CHAPTER 20
‘We just have to make it through the cookout tonight, then they’ll be packed up and leaving first thing in the morning.’
Cole nodded and I smiled as he tried to tame his mussed-up hair, evidence of the complete lack of sleep he’d promised and very much delivered.
‘And Kyle? How are we gonna deal with that? I mean, I would happily send his ass packing the old-fashioned way, but you choose, beautiful.’
I considered it, craving the satisfaction of seeing Kyle laid out flat on the deck, but the risk of him becoming nasty, getting lawyers involved or finding some other way to ruin Cole and the ranch was too great.
‘Why don’t we just fuck in front of him?’ I suggested, keeping my voice casual, enjoying the sudden surprise, then the grin that sprang up.
His gaze was feral.
‘I love that mouth,’ he said. ‘I love all of it.’
I became still, suddenly aware of how close he’d been to saying the words with a whole other weight of meaning behind them.
We stared at each other in silence as Cole’s face became serious and he opened his mouth to speak—
‘Lottie? You up yet? I could do with a hand in getting all this food prepped for later if you don’t mind? We can take it all down to the lake ready and set up? Looks like a clear night out.’
‘Okay, Lil,’ I shouted back, still holding Cole’s gaze. ‘Be ready in ten.’
The silence returned between us, but I sighed, knowing the day couldn’t be put off any longer.
Before I could move off the bed, he took my hand in his.
‘I don’t want to hide or pretend after this weekend,’ he said, emotion welling in his voice. ‘I want everyone to know how I feel about you; I want to start a life together.’
I wanted to say it. My gut response was begging me to just say it. But not with Kyle and the others around. Not yet.
‘Me too,’ I replied, chickening out. ‘They’ll be sick of seeing and hearing about it soon enough.’
He squeezed my hand before starting to pull his clothes back on, my eyes snagging on his perfect ass.
‘I’ll do my best to avoid Kyle,’ he said, pulling up his jeans and ruining my view. ‘But I’ve never met anyone that needed a beating as much as that asshole.’
I nodded, getting up and pulling on western clothes again, my real clothes.
‘Just think of Lil and the ranch,’ I said, trying to be firm, but crumbling as I watched him tuck himself into his jeans and zip up.
He caught my gaze, smiling as I looked away, trying not to blush.
‘Princess, I’m only ever thinking of you,’ he said, pulling his shirt on.
‘Damn, the way that pretty pink colour lights up under your freckles like that . . .’ I bit my lip and his hands stopped working on his buttons.
‘You trying to make me late?’ he growled, stepping around the bed despite my protestations.
‘I can’t,’ I gasped, half laughing, half refilled with need despite having spent half the night tangled up with him. ‘Lil needs me – she’s going to know you’re missing too if you don’t get down to the barn . . .’
He paused, fingers on his zip, narrowed eyes on my mouth.
‘Then it’s a date, after the cookout. Those lips and my cock.’
I raised my eyebrow, as though considering a deal.
‘I’ll think about it,’ I said, shrugging. ‘All day.’
He laughed, finishing the buttons and brushing my chin with his fingers before striding to the door and moving the chest of drawers back over, then checking the hallway was clear.
‘Not as much as I will,’ he replied, disappearing, closing the door softly behind him.
The day passed in a haze of nervous tension.
As Jesse, Bailey and Cole entertained the guests with a roping contest, Lil and I set up at the cookout area.
It was down by the small lake, towering fir trees giving way to a clearing and a thin strip of pebbled beach.
A covered deck was strung with fairy lights, a couple of rocking chairs, a hammock and a long outdoor sofa right opposite a giant fire pit.
An industrial-sized grill and stone-built pizza oven were positioned on the other side, put into place on the last visit my parents and I had made out here together.
‘Seems to be going well, I think,’ Lil said, breaking the silence.
I’d been so deep in thought at how to handle the situation with Kyle, as well as fighting back replayed passion from the night before, I’d barely said a word all morning.
‘They’re having a good time. Leo said he’d love to come back for real, bring his girlfriend and her family in the fall. ’
‘That’s great,’ I replied, suddenly wondering if he still would, given what was about to go down.
‘So . . . umm . . . what’s the deal with you, Cole, Kyle . . . I don’t want to push you, honey, but you’ve hardly said a word. You need me to do anything?’
I paused, not knowing how much to tell. But her open face, the genuine concern in her eyes made the decision for me.
‘I want to get today out of the way, to have them all leave with the best content and get things on track for you. But after that . . . Lil, if you’ll have me, I’d like to stay, help you run things here.’
Her mouth popped open and she put down the burger buns in her hands.
