16. Cami #2
She yells after me, “Get in there and make bad choices!”
I flip her off without looking back.
Truly. This is the friend I was cursed with.
Now I get to go face her brother, who is hot, infuriating, and unfortunately in possession of the aforementioned anatomy I now cannot un-think.
The second I step outside, the talking stops. Everything goes eerily quiet. A slow whistle from somewhere outside breaks the silence.
My eyes immediately scan, and I find Jack, who leans against the wooden fence, staring at me like he has just found a hundred-dollar bill in the dirt. His gaze sweeps over me, taking his time, and then a slow, sexy smile spreads across his face.
My heart trips over itself, and my stomach does an unwelcome somersault. Oh, no. This is bad.
“Damn, Cami,” someone mutters.
“She’s so hot,” someone else murmurs.
Jack tilts his head, his eyes locked on mine. “You wear that for me, Wilder? ”
I roll my eyes, determined to ignore the way his voice sends heat up my neck. “Yeah, Jack. The whole outfit was designed to impress the guy I can’t stand.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” he drawls, stepping a little closer. “You clean up real nice.”
I cross my arms, ignoring how his gaze dips briefly before meeting mine again. “And you’re still a pain in my ass.”
“Ah,” he nods, smirking. “You’re just mad ‘cause now I got something gorgeous to look at while I boss you around.”
I scoff. “Boss me around? In what world?”
And did he just say “gorgeous”?
“In the world where you signed a contract to be my assistant,” he leans in slightly, voice full of mischief. “And now, you work for me, darlin’.”
My heart jumps slightly at how close he is to me.
Jack leans in close to me and whispers in my ear. “Although you’re an absolute smoke show, I still prefer you in dusty boots, Wranglers, and that damn braid.”
I open my mouth to argue but close it because I’m speechless and staring at him. Jenna claps her hands, interrupting us. “Alright, time to film. Try not to kill each other before we even begin.”
Jack chuckles as I turn away, grumbling under my breath. This is going to be hell. And worse? Some tiny, traitorous part of me is going to love every second secretly.
When the contestants showed up, my presence did not phase most. But for Juliette, if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under the barn before noon. And the town of Bridger Falls? My presence thrilled them. The other four smile and wave and Savannah asks me if we’re still on for dinner.
“Yeah, of course. Looking forward to it,” I say. And I am. This morning Savannah and Elena came into the trailer and sat with me while I worked, and we chatted it up. I feel like they’re not big fans of Juliette either. But I didn’t ask. I’m too employed for that nonsense and any drama there.
I swear, half the town turned up this morning, lounging in lawn chairs like they’re here for a fireworks show. Maggie even set up a little table with Old Man Wallace from the feed store, and they're collecting bets. I caught snippets of conversation as I stepped up next to Jack.
“Five bucks says the mean one tries to ‘accidentally’ trip Cami.”
Someone else snorted. “Nah, they wouldn’t do that to our Cami.”
Oh, fantastic.
Jack leaned over, his voice low and full of amusement. “You ready for this, Wilder?”
I huffed. “Depends. Do I get hazard pay?”
His grin widened. “That depends. You planning to fight back?”
Before I could answer, Jenna called everyone together. “Alright, contestants! Today, you’ll be working with Jack and his assistant —” She shot me a quick, knowing glance, like she was fully aware she’d just dropped a live grenade into this situation. “—to complete a set of ranch challenges.”
Hannah, the perky brunette in an off-the-shoulder floral top and perfectly applied lipstick, smiled at me in a way that was teasing as if she was in on an inside joke. “So, Cami, how exactly did you become Jack’s assistant ?”
I open my mouth, but Jack answers first. “She’s overqualified, really. Knows this ranch inside and out. No one better for the job.”
Juliette’s smile tightens. “Oh. Interesting. ”
Jack, damn him, smirks. “She cleans up real nice, huh?”
All the contestants smiled, and some snorted, except Juliette. She glares at me .
"Not helping things here, Jack..." I mutter.
Juliette’s nostrils flare slightly. “I mean, you don’t seem like the ranching type. You’re...the coffee girl.”
I arch a brow. “Thanks, Juliette, I’m usually covered in horse hair and dirt, but now and then, I like to get cleaned up.”
“Eww, horse's hair falls off? Like cat hair?? I might have an allergy,” she complains to Jenna.
Listen, I'm a girl's girl. I don't engage in tearing down other women, so this is by far not what I was expecting.
Jack lets out a laugh, and I see the precise moment Juliette’s jaw clenches.
