Catching the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch 2)

“What?” Riley enters the bar at that precise moment with another guy behind him. “That’s the very last thing I ever wanna hear from my cousin.”

“Shots, perv!” Kenzie pours the liquor and then tops it with whipped cream. “Now, Maze. Take it without using your hands.”

“Seriously? This is dumb.”

I stand behind the bar next to Kenzie and laugh at her sour mood. “Be glad she didn’t top it with a cherry. I nearly choked on the stem the last time she made me do one!”

Maize furrows her brows, then sighs. “Fine.” With a groan, she leans down, wraps her mouth around the shot, then tilts her head all the way back. Once the liquid slides down her throat, she drops the glass down.

There’s whipped cream all over her face, which has us laughing.

“You. All. Suck.” She points at us as I hand her a napkin.

“But it’s good, right?” Kenzie teases.

“Uh…anyway.” Riley clears his throat, directing our attention to him. “This is Gavin. He’ll be working with Jackson training horses.”

Kenzie’s eyes widen as her face lights up. Gavin looks like sex on a stick, so it’s no surprise she’s seconds away from jumping his bones.

“You already met Diesel,” Riley says, waving his hand toward him. “That one behind the bar is my pain in the ass little sister, Rowan…”

“Just call me Rowan. Hold the ‘pain in the ass’ part,” I mock.

Gavin flashes the smallest of smiles. “Nice to meet you.”

“Then my cousin, Kenzie, who works here sometimes. Also a pain in the ass.”

“Excuse you?” Kenzie places her hands on her hips. “If anyone’s a ginormous ass, it’s Riley.”

“Noted,” Gavin says.

Riley chuckles, moving on. “This is my other cousin, Maize. She’s the cook at the B&B.”

“Ooh, the one who makes amazing pancakes,” Gavin states. They must’ve gone there this morning when we were busy talking in the kitchen.

Maize turns slightly to shake his hand and then quickly retreats. She blinks hard as if she’s trying to clear the fog from her eyes because she just noticed how good-looking he is. Her not knowing how to act is almost comical, but I don’t want to embarrass her so I don’t say anything.

“So Gavin…” I say, bringing the attention to me instead of Maize’s sudden inability to speak. “Where’re you from?”

“Houston,” he says in a thick drawl. “But I’ve traveled a lot in the past twelve years or so. I’ve been all over the state.”

“Gavin’s a retired bull rider,” Riley explains. “Trains riders now on the side.”

“Oh my God,” Kenzie gushes. “That is so cool. I would love to see you ride.”

I’m five seconds away from pouring a glass of cold water over her because she’s about to internally combust.

“Told ya…” Diesel says to Riley. I’m not sure what he’s referring to, but they both start cracking up.

“Told him what?” I ask, stepping closer.

Diesel leans into my ear, and whispers, “That your cousins would act like cats in heat around him.”

I snort, shaking my head.

Maize looks pale as hell. “You okay, Maze?”

She blinks, then licks her lips. “Um, yeah. I’m just gonna run to the bathroom real quick.” Then she shifts her eyes and moves them to the side, motioning for me to follow her.

After she hops off the stool and walks toward the back, I wait a few seconds before excusing myself from the conversation and then meet Maize in the single-stall bathroom.

“Hey, what’s goin’ on?” I ask, shutting the door behind me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“That guy…”

“Gavin? What about him?”

“That’s Gavin.”

I blink. “Right, I just said that.”

“No, I mean, yes. That’s the Gavin I slept with a few weeks ago.”

“Wait…” I rack my brain. “The guy you bailed on the next morning?”

“Yes!”

I quickly cover my mouth with my hands, trying to hold back my laughter. “Oh my God, Maze!”

“Shut up!” She smacks my arm. “This is humiliating!”

“This is freaking awesome.” I chuckle. “Did he recognize you?”

“I don’t know. I recognized him right away. That’s why I quickly turned away.”

“Well, go out there and say hi!” I push her toward the door, and she digs her heels in, not budging.

“Hell. No!” She frantically shakes her head.

“Weren’t you just tellin’ your daddy you were almost twenty-five years old and old enough to move out?” I cock my hip and place my hand on it. “This isn’t very mature.” I snicker, knowing she’s growing more agitated by me.

“I didn’t realize how much older than me he was. He looks older, right?”

I nod, agreeing. “He definitely does. Probably ten years older?”

“Oh my God.” She drops her face into her hands. “I’m leaving through the back.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Fine, then I’m staying in here.”

“The bathroom?”

She drops her arms. “Rowan, please! Help me.”

I sigh. “Alright, fine. I’ll make sure the coast is clear.”

Slowly, I open the door and peek around. I step out and see the guys laughing and chatting with Kenzie, who’s the star of the show right now.