Kissing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 5)

After the show is over, people hoot and holler. Harper sits up to join in, then turns to me. For a second, I think I see something behind her eyes.

My heart rate quickens, and I wonder if this is the moment I’ll make a move. She comes closer, and I hear Hadleigh saying her name.

Harper stops and turns toward her. “Hey!”

“Wasn’t that show amazin’?” Hadleigh asks, glancing back and forth between us. Her little sister, Ivy, is standing a few feet away from them, playing on her phone. She’s fifteen and looks almost identical to Hadleigh, except her curly hair is a reddish-brown.

“It really was,” Harper says, then stands.

“I gotta take Ivy to our parents’ house, then we’re goin’ down to the saloon if y'all wanna come.” Hadleigh grins and turns toward Kane. “I have someone’s ass to kick at darts.”

“You’re gonna eat your words, woman.” He shakes his head.

“Doubt it,” she fires back.

“I gotta be up early in the mornin’. Probably shouldn’t,” I say.

“Wish I could, but I still have a lot to do tonight. Lots of packaging.” Harper frowns.

“Totally understand,” Hadleigh says. “If you need some help, I’m off for the next two days.”

“Yes, definitely. I’ll text you!” Harper happily tells her.

Hadleigh waves, and the three of them walk away. Kane tickles her side, making her giggle. If you didn’t know them, you’d think they were a couple too. It’s obvious Kane’s been in love with Hadleigh since middle school, though he’s kept her in the friend zone. I’ve even wondered what the hell he’s waiting for.

Then I realize I’m no different.

“If you wanted to go, I would…” I say to Harper once we’re alone.

“No, it’s okay. I really do have a lot of shit to catch up on. I’m gonna try to get at least twenty more orders done so I can drop them off at the post office tomorrow,” she explains, and I notice the way she inhales a sharp breath. It’s one of her overwhelmed and stressed tells.

She’s gotten so many orders it’s becoming hard for her to keep up with them. I hate seeing her work herself to the bone, but I also know how passionate she is about this, so I’ll keep supporting her and offering to help whenever I can.

“You’ll get it all done. You always do,” I say, squeezing her shoulder. “I can come over tonight and give you a hand if you want.”

“Nah. I’ve already got the labels printed and everything. But thanks, Ethan. Appreciate the offer,” she genuinely says.

“Well, I better get you back then.” We make our way through the crowd and tell everyone goodbye. Maize pulls me in for a hug and so does Kenzie. After that, it’s literally a line of us all hugging and trying to leave. It takes at least twenty minutes to escape. My cousins act like I don’t see them every day or at least several times per week.

I start the four-wheeler, and Harper climbs on behind me, wrapping her arms tightly around my waist. I love how she clings to me and how that feeling never gets old.

Once we’re at her house, I turn off the engine and walk her to the door.

She pulls me in for a hug, and I hold her in my arms for a moment before placing a kiss on her forehead.

“Night, Harper,” I say as I pull away.

She blinks up at me. “Night.”

In my fantasies, this is where she asks me to come inside and join her.

“Text me when you get home.”

I take that as my cue to walk away before I do something stupid. “I will. Good luck with all that stuff ya gotta do.”

Harper watches me crank the engine, and I wave before driving away.

Maybe one day, I won’t be so chickenshit when it comes to admitting my feelings.

Just maybe.

Chapter Four

HARPER

“All that soap over there is curing. My goal today is to prep enough for at least five hundred bars. The summer scents have been a huge hit!” I tell Hadleigh as she carefully pours the liquid mixture into the loaf soap molds.

She laughs. “Let’s make a thousand. People will buy them.”

“I wish I had more hours in a day and room for that. At that rate, I’d be able to keep up with Shayla. Honestly, I should be on her payroll, considering how many of my ideas she’s stolen. I have to be really careful what I announce and share before it’s available because she immediately lists the same item on her site.”

Hadleigh rolls her eyes. “I really hate her. The fact she stole your strawberry limeade recipe pisses me off.”

I sigh, inhaling sharply. “I know. I almost ordered one to compare to mine but then decided not to give her a penny of my money. She’s already taken enough.” I groan, then hear Hadleigh’s phone buzzing on the small kitchen counter, and she asks me to check it for her. Every flat surface is filled with supplies and has been for the past three hours. I’m coming to terms that I might need more space sooner rather than later.