Giddy-Up (Love Burns #5)

CHAPTER ONE

R iley actually gulped . What on earth was Wade Evans doing here? Outside her staff-issued trailer, flashing those goddamn dimples at her and turning her mind to mush.

Like it wasn’t mush before he showed up.

Okay. Fine. So it was plenty mushy already.

It had been ever since yesterday afternoon when she’d been strong-armed into attending Zach’s wedding.

Zach was the oldest of the four Evans brothers.

But he didn’t work on the ranch like the others.

Wade did though. He also just so happened to be the second oldest brother and the man in charge around here. And Riley’s brand spanking new boss.

Where the hell is Bella?

That was a good question. Bella was the woman Riley had met yesterday and was responsible for the forementioned strong-arming. Where was she? She hadn’t signed up to be harassed by dimples.

“Did you hear me, darlin’?” Wade drawled, this time tipping up his cream Stetson with one finger. “Bella’s running late, so you’re gonna have to make do with me as your escort.”

Oh, she’d heard him alright. Hence the near catastrophic throb in her ears.

This was the problem with social anxiety, how was she supposed to tell people she had it if her mouth was too dry to make sounds?

It also didn’t help that Wade of all people stood there.

Staring. It was difficult enough to talk to regular people, but put a six-foot two, hard-bodied, blue-eyed cowboy in front of her and there was a strong possibility she may never speak again.

“Riley?” he prompted.

Say something. Anything.

“B-But...”

For the love of God.

This didn’t bode well for the rest of the day.

Her head shook and her eyes hit the ground. This was embarrassing. Stupidly, she’d thought she could do this. She’d even got dressed up. And swapped her glasses for contact lenses.

Idiot.

“Hey.” Wade’s hand shot out, and the next thing she knew, a cautious finger was under her chin lifting her gaze to his. “You okay?”

Nope. Absolutely not.

Another gulp. Her instincts were telling her to run and hide. She couldn’t though. Not just because there was nowhere to run to. But because Wade was her boss. And she really needed this job. Which meant, she couldn’t just shut the door, she’d have to use actual words to try and get out of this.

Frigging marvellous.

“I, uh, maybe –” Come on. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Maybe it’s uh, maybe I-I should give it a miss.”

There. Done. Now she could return to her book and pretend this whole day had never happened.

Just as she was about to take a step back, their gazes collided.

And all of a sudden everything went quiet.

Even her usual, slightly bitchy, inner commentary was silenced.

Wade’s head dipped and she watched in fascination as his gaze traveled down the length of her.

When his eyes dragged back up, her belly clenched.

But it didn’t feel like her usual anxious stomach ache.

No. This felt different. Warmer. No, not warm, hot. Really, really hot.

Something that she didn’t recognize flashed in his eyes. “And waste this pretty little dress of yours? I don’t think so, petal.”

Petal?

His hand was out now, in front of her, palm facing up. It was as if he expected her to hold it.

Surely not? That would be madness.

“Come on, the best man can’t be late.”

He didn’t wait for her to comply; he simply took her hand and ushered her away from the safety of her doorway. Her heart was beating so fast, she was worried for her rib cage. Maybe that was why she followed him. Her body took the lead while her brain was distracted by a possible medical emergency.

Just seconds later, they were walking hand in hand up the gravel path.

The crunch of the dirt under her heels getting louder and louder the further they went.

She couldn’t think of a word to say. Which was normal.

What wasn’t normal though, was that he wasn’t speaking.

Not that she knew the small talk habits of Wade Evans, she didn’t.

But this wasn’t how things normally went in social situations for her.

She’d be quiet and awkward. And the nearest person in her vicinity would attempt a conversation, often by peppering her with questions, before eventually giving up.

But Wade. Wade was giving her nothing. And by the looks of it, he was perfectly fine not talking.

This is weird.

It was. She couldn’t decide if it was good weird or bad weird.

On the one hand, not talking was her preference any day of the week.

But on the other, a part of her might actually want to talk to Wade Evans.

The beautiful, blond cowboy who she’d been actively avoiding this past week because he was just too beautiful.

Yeah. That makes sense. You’ve spent a week running and now you’re ready to chit-chat?

