Spring Fling and Daisy Dukes

Chapter 1

Bailey

“Saddle Up or Saddle Out?” I tear my eyes away from the cover of Jo-Beth’s newest romance novel she just placed on the table, and glance up at her. She slides into the booth seat opposite me at The Perky Porch Grill and places her cell phone and keys next to her book.

Jo-Beth smiles and pops a shoulder, eyeing her book. “You know how much I love a good romance read.”

I resist an eye roll and go back to studying the menu, hoping my bestie, Sadie, will hurry up and get here so we can order.

I’ve been working all day at Lawless Farms, and managed to do a bit of work back at my own ranch as well as feed the horses and clear out the stables. Needless to say, I’m starving.

The Perky Porch Grill is an Alpine Falls iconic local hangout spot. They make the most amazing steaks and burgers, have an array of cold beer on tap, as well as the best atmosphere to relax with friends.

They’ve recently had a revamp and a repaint, while still keeping all the original features; the long, infamous copper bar was never going anywhere, and the high beams according to Jed, who also works at Lawless Farms and knows his way around a plank or two—are a hundred years old.

“Yes, I do know,” I sigh, looking over the top of my menu at her. “Your new romance go-to.” It isn’t even a question. JB has had her head stuck in a good book ever since I’ve known her, which is a long time.

“How did you guess?”

I glance down again at the bright pink paperback with streaks of gold and purple. “The cute cowboy cover, littered with foiled cowboy boots, love hearts and spurs, kinda gave it away.”

She laughs. “There’s nothing like a good romance book to snuggle up to when I want to shut the world out.”

I blow out a breath. “If only I could be so lucky.”

“You should give it a try. Reading is the perfect outlet; it completely removes you from whatever crap you’re going through. Nothing beats getting lost in a good book.”

“Ha!” I scoff. “Are you sure about that?”

JB waves it off with a waft of her well-manicured hand. She’s perky at the best of times, but today she has an even bigger smile on her face.

I hone in on this sudden realization for a moment.

“What are you so chipper about so late in the day?” Okay, it isn’t that unusual.

Everyone loves Jo-Beth for her bubbly, all-round chirpiness and her genuine love of talking to everyone she meets at Butterfingers, the bakery she’s in the process of taking over from Mrs. Thorne, who’s retiring.

“I think I have a secret admirer.”

“That doesn’t strike me as something new, Jo-Jo, you get a new admirer every day at Butterfingers.”

She laughs as one hand twirls a long, flaming red strand of her hair around her finger. “This is Alpine Falls you’re talking about, not much happens here in the way of new admirers.”

“You meet a million people every day, well, in season at least with tourists and whatever. Anyway, something must have happened, do tell?”

She glances around, checking if anyone can hear over the country and western music playing from the jukebox. There’s plenty of chatter around the Grill from other patrons, so I think we’re safe. They’re probably as hungry as me, which is escalating my crankiness because it just hit seven o’clock.

JB leans in, elbows on the table, fluttering her long lashes and says, “I had a red rose left for me on the counter today. I don’t know who it came from, but it had a little card attached to the cellophane.”

I stare at her with intrigue as she continues her story. “Really?”

“Yeah. It was kinda bizarre because I was chatting away to Jediah and Zane when they came in for their morning coffee. It was after I was taking their order, and grabbing some of the blueberry muffins from the counter, that I noticed it there next to the cash register. I’m not even sure how long it had been there. ”

“Sounds pretty cloak and dagger if you ask me. Who was at the counter after them?”

“Mrs. Thorne.”

I try not to laugh, though I know I make a weird noise while I stifle it, because I can’t exactly see old Mrs.Thorne being the least bit interested in Jo-Beth romantically. JB’s eyes flick up at my sudden, semi-controlled outburst, trying to remain undetected behind my palm.

“What’s so funny, Bails?” JB’s innocent, quizzical face stares right at me.

“Nothing. Just how you said it made me laugh. I was just trying to imagine how Mrs. Thorne could possibly have been the one to leave the rose there.”

JB gives me a withering look and shakes her head. “Bailey! She’s like eighty years old and I work for her!”

Yes, that’s true. Jo-Beth used to work part-time at the diner, but now she’s with Mrs. Thorne full-time at Butterfingers. “I’m just messing with you. Tell me what the note said, for heaven’s sake.”

But before she can answer, a voice interrupts us with, “What note?”

We both look up to see Sadie standing at the foot of the table, neither of us seeing her approach.

