“How was your day?” she asked, smoothing her jeans.
“Seth was a real dick today,” Ryan sighed, settling next to her. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Oh no. What did he do?” Alyssa tilted her head, puckering her brows.
Ryan recounted the morning’s tense exchange, Seth’s curt tone, his impatient glances, while Alyssa listened, shaking her head.
“What’s his problem?” she demanded softly.
“Cull thinks Seth’s attracted to me but knows it can’t go anywhere, once I finish the photos, I’ll leave town, and the fact that I might have to come back at harvest time will cause problems,” Ryan explained, wrapping her hands around the mug of tea. Steam rose from the mug.
“That actually makes sense,” Alyssa murmured.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No, thank you though.”
“Let me show you.” Ryan set her mug on the coffee table and stood, crossing to retrieve her DSLR camera from atop a stack of magazines. She settled back beside Alyssa and flipped through the images until she found one she wanted.
“Oh, my! Who is that?” Alyssa leaned in, eyes wide.
“That’s Cull. His real name is Cullen, but everyone calls him Cull,” Ryan said, rotating the LCD display. “His eyes are this shocking blue. I don’t know how else to describe them. I was walking along the field behind him so he wouldn’t notice me, but I’m going back for better shots.”
She scrolled on. The next image showed Seth standing beneath an oak’s sprawling branches, arms folded across his broad chest, his gaze intent on the fields.
“And this is Seth,” she said, holding the camera toward Alyssa again.
“Good heavens,” Alyssa breathed.
Ryan chuckled, brushing her fingers over the camera’s leather strap. “So, what did you do today?”
Alyssa’s lips curved into a grin. “I took a trail ride with the other guests.”
Ryan’s face lit up. “Cull mentioned a cowboy bar in Clifton. Interested in going Saturday night?”
“I’d love it,” Alyssa said. “I could use some dancing.”
“Or drowning our sorrows in whiskey,” Ryan added with a laugh.
Alyssa’s smile softened. “What about Seth? Aren’t you supposed to work with him?”
“I thought he’d be my guide today, but he bailed, so Cull took me to the field where they have wheat growing.”
“And then what happens once the planting is done? You just leave?” Alyssa pressed.
“Yes,” Ryan said. “I’ll be here for the rest of this month. I’ll miss you when you go.”
Alyssa’s eyes brightened. “I’ll miss you too. I’ll miss the town’s charm, it’s small but full of heart, you know?”
“It’s a great town. I love small towns. Although Valencia isn’t considered small with around sixty-three thousand people, I grew up in Idyllwild, California, nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains. It has less than four thousand people. I loved the pine-scented air and how everyone knew your name at the general store.”
“I think Becca told me that Clifton has around fifteen-sixteen hundred,” Alyssa replied.
“Now, that is small town.”
“And filled with some hot cowboys.” Alyssa shook her head, her ponytail swinging. “I never thought I’d say that.”
“Me too.” Ryan laughed, the sound filling the cozy room. “My boss, Doris, loves cowboys, but she’s married to the owner of the magazine and they’re happy. I love her like an aunt. She’s fifty-five and has such a sweet, maternal presence.”
