“Well, no,” she says easily. “But if we’re gonna be neighbors, I’d like to know a little about you. Plus, how long of a drive is this?”
“Another twenty minutes,” I say. “And no. Never been married. Never want to be.”
“Hm.” She pauses. Then—“Oh my God. Starbucks. Yes! Please stop. I need a coffee.”
“You just had sweet tea.”
“That doesn’t matter. Please stop. I need a caramel Frappuccino in a bad way.”
“A what?”
“I’ll be quick, I promise.”
I sigh, but I pull into the Starbucks anyway, parking right up front.
“I’ll be in and out,” she says, hopping down from the truck.
Annoying. Talks nonstop. Zero respect for my time. I told her I didn’t want to be out all day. Still, my eyes follow her through the window. Brown hair swinging as she orders. Animated. Smiling. Too comfortable. She’s making an impression on these people as if this is her home like she’s lived here her whole life. Too much presence for someone who isn’t staying. She comes back with two drinks.
I lean over and open the passenger door. “You gonna drink both of those?”
“No, silly.” She grins. “One’s for you.”
“No, thank you.”
“Oh come on, it’s really tasty.”
“It’s a girl drink.”
“Just take a sip, Cole.”
She says my name like she’s known me for years. I don’t like it. I take a sip anyway. Damn it.
I feel my mouth twitch. “It’s… pretty good. I’ll admit.”
Her smile is immediate and bright, and she bites her lip like she won something.
“Told you.”
Just because she knew I’d like it doesn’t mean anything.
At the store, it’s chaos. Cars are everywhere. No spots big enough for my truck.
Layla sighs. “Just park anywhere.”
I grit my teeth. “That’s not how this works.”
City girls don’t get it. You don’t squeeze a truck like this between two compacts and hope for the best. You park out of the way. She obviously doesn’t understand responsibility.
Finally, I find a spot.
She grins. “Finally. One good enough for Cole Marshall.”
I give her a look.
“Let’s go get you back to the ranch,” She says.
Inside, I grab a basket. She grabs a buggy.
