3. Cowboy Buffet #2
It was just dinner, not a date. Not even adjacent to a date-like activity.
But yet, here I was, debating whether to wear mascara and lip tint like I was preparing for one. I’d changed outfits twice already, settling on dark jeans and a light blue sleeveless blouse.
I reached for my mascara, pulled my hand back, then immediately grabbed it again. I couldn’t show up looking like a cave troll, now, could I?
Two coats later, I slipped on my flip-flops and headed toward the main lodge, rehearsing potential conversation topics in my head. My phone buzzed with a text before I could contemplate whether they’d want to hear about the time I split my pants ten minutes before the morning bell rang.
April: Get pics of the cowboys or I’m reporting you.
Me: Reporting me for what? Not being stalker enough?
April: Gross negligence of best friend duties.
Me: Pretty sure that’s not a thing.
April: Well, it is now, and after that rude picture from earlier, I deserve compensation.
Me: I’ll see if they have any hot cowgirl sisters for you.
April: Have I told you lately that I love you?
I snorted and put my phone in my purse as I stepped through the door to the lodge, the scent of something delicious hitting me immediately. My stomach growled in response, reminding me I’d been too nervous to eat much at lunch.
Kellan appeared from what I assumed was the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Quinn! Perfect timing.”
“Do you need any help?” I offered, hovering uncertainly in the entryway.
“Nope, you’re our guest of honor. Make yourself comfortable.” He gestured toward the large table that was set for four.
I slid into a chair, suddenly feeling nervous. There didn’t appear to be any other guests attending this dinner, so it would just be me and the three ranch owners.
Reid emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates, Walter trotting at his heels. The dog immediately abandoned him to greet me, sitting next to my chair in a lemur stance, staring up with soulful eyes.
“Well, aren’t you the most adorable little man?” I gently scratched his little head.
“He’s working you.” Reid set the plates with mixed vegetables and potatoes on the table. “Don’t fall for it.”
Kellan brought over a pitcher of iced tea. “Would you like something besides tea to drink? We have pretty much everything you could imagine.”
“Tea is fine. I really shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach.” My stomach chose that moment to growl again. “See, it agrees.”
“Well, if you change your mind or you need a snack or drink later, the lodge is open twenty-four-seven. Your cabin key will open the door.” Kellan poured me a glass and sat down next to me.
Enzo was the last to appear, carrying a plate piled with roasted chicken. He nodded in my direction, the barest acknowledgment of my existence.
I smiled, trying to convey that I was totally fine, completely at ease, and not at all overwhelmed by being surrounded by three ridiculously attractive men. “Everything smells delicious.”
“A guest we had a few weeks ago said our cooking was better than the five-star place in town,” Reid said.
“Are we talking about the lady who also thought Debra was a majestic horse specimen?” Enzo took the seat across from me, showing the smallest hint that he had a sense of humor.
I snorted, then immediately regretted it when all three pairs of eyes turned to me. “Sorry, majestic isn’t the first word that comes to mind.”
“What word would you use?” Reid put down another plate with dinner rolls and took his seat.
“I don’t want to offend your girlfriend.” I took a sip of my tea and was surprised at how good it was.
The food was served, and soon we settled into eating. I took a bite of chicken and had to stifle a moan. It was perfectly seasoned and juicy, and I was impressed they’d cooked it. Not once during my relationships with Jason or any of my other exes had they served me anything remotely as tasty.
Not that these three were anything other than acquaintances.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence where we all stuffed our faces, Kellan looked to me. “So, Quinn, what are your plans while you’re here?”
I nearly choked on a green bean. “Plans?”
“For the week… Any particular activities or training you want to do?”
“I, um...” I realized I had absolutely zero idea what I was meant to be doing here besides immersing myself in the world of horses. “What are my options?”
Kellan leaned forward, eyes lighting up. “We’ve got trail rides, horseback riding lessons?—”
“Do you even ride?” Enzo interrupted, his fork hovering halfway to his mouth, as if my answer was important enough to delay his next bite.
“Horses?” I immediately wanted to melt into the floor, possibly continuing straight through to the earth’s core where no one could witness my complete ignorance.
