Kissing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 5)

Sucking in a deep breath, I smile. “You’re too good to me. But it’ll be okay. I have them down to a three-week lead time, so as long as I focus when we return, I should be able to stay on track.”

“You’re sure?”

I nod. “Absolutely. As long as we can drop these off.”

“Sure thing.” Ethan grabs the giant bag full of packages, and I carry a few of the larger ones that couldn’t fit out to his truck. When we go back into the cabin, he lifts my suitcase, and I grab my high heels that I couldn’t fit inside, then look around to make sure I didn’t forget anything before locking up. Ethan keeps the passenger door open for me, then shuts it after I climb inside. He’s always been well mannered, so treating me like this isn’t anything new, but now it’s different.

“You know we can take my car?”

“Nah, I’d feel bad driving it a hundred.” He chuckles.

“Ethan Bishop,” I scold. “You better not be going that fast.”

After we drop off the packages, Ethan and I make our way out of town.

I stare out the window, lost in my thoughts.

“What’re you thinking about?” he asks.

Turning to him, I grin. “Truthfully?”

“Always.”

“I’m just afraid everyone will see right through our façade. She’ll ask questions she shouldn't with a saccharine smile,” I admit.

Ethan squeezes my hand. “You have nothing to worry about. I’ve known you all my life and can answer any questions she throws my way, even ones we haven’t practiced.”

I arch a brow. “Oh really?”

He nods confidently. “Test me if you want.”

“Okay. Why did I start making goat milk products?”

“Because I suggested it and knew you always wanted to be your own boss. You also enjoy staying busy and being active on social media, so you found a way to have the best of both worlds, isn’t it?”

Heat hits my cheeks. “Okay. What was my first pet’s name?”

“Sunshine. And he was an orange tomcat, but you thought it was a girl until three years later when you realized he had balls.”

His answer makes me snort. “That’s so true. Alright. Now to the harder questions.”

I tap my lips, trying to think of something that’ll stump him because he’s being a little too cocky.

“Who was my first celebrity crush?”

“Johnny Depp, even though he’s old as hell.”

“He just gets better with age, though. Like a fine wine.”

“He’s older than your dad,” Ethan scolds as if I’m not aware.

“Which makes him even hotter,” I tease, knowing that’ll gross him out. “Alright. When did I lose my virginity?”

Ethan laughs. “That’s supposed to be a hard question? At eighteen, with that loser Isaac the first time you were face-to-face after being long distance for two years,” he says. “Fuck him.”

“Yeah, not sure what my naïve self saw in him. Did you know he’s married now?”

“Feel sorry for his wife,” Ethan admits, and I laugh with a nod because I do too.

“Hmm.” I glance over at him. “When did I start my period?”

“Don’t think anyone’s gonna ask me that, but regardless, you were twelve. The summer before seventh grade.”

My mouth falls open. “How the hell do you know that?”

“Because we’ve been best friends since we could walk. I bet if I asked you a slew of questions, you’d know the answers too. That’s why you have nothing to worry about. There’s not one thing Shayla can ask that’ll throw me off because while our engagement isn’t legit, it’s built on top of the rock-hard foundation of our friendship. By the time we leave, she’ll be questioning her own relationship, trust me.”

The thought has me giggling. “Oh God, I hope she does. Her fiancé is…” All I do is shake my head. “You’ll see. It’s a weird relationship. Not sure what’s in it for him to be married to that devil, but there’s gotta be some sorta exchange going on.”

“You think he’s being paid to marry her?”

“Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in it for the money,” I admit. “He’d have to be because her attitude stinks.”

“My turn.”

“Go ahead,” I encourage. “Start with the hard ones.”

He chuckles. “Alright, when did I lose my virginity?”

“The night of junior prom with Maya Nickels. Geez, Ethan. Everyone knew. That was the gossip for an entire month.”

“It was? I bet all the ladies were jealous,” he says smugly.

“You banged the head cheerleader. At that point, all the girls thought you were out of their league,” I tell him.

“I wonder if that’s how Grandma found out? She literally gave me the talk about the birds and the bees and how having sex makes babies. It was awkward as hell when she told me I should’ve waited for marriage, and I need to repent for my premarital sins,” he says as I’m lost in a fit of laughter.

“She didn’t,” I say between gasping for air and wiping tears off my cheeks.