‘For real? You wanna stay here?’
I laughed at her surprise. ‘If that’s okay? I’ll pay my way, I’ll help you make it work – get another job in town if the payroll can’t stretch to include me.’
‘Oh honey, I’d love that,’ she said, moving over in a rush to grab me into a hug. ‘We’ll find a way. I know it’s been a bit up and down, but it’d be so . . . empty without you.’ She stood back, frowning. ‘But what about Kyle? The job in London?’
I shrugged.
‘They can’t compete,’ I started, trying to choose my words carefully, then giving up. ‘Because I’m in love with Cole and there’s no way I can live without him.’
Eyes bulging, Lil gave an ear-splitting squeal and squeezed me so hard I stopped breathing.
‘Holy cow, Lottie! When did you—’
‘I haven’t told him yet, not in so many words,’ I said, fighting back a smile, thinking of all the action that’d said it instead.
‘And Kyle’s coming over for the cookout?’ she asked, finally gathering herself to give me a last squeeze and carry on with getting the food ready.
‘Yeah . . . that’s the last test. If we can survive that, we can survive anything.’
My own words were ringing in my ears a few hours later, when we finally lit the grill and everyone descended. Ashley and Kendra decided to get some footage by the lake, posing with their wine glasses as I topped them up.
‘Hey, Lottie?’ Ashley said, moving her phone around for the best light. ‘Can I ask you something?’
I glanced back at Kyle. He’d arrived not long ago, hungover and sulking, insinuating that we should get out of there, go somewhere nice and ‘get to know each other again’. My stomach churned at the thought of it.
‘Sure, shoot.’ I smiled, wishing I could drain the rest of the bottle right here and now.
‘I hope it’s okay, but I kinda showed one of my friends some of the content – don’t worry, she won’t share anything yet, I just knew she’d be crazy about this place.
She makes travel content too, but more on weddings and girls’ weekends, that kind of thing.
’ She leant over, pulling up her friend’s channel, scrolling through a couple of videos.
I held my breath, realizing it was one of the influencers I’d wanted to invite over, but with a following of over 5 million and fees to match, I hadn’t even bothered reaching out.
‘She wondered if you were up for offering a free stay for a few of her followers, running it as a competition on her channel. I think she’d visit too, just for herself, to check it out – no fees. ’
I blinked, trying to play it cool but unable to stop the grin spreading across my face.
‘Umm, yeah, I’m sure we can do that.’ I smiled at her and looked back for Lil, wanting to include her in the conversation. ‘That’s amazing, thanks for sharing with her.’
Ashley waved it away, glancing at Jesse.
‘Oh no, you’re welcome. It’s been the best weekend, right, Kendra? You guys are awesome and this place is like a little slice of heaven.’
Kendra hummed, her eyes in the distance. I didn’t need to follow her gaze to know who she was watching, but after last night, I couldn’t be less concerned.
‘Where’s the wine from?’ Kyle drawled, pulling a face as he swirled and sniffed it, finally braving a sip as Lil attempted a smile in return. The happy feeling building inside me evaporated. I could sense Kyle’s irritation, his patience dangerously low.
‘It’s Californian,’ I stepped in, shooing her back to the others, hating myself for bringing him on them all.
He didn’t reply, just proceeded to down the whole glass, as Leo caught sight of him and laughed.
‘Steady on,’ he said. ‘Where’s the race?’
Kyle shrugged, eyes on Cole as he strode across the deck to help Lil.
‘Wine like that is only good for chugging back,’ he replied, suddenly glancing at me as I hovered nearby, stoking the fire. His eyes were beginning to glaze, the tips of his cheekbones becoming pink. ‘Plus, no use staying sober, is there? No need to perform later, so what’s the point?’
Conversation quietened as everyone heard the undertone.
My stomach dropped. Fuck .
‘Steady, mate,’ Leo said, frowning.
I felt it, like a tremor across the water in front of us. The impending storm. Kyle wasn’t getting what he wanted, when he wanted it. I glanced at Cole, his whole body shaped by concern, turning as though he was about to walk over to me.
Kyle noticed, his face turning dark, sour.
He started laughing, but the sound was bitter.
‘Oh God, that’s why,’ he said, halfway to standing, steadying himself on the back of the sofa. ‘I was so busy seeing how the man mountain was looking at you that I didn’t see you returning it.’
Fear took over as I saw Kendra, Ashley and Alix’s eyes widening.
‘Kyle, can we talk for a moment please?’ I said in a low voice, gesturing for him to walk with me, away from here. Cole was rigid, eyes blazing.