Page 68 of Live, Ranch, Love

***

I think my attraction to Wyatt has hit an all-time record high. Watching him be so assertive and serious as he guides the group of guests around the ranch, running over safety procedures and rules, has my mouth watering. Especially when he’s wearing a bloody cowboy hat, playing the perfect part of the strong, brooding rancher. Exactly what made me fall for him.

But on top of that, feeling the pure joy radiate off him as he tells stories about his time working on the ranch, answering questions about the cattle and rancher life for him and the other guys, makes me want to melt into a puddle right here. I can practically feel the love he has for Sunset Ranch pouring off him, and I swear it’s brightened up every single person he’s been leading around on this tour of the ranch.

If only Beau could see him.

It’s only day two of the retreat, but it’s already taking a lot of self-control to not be skipping beside him right now, wide-eyed and awestruck by how I just can’t get enough of him, despite the fact I got to wake up to him again this morning. So, I’m doing my best to stay at the back of the group with Anna and Lola, twin sisters who run their own fitness app and a Pilates studio in London that I used to frequent before coming out here.

It’s not that I’m in any way trying to keep whatever has blossomed between Wyatt and I in the last few days a secret. Honestly, I want to run to the top of the mountains and shout about it for everyone to hear. Because, I mean, look at him. It’s Wyatt Hensley.

But it’s also so new.

I’m not going to be foolish and assume I know what he wants from me, especially since his rule dictates he would’ve told me he wanted more than just sex from me by now… even if he has been meditating with me and telling me how beautiful I am when he wakes up to me in the morning.

Still, there was a reason I held back from letting my feelings for him get the best of me for so long. If this gets screwed up, then how are we supposed to run the retreat together? There’s more riding on whatever we have going on than I’d like to admit. I don’t know if I have the mental capacity to consider it all right now—this week is about the retreat, not us—so I’m not going to let myself think too much on it.

I’m also super aware of the fact that our guests this week are a group of influencers, who constantly have phones in their hands to capture everything going on. If I’m not careful, Wyatt and I will accidentally end up in the background of someone’s post, letting the whole world know that something is going on between us before we ourselves even know what that is.

So, I’m just going to keep reminding myself that I am exactly where I need to be right now. That whatever is kindling between Wyatt and I is meant to happen and is all part of the divine journey planned out for me. I just need to accept it and not overthink.

Luckily, everyone’s so enraptured by Wyatt’s tales, listening with sparkling eyes and wide smiles. Ryan, a Canadian wellness influencer friend of mine, has been walking with Wyatt up at the front of the group, reeling off so many questions like he can’t get enough.

It’s the perfect start to the retreat.

And I’m so grateful to have Wyatt by my side.

Even yesterday, once all the guests had arrived, Wyatt joined us in the main house for a group dinner to settle everyone in, making more effort than I expected to get to know each of the guests. I know that the retreat means keeping Sunset Ranch going, and that’s important to him, but part of me also thinks all the effort he’s putting in is for me, too.

“I feel like you understated how gorgeous this place is, Rory,” Anna says, taking my arm in hers. Wide blue eyes scour our surroundings, an idyllic sparkle in them. She releases a long breath, one that shows she’s finally relaxing. “I can totally see why you want to stay here. I feel so at peace.”

“Agreed,” Lola hooks her arm through my free one, making us into a chain of three, blissed-out influencers. “I have such a good feeling about this for you.”

Me too, I think, biting my lip.

I just need to see some butterflies today, and I’ll be one hundred percent convinced this is all going to work out. That I’ll have saved Sunset Ranch and Wyatt’s job and I’ll have a successful retreat to write my next bestseller about. That I’ll have done Auntie Grace proud.

Though the plan is to start every morning this week with yoga by the lake on the new decking after breakfast, we began the retreat officially with a tour of Sunset Ranch today, ending at the lake. I’m going to miss not having Wyatt, Colt, Josh, and Flynn stretching with me like I’ve gotten so used to, but it will be good to put myself out there and actually lead a proper class again. As opposed to doing yoga with guys who purposefully make fart noises when they’re getting into new positions and blame it on one of the others.

When we finally reach the lake, the sun is high and shining in the crystal clear sky. Rays of golden light glisten on the water’s surface, just daring us to jump in. Luckily, wild water swimming is planned for later. The guests thank Wyatt for the tour and head over to the deck, getting their yoga mats set up and ready for our first session.

I find my way to Wyatt’s side, giving his hand a brief, soft squeeze. Not enough of a touch to grab anyone else’s attention though. “You know, for someone who acts like he hates socialising, you sure seemed in your element this morning.”

Arms crossed, Wyatt tilts his head down to me, letting all his smugness shine with his lazy smile. “Yeah, well, they’re not so bad for a bunch of fitness freaks and hippies.”

“Don’t be a dick.” I give him a jab with my elbow, but he only laughs, barely moved by the force. “You do realise that would make me one of those hippies.”

He shrugs, a smirk playing on his lips. “Maybe hippies are my type.”

“Then maybe I should be worried about letting you spend too much time around these lot,” I tease, biting my lip to hold back the beaming smile that wants to escape. Because he just told me I was his type, and suddenly I’m a giddy schoolgirl.

“You should be worried?” Wyatt’s brow skyrocket. He shakes his head. “And what about me? Knowing you’re spending all week with these ripped guys. That Nathan dude gave you far too long of a hug when he arrived yesterday too.”

The zing of satisfaction from Wyatt’s possessiveness is too delicious. It also makes me feel better that I haven’t felt that threatened by any of the women in the group, which I’d expected given my last boyfriend dropped me for another pretty blonde influencer. Maybe I’m healing better than I thought.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous, Hensley.”

Wyatt quickly schools his features into something like indifference, returning his tensing arms to crossing over his broad chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

---