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Although I didn’t partake in that. But Jolene was pretty good. After that, we couldn’t stop kissing, so we went back to my room. And I definitely remember that part.

He groans. “You rode a mechanical bull? You’re such a weirdo.”

“Oh, shut up,” I answer with a smirk.

“You were probably drunk. Which means you were probably worse than usual.”

I playfully push his shoulder.

“So, what happened with the woman?” he probes.

“She left.” I shrug.

“Ouch.”

“Had an early flight,” I add.

“You gonna call her?”

I shake my head. “We didn’t share numbers. No real names either. We were playing a game. Gave each other fake names and identities. It was fun. But now? I’m really regretting that.”

He stares at me for a full five seconds. Then says the only thing he possibly can. “Well, that’s dumb.”

I bark out a laugh. When I say it all out loud, it is pretty dumb.

“You’re an idiot.”

“Yep, sure am.”

His grin softens. “You really liked her.”

I nod once. “Yeah.”

He bumps my shoulder. “You’ll be alright. We’ll find you someone back in Bridger Falls.”

I don’t want to find a woman. I wasn’t even looking for someone when I found her. I swear she just somehow found me.

The rest of the flight we sleep and I dream of her.

When we land and collect our bags, the drive turns from city to an open highway. Two Wilder Ranch hands are in the front. Tucker and I nap in the back and then plan out what we’re going to do when we get back to Bridger Falls. Christmas music plays low through the speakers.

By the time we get closer to the ranch, I notice the mountains in the distance. Tucker points toward a field. “My mom taught us to ride over there in that pasture.”

I look where he’s pointing. “You must miss her.”

I knew Tucker’s mom passed away from cancer when he was young. I also knew that was the beginning of the end of his childhood. His dad ruined their entire childhood and ranch with illegal activities and didn’t give two shits about his kids. He left them to raise themselves, and their childhood wasn’t full of happy times. Not far off from my own childhood.

He smiles sadly. “I was young when she got sick and died. I don’t have as many memories as my brothers and sister do. But they’ve done a good job of keeping her memories alive. Most importantly, making sure we kept the ranch when Dad went to prison.”

“I’m sorry, man. The holidays must be hard,” I say softly.

Something about the look on his face makes my chest tighten. We’ve spent the last ten years chasing arenas together. We met competing in rodeos, and we ended up sharing hotels, trucks, and trailers for our horses, and we became close. Tucker is pretty much all the family I have that shows up for me. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a place I missed as much as Wilder Ranch.

I take in what I formerly knew as The Jessop Ranch, now the Wilder Ranch. I’m not close with my family, and I won’t be going home for the holidays. I steer clear of them these days because they only reach out to me when they need money.

It’s starting to turn dark by the time we pull through the gates at Wilder Ranch. It’s been a long day, but Tucker and the guys make it fun. We listened to music and swapped stories. It was a good event. But we’re all ready for a break.

I whistle low. “This place is beautiful at Christmas.”