Dirty Sweet Cowboy

I squeeze her hand quickly, then pull it away. I don’t want any of the guys to think I’m giving her any special favors because of… I see the same concern reflected in her eyes, so I take another step backwards .

“No big deal. I’m going to go talk to Dad. Meet you in the office in a bit ?”

She nods, and I turn quickly and walk away, afraid one of us will say something we’ll regret. We seem to have a habit of doing that whenever we’re alone for too long, and I don’t want to ruin any forward momentum we’re managing toward a friendship again. Or maybe something more …

Stop that, Hawk. Just because you have these feelings for her doesn’t mean she could ever feel that way about you. Just because she’s fallen into bed with you a couple of times doesn’t mean anything. She has a different life now, a life that is nothing like your own .

I stop and look around the ranch, and take in the place where I grew up, and how much it has changed. Yet, it’s still somehow so much the same. I try to imagine a situation in which I’d come back here, work here, live here. I try to picture making a life here, a new life, a life like the one my father led. And I can’t imagine it .

But then I realize, I can imagine it. I’m just imagining it happening with Parrish. And that scares the hell out of me. I’m completely lost in the panic of my realizations when I feel a small hand grip my arm gently. I think for a moment it’s Parrish, and I feel my heart swell. Then I turn around, and Simone is standing behind me, batting her eyelashes, and smiling sweetly .

“Hey, hey… Simone,” I stumble .

“You are quite the hero, aren’t you, Hawk?” she says as she runs a finger along my arm. I get the shivers, and not for the reason she probably thinks. I know what she’s thinking, and I’m not interested, but I also don’t feel like I can be a jerk to her while she’s still writing the article .

“I’m not a hero. I’m just doing what’s right. No one should be allowed to treat women like that. It just seems like common sense, I guess. So. I really need to go chat about some things with my dad. I should get on that…” I start to walk away, but she grabs my hand and stops me .

“Hawk, I’d like to talk to you about something. Something unrelated to the farm .”

“Ranch,” I mutter under my breath .

“Whatever,” she says with a wave of her hand. “Can we go out for a proper dinner tonight? In town? I found a vegan restaurant in Missoula and made us reservations .”

My eyes bug out. “Missoula? That’s almost two hours away. I don’t really have time to …”

“Oh, come on now, Hawk. You can take a little time off, can’t you ?”

I look over her shoulder at the builders, who are already working on the frame. I start running through everything in my head that I need to do, and all of the plans I need to get organized. I also don’t want to spend a night alone with Simone, two hours from my family. So I start workshopping every plausible scenario I could use to get out of it .

I’m sick ?

I have to build the stable myself with my own two hands ?

I need to drive my mother to her quilting circle ?

Suddenly, the words are just spilling out my mouth. “Oh, shit. I just remembered. I offered to babysit Gracie tonight. I totally can’t. Shoot. Sorry .”

Simone pouts and crosses her arms over her chest. “Are you sure? Can’t someone else watch it ?”

My nose instinctively crinkles when she refers to Gracie as “it.” But I try to maintain my pleasant facade. “Very sure. I haven’t gotten to spend any time with my niece, so I wouldn’t feel right cancelling, you know? Maybe some other time, Simone .”

Simone shrugs and tilts her head to the side in an obvious attempt to flirt. “I’ll be here for a while. I’m sure we can find plenty of time to spend together before we leave. And maybe when we get back to Los Angeles too.” She reaches a manicured finger out and taps me on the nose, then winks at me. Luckily, she turns around and heads for the build site before she can see me make a face. Once she’s gone, I head into the house and start brainstorming exactly how I’m going to justify babysitting my niece when no one was planning on going anywhere tonight …

Parrish

“I don’t understand, Hawk. Why would we go out to dinner when I can just stay here and make dinner for all of us?” Candy asks, confused. To be fair, I’m not sure what is going on either. Once the construction workers cleared out for the day, Hawk gathered everyone in the living room, and told us we were going out for the night. Sam and Candy had reservations at the nicest restaurant in Dylan, and Anna and I were having a girls’ night at the movies. He was going to stay home and watch Gracie .

“Because. You two never have a nice evening alone anymore. And it seems like the least I can do for you during all of this chaos,” Hawk says as he awkwardly picks up Gracie out of her play castle and tries to engage with her. Gracie looks a little confused at first, but just like she did the first time she saw him, falls for his charms almost immediately. I can see Sam and Candy relenting, but Anna raises her hand .

“Excuse me. I hate to put a damper on all of this, but I already have plans tonight .”

Everyone turns and looks at her like she has a lizard growing out of her shoulder. “You have what, Anna? Plans? Actual plans?” Sam asks, incredulous .

“Yes, Father . Plans. I have a date. With… Sid .”

Hawk’s jaw drops. “Sid Warren? You’re going on a date with Sid Warren? He’s too old for you!” Anna rolls her eyes .

“Please. He’s two years older than you, for crying out loud. And I’m not a child. I can go out with whomever I please, thank you very much. I’m sorry, Parrish. As much as I’d love to hang out with you, I can’t cancel on Sid,” Anna says, directing her petulant comment at Hawk. I just shake my head, laughing .