Page 16 of Saddle and Bound

Vale: You sure about that, Rosie? Because I could've sworn I saw sparks flying this morning... ??

Rosie: Hilarious. Can we please change the subject?

Lexy: Not a chance!

Lexy: And… Rory, spill the beans about which of your brother's friends makes you weak in the knees! ??

Aurora: I don’t!!! I have no idea what you're on about! ??

Vale: Oh, come off it! We've all seen you making eyes at him since... FOREVER!!!

Aurora: Would you drop it already? That ship has sailed.

Vale: Something went down, little Rory... and we're going to get to the bottom of it!

Lexy: You bet! And Rosie, don't think you're off the hook. We want all the juicy details about your "lesson" with Alex!

Rosie: There's nothing to tell! Shouldn't we be focusing on the barbecue anyway?

I close the chat with a sigh, a mix of amusement and frustration. These girls are incredible, but sometimes they make me feel like I'm back in high school. Still, I'm glad they're acting this way... I was already panicking about the barbecue, but in the end, their playful jabs lighten the mood. I adore them as if I've known them forever. And then there's Alex... I shake my head, trying to focus on the work in front of me.

My laptop sits open on the makeshift desk I've set up in my room at the ranch. Files of documents, presentations, and spreadsheets stare back at me, reminding me of all the looming deadlines. Working remotely has never been this challenging.

I rub my eyes, feeling the fatigue building up. Los Angeles seems like a distant memory, yet the pressures of my life there continue to chase me. Deadlines, client calls, reports to complete... everything seems so insignificant here, surrounded by the wild beauty of the ranch.

I smile to myself, thinking about how I felt this morning. It was unexpectedly nice... except for the company, of course! That damn irritating cowboy with that smile that makes me want to hit him and kis... What am I thinking?? I must be exhausted, clearly! It's definitely the jet lag and the 5:30 AM wake-up call. But... I find myself thinking again about our dawn ride, the way his arms encircled me...

"Focus, Rosie," I mutter to myself, turning back to stare at the screen.

But it's hard. My gaze keeps wandering to the window, to the green fields and distant hills. I'm starting to understand why Dad fell in love with this place. There's a peace here, a sense of belonging I've never felt in Los Angeles.

I think about all the people I've met in these few days. Vale and Chris, so in love and welcoming. Val with her contagious energy, her big smiles, and constant hugs... you can see she's happy, and I'm not used to such overwhelming people like her... it still feels strange to see her so lively and receive all these hugs. I smile to myself... she's so small and energetic, she's just like Tinkerbell! And then... Lexy with her loose tongue. Aurora and her sweet shyness. Diego, Fran, and all the others... they seem like such a beautiful family.

And then there's Dad. I see him happier than he's ever been. He wants me to move here, I know. He's never asked me explicitly, but I see it in his eyes every time he looks at me. He wants me to be part of this new life he's built.

But how could I? My career, my life... everything is in Los Angeles. This small town in southern Italy is a completely different world. And yet...

I sigh again, looking at the clock. The barbecue will start in a few hours, and I haven't done anything productive yet. I force myself back to work, trying to ignore the little voice in my head that keeps wondering what Alex will think of what I'll wear tonight... Good grief! What will I wear? All my outfits are very formal... and I only have sky-high heels.

And there I go, distracted again. Will I ever get through this mountain of work? And why does my life suddenly seem so dull and gray? What is this enormous weight I feel? I shake my head, trying to rid myself of these confused thoughts. I force myself back to work, but every word I write seems empty, meaningless. It's as if this brief stay at the ranch has called into question everything I believed in.

After another half hour of frustrated attempts to concentrate, I shut the laptop with a sharp gesture. There's no point in continuing like this. Maybe a walk will clear my head.

I leave my room and head outside. The fresh, fragrant air hits me immediately, making me feel more alive than I have in months. I walk aimlessly, letting my thoughts wander freely.

I think about my life in Los Angeles. My elegant but cold apartment. The long hours at the office, the business dinners, the glossy parties. Everything seemed so important, so crucial. But now? Now it all seems so... empty.

And then I think about these few days at the ranch. The laughter shared with the girls. Chris's kindness and Vale's contagious energy. The peace I felt riding at dawn. And yes, even Alex's provocations.

I stop abruptly, realizing where my feet have taken me. I'm at the stables. And, as if fate wanted to mock me, here's Alex coming out at that very moment.

"Hey, princess," he greets me with that irritating smile of his. "Lost your way?"

I roll my eyes, but I can't hold back a smile. "No, cowboy. I was just... exploring."

Alex looks at me for a moment, as if trying to read me. Then, to my surprise, his smile softens. "You seem thoughtful. Everything okay?"

For a moment, I'm tempted to open up, to share all my worries and doubts. But I hold back. "I'm fine," I answer instead. "Just a bit stressed about work."

---