Kissing the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 5)

We’re breathless when Hadleigh says she’s done. Reluctantly, I release her lips and lean my forehead against hers.

“Think your business peers will buy that?” I ask with a choked laugh.

Before Harper can respond, Hadleigh comes toward us. “Pretty sure I just got pregnant from that one. Jesus. You two sure you’re just pretending?”

Fuck.

Blinking hard, I step back and scrub my hands over my face. Hadleigh’s given us shit about dating before, but she’s never been this blunt. By the expression on Harper’s face, though, it’s a regular conversation between them.

My phone interrupts the awkward moment, and I find another text from my mom telling me to go see my sister before visiting hours end. She messaged me earlier when the baby arrived and said I could go after dinnertime, but that was a couple of hours ago.

“We better go,” I tell Harper. “Elle might not forgive me if I don’t get up there.”

I told Harper the news earlier, and she asked if she could join me.

“You lovebirds go ahead. I have enough to keep me busy.” Hadleigh gives Harper a hug, then we rush to the truck. The hospital’s almost an hour away, so we’ll be lucky if we make it.

“Thank you again for doing this,” Harper says on our way out of town. “It’s so silly, but when it comes to Shayla and her I’m so perfect attitude, I don’t always think so clearly.”

I chuckle at her expression as she makes a face. “It’s fine. I’d rather you ask me than someone else anyway.”

“Oh yeah? Is that why I haven’t had a date in like four years…” She cocks a brow. “You’ve scared all the single men away?”

My jaw tightens at the thought of Harper with some guy. It’s not that she’s not allowed to date, but every time someone has shown interest, I was there to show them the door.

Call it jealousy or being petty but my standards for who deserves Harper are damn high.

I’ve blamed bad timing and us being busy with work, but now I’m out of excuses. I should just tell her, but I can’t when we’re supposed to act like an engaged couple. If there’s a chance she doesn’t want the same, it’ll fuck up next weekend’s plan.

We make it to the hospital with only a half hour to spare.

As soon as we walk in, Elle’s eyes light up.

“Hey, brother. About time,” she scolds.

“Sorry, I had some errands to run and lost track of time,” I say, then hope she doesn’t notice Harper’s and my matching outfits. Not sure I’ll be able to talk my way out of it. To avoid her questioning, I continue, “Good thing you had her before I leave next weekend.”

“Where’re you goin’?” she asks, and I mentally slap myself. That was the worst thing I could’ve said.

“Harper and I have a trip out of town planned,” I reply casually.

Elle furrows her brows. “Where?”

“Don’t worry about it, nosy,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes.

“Can I see her?” Harper leans over Elle with a smile, thankfully changing the subject.

“Of course. Let me just get her off the boob.”

At my sister’s words, I turn to give her privacy.

“Um…is that an engagement ring?” Elle blurts out, and I immediately spin around. Harper’s eyes widen in horror as her face turns red.

“Oh my gosh, how embarrassing. I meant to take that off.”

Shit. There’s no way Elle’s going to let me off the hook. Harper quickly shoves it into her pocket but remains quiet. As she takes Elisa, I walk over and meet the baby too. She looks so much like a Bishop already.

Harper asks if I want to hold her. Right as I position Elisa into my arms, Harper’s phone goes off. She meets my eyes, then politely excuses herself.

“You have thirty seconds to tell me what’s goin’ on,” Elle demands as soon as the door shuts. “And don’t bullshit me.”

Yep, I knew it. I can’t lie to her either because she knows when I do.

I hand Elisa over to Connor, who’s silently watching us.

“If I tell you, there’s no telling Mom and Dad,” I say.

“Fine,” she agrees.

I stall for a moment before blurting it out. “We did an engagement photo shoot tonight. That’s why we were late, and that’s why she’s wearing a ring. But it’s fake.” Not the ring of course but I don’t tell her that. She doesn’t need to know all the details.

Elle narrows her eyes as she crosses her arms. “A fake engagement shoot? What—”

“I’m pretending to be her fiancé to help her out with something. It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you before we leave next weekend but until then, keep your mouth shut,” I demand. There’s no way I can explain everything right now.

“Are you sure about this? Pretending to be engaged to your best friend, who you’re secretly in love with, sounds like a bad idea.”