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I drive Riley to my house in town and hope I don’t get pulled over in the process. My parents are asleep, so I quietly help him to the couch in my room. The asshole can sleep there without a pillow and blanket for putting me through this shit tonight. Hopefully, he’ll forget what he saw between his sister and me.
It seems as though Rowan already has, so perhaps I should too.
Though there’s really no way I can.
What she doesn’t know is that was my first kiss too, and I’ve been waiting for her.
I don’t understand why she’s so pissed, but I’ll do whatever it takes to figure it out.
Chapter One
DIESEL
PRESENT DAY
“Damn,” I mutter as I roll out of bed, realizing I’m late as fuck for work. I probably shouldn’t have stayed up until two drinking, and I sure as hell shouldn’t have made out with that woman at the bar. I don’t remember her name, just her long legs and revealing neckline. As quickly as I can, I rush to the bathroom to piss, then brush my teeth, and that’s when I see the dark purple hickeys on my neck. Not one or two, but three are in plain sight. I should’ve called her Hoover, considering they’re the size of a vacuum hose.
“Shit,” I say after spitting out the toothpaste because I know I can’t cover them up. Wearing a turtleneck sweater in June might be more of a red flag than just owning up to my stupid mistake. I shrug, then rinse my mouth, and hurry to get dressed. This is why I stopped staying out late and drinking so much, but sometimes, those old habits reappear. Before leaving my modest cabin located on the Bishop Ranch, I text my boss, Alex, and let him know I’m running late.
Alex: I knew that an hour ago. Hurry your ass up.
Diesel: Yes, sir. I’ll be right there.
With a smile, I crank my truck and rush down the long dirt road toward the shop where we do our morning roundups. Riley’s dad holds staff meetings every morning so we’re on the same page. What’s needed around the ranch often changes for reasons like the weather or emergency repairs, so doing this each day is necessary. About six months ago, I was promoted to help manage a group of ranch hands, and together, we tend to the cattle. It’s a group effort, considering how large the property is, and while it’s a lot of hard work, I nearly sold my soul for this opportunity. There are days when all I do is sit in a saddle in the hot, blazing sun, sweating my ass off, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Circle B Ranch is my home, and I don’t plan to ever leave. I could be shoveling shit and be as happy as a hog here because this place is my own personal heaven on earth. I’ve grown up here, and the Bishops are my chosen family.
Trust me, I’ve done my fair share of bitch work over the years because nothing is handed to anyone. Everything here is earned, which I respect and appreciate.
I pull up to the metal building and see no other vehicles except for Alex’s old beat-up truck he drives around the ranch. The bumper is dented from dumbasses backing into random things, and there are scratches all over the paint. Honestly, I don’t blame him for using it because I’ve done my fair share of damaging it, too.
Before I get out, I grab my cowboy hat and place it on my head, then take in a long, deep breath. When I walk inside, he’s drinking a cup of coffee and gives me a smug look. He’s like my second dad, but I’m actually afraid of Alex’s repercussions. The man could kick my ass all the way to the border of Texas and back. I’d never want to intentionally cross him.
His steel blue eyes glance up at the clock on the wall, then pierce through me. “One hour and twenty-three minutes late.”
“Sorry,” I say. Walking over, I grab a cup and pour some steaming hot coffee into it. “I…”
“Don’t lie to me,” he snaps.
“I wasn’t going to. I drank too much and—”
“What’s on your damn neck?” Riley asks. I didn’t even realize he’d walked in. I glare at him as he wears the cheesiest expression ever. He comes closer and tugs on my shirt to fully reveal the marks. All I can do is smirk.
“That’s how you get a disease,” he explains. “Lettin’ strange women suck all over ya.” Riley chuckles, but Alex shakes his head, unamused.
“Well, not all of us went to Vegas and came back with a wife,” I throw at him. Three years ago, as a twenty-first birthday present, Riley took me on a surprise trip to Las Vegas. When I think about it now, I smile because it was a weekend to remember. Riley found Zoey, and I ended up hooking up with one of her friends. The only difference is I didn’t put a ring on it, and I don’t even remember her name. However, a lot has changed since then because while I go to the Circle B Saloon often and have a few drinks, I’m not into the one-night stands like I was years ago. That’s why Ms. Hoover Vacuum didn’t come home with me last night, which is probably for the best. I might not have survived her sucking powers.
