8. Nicole
NICOLE
When I go downstairs the next morning, Guy is already waiting for me in the lobby. He steps out from behind a column, and his whole face lights up when he sees me. His eyes travel slowly down my body before coming back to my face. His voice is husky. “Good morning.”
I can’t seem to stop smiling. “Morning.”
He starts to hold his hand out to me but quickly lets it fall. Instead, he gestures toward the exit. “Ready?”
I nod and fall into step beside him. When we reach a black truck, he hits a button and opens the passenger door.
Before I can say anything, Guy puts his hands on my waist and lifts me onto the seat.
My mouth falls open. He makes it look completely effortless.
He reaches into the truck and pulls the seatbelt across me. “You good?”
I nod. “I’m good.”
His gaze drops to my mouth like he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t. He steps back and closes the door.
I watch as he walks around the truck and gets into the driver’s seat. He picks up a bag from the console and holds it out to me.
“I brought breakfast. There’s coffee too. Cream and sugar are in the bag with the pastries.” Almost instantly, he shakes his head. “And just so you know, I feel guilty as hell for not taking you out for a proper breakfast.”
I reach inside and pull out a strawberry donut. My eyes widen at the gooey goodness. “Are you kidding me? This is a proper breakfast.”
He watches as I take a bite. As soon as I swallow, he leans toward me. “You’ve got a little something…”
He presses his lips to mine, and I moan when his tongue slides across my bottom lip. He kisses me before pulling back with a smile. “Okay, yeah. You’re right. The strawberry donut is definitely my favorite.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. I knew today would be tempting, but I thought I’d have at least a little control over myself. I’ve barely gotten into his truck, and the tug low in my belly is already overwhelming. I clear my throat, trying to pull myself together. “So where are we going?”
He looks at me for another second before starting the truck and pulling out of the parking lot. “My brother’s ranch.”
I take another bite of the donut. “The Brody Ranch?”
He looks at me curiously, and I’m quick to explain. “It was on your hat the first night. I remember thinking you weren’t fooling anyone with it.”
He laughs. “I fooled plenty of people.”
I point proudly at myself. “Not me. I knew who you were the second I saw you. I almost came over and said hello.”
His hands tighten around the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you?”
I shrug. “I’d already had one rejection that night. I didn’t need another.”
He reaches across the console and takes my hand, threading our fingers together.
I gesture toward the bag. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
He squeezes my hand. “I planned on holding your hand, so I ate two donuts on the way to pick you up.”
I sigh. Can this really be happening? Guy Brody is into me. Someone pinch me. “So Ozzy owns the ranch, right?”
He nods. “You remembered. Yeah, it’s Ozzy’s ranch. I let him know we’d be there this morning.”
“Where is it?”
“Whiskey Run.”
My eyes jerk toward him. “Wait. Your house is in Whiskey Run too, right? So you drove all the way into Jasper to get me, and now you’re driving back? I could have met you there.”
“No way. You won’t go on a real date with me, so I’m going to do everything I can to make this feel as normal as possible. That includes picking you up.”
There’s no way I’m going to argue with him because I like having him come get me.
I like riding in his truck with him too.
We talk the rest of the way to Whiskey Run.
I tell him about my job interviews and the apartment I’ll be moving into.
He tells me about his upcoming games and his schedule.
He’s happy to be playing at home for the next few weeks. I’m not going to admit it, but so am I.
Guy points toward a sign for Brody Ranch, and I turn to look through the windshield. The ranch is huge. “Wow,” I breathe.
He squeezes my hand. Horses run through a field on one side of us, and cattle stretch as far as I can see on the other. “This is beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.”
I turn toward Guy and find him smiling at me instead of looking at the scenery.
I roll my eyes, but I’m practically bouncing in my seat by the time he stops in front of a huge red barn with the Brody Ranch logo across the top.
Guy jumps out and comes around to help me down. He grabs a backpack from the back seat and slings it over his shoulder.
We walk hand in hand toward the barn, but when I see a few people ahead of us, I pull mine free. He stops and looks at me. “Hey, it’s okay. These are my family and friends. No one here is going to out us.”
My face heats, but I hold my hand out to him. He takes it immediately.
We walk into the barn, and a man wearing a cowboy hat comes toward us. He’s tall and muscular with dark hair. He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Hey, bub.”
He pulls Guy in for a quick hug before stepping back and looking at me. “You must be Nicole Foxx. I’m a big fan of your dad’s.”
