Chapter 13
This week has gone by faster than I thought it would. I spent a lot of time with Athena, riding the trails and testing her skills in the corral. Every time I saddle her up and settle in, a sense of calm washes through me.
I think she’s the horse I’ve been waiting for.
I just don’t know if Mr. Calhoun would sell her.
If he did, we’d obviously have a lot of work to do since I don’t think she’s ever raced, but she’s responsive and a quick learner.
Her coordination is excellent, so it wouldn’t be difficult to train her.
I doubt we’d be champions right away, but I think we’d do well together.
I’ve grown fond of her. Leaving her at the end of the summer will be difficult.
Just like leaving Juniper will be.
Mr. Calhoun insisted on us ‘young folks’, as he calls us, going out tonight. Tomorrow is the big summer kick-off barbecue, and he said we should have another night out since we won’t all have another night off together for the rest of the summer.
The last Friday of every month is line dancing night at The Copper Mule. Juniper lit up when Shiloh called to ask if she was coming. We were in the barn, mucking the stalls, when she answered the call, and her excited gasp brought a small smile to my face.
I’ve been doing quite a bit of that the past five days.
Smiling. Every time I see Juniper, those muscles in my face twitch, getting a workout after not being used much over the last few years.
I can’t remember the last time I was so eager to see someone, but every morning I wake up and wonder if I’ll see her at breakfast. I look forward to running into her during chores.
Even though I’ve been at her house late twice since Monday, I can’t get enough of her.
I don’t know what to do with the feelings that are starting to surface, so I’m pretending they aren’t there.
Oakley was like a kid on Christmas, jumping up and down at the prospect of getting to dance. Briggs and Rusty weren’t so keen, but with the real opening week coming up, they decided to tag along to blow off some steam.
Juniper had a meeting with her parents, so she drove separately from the rest of us. I won’t pretend I wasn’t disappointed. I was looking forward to having her pressed up against my side again.
I’ll have to wait until I can have her naked body pressed against mine later.
I’m at the bar, waiting for my old fashioned, when the woman I recognize as Juniper’s best friend sidles up to me.
She’s about an inch shorter than me, with black hair chopped into a bob that hits just below her chin.
Like Juniper, she’s got curves for days, but they don’t call me to explore them like Juniper’s.
In fact, I don’t feel an ounce of attraction for anyone else in the bar.
I’ll examine that later. Maybe.
“You’re Addison, right?” She extends her hand, and I take the offering. “I’m Shiloh, Juniper’s best friend. I wanted to formally introduce myself since I didn’t get to last week.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“How are you liking the ranch? You excited to have guests arrive next week?”
What is she playing at? I doubt she came over here to make small talk.
“I like it a lot. The Calhouns are good people, and they treat us well. I wouldn’t say I’m excited, but it’ll be an adventure.”
Shiloh nods slowly. “The Calhouns are good people. The best. Juniper got her big heart from Mama Marjorie.”
I can see exactly where she’s going with this.
“I would hate to see Juniper get hurt.”
There it is.
“I don’t see how Juniper would get hurt,” I say, “but I agree.”
Shiloh’s brown eyes narrow. “Hm. You’re right. There’s no way for her to get hurt, because she’s not involved with anyone. Silly me.”
It takes considerable effort to keep my face schooled. Was I that obvious last Friday? Oakley saw it. Did anyone else? Has it been obvious this week on the ranch?
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” I say as nonchalantly as I can.
“I’m sure you don’t.”
The front door opens, and we both turn toward it.
I nearly swallow my tongue as Juniper walks in looking like a dream come true.
The denim dress she has on barely skims the middle of her thighs.
The straps are maybe an inch wide, with a V that dips down toward her cleavage, but isn’t indecent.
Her brown hair is in glossy waves, and my fingers itch to run through the silky strands.
Juniper glances around the room, her eyes landing on Shiloh first, and a wide smile breaks across her face. Then, she sees me, and it falters, like she wasn’t expecting me to be next to her friend.
Juniper makes her way over, but she gets stopped by the guys she was sitting with next week. They hug her, and she tosses her head back in a laugh at something they say.
I don’t like it. I want to make her laugh. I’ve made her moan, groan, scream, and whimper in pleasure, but I’ve never made her laugh.
Shiloh nudges me. “You sure are looking at her like someone who knows what I’m talking about. Maybe wipe the drool off your chin before everyone else catches on to the fact you’ve got the hots for my best friend.”
I try to subtly wipe at my mouth, even though I’m sure there isn’t any drool there, and she smirks.
Damn it.
When Juniper finally makes her way to the bar, she wraps Shiloh in a hug and gushes about how much she loves the denim jumpsuit Shiloh’s got on. When they break apart, Juniper turns to me and gives me a shy smile.
“Hey, Addison. Are you dancing tonight?”
I shrug. “I haven’t decided. Dancing in front of a crowd really isn’t my thing.”
“Well, I hope you do. Clint’s wife, Dawn, always picks the best songs.” She turns to Shiloh and nudges her with her elbow. “Think Cillian will finally ask you to dance?”
Shiloh rolls her eyes. “I don’t know how many times I’ve gotta tell you Cillian isn’t interested in me. Besides, he’s too analytical for something as trivial as dancing.”
