Shirtless Cowboys Should Be Illegal
PAIGE
The fresh smell of coffee wafted through my apartment as I filled a travel mug and topped it off with my vanilla creamer. I had an extra pep in my step this morning since I woke up to a text from my best friend Taylor stating she was in town for the weekend.
Impromptu girl’s nights could really lift spirits around here.
Taylor usually planned a trip home for a week in the summer so this spontaneous weekend was a pleasant surprise.
I skipped down the steps and headed up to the stables to see what the boys were up to. It was Saturday so I was technically off, but work at the ranch never truly stopped.
I was looking down at my phone, responding to Taylor, when motion in my peripheral vision caught my eye. Glancing up, I stopped in my tracks.
Cash Leonard was standing in front of the stables—shirtless and dripping in sweat.
His tanned skin glistened in the morning sun as he hauled hay off one of the pickup trucks.
Normally, I didn’t let myself appreciate him or his body, but I was barely awake and the sight was too good to pass up.
I was a weak woman before fully caffeinated.
The man was infuriating, but damn, was he eye candy.
Everything from his black cowboy hat to his work gloves to the Wranglers sitting low on his hips was like the most beautiful form of torture. My eyes trailed the dusting of chest hair down to his toned abs.
He grunted, flexing his muscles as he hauled another bale into the pile on the side of the stables.
I let myself linger probably a moment too long. I had to soak in the sight now because I wouldn’t be seeing it for a while.
Cash was leaving on Monday for the entire summer, and I was ecstatic for the respite from his watchful eye. Still, I would miss the view.
“Take a picture, Pip! It’ll last longer!” His irritating smile snapped me out of whatever trance I was in.
I scoffed and walked past him, ignoring the red that was creeping up my neck from being caught ogling.
The man couldn’t be gone from here soon enough.
I spotted Reid in the tact room organizing a new shipment of supplies. I hopped up to sit on the wooden workbench across the far wall and let my feet swing. Reid took the coffee mug out of my hand and took a sip.
“Mornin’,” he drawled as he handed my mug back.
“Good morning,” I sang.
“What’s got you in a good mood?” He eyed me skeptically as he went back to his organizing.
“Life is just good, baby brother. Taylor is in town, it’s a beautiful day, and the most aggravating man on the planet is leaving.”
Reid perked up as he asked, “Taylor is here? Did Micah come, too?”
“No, it’s just her. She came to see her dad.”
He nodded as he resumed his work. “I assume you aren’t coming to the party tonight?”
I shook my head. “Cash doesn’t want me there. I’m just going to spend the night at Taylor’s.”
“He wants you there, P.”
I shrugged. “Whatever. It’s just a party.”
Reid blinked at me, stunned.
“What?” I asked as I sipped my coffee.
“Nothing, I’ve just never heard those words come out of your mouth before.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.” I hopped down and kissed his sweaty cheek. “I’m going to check on Mom before I head into town. Text me if you need me!”
I wiggled my fingers over my shoulder as I skipped out of the tact room with my head held high and a bright smile on my face.
“I can’t believe you’re home!” I squealed as Taylor tackled me in a hug.
“I know. It was last minute.”
She looped an arm around my shoulders and guided me into the house.
“How’s life in the big city?” I asked, sinking onto a barstool at the kitchen island.
My stomach rumbled as I took in the array of food on the counter. Taylor basically ordered us everything on Val’s diner menu. We had burgers, fries, fried pickles, wings, and fried mozzarella sticks. She fished some seltzers out of the fridge and handed one to me.
“It’s fine.” She shrugged. “Hoping that Johnny gets to work fully remote soon so we can move back here. I miss the mountain air.”
Taylor had been saying the same thing for four years but it never seemed to happen.
Every time she was home, she raved about how much she wanted to buy land and have a big family—she grew up with a single father and had always wanted a sibling.
It wouldn’t shock me if she ended up with five kids just to fill the silence.
But Johnny’s job kept them situated in Seattle. She wasn’t willing to say goodbye to a relationship of nine years, so she sacrificed what she wanted in the name of love.
“Fingers crossed,” I said with a sympathetic smile.
“So, I figured we could eat and have some drinks…and then head out to the bonfire tonight.”
My face fell flat. “You want to go to the bonfire?”
She popped a fried pickle into her mouth and shrugged.
“I know it isn’t usually my scene, but I want the full Ashton Creek experience while I’m here.”
I groaned as I reached for a fry. “I’ll go because I love you, but just so you know, I won’t be happy about it.”
“Please, like you’ve ever regretted going to a bonfire.” Taylor rolled her eyes and tossed fry in my face.
I gasped. “I would never miss a normal one. This one just happens to be in honor of the man I despise.”
“Mm-hmm,” she mumbled.
“What?”
“Nothing. Suck it up, we’re getting drunk.”
“Cheers to that!” I raised my seltzer in salute before taking a long sip.
Three hours later, the sun had set and we were pulling up to the clearing that hosted many famous Ashton Creek parties over the years.
Growing up, there were house parties, but most of the time we ended up here. There were no parents around and the cops only really showed up if a fight broke out. It was where I had my first drink, my first kiss, my first everything.
I stepped out of Taylor’s dad’s truck and breathed in the smoky air as the fire raged in the middle of the clearing.
There were people filling the entire space, laughing and drinking, as music blasted in the background.
Cash was standing in the middle of the crowd, looking like a king.
He had a bright smile as women draped themselves on him.
I weaved through the crowd until I reached the coolers set up in the bed of Walker’s truck.
Reid noticed me first and started waving like a mad man.
“You came!” He scooped me into a hug, my feet dangling as I giggled.
“I was forced,” I muttered in as serious of a tone as I could muster as he placed me down.
“Good job, Tay.” He offered his fist, which she bumped with a smile.
“All in a day’s work.” She flipped her chestnut brown hair over her shoulder.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t little pipsqueak herself,” Cash slurred as he approached us. His eyes were glassy as they trailed the length of my body.
“I’d never miss a chance to celebrate you leaving town.” I fluttered my lashes.
Cash’s face fell for only a second before it morphed into his famous charming smile.
“Don’t act like you won’t miss me.”
“I’m not acting. I won’t.” I grabbed Taylor’s hand as she burst into a laugh and dragged her to the opposite side of the bonfire where more of our friends were congregating. This was Cash’s party, but that didn’t mean I wanted to be near him if I could help it.
For the rest of the night, my eyes always seemed to find Cash.
It was as if he was earth and I was a moon, gravitated to be in his path.
He was impossible to ignore, which was why it was a blessing that he was leaving.
For the first time in years I’d be able to breathe.
I’d be able to live without him watching my every move.
I was expecting to see him disappear during the night—to watch him duck away with one of the many women who fawned over him. Occasionally, I swear he was looking back at me, but every time I noticed, I snapped my head back to my friends.
This distance would be good for us. I needed to get rid of any idea I had that Cash Leonard would ever be more than an acquaintance.