Hitching the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 1)

“Sure, I’d love that. I got in late last night and have only had time to unpack and shower so far,” she replies as I lead her to the side-by-side.

“You ever ride in one of these before?” I ask, helping her up and buckling her in.

“Nope. Should I be scared?”

I grip her chin. “Depends.” Then I flash her a wink and walk to the driver’s side. Seeing and kissing her again have instantly changed my mood. I can’t blame her for being scared at first and understand why she thought an annulment was our only option, but now that she’s here, I’m not taking this second chance for granted.

Chapter Eight

Zoey

I’ve been shaking with nerves since the moment I decided to drive to Texas. What if Riley didn’t want me here? What if it was nothing more than a fling, considering how quickly he signed and sent those papers back? What if I walked away from a man who would’ve truly loved me?

It took me two weeks to finally say to hell with it and pack up my car. My parents know I love being adventurous, I always have. I’m not like my sister, who thrives on stability. I like the unknown, and although that almost made me not come, I was so glad I did the minute Riley kissed me.

I hang on for dear life as he drives us around, showing me the barns, the horse stables, their training facility, and where he mainly works. I looked up the ranch before I arrived, so I know it’s huge, but it already looks like a place I could happily wake up to every day.

Riley radios his dad to find out his location and then tells him to stay put. My nervousness increases because the last thing I want to do is piss off both his parents. I know his mom’s in shock, and it’ll probably take some time for her to warm up to the idea, but having one parent on our side would be nice.

“Good thing you knew to wear boots today,” he tells me with a grin. “It’s a little muddy out here.” He parks the vehicle and takes my hand. Though it’s a simple gesture, butterflies flutter in my stomach.

“I hope your dad likes me,” I say weakly.

“Well, it can’t go any worse than it did with my mom.” He chuckles, and I smack his arm with my free hand.

“That’s not reassuring!” I scold but laugh at his goofy grin.

“Hey, Dad!” Riley calls, grabbing his attention. The poor guy is standing in mud up to his knees working on a fence. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

As soon as his dad turns around and smiles at us, I blink and do a double take. Lord, the two look almost identical. His father’s hair isn’t as dark, but their facial features are the same. If that’s what Riley will look like in twenty years, then I better take his mom’s advice to heart. I’m surprised she only had two children.

“Hey, kiddo. What’s up?” He steps out of the mud, walking toward us.

“This is Zoey,” Riley says, gesturing to me. “Zoey, this is my dad, Alex. But he prefers to be called Old Man.”

I snort at his taunting tone, then shake Mr. Bishop’s hand. “I’ll stick with Alex, don’t worry.”

“Smart girl.” The corner of his lips tilts up, then he glances at Riley. “So by the hand-holding, I take it you’re one of Riley’s many girlfriends?”

My eyes widen as Riley squeezes my hand in reassurance. “You’re an asshole.”

I look back and forth between them and can tell Mr. Bishop is giving him a hard time on purpose. “If your mother was here, she’d be yelling at you for that language, son.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Riley groans. “Now that you’ve almost scared her off…” He turns and gestures toward me with a grin. “Dad, this is my wife.”

I hold my breath, waiting for his reaction. It’s easy to see they’re close, but regardless, this is a pretty big bomb to drop.

Mr. Bishop coughs to cover up his shock, causing Riley to smack him hard on the back. “Breathe, Old Man.”

“No, I think you’re trying to kill me,” he says, swallowing hard. “Because I heard you say wife, and there’s no way my only son would get married without telling me first.”

Riley grunts, rolling his eyes. “Now you’re being more dramatic than Mom.”

“Oh God, your mother knows? Does she still have a pulse?” he asks seriously. “Better yet, how are you still standing after she whipped your ass?”

I can’t help it; I start cracking up. This family is so fun, much different from mine, who constantly have a stick up their asses.

“Sorry, I’m not laughing at you. Well, I am. Sorta. It’s just you two are hilarious together,” I explain, clearing my throat in embarrassment.