18. Cami
Cami
Scared to Start by Michael Marcagi
I should be doing something productive.
Like handling actual business for Steamy Sips or tackling the never-ending to-do list at the Wilder Ranch. But instead, I’m on my way to the Bridger Falls Fire Station with a box of muffins that Ollie did not request but will absolutely demolish. Jack’s on his stupid picnic date, and I hate this.
When I step inside, the station is already bustling, the scent of smoke, sweat, and something delicious mixing in the air.
Ollie looks up from where he sprawls on the beat-up couch in the common room, eyes half-lidded and hair a mess as if he’s been running his fingers through it.
I raise an eyebrow. “Whoa. Did you actually get run over by a firetruck, or are you just committing to looking like a PSA for exhaustion?”
Ollie groans, rubbing his face. “Long night. Then a long day. People keep lighting dumb things on fire.”
I set the box of muffins on the table in front of him. “Did you try telling them not to?”
“Yeah, Cami, thanks for the brilliant idea. I’ll just politely ask people to stop having emergencies,” he says dryly, before eyeing the box. “What’s this?”
“Muffins. I made extra.”
“You made extra?” Ollie smirks, dragging the box toward him. “Or did you conveniently decide you ‘accidentally’ baked too much because you wanted to come see your favorite brother?”
“You’re my only brother.”
“Exactly,” he says, already peeling open the lid. “And that makes me the favorite by default.”
“Favorite pain in my ass, maybe.”
He grins around a mouthful of muffin. “That’s rude.”
I lean against the counter, watching as he inhales two muffins in the time it took me to check my phone. “So, how’s life? How’s living above Poppy’s shop?”
He grunts. “It’s fine. I’m here a lot, so not really there all that much.”
Then, he squints at me and says, “You look like you’re suspiciously spending a lot of time at the Jessop Ranch.”
I stiffen. “Excuse me?”
Ollie smirks. “I saw you the other day when I stopped by to see Jack. Looked like you were real cozy out there.”
“It’s called working, Ollie. I have to pay bills.”
He snorts. “Yeah, that must be what it is, because I totally believe you’re not emotionally invested in any of this.”
I throw a napkin at his face. “Shut up and eat your muffin.”
Ollie laughs, but before he can push me further, someone else strolls into the room, and wow, is he ridiculously good looking .
“Cami,” Ollie says, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “Meet Beau. He’s the new guy.”
I turn just as he steps toward us, towel slung over his shoulder.
He has dark, wavy hair, an easy grin, and the kind of broad shoulders that could probably bench press me and the box of muffins at the same time. He has eyes the color of chocolate and a warm smile.
I blink. Wow. This is not who I was expecting Beau to be.
He wipes his hands on the dish towel and reaches out. “Hey, you must be Ollie’s sister.”
I shake his hand, eyeing the tray of fresh biscuits, jam, and cinnamon rolls he just set on the table. “Uh, yeah. Cami.”
“Beau Callahan. Resident firehouse cook, and apparently, part-time baker.”
I nod, still taking in the spread of baked goods. “Wait, you made all this?”
He nods, smirking. “Yep. Grew up in a big family, cooking’s just second nature at this point.”
Ollie grins. “He feeds us like we’re a bunch of starving orphans.”
Beau shrugs. “I like feeding people. And y’all eat like you haven’t seen food in weeks.”
I cross my arms, staring at the biscuits. “You ever thought about baking for extra cash?”
Beau raises an eyebrow. “You offering?”
“I might be,” I say, glancing at the golden, flaky perfect looking biscuits. “I could use some extra hands at Steamy Sips, especially with my other obligations right now.”
Ollie waggles his eyebrows. “Damn, Cami. You didn't even consider asking me for part time work.”
“Because you suck at baking,” I shoot back.
Ollie shrugs. “Fair. ”
I turn back to Beau. “So, what do you think? You have your shifts here, but I could use someone part-time.”
