Claiming the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 7)

Ethan answers the door with a smug grin. “Somehow, I knew you’d show up.”

“Can I talk to Harper?” I ask, and he moves aside, letting me in.

Harper’s packaging soaps at the kitchen table and bursts into laughter when she sees me.

“I’m glad I didn’t bet you,” she tells Ethan. “Would’ve lost that one.”

“What were you betting?” I narrow my eyes at Ethan.

“That if you showed up asking about Hadleigh’s date, we’d do butt stuff,” he says.

“Dude.” I shake my head. “Don’t tell me that shit. Anyway…” I turn to a snickering Harper. “Where do I find her?”

She lifts a brow. “That’s gonna cost ya.”

I throw out my arms in frustration. “Oh, come on! Grandma called me out at dinner, so now I gotta prove her wrong,” I explain. “And on top of it, she fucking dared me. Sweet old lady, my ass.” I grunt.

Ethan snorts. “Why does none of this surprise me?”

“Fine, but you better not fuck it up again,” she emphasizes the last word as she grabs her phone. “She’s been texting me all night. “They’re at the theater right now but should be leaving any minute. They’re getting drinks and dinner at the Ale House. Apparently, she’s been bored out of her mind, but she’s too nice to bail.”

“She’s not having a good time?” I ask.

“No, she’s totally not into him,” Harper says. “He’s from work, so she didn’t want to be rude when he asked her.”

Hearing that makes me grin because I thought she was moving on, but if she’s not even having fun, then I still have a chance.

“Guess that means you need to go get your woman.” Ethan smirks. “Rescue your damsel in distress.”

I laugh under my breath. “Hadleigh’s the last person to be called a damsel, but you’re right. What’s the place called again?”

Harper confirms the location, and my face cracks into a smile. “I owe ya one.”

“Oh don’t worry, I’ll think of something!” Harper calls out as Ethan pats my back and walks me outside.

I get in my truck and make my way onto the country road.

Once I’m home, I change clothes. If I’m going to crash a date, I can’t look like I just finished shoveling shit. My nerves get the best of me as I put on a button-up shirt, some nice slacks, and my church boots.

After I’m dressed, I get in my truck and take off. Another vehicle speeding down the gravel road flashes me, so I slow down. When I get close, I see it’s Kane.

I roll down my window, and so does he. “What’s up?”

“Where’re ya goin’ drivin’ like a bat outta hell?” It’s the first time he’s actually talked to me since all of this started.

“To San Angelo,” I say with a shrug. “To fuck up Hadleigh’s date.”

His face cracks into a huge grin. “Good. I heard you were at the B&B, but I must’ve just missed you. I wanted to talk to you. I’m sorry about the way I acted, for punching you in the face, for treating you like the bad guy. Shoulda never got to that level, but I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

I shake my head. “Don’t apologize. You were concerned. I get it. I never wanted to hurt you, ya know that. It’s why I told Hadleigh she needed to make a decision. I wanted us both to be put out of our misery.”

“Yeah, and she did,” he quickly says. “I talked to her the other day.”

“You did?”

Was that before or after I told her to choose him?

“She’s in love with you, Knox. I’m sure she hasn’t admitted it to you yet because she’s just as stubborn as we are, but you two are made for each other. When she came over, she told me how she felt, and I told her I knew we weren’t meant to be more than friends. We left on a good note, and I told her not to give up on you just yet since you were being an ass.” He smirks, but I’m almost too stunned to speak.

“Wow. Why didn’t you tell me? I was tryin’ to get out of the way of you two.”

“I planned to when I ran into you next, but I guess Riley took keeping us separated seriously. After Kaitlyn's birthday party, I realized that Hadleigh and I were better off as friends. I’ve been in love with the idea of her for so long that I lost sight of how I really felt. She agreed. Now you just need to figure out what you want.”

“You know, I didn’t sleep with her that first night.”

He blinks. “You didn’t?”

I shake my head. “No. I mean, I could’ve. She was ready and willing, but I stopped it. I knew I needed to talk with you first before it went any further.”

“Except I never gave you a chance before I punched you.” He sighs with a frown.