Jenna, sensing the tension, claps her hands together. “Alright, first challenge! You’re all going to learn how to saddle a horse. Jack and Cami will demonstrate.”
I step up beside Jack, tightening a cinch on one of the horses. “Wanna lead the way, or should I?”
Jack barely hid his amusement. “Oh, I’ve got this.”
Jenna says something to Savannah, and I watch Savannah morph into a whole new character which is fascinating. When she walks by me, she says quietly for only me to hear, “All for the show, Cami. Don’t worry.”
Wait, what? Are they like paid actors?
She batted her lashes. Jack, to his credit, at least looked over at me first, clearly waiting to see my reaction.
“Oh, don’t look at me,” I said dryly. “I’m just your assistant. You’re the big, strong cowboy.”
The crowd of townsfolk chuckle.
I stepped over, adjusting the saddle in two quick movements, and pat the horse’s neck. “There you go. All set.”
Juliette scowls. “I could’ve done that.”
I flash her an encouraging smile. “Of course.”
Next challenge: lassoing.
Juliette tosses the rope three feet in front of her and groans. “ Jack, this is hard. Maybe you could stand behind me and, like, guide me?”
Jack scratches the back of his neck, clearly torn between playing along for the sake of the show and not running for his truck. “Uh?—”
“No worries, Juliette,” I cut in. “I can show you.”
Her face falls in disappointment as I step up, grabbed the lasso, and nailed the target on my first try.
The crowd cheers.
Jack, looking way too pleased, turned to her. “See? Now you try.”
She scowls and tosses the rope again, missing by a mile.
Old Man Wallace laughs. “This is better than the rodeo.”
Ruby who had been suspiciously quiet until now, went for a different approach. She leans into Jack, placing a delicate hand on his arm. “So, Jack,” she practically purrs. “What kind of woman do you see yourself with?”
And just like that, the entire place goes dead silent.
My stomach does something completely stupid, and I hate myself for it.
Jack looks down at Ruby, then turns to look at me. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes linger just long enough that I know everyone caught it.
My stomach dips and I clench my thighs together at the heat in his eyes. Holy shit.
Someone in the crowd actually gasps.
Ruby watches us with fascination.
Jack, obviously enjoying this far too much, smirks. “Oh, you know. Someone who can keep up with me.”
Ruby’s mouth twitches.
I need to leave before I do something embarrassing.
Jenna, ever the professional, jumps in before a full-on brawl breaks out. “Alright, everyone! Let’s wrap up for now! Jack, Cami, great work. Contestants, maybe practice saddling before the next round.”
The girls give me apologetic smiles as they walked off, but I barely notice.
Because Jack is still watching me.
And I realize this whole “pretending not to like him” thing is going to be a hell of a lot harder than I thought.
I walk to the coffee trailer to pack up, and Savannah and Elena wait for me and offer a wave and a smile.
“Hey, ladies,” I call as I unlock the door and step in, surprised when they follow me. “Okay, come on in.”
“Okay, here’s the deal,” Savannah says. “I’m married. I’m here as a paid actress to work this show. I don’t want Jack. In fact, no offense, but none of us do. Well, except maybe Juliette. Apparently, she’s not a paid actress, she’s actually really into him.”
I open my mouth and close it, unsure what to say to that. “Okay, wow. Thanks for letting me know.”
Elena chuckles, “Cami, we like you. And Jack is so into you, it’s not even funny. We just wanted you to know that this is a job for us. Promise. So, when you watch us film, that’s all it is.”
I sigh with surprise and relief. “Okay.”
“Okay, now please for the love of God, can we get an iced coffee? I know you’re closed, but I desperately need one. No one in town has coffee like yours.” Savannah groans with a grin.
“Of course,” I answer with a smile. “Have a seat. We still on for dinner at The Black Dog?”
“Hell yeah,” Elena says. “Hannah wants to come too, but she’ll be a little late. She has to FaceTime her kid.”
I turn, confused. “She has a kid? ”
“Yes, girl. We all have good reasons for being here. Hannah’s a single mom going to law school. This show is paying off all her student loans and a down payment on a new house for her and her son. We all need this job.”
Holy cow.
“Ruby is paying off her mother’s staggering medical bills. She also has a good reason, too. She has a boyfriend back home in L.A,” Elena adds.
“Wow, I didn’t know. I’m glad you guys are here,” I say softly.
I hand one of the coffees over and Savannah sighs. “Best part of this show is your coffee, Cami.”
This show might be okay after all.