“I still think you’re wrong about him being into you. But what do I know? Let me order my drink, and we can sit down. Cillian said Bea reached out, and I want to hear about it.”
Shiloh heads back to the table while Juniper tells the bartender to make her usual.
While he does, I catch her giving me a once-over.
I’m not wearing anything fancy, just a pair of my nicer jeans and a short-sleeve white button-up I don’t remember packing.
I kept my hair down tonight, which I don’t usually do.
I don’t know why I thought of Juniper when I undid the braids, but I sure like the look she’s giving me.
“You look good tonight,” she whispers, licking her lips.
I take a sip of my drink, letting the alcohol burn my tongue. “So do you.”
More than good. Downright edible.
“Thank you. I figured tonight was as good a time as any to break it out since I don’t go out much.”
I’ll take you out. Wherever you want to go.
Though the thought may be true, I don’t vocalize it. Fuck buddies don’t go on dates. That's relationship stuff, and Juniper and I can’t be in a relationship.
Clint gives her a fruity drink, and she heads toward her table of friends.
She stops, turns to me, and motions for me to follow her, so I do.
I was planning on sitting with Briggs and Rusty and keeping to myself, watching Juniper dance, then going home with her and giving her some orgasms, but I guess I can socialize with her friends for a little bit.
We end up next to each other, and after she formally introduces me to Cillian and Clayton—who I recognize from last week—Clayton’s brother Jaxon, and Cillian’s older sister, Arianna, Shiloh starts in on an update about their friend, Bea.
From what I can gather, Bea hasn’t come home to visit in over two years, and now she’s all but cut everyone off.
Juniper’s lips tip down into a frown the more Shiloh divulges, and I barely resist holding her hand under the table.
“She says she’s fine, but I don’t know,” Shiloh says, sounding defeated. “I have a gut feeling, you know? Mama Hayes feels the same way, but Bea barely talks to her.”
“Do we need to drive down to Austin to see her for ourselves?” Juniper shocks me with the resolve in her tone.
This woman, who hates leaving the ranch, is offering to drive across the country to check on her friend? What would having the full force of Juniper’s love directed at me feel like?
Cillian shakes his head. “I think we wait it out. Clay will be in San Antonio for the rodeo in the fall. He can check on her then. Feel things out.”
“If she’ll see me,” Clayton mumbles.
Cillian claps him on the shoulder, which seems to shake him out of whatever stupor he’s in.
The announcement about the start of line dancing seems to end the conversation about Bea. “Lucky” by Megan Maroney starts playing, and Cillian and Clayton groan.
“Looks like Dawn is on her modern hits kick,” Arianna says. “You coming, ladies?”
Juniper and Shiloh follow Arianna to the dance floor, and from my seat, I have the perfect vantage point to watch Juniper kick and shuffle and shake her hips across the floor.
The smile of pure elation on her face as she spins and claps, giggling when she makes a wrong move and crashes into Shiloh, makes something hot poke at my chest.
The lights in the bar are already dim, but they may as well be off because Juniper Calhoun is the brightest thing in this place. I can’t take my eyes off her the entire time. When the song ends and she strikes a pose, I’m tempted to join her just to be close to her.
I don’t want to dampen her fun, though. I have two left feet.
Jaxon approaches her when “Firecracker” by Josh Turner starts playing. I may have two left feet, but I recognize the swing dancing song. They move together like they’ve done this a million times before, their bodies in perfect sync.
It never occurred to me that Juniper would be dancing with someone, pressed against them. His hands find her hips to help her move, and he lifts her with ease before helping her dip to the ground.
A green orb of jealousy floats around in my vision.
Jaxon’s not a bad-looking guy. He’s well-built and conventionally attractive with his shaggy lightbrown hair, pearly white teeth, and glasses.
He’s got an easy-going vibe to him, and Juniper seems so at ease with him in a way she isn’t with me.
It would make total sense for her to be attracted to him.
I hate this feeling.
My jealousy intensifies as Jaxon spins her out, then pulls her back in, whispering something in her ear that has her blushing, even as she giggles. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes, and they get right back in the groove of the song.
“You okay there, Addison?”
I jump, not realizing Rusty had joined me. “Yep. Why?”
“You look like you’re trying to pulverize your glass.” He nods to the tumbler in my hand.
My grip is so strong that my knuckles are white. I release the glass and flex my fingers, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m fine.”
“Well, Briggs and I are heading out. Oakley’s going with one of the guys from Reclamation Ranch, so if you’re ready, we can take you back.”
“You’re letting Oakley go off with a stranger?”
“We have her number and location. You try telling her not to do something. Maybe she’d listen to you.”
“She’s an adult. As long as someone knows where she is. I’m going to catch a ride with Juniper.”
I don’t know when I started caring about Oakley’s well-being, but the little fireball has wormed her way into my heart. I wouldn’t say she’s succeeded in us becoming best friends, but we’re sliding out of coworker territory and leaning toward friends.
Rusty leaves with a wave right as the song ends, and I watch Juniper hug Jaxon before she heads in the direction of the restroom. I don’t even realize what I’m doing until I’m clicking the lock on the bathroom door.