10. Stetson
STETSON
“Idon’t even know what I’ll wear to the gallery showing yet, but Karli mentioned she had the perfect dress for me.” Layla shifts on my lap. She’s in nothing but my shirt, and a paintbrush in hand while staring at her canvas.
“You’re so damn talented that the night will be perfect regardless of what you wear.
” A rodeo bull looking through the gate captures just how dangerous the beast is, but there’s a sadness to his eyes.
A look I never paid attention to while being so caught up in the circus of it.
Poor dude probably just wants to be set free in a pasture of heifers in heat. “I love this piece.”
“It might be my new favorite.” She sets the paintbrush down.
“Watching you paint is my favorite.” I have time to soak up these moments after taking it easy on the ranch. Developing my relationship with Layla the past two weeks has been a blessing.
“You sure your dad isn’t missing you on the ranch?”
“I’m helping three days a week.” I kiss her cheek. “We have ranch hands and the whole point of me leaving the rodeo was to go for the life I’ve dreamed of.” Ranching is in my blood and if my dad needs me a little extra, I’m there.
“And what does that look like?” She shifts, turning to face me.
“Right now? Exactly like this.” She smiles wide, eyes soft.
“Perfect.” Layla stretches her neck to the side. “I need a painting break.”
“Mmm.” My lips press to her neck and down her shoulder. “I have something in mind.”
“Novelty isn’t wearing off?” She turns her head, pressing her lips to mine.
“Layla.” My tone drops, all seriousness kicking in. “You can't even fathom, baby, the way I cherish you giving me another chance.” I lean down and kiss the tip of her nose.
It’s helped that Karli had been out of town on another trip, so she hasn’t picked up on all our time spent together. My hands grip Layla’s hips, ready to turn her around and show her how insatiable I am over her.
“Paintbrushes first, mister.” Layla stands, taking her cup and brushes to the sink. Those little wooden sticks with hair are her prized possessions. She really values what they help create.
The ridge overlooking Hayes Ranch is breathtaking with the open blue sky.
Our horses quietly stand admiring the view as well.
Layla’s painting break led to a horseback ride…
after more sex, of course. The longhorn cattle bunch together, spending their afternoon resting, while the horse in the ring is being broken in by my father and Parker.
Serenity hums over us, resting at the overlook at Hayes Ranch, the very spot Layla and I parked my old Suburban years ago.
“I come here often.” Layla breaks our silence. She’s riding bareback, lying on her back, looking up at the fluffy clouds.
When she doesn’t say anything further, I pipe up.
“What’s been on your mind most up here?”
“I come here to not think, actually.” She sits up, petting Ranger’s chocolate mane.
That horse bonded with her at birth when Layla was twelve.
He hasn’t really taken to anyone or their commands the way he naturally does with her.
We knew early on he was her heart horse.
My parents couldn’t bear to tear the two apart.
They kindly handed him off to her a couple years later.
“I’m glad you find peace here.” She smiles softly, looking ahead.
“Your house is looking good.”
“The drywall is finished, then flooring.” I zone in on my house. The projects with the crew have been occupying my time when I’m not with Layla.
“That’s so exciting. It’ll be perfect.” The three bedroom two-and-a-half-bathroom ranch style on my family’s property is a layout I’ve thought about for years.
“I’m blessed to afford this.” But everything adding up at once has been a reality shock.
I want to be home with my future family. Ranching allows that, and Karli volunteered to help ramp up my social media game so I can make money there as well. Maybe her and my agent are right about a bit of traveling or taking on more brand deals to add to the nest egg. But I just got home.
“Daydreaming again? Might start using your mother’s nickname for you too.” Layla smirks, shooting me a teasing wink.
“You wouldn’t dare.” She yawns with a playful shrug. She gotta be exhausted between painting and me keeping her up most nights.
“Maybe we should sleep in our own beds tonight, so you’re not tired out.”
“I can handle myself.” I’m up early to help at the ranch tomorrow anyway. “But I might start getting questioned about my constant whereabouts.” My parents have noticed my absence lately but haven’t said anything. This time around feels wrong keeping us from everyone.
