Hitching the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 1)

“Then stop breathing on my neck and making my thoughts turn naughty,” he says, side-eyeing me.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about, Mr. Bishop.” I brush my fingers along his neck to wipe away pieces of hair.

“Really? Do you touch all your clients so seductively?”

“Of course. I work for tips, ya know?” I tease. “Why do you think my hands are so soft? I use lotion daily. It’s what keeps them coming back.”

“That’s not even funny,” he hisses.

“You know…” I move between his legs to make sure everything is even in the front and sides. “I wouldn’t have thought you’d be the possessive type when I first saw you. But…I can’t say I hate it.” I smirk, not looking into his eyes as I brush my fingers through his hair.

He grips my waist, then pulls me closer until I cave and bend down. Riley wraps a hand around my neck and brings our mouths together. “Only you’ve brought that out in me,” he says against my lips. “Knew you for a few hours and already wanted to murder any man who dared to look at you. And trust me, at those clubs, they were lookin’.”

I smile at his words. I’ve never met a man who was so open about his feelings and didn’t play any childish games, or hell, a man who actually paid attention to me instead of his phone.

“Well, I hadn’t noticed because my eyes were only focused on you,” I tell him honestly. “I was afraid if I blinked, you’d disappear or something.”

Riley grins, grabbing my thighs to pull me down to straddle him. “Are you done with my hair yet?”

Nodding, I wrap my arms around his neck and position myself on top of him. “That’ll be three hundred dollars, sir.”

Riley chokes, causing me to burst out laughing. “For a trim?”

“You’re paying for my upbeat and very personal service.”

“Oh, of course. How foolish of me not to consider that. Think you could take an IOU? I’m a little short on bullshit this month.” He brings our mouths closer.

“Hmm…I think we could arrange something.”

Chapter Thirteen

Riley

Having Zoey here for the past week has been amazing. We’ve quickly fallen into a routine, and I just wish I had more time. Eventually, she’ll decide if she’s staying permanently or returning to Arizona. It’s something I’ve tried to push to the back of my mind because losing her for good would be too much. I’m not stupid and understand her whole life is back in Phoenix. We can’t last forever the way we are now. Things will have to change.

At first, she was concerned that my family wouldn’t like her or accept our marriage, but I knew they’d see what I saw in her the first time we met. However, since we’re only testing this out, and they’ve already fallen in love with her, I won’t be the only heartbroken one if she leaves. The thought makes me fucking sick to my stomach.

I take a sip of water and watch my dad, changing the oil in a tractor.

“Wanna give me a hand?” he asks with grease on his face.

I walk over and pick up the spare parts.

“How are things going with the wife?” he asks, grabbing a wrench and removing bolts.

I snort. “Wow, it sounds weird when you ask me questions like that.”

“Well, you’re a married man now. My little baby boy is all grown up.” He chuckles.

“Shut up, Old Man.”

“You gonna make me a grandpa already?” He looks up at me with an arched eyebrow.

“Not planning on it yet.” This conversation is awkward as hell.

Dad replaces the oil filter and fills the tractor, then goes back to tightening everything the way it was. “Look, son. I know you got it bad when it comes to Zoey, but I want you to be careful. You two rushed into this quite fast, and I don’t want you to get hurt.” Dad searches my face, wiping his greasy hands on his pants. Mom’s gonna kill him. Trying to get stains out of his clothes is one of her pet peeves.

I look out over the horizon and focus on the rolling hills in the distance as I lean against the hot metal of the tractor. “I know.”

“You signed the annulment papers. She wouldn’t have sent them if she didn’t have doubts,” he continues. “Her life is in Phoenix. Is she really willing to give that up? Being here on the ranch in the middle of nowhere is a lot to take in. Trust me, it’s a huge change for those city girls, and it takes some adjusting. At first, it seems like a vacation, and then the newness wears off. We love it because it’s in our genes, but this life isn’t for everyone. You know that.”

I think back on all the things Zoey and I have talked about over the past week. Her parents, her life, her job, all of it. “If we’re meant to be, it will be. I’m not forcing anything, but I know deep in my heart she’s the one. The way she makes me feel, Dad. It’s real. There’s no pretending when we’re together. I don’t have any doubts.”