Claiming the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 7)

Her words stab me like a knife to the heart, but I don’t show how much they affect me. I never do. There’s one thing I’m good at—pretending feelings don’t exist.

“You think you’re the first woman to act like this? Get in line, sweetheart. I’ve heard it all.”

“You say that like you’re proud. You’re insufferable.” She storms off toward her Jeep, but I’m not finished.

I hop out of my truck and catch up to her in three strides. Grabbing her elbow, I spin her around to face me. “I’m insufferable? You’re the one doing only God knows what with my brother, then you crawl to me like I’m some kind of rebound. You kissed me the night of our date, and now I’m paying the consequences.”

“Yeah, well this isn’t rainbows and butterflies for me either. I don’t know what to do, and I’m torn, okay?” Her voice rises. “Try putting yourself in my shoes for one damn day, then maybe you’d understand. I’ve been put in the middle of you two, something I didn’t ask for, and I hate it.”

I hold up my hand and take a step back. “Alright, fine. Let me make it easier for ya then. Pick Kane. Y’all make a better match anyway.” He’d at least know how to be in a relationship.

Her expression falls, and I know there’s nothing more she can say.

“Good night, Hadleigh.”

I turn and walk back to my truck, then drive away.

The following morning comes way too soon. I yawn into my coffee, then splash water on my face. I haven’t been able to get Hadleigh off my mind since our fight last night. Not to mention, I hate the way I left. But perhaps it’s for the best. Kane’s been in love with her for years, and if her feelings reciprocate his, they should be together.

I hate that a woman is coming between my brother and me. We’ve fought over chicks before, but nothing this serious. And not in years. Though he’s a pain in my ass most days, or maybe I only think that because I’m a pain in his ass, he’s still my best friend, and I love him. It’d destroy our parents if we couldn’t get along. Hell, it’d destroy me.

He’s the last person I want to compete with, and this isn’t something I ever saw coming. My attraction toward Hadleigh makes me feel guilty as hell because I know he wants her just as badly. This internal battle is new, and I’m still figuring out how to deal with it.

“Hey.” I nod at him once I walk into the barn.

Kane doesn’t say anything, just grunts. Neither of us is a morning person, so I don’t take it personally. If I had my way, I’d work in the evenings and into the night so I could sleep all day. It’s scorching hot under the Texas sun, and I sweat like a damn horse.

I grab my gloves, and Kane does the same. We’re on shit shoveling duty.

“Late night?” I ask.

He shrugs without looking at me. “Not really. Just draggin’ ass.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, same.”

It’s Sunday, which means we only have morning duties. As soon as we’re finished, I’m going to shower and pass out for a few hours.

We mostly work in silence, both hustling to get the job done as fast as we can. Riley and Diesel ride up on a side-by-side and give us a hard time, so we fling shit at them. They squeal like a bunch of kids, then burn off with middle fingers in the air.

It’s the first time in weeks we laugh together. We avoid mentioning the elephant in the room while we work. After four grueling hours, every stall is clean and ready for the horses.

“You goin’ to the B&B for lunch?” Kane asks after we wash up and put everything away.

“Uh…” I lift my ball cap and scrub a hand through my sweaty hair. “No, I think I’m gonna get some rest. I didn’t sleep well. I might stop in for dinner, though.”

“Oh. Alright. Then I’ll see ya later.”

I nod. “See ya.”

We go our separate ways, and I hop in my truck. I wave to the other ranch hands in the pastures filling up the water troughs. My uncle Alex rotates our shifts so we aren’t overworked, but with the millions of tasks on the ranch, it’s almost impossible to get a day off. Most of us have settled for half-days. Though according to my dad, the more we work, the less trouble we get into.

Pretty fresh coming from the troublemaker himself.

Once I’m home, thoughts of Hadleigh join me under the warm shower stream. I’d slide my hands over every inch of her, then kiss her until she was ready to pass out. I’d bend her over and fuck her until she cried out my name. She’d squeeze my dick with her tight cunt, and I’d come deep inside her.