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“So?”

“Can I kiss you?”

I laugh. “I was wondering how long you’d go before kissing me.”

Leaning across two horses is every bit as awkward as you’d imagine.

I nearly slide right out of my saddle. Ty catches my arm. Our noses bump. We both start laughing.

Then he kisses me.

Slow and soft. Almost sweet enough to make the whole world disappear.

When we finally pull apart, I rest my forehead against his. “Thank you for this.”

He smiles. “You’re going to love the ranch again.”

I smile back. “I’m starting to already.”

But really...I’m starting to fall for him.

12

ty

You Belong Here, Too

The alarm on my phone vibrates across the nightstand at four-thirty, loud enough to pull me out of a dead sleep but quiet enough not to wake Jenna. I reach to turn it off quickly, and glance over to check on her.

She’s curled up beneath the quilts, one hand tucked beneath her cheek, her dark hair fanned across the pillow. The fire in the stone fireplace in the bedroom has burned down to glowing embers, casting just enough light across the room for me to make out the soft rise and fall of her breathing.

I smile before I can stop myself. Who would’ve thought one impulsive night in Vegas would somehow lead to being snowed in together in a cabin. I have been waking up every day and looking forward to another day with her.

Careful not to wake her, I ease out of bed and pull on my jeans, thermal shirt, and boots. The old wood floor creaks beneath my weight, and I freeze.

Jenna lets out a sleepy sigh, burrows deeper beneath the blankets, and continues sleeping. Good. She needs it. I have a feeling, from what she’s said, that before we met in Vegas, she didn’t get much rest.

I grab my flannel and my phone. The screen lights up with my missed notifications. Six missed calls. Four text messages. All from my Mom.

Two missed calls and one voicemail from my older brother, Cody.

My first thought is worry and wondering if something happened to them. But I don’t have to listen to it. I already know what they’ll say. It’s always the same thing.

Call me. It’s important. Your daddy’s in a bind.

He’s always in a bind. He’s gambled away another paycheck. Borrowed money he can’t pay back. Or promised somebody something he never should’ve. Mom always calls me to fix it. She never asks how I’m doing or where I am. Just whether I can send enough money to make this latest mess disappear. And if I don’t answer, she tries to send my brother, Cody, to get me to answer. It’s the same thing every time.

My thumb hovers over her name. Part of me wants to call her. Because there’s always this little sliver of hope in me that this time it will be different. This time she’ll show up for me as a mom. But that’s never going to happen.

I let out a slow breath and slide my phone back into my pocket. Not today. Today belongs to the ranch. Tucker needs me, and I’m gonna earn my keep.

I make a fresh pot of coffee and have it ready for when Jenna gets up. I slide on my coat and pull on my gloves, thinking about how Tucker must be feeling with me staying here. It’s been weighing heavily on my mind and I need to make sure he’s good with all of this.

The cold December air hits me the second I open the door, stealing the warmth from my lungs. Fresh snow crunches beneath my boots as I make my way toward the barn. The sky is still black, stars hanging overhead, and the only light comes from the barn where I’m ready to get started with chores.

The barn doors groan as I slide one open. The familiar warm air mixed with hay, leather, and horses immediately replaces the bite of the December cold.

“You’re late,” Tucker calls, giving me crap as he closes the distance behind me.