Tempting the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 8)

“No,” Knox says from behind me. “What is it?”

“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone,” Diesel adds with a shit-eating smirk. He loves knowing something we don’t.

“You’re bullshittin’,” Riley throws back.

“No, I’m not. I only know because it was accidentally delivered to my house, and well, I opened up the boxes to see what it was.”

“You really aren’t gonna tell us?” Payton shakes his head. “That’s cruel.”

“Jackson told me he’d kick my ass if I said a peep to anyone. And I believe him.”

“You should,” Knox confirms. “If nothing else, he’s a man of his word.”

“I know what he’s planning as well,” Gavin states, and I almost forgot he was here.

“What the hell!” Knox grows more agitated. “Someone needs to spill the beans so we can retaliate if it’s even possible at this point.”

“It’s not. Nothing you could buy in a four-hundred-mile radius would help you,” Gavin explains. “Y’all are all fucked.”

“Dammit,” I mumble. My dad usually isn’t happy until every person under the age of thirty-five is soaked. “That’s what I get for hoping this year would be different.”

We continue making small talk, but Diesel’s and Gavin’s lips are sealed tighter than a slot machine in Vegas. It’s annoying they won’t tell, but I know Dad threatened them with his wrath.

All the younger Bishops have been tasked with setting up, so we take care of it after eating. Of course, we usually get together during the holidays, but this one is different. It’s always the most laid-back event, in my opinion, and the weather is typically really nice, so there’s plenty of room for the entire family to be together. Which honestly is an accomplishment within itself, considering most of my cousins are grown with spouses and babies. Red-and-blue-checkered tablecloths are clipped on every flat surface. We set out folding chairs and hay bales for extra seating. Grandma demanded a large tent be put up this year so we at least had some shade, and it takes us at least an hour to get it right. The party officially starts around lunch and ends with fireworks, and always includes plenty of food and activities.

“Wanna give me a hand with the volleyball net?” Knox asks, carrying the large bag over his shoulder.

“Sure.” I follow him toward the poles Dad cemented in the ground a few weeks ago.

Knox carefully unfolds the net, and I grab the opposite end so we can stretch it out.

“So you bringin’ Raelyn to the party today?” he asks.

I’m not shocked it came up in conversation, but I can’t believe it took this long for news to spread, considering Hadleigh knows her.

“Actually no. She won’t be coming.”

He gives me a puzzled look. “Is she workin’?”

“Raelyn said she wanted to take a break after I said no to being in an open relationship with her.”

Knox shakes his head. “Don’t blame ya. I wouldn’t want to share my woman with every man in town either.”

“I dunno if it’s like that, but she went to Houston and partied. Pretty sure she cheated, but I didn’t care enough to ask.”

“Sometimes, it’s better to just let people like that go. In the end, way less drama.”

“Almost positive she wasn’t the marryin’ type anyway. Being with someone like that is just wastin’ my time.”

“Sorry to hear that. You’ll eventually find the one and settle down. Just have to put yourself out there more.”

“That’s for damn sure.”

Except the first person who comes to mind is Ivy.

After everything’s set up and in place, we go our separate ways and plan to meet up for lunch.

Once I’m home, I instantly fall asleep and take a three-hour nap. Hopefully, I’ll be ready for whatever my dad has up his sleeve. Even as an old man, he’s always up to something with his antics, which is tradition at this point. Only Grandma and pregnant women get a free pass from his wrath. Everyone else is fair game.

Before I leave, I change into shorts and a T-shirt. I learned the hard way that wearing jeans in the July heat is a bad idea.

When I arrive at the B&B and see the number of vehicles parked on the side of the road, I realize I should’ve left earlier. There’s nothing I can do other than park and walk. Music and laughter echoes across the pasture. I try to take in the moment because I know I’ll look back at this and cherish it one day. Grandma’s getting older and so is everyone else, and I’m not stupid enough to think they’ll live forever. They say you don’t realize you’re living in the good ole days until time passes, and I don’t take things like this for granted.

As soon as I walk up, Dad comes running with the most gigantic Super Soaker water gun I’ve ever seen. He’s wearing gallons of water on his back. With his finger on the trigger, he squirts me from head to toe, then makes sure to spray my crotch so it looks like I pissed myself.