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“What?”

“You haven’t sounded this passionate about your work in years.”

Her words hit me like a splash of cold water. I hadn’t thought about it like that, but she was right. I felt alive—reconnected to the part of my job I loved most: building something from the ground up.

“I guess I’m having fun,” I admitted softly. “When I come back, maybe I’ll start taking on more projects like this.”

“Sure, you can do that,” she said, her tone dipping into something more serious, “but that’s not all this is.”

I froze, bourbon glass in hand.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, something’s changed.”

I stared into my glass, taking another long sip to avoid the conversation. I didn’t want to say it. I was an avoider—it was my thing.

Even as I stayed quiet, the truth was undeniable. It was sitting in the back of my mind, whispering his name.

It was ridiculous—silly, even—to be feeling this way after only six weeks. But people fell in love faster in movies, didn’t they?

Wait. Did I just think love?

No, no, no. That’s not what this is. It’s infatuation. Curiosity. Maybe even a fascination with someone so different from anyone I’d met before. Colton was…unique. That’s why he was living rent-free in my head. I wasn’t in love. I didn’t love—anything—when it came to him.

“Did you take my advice? Are you having sex with the sexy cowboy? I have to admit, I have been stalking the Stone Ranch social media, and Lord have mercy, that man is fine. If you tell me no, we are going to have some big problems here.”

I laughed and replied. “Maybe…”

“I knew it! That’s why I hear the passion back in your voice. It’s far more than just the pretty sunsets and the ‘work.’”

“It’s not like that,” I scoffed, the words tumbling out so forcefully they practically bounced off the hot tub. My cheeks burned, and it had nothing to do with the bourbon warming my insides.

“Oh, it absolutely is,” Laney countered with all the conviction of a lawyer with a winning case. “And as your best friend, I can sense it from a mile away. You were with Axel for, what, six months? Never once were you this happy. Sure, you and he had something but he didn’t create this energy in you. Don’t tell me it’s just the work that’s got you all giddy. Nope. My money’s on the massive cock—”

“Laney!” I squealed. “Can’t you just say it’s…maybe…the great sex?”

Normally, I was okay with talking about the details of my sex life, but talking about Colton like that? It felt…different. If I divulged too many details, then it would make it just like the others, and deep down, I knew that wasn’t true.

“Well, sure, but look at the guy!” she retorted unapologetically. “He’s built like a Greek god. It’s more than just great sex. Admit it.”

I sighed. As much as I hated to give her the satisfaction, she was right. Still, I had to steer the conversation away from Colton’s anatomy before I combusted. Suddenly, I remembered the photo from the gala.

“Hang on,” I said, grabbing my phone. I scrolled through my camera roll until I found it: Colton and me, his hand firmly on my waist, my smile bright and his mirroring it. I sent it to her.

Seconds later, there was a vibration indicating she received it, followed by a gasp.

“Nellie!” Laney squealed. “You two look so hot! Oh. My. God. The way his hand is on your hip… your smile… holy shit.”

I bit my lip, my face heating all over again. I knew exactly what she was talking about. Every time I looked at that photo, my heart did a little acrobatic flip. We did look good together—like ridiculously good. His tall, broad frame made my curvy, shorter one seem perfectly balanced, like two puzzle pieces that just fit.

“And that dress…” Laney sighed.

“He bought it for me,” I muttered, the confession spilling out so quietly I wasn’t even sure she heard me.

“Um, excuse me?” she said, her voice a mix of disbelief and glee. “My best friend seems to have turned into a mouse. Speak up!”

I groaned and repeated, louder this time, “He bought it for me.”