“My bed enjoys you, but a night apart might allow us to actually sleep.” She’ll sleep. I’ll be thinking about her all night.
“Sneaking around again has been keeping me restless.” Tension within releases as I speak my mind.
“You want to tell everyone about us, don’t you?” I can’t tell if her voice is uneasy or disappointed that I want to be out in the open about us.
“You don’t?” My phone dings for the fourth time with my manager’s name.
“Sounds important. I’ll meet you back at the house.” Layla smiles.
“Stay.” I already know the inquiry. “She’s trying to get me back on the road to attend events. Wrangler has a new line that’s about to launch.”
Layla smirks. “Like sister, like brother.” My smile cracks at her teasing. “You should go. Seems like a fun, quick way to make some extra cash.”
“I just got home.” Pausing, I look her straight in the eyes. “I just got you.”
“I could join you behind the scenes depending on the dates.” My heart warms.
“Layla, I told you I wasn’t leaving. If I do, I’ll be sure to bring you along with me.”
“Things aren’t like last time, Stetson.” Her reaction has me smiling. I can’t imagine leaving her behind though. “A few days apart would suck, but we’d manage.”
“You still haven’t wanted to tell anyone about us.” Her bottom lip tugs between her teeth.
“It’s not that I don’t want to.” She glances down, petting Ranger’s neck for comfort. “I’m scared.”
“Of them not approving?” If previous conversations are to go by, my parents would be ecstatic.
“Once it’s in the open, there’s no going back.” Her voice shakes. “I want this, but with my family’s track record and mine, relationships haven’t ended great.” Understandable.
“I don’t want anyone else.” I mean every word.
“It’s been two weeks of hot sex, Stetson. Yes, we have a past, but what if you change your mind? Miss the hype of rodeo life?” Trust is hard to earn with Layla, but I’m gonna do it.
“An eight-second ego stroke isn’t worth risking my life.” I shake my head, wishing we had hopped off our horses earlier. “Not anymore it’s not.”
She stares at the open sky silently. Each beat screams louder.
“Okay then.” Her voice is cautious as I watch the wheels turn in her pretty little head. “I can count on you attending my gallery showing?” A grin spreads across my face.
“I’m here for you no matter what it takes, sweet girl. I’d double-check you’re okay with me taking a campaign even if you couldn’t make it.”
“I trust you, Stetson.” Another pause weighs around us before a small smile meets her eyes. “We can tell everyone about us at family dinner tomorrow.” Joy floods me as I hop off my horse and pull her off Ranger.
Her squeal startles him slightly, but he stays put. Layla’s legs wrap around my waist as she smiles. Kissing her, overlooking my ranch, with our childhood horses at our sides, is the epitome of home.
“I can’t wait to spend every day proving you're worth it.” She leans back a little further, her arms around my neck holding on.
“Can it really be this easy?” I’ve watched my parents fight to keep their relationship as strong as it still is. And yeah, my crazy ass growing up didn’t make it easy on them. But if I’ve learned one thing from them, it’s that a wedding means you’re married, but effort and love keep your marriage.
“If we want us to work, we will make it happen.” My hands squeeze her round ass cheeks.
“I owe it to Karli to tell her beforehand.”
“I’ll be by your side.” Her head shakes.
“No, this is something I should do alone.” She gives me a pointed look. “I don’t need you chiming in with explicit content to get back at her for the things she’s shared about her and Parker.” Hearing anything about my sister’s sex life is too much. And she’s shamelessly open.
“I would never.” Brown eyes roll before leaning in for a quick kiss.
“Right.” Layla laughs, straightening her legs to stand on the ground.
“Now, how about that picnic date and kicking your butt at Cribb?” My sister used to tease us all the time as teens for the late nights we’d bore her with that game.
At one point, she told Layla she wasn’t allowed over if she planned on playing.
“See? We’re acting effortlessly like an old married couple already.” Layla giggles, stepping on a boulder to climb back on her horse. “I’ll take that over acting like brother and sister.”
“Your competitive side still makes things exciting though.” I hook my foot on Luna’s stirrup and settle onto the saddle.