“I mean, no. Never. The hobby horse competition was literally my first horse experience.” I fidgeted with my napkin, feeling like I’d shown up to a calculus exam after sleeping through every class.
“I could tell from your footwear.” Enzo went back to his food with a dismissive flick of his eyes under the table to my cute sandals that had seemed perfectly appropriate when packing but now felt like wearing clown shoes to a funeral.
“You can’t be around the animals in open-toed shoes, let alone ride a horse. ”
Kellan gave Enzo a pointed stare. “What my tactful colleague means is we’ll make sure you have the proper footwear before you get near any of our four-legged friends.”
“Why’d you enter a hobby horse competition if you’ve never been around real horses?” Reid sounded genuinely curious, and I couldn’t blame him. His brown eyes were soft with interest rather than judgment.
Heat crept up my neck as I pushed a potato around my plate, buying time.
How did I explain that I’d been swept up in April’s post-breakup “yes to everything” recovery plan without sounding like a complete disaster?
That I’d been so desperate to feel anything besides heartbreak that I’d pranced around on a stick horse in public?
“My friend April signed me up. I was going through a breakup, and she thought it would be... therapeutic?”
“A breakup?” Kellan’s expression shifted to one of sympathetic understanding. “Those can be rough.”
“Well, it was more the betrayal part than the breakup itself,” I admitted, mentally kicking myself for bringing it up at all.
The last thing I wanted was to be the sad, dumped girl at the table.
“But honestly, the hobby horse competition was the first time I’d laughed in weeks.
It was ridiculous, but also... freeing.”
Reid nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “Sometimes the most absurd things can be exactly what we need.”
“Exactly!” I pointed my fork at him, grateful for the understanding. “And now I’m here on a ranch with actual horses, which is probably the universe’s idea of a joke, but I’m open to learning. How hard can it be, right?”
Enzo’s eyebrow raised slightly. “Depends on whether you value all your bones being intact.”
“Ignore him.” Kellan leaned in conspiratorially. “He acts tough, but he taught a group of five-year-olds last summer and was practically glowing by the end of it.”
“I was sunburned,” Enzo muttered.
The rest of dinner flowed more easily after that.
The men told stories about ranch mishaps, like the time Debra escaped and ended up in the neighboring ranch’s pool, and I shared some of my classroom adventures, including the Great Glitter Disaster of 2023 that resulted in my car still sparkling in certain lighting.
Soon our plates were empty, and Reid pushed back his chair, stacking his and Kellan’s plates. “Thanks for the company, Quinn. I’ve got to go check on the horses before turning in.”
“And I need to finish scheduling next week’s trail rides.” Kellan stood and stretched, his shirt lifting enough to reveal a tantalizing strip of skin and a smattering of hair leading into his pants, which I totally didn’t notice. “Enzo’s on dish duty tonight.”
“Can I help?” I gathered my plate and silverware before Enzo could object. “It’s the least I can do after you fed me.”
Kellan and Reid exchanged a look I couldn’t quite decipher before saying their goodnights and heading out, leaving me alone with the grumpiest of the three cowboys.
“You’re a guest; you don’t have to help.”
“I want to.” I followed him into the kitchen. “I promise I know how to dry dishes without breaking them. It’s one of my few adult skills.”
His lips twitched, almost a smile but not quite. “Wash or dry?”
“I’ll wash.” I took the dishrag he offered.
We fell into a surprisingly comfortable rhythm with me washing and him drying and putting away dishes. It was quiet, but the comfortable kind of quiet that was relaxing instead of tense.
“You’ve got...” Enzo motioned to my face, and I reached up, confused. His hand hesitated before he reached out and gently brushed a bit of soap from my cheek with his thumb. The brief contact left my skin tingling.
“Thanks.” I was suddenly very interested in washing the last fork.
When we finished, Enzo leaned against the counter, studying me for a moment. “I’ve got to drive into town tomorrow morning. If you want, I can take you to get some boots. You’ll need them.”
I blinked in surprise. “That would be great. Thank you.”
“Eight o’clock. Don’t be late.” And with that, he headed out the door.
I stood in the kitchen, clutching a damp dish towel, wondering if I had managed to crack the first layer of his stoic exterior or if he was just being polite.