Beau grins. “I’m in.”
Ollie gasps, dramatically clutching his chest. “That’s it? That’s all it takes?”
I grab a biscuit from the plate and take a bite. It’s perfect, soft, buttery, and flaky. “I mean, can you bake like this?”
Ollie glares. “No.”
“Then shut up.”
Beau chuckles, folding his arms. “I like her.”
Ollie rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, she grows on you. Like a fungus.”
I playfully kick him under the table.
We settle into the firehouse kitchen, eating biscuits and drinking coffee like we aren’t in the middle of a workday. Beau asks all about Steamy Sips, and I explain how I’m working out at the ranch temporarily, hence why I’m practically hiring on the spot.
Ollie, meanwhile, continues giving me hell. “So, are you gonna bring some muffins to the Jessop Ranch next?”
I scowl at him. “Why would I do that?”
Ollie smirks. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you’re contractually obligated to be there? Or maybe because you’re secretly obsessed with Jack?”
Beau looks between us, amused. “This sounds like a story.”
“There is no story,” I say quickly.
“There’s so much story,” Ollie corrects.
Beau grins. “Oh, I guess I gotta hear this.”
I groan. “No, you don’t.”
Ollie leans back, folding his arms. “She’s Jack Jessop’s assistant now. But it’s definitely not personal.”
Beau raises an eyebrow. “Jessop Ranch Jack? ”
“The very one.” Ollie smirks. “And Cami is definitely not interested in him at all.”
Beau glances at me. “You look real guilty for someone who’s not interested.”
I stand abruptly. “Okay, this was fun, but I have places to be.”
Ollie chuckles. “Yeah, yeah. Go check on your live in not-boyfriend.”
I flip him off and wave to Beau as I leave the firehouse.
But instead of heading home, I found myself driving toward Jessop Ranch.
For completely legitimate reasons.
I should have gone to bed, but I was feeling restless.
That could be because I had ended up making a detour earlier to the Jessop Ranch to spy on Jack on his oh so romantic picnic date.
Now, here I am, out in the pastures, the cool Wyoming night stretching out like a quiet, open promise.
The stars above are sharp and bright, the kind you only get in a place like this, where the sky isn’t smothered by city lights, just endless and wild, like the land itself.
Mouse, my stubborn little sweet boy, flicks his ears as I guide him on a peaceful walk through the open field behind Wilder House. I didn’t even bother saddling him, just hopped on bareback, letting the rhythm of his steps settle something restless in my chest.
I am not thinking about Jack or how he spent all evening on a picnic date with another woman. Fake contestants or not, it still gets to me.
I am not thinking about how he laughed at something she said .
I’m not?—
A horse’s snort sounds from behind me in the dark.
I sigh. Of course.
“You stalking me, Jessop?” I call without turning.
Jack’s voice, smooth and lazy, drifts through the night air. “I could ask you the same thing. You were mighty interested in my picnic earlier.”
I scowl but still didn’t turn around. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mm-hmm.”
"I saw you, Wilder."
Mouse flicks his ears again, clearly picking up on my tension. I exhale, forcing myself to loosen my grip on him.
Jack and Pesto walk up beside us, Jack looking obnoxiously at ease.
He studies me, smirking like he knows exactly what is going on in my head.
“So,” he says casually. “Why are you taking a lot of these late-night rides?”
I shoot back. “Some of us have reality TV commitments occupying our very busy schedules.”
Jack chuckles. “Ah, so you’re saying you’re jealous of my very demanding filming requirements?”
I snort. “Oh yeah, so jealous. Must be exhausting getting fed cheese and crackers while sitting in the grass.”
“Don’t forget the wine,” he says. “She picked it out herself. Said it had ‘earthy undertones.’”
I gag dramatically. “You poor thing. Must’ve been so hard for you. You don’t even like wine.”
Jack grins, but his eyes flicker with something more like amusement and curiousity, like he’s waiting to see if I’ll admit the obvious .
