Hitching the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 1)

“Do it and you’ll be limping with my foot in your ass,” I threaten.

“Fine, fine.” He chuckles. “You nervous about bringing Zoey?”

“Yes and no. I think they’ll be shocked but will love her,” I admit, convinced she’ll have no problem fitting in.

Diesel smiles. “You know, she could’ve at least brought her friend with her for me. Crystal?”

“Chelsea,” I correct, snickering. “You ass. You slept with her and don’t even remember her name.”

His laughter echoes off the walls. “Trust me when I say we didn’t do much sleeping.”

Shaking my head, I grab my keys and the birthday presents I got for Rowan in Las Vegas, then head over to the B&B to pick up Zoey. She’s sitting on the porch in a rocking chair, looking gorgeous as ever.

“Howdy,” I say, and she instantly smiles. “Ready to go, wifey?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I wrap my arms around her as soon as she meets me and take her lips in mine. Is it really possible to feel this way about someone I barely know?

Yes, yes, it fucking is.

“You look stunning. But hell, you always do.” I wink, tempted to skip the party and take her to my house even though we’re taking it slow.

“Thank you. I need to make a good impression after all. I like how you can go from all sweaty and dirty cowboy to sleek and sexy cowboy in only an hour. It’s like being married to two men…” she quips, biting down on her lip.

“Well, I hope you don’t mind the dirty one because he’s who you’ll see more of,” I tease.

We climb in the truck, and the conversation flows easily. I tell her more about my sister and how Diesel always taunts me about her. Once we turn onto the main road, I share the ranch’s history because the land goes on for miles. She’s intrigued by the size and how many generations have kept it alive.

“It’s a working ranch too, not just a vacation destination for tourists. We actually raise and herd cattle, brand them, and even train horses.”

She grins. “And you guys own a bar, a bed and breakfast, have a massive garden, and your grandma basically runs the town.”

I smile with a nod because it’s true. My family’s well-known ’round here. “Something like that. Grandma Bishop knows everything about everyone. She’s active in charitable work too and does a big bachelor auction fundraiser every year for the food bank, has for decades. You only cross her if you have a death wish. The woman’s a spitfire, but she’s extremely loyal. She also makes the best blueberry muffins I’ve ever tasted in my life,” I tell her random facts, then park the truck a block away from the bar.

I turn and look at Zoey, and she seems more relaxed than before.

“Well, it’s now or never. Ready?” I ask, grabbing Rowan’s gifts.

We sit in silence for a few seconds before Zoey lets out a laugh. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

After we climb out of the truck, I grab her hand and lead her in through the back door. The room is already crowded with people helping decorate with balloons and streamers. As soon as I set the presents down, I run into Uncle John and Uncle Jackson. They look at me, then at Zoey, mirror images of one another.

She narrows her eyes. “Am I seeing double?”

“They’re twins,” I say. “And nosy as hell.”

I try to walk past them, but Uncle Jackson grabs me by my collar and pulls me back. “Don’t be a punk. We deserve a proper introduction to your new lady friend.”

Zoey snickers, and I know that as soon as I tell them, the entire town will know. Jackson is a loud bastard.

“Uncle John and Uncle Jackass, oh excuse me, I mean Jackson, this is Zoey, my wife,” I tell them proudly.

They look at each other and shout, “Wife?” at the same time. That’s when the entire room falls quiet, and I feel all heads turn to look at us.

We’re in the spotlight, and I’m about ready to shit myself when Grandma Bishop comes storming through the crowd. “What did y’all say?”

I grab Zoey’s hand and bring her forward, and while fifty people are looking at us, it’s so quiet one could hear a pin drop. “Zoey, this is everyone. And everyone, this is Zoey, my wife.”

My heart pounds hard in my chest when Grandma Bishop bolts toward me. Before she speaks, she stops and addresses those who are staring. “Well, carry on, everyone. We still have a birthday to celebrate.”

Then she turns back toward us, a stern expression on her face. “Now, tell me how this happened…” She looks at me, then at Zoey. “You’re pregnant, sweetie?”

I burst into laughter as Zoey shakes her head, blushing. Why does everyone think that? As if that’d be the only reason this gorgeous woman would marry me? “No, Grandma. I didn’t take after my parents completely.”