Page 41 of Live, Ranch, Love

I sigh and wipe my face. I need new friends who don’t know me so well that they can figure out everything I’m feeling before even I do. No doubt that’s why Sawyer winked too.

Goddamn. Have I been that obvious?

Does Aurora know too? I thought I’d fought back these feelings well enough.

Taking in a deep breath, I shoot a look at Wolfman, and he angles his beer towards the dance floor. I make it seem like it’s taking every ounce of effort to lug myself out the booth and over to the dance floor, when really my pulse is racing the nearer I get to her.

They pause when I reach them. Cherry’s eyes widen before her face settles into a knowing smirk at how I’m offering my hand to Aurora. Sawyer lets go of Aurora, giving her a soft nudge towards me, and her eyes sparkle as they meet mine. The dim lights make her cheekbones glisten, and her cheeks flush pink.

Aurora’s hand slips into mine, electricity sparking from the touch. I pull her towards me, sliding one arm around her waist, noting Sawyer do the same with Cherry beside us. But I don’t give another thought to my sister when Aurora’s warm body presses into mine, and her hand trails up over my shoulder, fingers brushing against my bare neck, leaving fire in their wake.

Honey-brown eyes twinkle up at me and her fingers pulse in mine as I start to sway us from side to side. I have no idea how to dance and probably look like a goddamn robot, but I think I might be able to endure it given how brightly Aurora is beaming at me right now. I think I might be able to endure a lot more for her.

“Hi,” she whispers.

“Hi,” I say back, eyes dipping to where she’s caught her bottom lip between her teeth. I shouldn’t be looking at her lips for so long.

Sparks dance behind the hazel eyes staring back at me. I’m not even sure I can hear the music anymore, just my heart rattling in my chest. I thought coming over here would rid me of all those feelings, yet now I’m just drowning in even more of them.

I abruptly spin Aurora around, breaking the contact between our bodies briefly, giving me a second to compose myself. She gives a little squeal of delight, before stumbling back into me, hand returning to my neck again, this time brushing up and down.

“Thanks for dancing with me.”

“Thought I’d save you from Sawyer’s terrible dance moves.”

“Right.” Aurora nods, rolling her lips.

And then she does the worst possible thing and rests her head against my chest. Right where my eagle tattoo spreads out. The reminder that I’m happier when I’m free is torturous, because if I truly let myself do what I wanted right now, then I’d be dragging Aurora back to the truck and straight to the ranch, so no one else can touch her but me.

I can barely move from how tense my body goes. What if she hears how hard my heart is beating?

My hand is splayed across the small of her back, thumb stroking the delicate curve of her waist. I’ve never felt so much of her for so long before, pressed against me everywhere, and it’s overwhelming. The citrus scent from her hair takes over my senses, giving me that same shot of dopamine that her silvery laugh does. I want to nuzzle my head into her, but that would be weird, because she’s barely my friend. She’s my business partner. Who is going to leave eventually.

It's then that I see a flash of familiar blonde hair enter the bar on the arm of a man in a suit. My gut twists as it’s just another reminder that I can’t be greedy with my happiness. That nothing lasts forever. That, realistically, I’m not the kind of guy someone as accomplished and ambitious as Aurora would even consider.

I’m just Wyatt Hensley.

I’m barely her friend.

I’m her business partner.

Who panics and leaves before the song ends.

seventeen

Aurora

“Ineed to go,” Wyatt abruptly announces and races off to the bathroom.

All the tingling in my body starts to disappear, no longer kindled by the warmth of his body holding mine.

Oh God. I must have overstepped a line resting my head against his chest. It’s just that being in his arms felt so oddly calming, like being wrapped up in your favourite blanket.

There was both desperation and softness in the way he held me, his clutch so demanding, but also gentle in the subtle stroke of his thumb over my waist. His midnight eyes were so wild when he marched over and offered to dance with me too, like if I didn’t say yes the whole bar would burn down. Yet, it felt so right to slip my hand into his, feel his rough skin rasp against mine.

And then I was too rebellious and stole the chance to feel more of him by laying my head against his chest, drinking up the leather and pinewood scent that radiated off him. The scent that is so entrenched in my memories of Sunset Ranch now. But he immediately seized up, stopped dancing, and then left me like a jilted bride.

Not that it matters—I was just letting my vulnerability get the best of me once again, making me take advantage of any attention Wyatt was giving me.

---