Page 18 of Live, Ranch, Love

eight

Wyatt

“Wait, so that is the British woman you’ve been moaning about all week?” Sawyer asks, tipping his beer bottle towards where Aurora and Cherry lean against the bar, chatting with Duke as he makes their cocktails. We’re sat in our usual booth, waiting for the girls.

I just nod and grunt.

He shakes his head, eyes wide. “What is wrong with you?”

“Seriously, man, are you blind?” Wolfman scratches his dark beard.

I shrug and swig my beer. “I don’t see her that way.”

“Why?” they both ask in unison, complete bewilderment plastering their faces.

And I get it—Aurora’s undeniably attractive. Even when she’s not showing off her toned body doing yoga on the deck, which I won’t pretend hasn’t popped into my thoughts every now and again. But I can’t let that get in the way of how she just waltzed onto the ranch without a care, ready to get rid of it. You don’t sleep with the enemy.

“You know why.”

“Oh right, of course.” Wolfman holds his hands up. “She’s getting in the way of you having your little happy ending.”

“I don’t know.” Sawyer brings his bottle to his lips, already failing to hide his smirk. “I think she could give a pretty good happy ending.”

Wolfman snorts out his beer, and Sawyer chokes on his when I kick him under the table.

Sometimes I don’t think these two have grown up since high school, so obsessed with sex and women. I would’ve thought by now, with all the buckle bunnies Sawyer’s spent his nights with since he started bull riding, he’d at least have grown a little tired of chasing women. But Sawyer seems to run off attention, while the rest of us rely on coffee. Though, I think whatever went on between him and his father when he was younger has made sure of that, so I’ll cut him some slack there.

Wolfman has no excuse.

At least Duke is more mature.

It’s not that I didn’t go through my fair share of women when I was younger, but I like to think I know how to treat a woman properly. Having a little sister made me learn that earlier than most. I always try to make sure whoever I’m sleeping with is on the same page as me, whether it’s a one-time thing, or more. Sawyer and Wolfman, on the other hand, have left a decent trail of broken hearts through Willow Ridge.

“Oh, come on, Wyatt. God has literally delivered you a no-strings-attached opportunity, and you’re just gonna pass it up.” Sawyer’s not even trying to cover up the way he’s ogling Aurora at the bar. I don’t know why it grates on me. If she was anyone else, I wouldn’t care.

Maybe it’s because I know she’s delicate right now.

It’s clearly grating on some of the other girls in the bar too whose faces no doubt lit up when heartthrob Sawyer Nash waltzed in. Now their scowls keep flicking between him and Aurora.

Wolfman leans in. “You’ve gotta admit it though, she is hot.”

The guys stare me down, raised eyebrows, until I finally sigh and admit, “Fine, yes, she’s hot. Okay?”

“Who’s hot?”

I start at Cherry’s voice as she and Aurora approach the booth, dark-red drinks in their hands. Cherry lets Aurora slide in first next to Sawyer, then perches on the end.

Sawyer shoots me a shit-eating grin, then clinks his bottle against Aurora’s glass. “Little Miss Jones here.”

“Oh right.” Cherry rolls her lips, holding in a smile.

Aurora flashes her eyes at me, redness creeping along her cheeks and neck, then quickly looks away, nursing her drink for an achingly long time. Great, now I probably seem like a creep. Bet she wishes she’d stayed at home.

“Don’t worry, Cherry, we think you’re hot too.” Wolfman lounges back in the booth. “We just keep those discussions for when your brother isn’t here.” He ruffles my hair, knowing full well that mentioning my sister like that would grind my gears. I just let out a long sigh.

“Gross, Miles,” Cherry responds, rolling her eyes.

That’s my girl.

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