math problem became clear—it made everything worth it. But once things got worse with David, and I knew I had to make a change, the only option was out. I couldn’t stay at the school, David would find me there—even if I had security look out for him. The school was understanding, but leaving in the middle of the school year was hard—for me and my students. I would have to recertify my license, but until I could find a new school, I found a tutoring job. It wasn’t ideal, but it would do until I could get my feet back on the ground. I had a decent savings saved up, I technically didn’t start until the end of August, and my plan was to travel and find who I was again before starting over.
“I just . . . feel like I need to find my footing. All those bucket list things weren’t going to happen and you know it,” I added quickly.
Grace had helped me put together my “bucket list.” The few things I wanted to do before making it to Washington went out the window when the fear of not having a place to live, or food in the fridge—not having anything to my name—crept up. Adulting took over and I started the drive. Washington was far enough away that I could start over, but close enough that with a quick flight, I could still feel connected, in a way, to home. I was supposed to be in Washington.
But somehow, I ended up here.
“Rhett leaves tomorrow?” Grace asked again.
Looking at her through my screen, I nodded.
“Drink the coffee, go outside, see the ranch, and spend the day with him. You said he was moving cattle, maybe he can show you the ranch when he’s done and then you can adult tomorrow. Just let me know when you leave, okay?” Her voice was soft, going from Summer of Cowboys to Okay, I guess you can be an adult.
Grace always knew how to calm my nerves and knew what to say even if she didn’t agree. She knew when to end a conversation on a positive note, knowing full well I valued her opinion, and she valued mine as well. Grace was always there, and she always would be.
“I’ll drink my coffee and then go find his sister. It’s still early and I bet it takes longer than a few hours to move cattle.”
“Then you have time to make yourself at home. Keep me posted?” She raised her eyebrows, the fun storytelling now over, and her eyes filled with concern. She knew me. She knew what I endured. She knew what I was trying to do. She also knew I was scared shitless.
Giving her a soft smile, a silent thank you, I answered, “Will do.”
“Love you.”
“Love you more.”
Grace waved and then ended the FaceTime. Tossing my phone to the side, I gripped my mug with both hands. I thought about what Grace had mentioned, to experience something new. I wanted to say I checked that off the list last night, but she was right. What was one more day in the grand scheme of things? Nothing. I could leave Idaho tomorrow and start my life in Washington. But today . . . today didn’t have to be a checklist day. I could have just one more day.