“Hey,” we both chime at the same time.

“Hi, yourselves.” Sadie smiles and slips into the booth across from me and puts her bag down. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Jo-Jo has a secret admirer, slipping her roses and notes without so much as a hello.”

JB giggles and quickly fills Sadie in on where we were up to, which, granted, isn’t much to go on so far.

“Oh my, this really is a charming development,” Sadie says. “Don’t let me stop you from telling the rest of the story.”

“The note.” I nod toward Jo-Beth to continue.

“Ah, yes, well,” she goes on. “It was in a cute little envelope and had different colored flowers on it. The script was really neat, it just said, For you, Jo-Beth - because you make everyone smile.”

“Awww.” Sadie claps her hands together. “That’s so cute.”

“Wow,” I let out a breath. “Pretty cavalier if you ask me.”

“What? It’s romantic.” Sadie smiles dreamily. Of course, she would think it’s the greatest news since sliced bread because she’s all loved up with my boss, Zane Lawless.

Sadie moved from New York to Alpine Falls last year.

We’ve known each other since we were kids and both grew up in Colorado.

She came out here to Wyoming for the holidays after a string of bad luck and started working at Lawless Christmas Tree Farms. I work there as the current stable manager and mentioned the job to Sadie on a whim, knowing she wanted a change of scenery.

Then she hooked up with none other than the usually ungettable and super-grumpy Zane Lawless himself.

Though I have to say, they are perfect together and she makes him a lot more agreeable to be around.

“Of course you would think that. Don’t tell me JB has roped you into her newly formed romance book club as well?” I grumble.

Sadie laughs, shaking her head. “This is news to me.”

“I was only talking about starting a book club, not that I had one,” JB chimes.

“I’m sure it’s only a matter of time,” I say as I glance back at the menu. Why I’m reading through it, I don’t know—because I always have the same thing: their famous Bison Burger and homemade fries with dipping sauce. “Though there’s worse things you could be doing, I guess.”

“Exactly right,” JB agrees. “Though swooning over hot cowboys seems like the way to go.”

She and Sadie giggle away happily and I urge them to take a look at the menus so I can go place the order at the counter.

It’s table service, but you have to go order and pay first. Sadie is easy, being a vegetarian, she has about three options to choose from, and always has the veggie garden burger anyway.

Glancing down at JB’s book, I can’t exactly say I disagree with what she’s saying.

A hot cowboy would definitely be welcome for any girl around Alpine Falls, or any of the neighboring towns like Silver Pines, where the guy to girl ratio is dwindling.

It’s quite a sad phenomenon, really, but it is what it is.

I’ve been burned in the past by guys, one in particular, Wyatt, who promised me the world years ago but never delivered on any of his promises. I was young and na?ve, and I kinda haven’t trusted anyone since.

“Maybe your secret admirer could be your own swoony cowboy,” Sadie says to JB with a sparkle in her eyes, her blonde hair shimmering under the soft lighting. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

JB holds one hand over her heart and fans her face with the other. “It could happen.”

At least she’s optimistic, unlike me.

“I just hope you’re right on all accounts,” I say.

“But I wouldn’t read too much into it before you know more.

You won’t set yourself up for disappointment that way.

” I don’t mean to be the wet blanket on her parade, but someone has to keep it real around here.

And it’s not because I think all men are bastards—I don’t at all—but sometimes I see it as my unspoken duty to protect those around me from themselves, and wild fantasies from reading too many romance novels.

The rose thing may be intriguing, but Jo-Beth is a romantic at heart, and I don’t want her to get hurt.

This guy could be a whack job for all we know.

“Who do you think it could be?” Sadie asks JB in a whisper.

JB shrugs. “I’ve no idea, honestly. Like B was just saying, I meet a lot of new people every day. None that I can say I’ve clicked with recently.”

Sadie’s eyes light up. “All the more interesting. I love a good mystery.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m going to order my burger, either cough up your orders now or forever hold your peace.”

They both look over at me and I slowly meet their gazes. “What?”

“You’re extra grouchy today, Bails,” Sadie says.

“Yeah, what happened? JB asks.

“Nothing happened. I just didn’t get time for lunch. I’m starving. They could hear my stomach growling all the way over in Silver Pines.”

I can’t be sure, but I think I hear them say “Hangry” at the same time.

Hilarious. I mean, a girl’s gotta eat.

Tempted to flip them the bird—but don’t because there’s children present—I go order for the three of us, muttering as I go.