Kissing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 5)

“Maybe she’s had a change of heart. She’s got all of us out lookin’ for you, so it must be important.”

I empty the second bucket, then walk toward the gate.

“Oh well,” I mutter.

“Dude. You need to leave your pride at the door and at least hear her out. Maybe you caught her off guard or she wasn’t ready to admit it. Either way, she’s your best friend, and you can’t avoid her forever.”

He follows me to the barn, where I take the buckets from his hand and stack them on top of the others.

“I’ll think about it.” I take off my cap and scrub a hand over my head. “If she asks, tell her you delivered the message.”

“If?” He chuckles. “She’s already blowing up my phone.”

Great.

“I’m not in a rush to get pushed back into the friend zone. I don’t think I can go back to how things were before our weekend together.”

“Worry about that after you’ve listened to what she has to say.” He pats my shoulder. “Good luck, man.”

Though I’m curious as hell, I’m not ready to face her yet. If she just wants to reiterate us being only friends, I’m in no rush to hear it again.

After lunch, Elle texted and asked if I’d bring her some pastries from the B&B. Then she bribed me with newborn snuggles if I came. Since I still had a few hours left of work, I told her I’d come over after. Luckily, I was able to get in and out quickly. I make my way into town after I shower.

“You’re lucky I love you.” I hand her the bag filled with muffins, donuts, and Danishes.

“And here’s a baby.” She grins, handing Elisa over. I carefully hold her, and my mood immediately lightens. She’s only three weeks old and still has that newborn smell.

“You’re not getting baby fever, are you?” Connor walks in, peeking into the bag.

I scoff. “Ha! At the rate my love life is going, Olivia will have kids before me.”

Connor shoots me a death glare. “Don’t say that. She’s not dating…ever.”

Elle rolls her eyes. “What’s the update on Harper?”

Taking a seat across from them, I keep Elisa close to my chest so I don’t wake her. I shrug, unable to keep my eyes off her. She looks like a doll.

“You mean since the newspaper announcement?”

Elle bites into a Danish and tells me how good it is around a mouthful. “Yes, since it all imploded in your face like I predicted it would.”

“We went to her event and ended up drinking Saturday night. I kissed her and things…escalated,” I explain.

“Called it,” Connor gloats.

Elle elbows him, and he nearly chokes up a piece of muffin. “And what happened after that?”

I explain everything—how I confessed my feelings and she chose to stay friends.

“Then I walked out and haven’t talked to her since,” I tell them.

“She texted me and asked about you,” Elle admits.

I inhale sharply. “Yeah, she’s been asking everyone.”

“So why are you ignoring her?” Connor asks.

“I don’t have anything else to say.”

“You aren’t being her friend right now. You’re avoiding her.” Elle shakes her head.

I shrug.

“Maybe she was scared. There’s no way Harper doesn’t have feelings for you,” Elle states confidently.

“And if that’s the case, don’t waste time hiding,” Connor adds. “The longer you wait, the more you’ll regret it.”

“Yeah, I took your advice last time, and it backfired,” I tell him.

“Don’t give up. Some women are worth fighting for,” he confirms.

Elle looks at Connor like he just hung the moon for her. “Aw, babe.”

He leans over and kisses her.

Those two make me sick.

But I love seeing my sister happy.

“Alright, lovebirds. You have a newborn. No need to make another.”

“We aren’t…at least not for another four weeks,” Connor complains, then winks. “Listen, I waited years to admit how I felt and wasted that time not being with her. So you should see what Harper has to say. Then afterward, you can move on instead of holding on to hope.”

“Either you face her or she’ll hunt you down.” Elle snickers. “Not like you can hide for long.”

I huff.

Though I hate the thought of facing her, they’re right. Harper and I have been joined at the hip for so long, there’s no way she’ll let me avoid her. She’ll make me listen to whatever she has to say, and the sooner she does, the sooner I can figure out my next steps.

I think about everything Grayson, Connor, and my sister have said to me today. Everything in my head is such a mess, and I go through waves of pain, anger, and regret thinking about it all.

When I get home, my mom’s in the kitchen cooking. “Hey. I’m makin’ dinner.”

“Smells good.” I smile, though it’s forced. “You off tonight?”

“Yep. Dad too. He should be home within the hour. Where have you been?”

“Went to visit Elle and the baby.”