Guy rolls his eyes. “Ozzy was more excited about Grant coming to the team than he is about watching me play. At least it finally got him to a game.”
Ozzy plants his hands on his hips. “Please. I’ve watched you play since you were a little boy picking flowers in the outfield.”
I laugh, and Guy smiles from ear to ear. “Right. Well, I didn’t come here to get my balls busted.”
Ozzy slaps him on the chest. “You know I have to give you a hard time. I saddled Daisy and Sarge.”
“Daisy?” Guy asks, surprised.
Ozzy nods reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Nicole. Daisy is gentle. She was my wife’s horse.”
“Oh.” My eyebrows lift. “I can ride any of them. I mean, if you’d rather—”
He holds up his hands. “No. Daisy will love it.”
I nod, unsure what else to say.
“Shit,” Ozzy mutters. He’s looking toward the drive as a small truck pulls up.
Guy turns, instantly tense. “What is it? Who’s that?”
Ozzy grits his teeth. “The new vet. She’s filling in for Dr. Jameson.”
Guy looks surprised. “Dr. Jameson is still alive?”
Ozzy nods. “Yes.”
His body stiffens as a woman walks toward us. She’s carrying a bag, and when she reaches Ozzy, she hands it to him.
“Hey, hot stuff.”
Then she looks at Guy and me. “Hello. I’m Ivey. Local vet.”
Guy looks between Ivey and Ozzy before holding out his hand. “Hi. I’m Guy, Ozzy’s brother, and this is Nicole.”
I give her a small smile before looking between the two of them. The chemistry is impossible to miss.
Guy looks at his brother. “Hot stuff, huh? I’ve heard you called a lot of things, but never hot stuff. Wait until the others hear about this.”
Ivey gestures up and down Ozzy’s body. “I mean, look at him. He should be in magazines. I’ve tried to get him to go out with me, but apparently he prefers the company of horses.”
She says it jokingly, but as a woman I can hear the truth beneath it.
Ivey claps her hands together. “Well, I’d better get to work. I’ll be with the cattle if you need me.”
She reaches for the bag, but Ozzy shakes his head. “Go ahead. I’m right behind you.”
Ivey walks away.
Guy is the first to speak. “Ozzy, you should—”
Ozzy glares at him. “Don’t. I’m not ready.”
Guy holds up his hands. “Got it.”
Ozzy gestures toward another man across the barn. “I’m going to help Ivey. Jason will get you set up with the horses.”
He walks away, and Guy looks at me. “That was weird, right?”
I shrug. “He’s your brother.”
“I know. It was still weird.” He looks in the direction Ozzy disappeared. “Maybe Ivey is exactly what he needs.”
I nod. “Maybe.”
Jason walks toward us holding the reins to two horses. “You two ready?”
Guy helps me onto Daisy before climbing onto his own horse.
I lean forward and stroke her neck. “Hey, Daisy. Are you a good girl?”
After I sweet-talk her for a minute, Guy asks if I’m ready. We start slowly down the path, and he looks over at me. “You like this pace, or do you want to ride?”
I can barely contain my excitement. “I want to ride.”
He points toward the path ahead. “Let’s go.”
We take off, and I’m not sure how much time passes, but I know my cheeks hurt from smiling.
Eventually, Guy points toward the water, and we guide the horses closer to the stream. We both climb down, and he ties them nearby.
He points toward a shaded spot before taking off his backpack. He pulls out a blanket and spreads it across the ground, then digs out a small cooler.
I sit down. “What is this? A picnic?”
He sits beside me. “Yeah. I figured since you won’t go out in public with me, I needed to step it up if I’m going to have a chance.”
I laugh. “Trust me. If this is a date, it’s the best one I’ve ever been on.”
He stops what he’s doing and looks at me. “It’s definitely a date.”
My gaze drops to his lips before moving to the cooler in his hands.
He keeps pulling out food until I start laughing. “Wow. What did you bring?”
He shows me everything as he takes it out. “Sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies, and water. I thought about bringing wine, but I noticed you were drinking water at the bar the other night, so I figured this was safer.”
I nod. “Water is perfect.” I swallow hard. “But first, can I ask you for something?”
He nods readily. “Of course. Anything.”
I blink and muster up all my courage. “Will you kiss me, Guy? The morning has been so perfect and that—”
He moves closer to me and wraps his arms around me. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He kisses me as if he’s been waiting for it and can’t wait another second. My heart is practically pounding out of my chest, and I melt into him, wanting all he’s ready to give.