Page 15 of Live, Ranch, Love

But I also feel like I can’t just leave her alone now.

“Uh, I was gonna head out to my best friend Duke’s bar with my sister and some others. Did you want to come? Meet some of the locals? We can put a bet on how many times someone freaks out over your British accent.” I shoot her a grin, wiggling my eyebrows.

Honestly, Aurora looks a little shocked—hazel eyes wide and bloodshot—probably because it’s the first time I’ve properly smiled at her. She nibbles at her thumbnail, looking around the floor like she’s considering it.

“Um, yeah, okay. That would be nice.” Aurora presses her lips into a soft curve. “Although—wait—it’s not one of those line dancing bars or whatever, right? Because the only country kind of dancing I know is the Hoedown Throwdown.”

“The Hoedown—what?” I ask, face twisted.

Aurora’s eyes widen even further in disbelief. “You know—the dance from the Hannah Montana Movie?”

“Why would I—never mind.” I shake my head, wiping a hand over my face. When I look back up, Aurora’s biting her lip, reddening it under the pressure as she holds back a smile. “Don’t worry, it’s just a normal bar.”

“Okay, good. Um, I need a little time to get dressed.”

“Sure.” I nod. “My sister’s gonna drive, so come on up to mine when you’re ready.”

***

Aurora’s knock comes exactly fifteen minutes later. To be fair to her, I was expecting to be waiting a lot longer. And thank God, because Cherry has spent the whole time deep diving through Aurora’s Instagram, pulling up photos and reading out her philosophical captions that make me want to gag. I’ve also now heard about ten reviews of her book, which I had no idea she’d written. It’s quite impressive, actually.

Cherry leaps up from the sofa before I can and runs to the door, throwing it open with a high-pitched, “Hi!”

“Oh, hi,” Aurora says, tucking some hair behind her ear shyly.

Damn, she cleans up well.

As I stand, I can’t stop my eyes from raking over her. Red waves run wild, lit up from behind by the evening sun’s glow. A short denim skirt with frayed edges shows off her toned legs, and a white, cropped corset top pushes up her breasts, emphasising how they’d be the perfect handful. She’s also wrapped in an oversized plaid shirt, one shoulder hanging off, a heavy dusting of freckles across the bare skin.

Topping the whole outfit off is a pair of red cowboy boots that there’s no way belong to her. In fact, I swear I saw Grace wear some like them once. Regardless, I’m thrown by how well the whole country vibe suits her. How well she suddenly fits in with the ranch.

Like it was always meant to be hers.

Aurora holds her arms out and wiggles her hips. “What was it Shania Twain said? Man shirts, short skirts, right?”

It’s then that I realise I’ve been ogling her, bottom lip dropped. I have to shake my head to snap out of it.

“You look amazing,” Cherry gushes before pulling Aurora into a hug, showing me an overly friendly side I’m not used to seeing. Normally she’s mocking or hitting me, our brother, Hunter, and my friends. To be fair, she’s probably grateful to finally have some female company for once. “I’m Cherry, Wyatt’s little sister.”

“No, you look amazing!” Aurora eyes up Cherry’s black waistcoat and flared jeans. “I’m Rory, so nice to meet you. Gosh, you guys really do look alike.”

“Oh gross, don’t say that. I don’t want to look like a caveman.” Cherry mimics sticking her fingers in her throat and makes a gagging noise, eliciting a hard scowl from me.

That’s twice she’s called me a caveman today and I’m starting to wonder if I need to work on my posture.

But Aurora laughs, a hand on Cherry’s arm like they’re already best friends. First the ranch, now my sister… I’m not sure how I feel about letting Aurora into this part of my life too. I had no choice over the ranch, it wasn’t mine to control. But my family? My friends? They’re parts of me that I can stop her sunny light from drowning.

Am I tempting fate by opening these up to her? Especially when I’m struggling to keep my eyes off her right now.

“Shall we go?” Cherry questions, a brow perked at me and a hand on her hip, while she swings her keys.

I clear my throat and nod, waving to encourage Cherry to head out. She points Aurora in the direction of her car, which despite driving along these dusty roads, always manages to look spotless.

I turn to lock up, assuming Cherry has headed down to the car too, when suddenly she’s behind me, whispering in my ear.

“I’m glad you agree that she’s hot.”

Checking the door, I twist around, forcing my face to stay expressionless. “I never said that.”

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