Nothing was making sense today. Not the makeup she’d put on. Or the hour she’d spent curling her hair into big waves. Especially not the figure-hugging crimson dress she’d put on, that she went out and bought just this morning.

Who are you trying to impress?

She didn’t want to answer that. Mostly because the answer was holding her hand and making her skin hot. And she really needed to focus on not freaking out.

Dream on. He’s sooo out of your league.

As if on cue, a cold gust of wind smacked her in the face.

The good old fall breeze reminding her that she should never be fooled by a bit of sun.

Or in this case, chivalry. She needed to remember that.

Remember who she was. Girls like her didn’t get the guy.

They certainly didn’t get guys like Wade Evans.

As they approached the main house, which belonged to Wade’s parent’s, Riley had decided the silence was in fact, a good weird. It was exactly what she needed to try and compose herself.

“There you are,” Matt hollered as he made his way out the front door and down the porch steps. “We’ve been looking all over for you. Oh.” He stopped briefly in his tracks, confusion marring his tanned face before greeting her. “Hey, Riley.”

Matt was another Evans brother, younger than Wade and Zach but not the youngest. Jonah had that title.

She realized then, as Matt’s gaze drifted down, she was still holding Wade’s hand.

And the man wasn’t letting go of her. Instead of dwelling on that, she pushed out a “hey” back.

She liked Matt. He’d been the one to hire her as the ranch’s new live-in maid, and for that, she was grateful.

She also wasn’t as nervous around him or Jonah, even though they’d all clearly inherited the devilishly handsome gene.

“Sorry,” Wade replied, addressing his brother. “Had to go pick up Riley, where do you want us?”

Us?

Matt looked between the two of them. Clearly unsure about what was going on and what the hell Riley was doing there, holding his brother’s hand.

You and me both, buddy.

“Right. Uh. Well, guests have started to arrive, so Zach wants us all up at the alter with him.”

It was starting already? How long had they been walking? Granted the staff trailers were a good walk from the main house, but she wasn’t that slow.

As if reading her mind, Wade was quick to question Matt. “Isn’t it a bit early for all that?”

“The ceremony starts at two, man—that’s in ten-minutes. Jesus. You really need to get a watch.”

So did she evidently.

Riley switched off after that. She let the two brothers discuss logistics while her attention went back to her hand.

The one Wade was still holding. She couldn’t remember a time she’d held someone else’s hand.

Which was sad, because she kind of liked it.

In a strange way, it made her feel safe.

And she never felt safe. It was a very new feeling.

A feeling she was only just starting to process as she was jolted back to reality.

She was being ushered again. By that hand.

“Come on, petal, let’s get this party started, huh?”

Why was he calling her petal? And what if she didn’t want to get this party started? What if she wanted to run away to the nearest barn and hide under some hay?

The closer they got to the backyard, the more appealing that hay was becoming. There were already so many people there. Gathered in groups, hovering around rows of white chairs which had been decorated with pink ribbons.

Riley was led down the aisle next, across the white silk carpet placed on the grass. She was then led to a seat on the front row.

That’s when the panic struck.

“You sit here, darlin’, while I stand up front. I’ll come get you when the ceremony ends. How does that sound?”

Terrible. Horrifying. My worst nightmare.

“I-I don’t think I should be sitting here,” she whispered, surprising herself by only stuttering once.

“This is exactly where you should be sitting, petal. You’re the best man’s date, remember?”

Wait. What? Date?

After dropping that bombshell, she was treated to a quick kiss on the cheek before he was gone. Before she could argue. Before she could ask where else she could sit. Before she could say anything.

Like you’d be able to right now anyway.

That was true. He’d left her well and truly speechless. Again.

***

B ella found her during the reception. Riley had spotted her during the ceremony too. And she hadn’t been late. Not really. Which made Riley suspicious. Either Bella wasn’t all that interested in a new friendship, or she was being set up. With Wade of all people. Which didn’t make any sense.

“So, where were you working before the ranch?” Bella asked before taking a sip of her champagne.

They were still in the Evans backyard, well, it was more like a field that happened to be located at the back of the main house.

They were under the huge tent that had been erected yesterday for the rehearsal dinner, only today, it was lit up with rows and rows of string fairy lights and adorned with pink roses.