Jack stretches, resting his forearms against his saddle horn. “You wanna know how it went?”
“Nope.”
“She told me she’s allergic to grass.”
I blink. “You’re lying.”
Jack shakes his head, looking downright delighted. “Swear on Pesto’s life. She said it’s ‘so rustic’ out here, but she’s ‘just not used to all the elements.’”
I stare at him. “You mean… the outdoors ?”
“Exactly.”
A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it. “Oh my God. Jessop, you’re gonna end up marrying someone who breaks out in hives every time the wind blows.”
Jack tilts his head. “Who said I was gonna marry anyone?”
I roll my eyes. “That’s literally the point of the show.”
He smirks. “I think the point is to entertain the masses.”
I turn, riding Mouse a little ahead of him, my fingers lightly running over the horse’s coarse mane. The breeze is cool against my face, but my skin is still warm from the ride.
Jack follows. “So, you’re really not gonna ask how the date ended?”
I sigh dramatically. “Fine. How did it end?”
“She tried to get me to teach her how to ‘do cowboy things.’”
I choke. “What the hell does that mean?”
He grins. “Your guess is as good as mine. I asked for clarification, and she said she wanted to ‘lasso something.’”
“Oh, this just keeps getting better,” I mutter. “Did she manage to lasso anything?”
“Almost,” Jack says. “Would’ve been real impressive if she hadn’t accidentally roped herself to a fence post.”
I lose it. The kind of laugh that makes my stomach hurt and my shoulders shake as Mouse keeps moving forward, utterly unbothered by my outburst .
Jack just keeps looking at me, smirking. “Glad to see you’re so supportive of my reality TV journey.”
I wipe a tear from my eye, shaking my head. “I love that you’re on this show.”
“You hate that I’m dating other women,” he corrects, his voice just a little too smug.
I shoot him a glare. “Don’t flatter yourself, Jessop.”
I wonder if Jack knows that most of the women aren’t really here for the show. I don’t want to say anything, and I definitely don’t want him to think that I’m jealous.
His eyes gleam in the moonlight, but he doesn’t push further. Just lets the silence settle around us. We ride in easy quiet, the distant sounds of the ranch on the wind, the rustling grass, the occasional snort of a horse wrapping around us like a familiar song.
We ride in silence for a while, the soft thud of hooves in the grass, and the night settling over us like a blanket. The stars are scattered thick above us, and it’s so peaceful.
I’m just starting to feel... calm. Which is exactly when Jack opens his mouth. “I’m proud of you, you know that?”
My head snaps toward him. I blink. “What?”
He doesn’t even flinch, just keeps riding steady, like he didn’t just casually drop a bomb on my heart.
“The ranch,” he says. “Your plans for it. All of it.”
Something tightens in my chest—sharp and deep and stupidly unexpected. My fingers flex on the reins. He sees it. Not just the land. Not just the old Wilder legacy. He sees what I want to build. And somehow, that hits harder than anything else has all week.
I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Thanks.”
Jack nods like it’s no big deal. Like he didn’t just undo me with five words and that stupid soft tone of his. “It’s a good plan, Cami,” he says. “Smart. Big-picture. You’ve got great dreams. I can’t wait to see them come true.”
I let out a breath and look up at the stars again because if I look at him too long, I might say something embarrassing. Like marry me. Or stop looking at me like that with your damn green eyes and your barn-built biceps.
A warmth spreads through my chest. Unwanted. Uninvited. Completely undeniable.
Because when Jack tells me he’s proud of me? It hits different.
The silence falls again, but it’s not heavy this time. It’s full of unsaid things I’m not quite brave enough to name. Not yet. And the best part? Jack doesn’t push.
He doesn’t fill the quiet or prod me for a reaction. He just rides beside me, calm and steady, like he’s content to be in my orbit for as long as I’ll let him stay.
And maybe that’s the thing that wrecks me most of all.