Hitching the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 1)

“You just turned twenty,” I say.

“Really? Damn, I’d forgotten.” Her sarcasm isn’t lost on me.

When I look up, I see Diesel and wave him over. He’ll fix this little issue.

“Riley, don’t…” Zoey whispers, but it’s too late. He’s already heading this way.

Chapter Sixteen

Zoey

I love how Riley and Rowan are close, and that he’s so protective of her. However, I feel bad because he’s embarrassed the shit out of her. Rowan and I have grown closer recently, and she mentioned Trace and how excited she was that he was coming today. Now my husband is playing macho big brother, and before I can stop it, Diesel struts over, looking like he wants to crush Trace. He could without even trying.

It’s no secret Diesel has a thing for Rowan, but she’s off-limits. Riley would never approve, though if Rowan really liked Diesel, she wouldn’t care what he thought. But I also think Diesel respects his friendship with Riley too much to push it.

“’Sup?” Diesel sits down on the other side of Rowan, so close their arms touch.

“We’re just meeting Rowan’s new friend here,” Riley says, the sarcasm evident in his tone. “Trace, right?”

“Nice to meet ya,” Diesel says, leaning forward and holding his hand out across Rowan. She looks horrified. “I’m Diesel.”

Trace shakes his hand, giving him a wary look. “Diesel? Interesting name. Nice to meet you, too.”

“Not my real name,” he says, sitting back in his seat. “But everyone calls me that and knows not to mess with me.”

Oh my God. I see the mortified look on Rowan’s face.

“Diesel’s like an annoying brother,” Rowan explains, swallowing hard. “Which means I have two of them to deal with.” She gives Riley a pointed look.

“Wouldn’t know much about that,” Trace says. “I only had a younger sister, but she’s from my dad’s second marriage and ten years younger than me.”

“So then you know about being a protective big brother,” Riley says with an edge to his tone.

Rowan gives me a look, pleading for me to do something.

“Who wants dessert?” I blurt, standing. “Honey, come with me. I told your grandma I’d help cut the pies.”

“I’m fine right here.”

Leaning down, I press my lips to his ear. “I promise to make it worth your while.”

His back stiffens, and I officially have his attention. Riley stands, then gives Rowan one more look before raising his brows to Diesel and tilting his head toward Trace. Diesel grins and gives him a head nod in return.

Once we’re far enough away, I grab his arm. “What was that back there? Did you and Diesel just do some bro-code language or something?”

“I was telling him to keep an eye on them and not to let them out of his sight.”

I shake my head. “You’re too much sometimes.”

“Isn’t that what you love about me, though?” Riley turns and wraps his arms around me. I can’t even be mad about how protective he is of his little sister, especially when he looks at me with lust in his eyes. The way he throws around the L word should scare me, but it doesn’t. I’ve been falling for Riley since the moment we met, and when we’re together, I fall harder. I learn something new about him every day, and every day, I find it nearly impossible to leave. I’ve already decided I want to be here as long as he’ll have me. I want this relationship to work more than anything, but I have to break the news to my parents first. Somehow.

“She’s not a kid anymore, babe. You have to let her make her own decisions, even if you don’t agree with them.”

He grunts, disagreeing, which makes me laugh. “He’s way too old for her. What does a twenty-seven-year-old want with a twenty-year-old anyway? He can’t get anyone his own age?”

“Age doesn’t matter if he’s the right one,” I counter. “Are you saying I should’ve denied you had you been twenty-seven? Rowan and I are nearly the same age, remember.”

“That’s different.” His jaw locks.

I snort, pushing his chest. “That’s called being a hypocrite.”

As the sun dips below the horizon, everyone lies under the stars, anxiously awaiting the firework display. Riley took the horses back a couple of hours ago and returned with his truck and blankets for us. He normally helps the guys set up, but Diesel volunteered so Riley could stay behind and enjoy them with me.

At the sound of the first boom, I jump, and Riley holds me tighter. “Whoa, it’s really loud!”

He laughs, then presses a kiss to my temple. “Guess that means you better get closer.”

The show is amazing, better than I’ve ever seen. It goes on for over an hour before the grand finale starts. There are dozens of beautiful, glittering bursts that nearly leave me breathless. His uncles laugh as they continuously shoot red, silver, and blue fireworks into the night sky. Eventually, the booms end, and everyone cheers.