Chapter 6
Vicky
“Now you want to know the answer to that, huh?” I teased, looking down at my milkshake.
“I bug you enough about it, but I also know I’m wrong.” That had my head snapping up and he laughed. “Don’t give me that look. I can admit when I’m wrong. And I was. Am. So, how do you know so much?”
“I lived here.”
I watched as his brows snapped together in confusion and I couldn’t help but smile at that. The moment I could throw that in his face, I didn’t think it would look like that, but it was priceless. Hell, I was half tempted to take my phone out and snap a photo just to keep the memory there.
“You lived here?”
“I did. Moved away when I was about five years old, actually. But this was always my home, and this is where I wanted to come back to. My dad lost his job here and it is a small place, so we moved in with family in Texas, but it never felt right. When I told my parents I was coming back, they weren’t surprised. ”
“Do you have people here you know?”
“I do. Crystal is my best friend.”
“The same Crystal that works…,” but instead of finishing, he just trailed off and I couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Yup. She’s the one who lends me her horses. Well, Blaze is mine actually. I’ve been paying for him for years. But yes, that same lady.”
“That makes…far more sense. Of anyone I can see you being friends with, it’s her. She’s so much like you; annoyingly cheerful.”
“Don’t do that, Jose,” I told him, flinging a fry at him. “Just because some of us enjoy being pleasant and happy doesn’t mean it’s bad. Besides, this wonderful personality that I have brings a lot of tourists to town. And whether you like it or not, it keeps the town alive.”
He sighed before he leaned back in his seat, his fingers running through his hair and I fought not to lean over and do the same.
Why did this older, grouchy, rancher have to be so hot?
Why couldn’t I fall for guys closer to my age?
Instead, there was a good ten plus year age gap between us, and I had no doubt that he would shut me down if I tried.
And honestly, he could be seeing someone for all I know. Jose kept his cards pretty close to his heart.
“I hate that so many people come through here, did you know that?”
“Didn’t know, Jose, but I could take a guess. Why?”
“This town wasn’t like that before. Everyone wants to come and hear stories or see crap. It was just a farming and ranching town.”
“You’re far too much of a grump to see the goodness that’s here. The beauty. You shouldn’t be allowed to hoard it all, right?”
I peeked outside to the fading clouds and waved my hand.
“Like those. Look at that sunset.”
His eyes traveled to the window, and he let out a sigh.
The sun was setting behind the mountains, but it was giving off some vibrant oranges and pinks. It was a picture worth taking, and many people were. Why deny sharing that with others just because you weren’t fond of people?
“They’ll want to change our ways,” he muttered, once we finally put our phones away and sat back down at our spots. “People. They’ll come out here and think we’re too backwards.”
“Jose, I’ve been here for nine months now. And in all the tours, all the talks, all the stories I’ve ever given, I’ve never had someone want to change what we believe in or what we see. Hell, what we value.
“Your ranch has grown under your care, right? You’ve made improvements that your dad never thought of, ways you’ve pushed to make something faster or stronger, right?”
“Of course, anyone does. You need to get with the changing times.”
“Exactly. It’s not any different for the town. It’s not ideal, sure. People don’t want strangers underfoot or ruining things, but every tour I give, I make sure no one does. I let them appreciate the beauty that we have without ruining it. And that goes for anyone else too.
“We pride ourselves on giving people every part of our town but making sure they respect it just as much as anyone who grew up here. And I will have you know that many visitors to our lovely area talk about the reason they booked it was because of me. Because of the very love I give to everything I’m talking about.
“Why can’t you get behind the fact of just being proud of this rare nature jewel and wanting others to love it as much as you do?
What if people brought more people, and the economy boomed?
Or what if someone fell in love with the night skies or the myths and folklores around here and decided to make it their home? ”
His mouth fell open as if he was going to respond but nothing came out. I raised my brow, trying to silently push, but still, he held his tongue.
“Nothing to say, Vasquez?”
“No, because I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone talk about this place or their job like you just did. Is this how you give all your tours? With such passion and love?”
“Every last one. Doesn’t matter where I’m taking them or what I’m describing. I love this place and I will make sure everyone knows it. They came out here to see it, to learn about it, and I’m going to make damn sure they leave loving it as much as I do.”
“Well, shit, okay, I can see why you have people loving you. Why people book over and over. I think if you were my guide and I was seeing all of this with fresh eyes; I’d want to come back or stay too.
“I’ve never left, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone talk about this place like you have, Vicky. Feliz suits you. You’re happy. I had to laugh the first time I heard it, couldn’t think it was true, but it very much is.”
“My parents knew what they were doing when they named me, I guess. I was even a happy child. Except for when we left. I bawled for three days and didn’t talk to them for two weeks.
I was doing everything I could to get updates about here.
Crystal would draw pictures, like little girls are prone to do, and I still have them because it was my connection. ”
“I was a teenager when you left, do you remember me?”
“I very much do. Even at the age of five, Jose, you were my first crush. I guess If I’m being honest,” I muttered, finishing up my shake, “you still are.”
Before I could blink, his hands were cupping my face, and his lips were on mine.