Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Andi
The early July sun was ruthless, hanging high and bright above us while Zane and Luke unloaded the horses from the trailer.
I leaned against the back tire, fanning myself with the collar of my shirt and silently questioning all of my life choices as I tried to get any kind of breeze down my back.
It didn’t work, and my sleeveless top clung to me like a second skin.
“You doing all right?” Norah asked, leading her mare around the trailer. She, on the other hand, somehow didn’t look hot at all in her turquoise shirt, dark jeans, worn boots, and wide-brimmed cowboy hat.
I gave her a tight smile. “I’m fine.”
Lie. I felt like I was melting from the inside out. How they were all wearing long sleeves without collapsing was beyond me.
Zane came around the trailer with Cash, tying him off and checking the saddle with focused hands.
I watched him for a beat longer than I should have.
The sleeves of his blue snap-front shirt were rolled to the elbows, exposing tan forearms and just a hint of muscle that did things to my body I wasn’t ready to talk about.
Or think about. Or feel.
Especially not again.
We’d kissed, more than once, and the memories of each one kept flaring up at the worst times—like now, when I was sweaty and sunburned and definitely not in a position to be catching feelings for a cowboy I had no business wanting.
But, damn, did I want him anyway.
There was something about Zane that made all of my caution slip away.
His quiet strength. That slow grin he didn’t hand out often but wrecked me when he did.
And when he kissed me? God. It was the kind of kiss that told me—showed me—exactly how that mouth, those hands, and that body would translate in other settings, in other situations…
preferably without clothing and definitely without an audience.
Which only made things worse, because I wasn’t supposed to stay.
And I’m pretty sure guys like Zane weren’t the kind you touched and walked away from easily.
“What time’s the team roping again?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“About another hour,” he said. “Why?”
I shrugged and wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead. “Trying to decide if I’m gonna survive that long.”
Without a word, he crossed to the truck, popped open the cooler, and came back with two water bottles—one extended toward me. The moment my fingers touched the cold plastic, I could’ve kissed him.
And that was the problem.
I wanted to.
Again.
“My hero,” I breathed, placing it against my cheek before taking a long sip.
He watched me, his gaze soft and easy, and took a sip from his own bottle just as someone called his name from the other side of the trailer. We both turned to see a tall, lean cowboy making his way over. He looked familiar with the place and way too comfortable in this heat.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said, giving Zane a firm handshake. “Didn’t think I’d see you out here. How the hell’ve you been?”
Zane smiled just enough to pass for friendly. “Doing good, Tim. It’s been a minute.”
Tim chuckled. “Yeah, more like a whole year. Thought maybe you’d skipped town or gone full hermit on us.”
“Tempting,” Zane said dryly.
Tim’s eyes landed on me next, and he tipped his hat. “And who’s this pretty thing?”
“Not a thing,” I said, pleasant but firm. “I’m Andi.”
Tim blinked, then grinned like he respected the pushback. “Well, Andi, it’s a pleasure.”
I nodded with a tight-lipped yet pleasant smile, but something in me bristled. Not because Tim meant any harm—he didn’t, I could tell that much—but I'd been called worse by someone who was supposed to love me.
“Y’all got plans next weekend?” Tim asked, turning his attention back to Zane.
He shrugged. “Nothing right now I can think of.”
“Good.” Tim clapped his hands, then rubbed them together. “Y’all should swing by then for some barbeque. We’ll have a bonfire and plenty of cold beer. Folks’ll start showing up around six.”
Zane gave a noncommittal nod. “I’ll check with Norah and Luke, see what they think.”
“Check with us about what?” Luke came around the trailer and noticed Tim, marching over and clapping him on the back. “Don’t tell me it’s one of your famous bonfires. I still haven’t recovered from the last one.”
Tim chuckled. “That just means you did it right.”
Norah walked up behind him, her eyes flicking from Zane to me before landing on Tim. “When’s this?”
“Next Saturday,” Tim said. “Y’all better show.”
Norah glanced at me, then back at Zane. “I’ll have to pass this time. We’re short-staffed at the bar with Laurel still out on maternity leave.”
My stomach dipped at the thought of her missing out on something that sounded a lot like tradition. “I can work if you want to go to the barbeque.”
She shook her head. “You should go. You haven’t been to one of Tim’s parties yet. It’s kind of a thing. Good way to get properly introduced to Tarnation.”
“You sure?”
She smiled. “You’re new. You need the full experience. Besides, I’ve done my time.”
I didn’t say it, but I appreciated it. Especially the way she said you need the full experience like she meant more than just the party.
Tim gave us a parting wave. “I’ll see y’all then.”
He wandered off toward the bleachers, leaving the rest of us in a small cloud of dust and with something that felt dangerously close to excitement bouncing around inside my chest.
Luke looked at the time. “We better get moving before they start without us.” He asked Norah to pin his number on his back, and Zane turned to me, holding his paper out.
“Would you mind?”
“Not at all.” I pinned it to the back of his shirt, letting my eyes wander a little too long. He had that easy, lived-in look cowboys seemed to be born with—dusty boots, sun-warmed skin, and a way of filling out a pair of Wranglers that should be illegal. “All set,” I said, stepping back.
He looked over his shoulder. “Thanks.”
Luke mounted up and trotted off on his mare, but Zane hung back for a second longer. He didn’t reach for me or say anything overt. He just looked at me in that quiet way of his, like there were a dozen things he wanted to say but wasn’t going to—or couldn’t.
From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Luke turning in his saddle to glance back. A devious grin tugged at his mouth. “Y’all coming’? Or are you just gonna keep giving each other googly eyes all day?”
Heat rushed to my face as Zane sighed heavily. “Fuck off,” he shouted back to his brother.
Luke laughed and nudged his horse into a quicker pace.
“I’ll see you over there?” Zane asked, the tips of his fingers brushing against my hip. With the way little currents of electricity buzzed with each caress, you’d think he was stroking my naked skin.
“I’ll be with Norah,” I said. “Cheering you on.”
“Good.” He nodded, and the corners of his mouth curved into that soft, crooked grin that, more and more, made my stomach dip. Then he turned and walked away.
Norah came up beside me. “Well,” she said with a knowing gleam to her eye. “That wasn’t obvious at all.” Her arm hooked through mine as she pulled me to follow behind Zane and Luke. “Tell me everything.”