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“Yeah, of course.” She smiles. “We’ll need to figure out what we’re going to do.” Her face drops, and I hate that I have to leave in such a damn rush.
“Or you could come with me?” I ask, feeling hopeful. “Try to get to know each other better.” The words spill out before I can stop myself, but I don’t regret them. She’s unlike any other woman I’ve ever met.
“I-I can’t. My sister’s getting married next weekend, and my life is in Phoenix.” She shrugs, holding the sheet against her body.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll text you my address in case you change your mind.” I smile, knowing the chances of that are slim. I walk to the nightstand and grab my phone. After she gives me her number, I text her so she can reach out as soon as she’s home.
“Riley, we really have to go,” Diesel urges.
“I’m going to get dressed so I can head out too.” Zoey walks around me with her arms full and goes to the bathroom. Once the door clicks shut, I quickly slip on my boxers and dig in my suitcase for clean clothes.
“So, was it awkward waking up and realizing you guys eloped?” Diesel asks with a shit-eating grin on his face.
I glower, narrowing my eyes at him as I zip up my jeans. “You’re an asshole.”
Before he can respond, Zoey walks out in the same outfit she wore last night. I catch her staring at my bare chest, then she shifts her eyes away as she walks toward the bed, grabbing her phone and clutch. I hate that I’m being forced to dart out of here, and we don’t have more than a couple of minutes together.
“Listen, Zoey…” I go to her as I slip my shirt on.
“It’s okay, Riley. We don’t have to do this.”
Diesel opens the door with his bag in hand. “Riley, c’mon. We still gotta get a cab…”
“I’m sorry. Call me soon so we can figure this out, okay?” I lean in, cup her face, then kiss her cheek. “For what it’s worth, I had a really fun night, wife.” I flash her a wink, which causes her to blush. She shakes her head at me and smirks.
“Safe flight, hubby,” she mocks. I stare at her, remembering the taste of her lips, the way she moaned my name, and how perfectly her body fit against mine. Our connection was instant, and while I didn’t understand it, I couldn’t fight it either. From the moment our eyes locked, I knew she was special. Turns out, the universe had bigger plans, bigger than either of us could have imagined. Or maybe Diesel’s to blame.
“Riley! You have two seconds, or I’m leaving your ass in Vegas, and you can explain why you aren’t at work in the morning to your family,” Diesel walks out frustrated as hell, and I know damn well he would really leave me.
“Goodbye,” Zoey says as I move away from her and grab my suitcase.
I give her an apologetic smile, then spin around to catch the door before it closes, leaving her behind and feeling like complete shit about it.
CHAPTER ONE
RILEY
72 HOURS EARLIER
“Rise ’n’ shine, motherfucker.” Cold water to my face accompanies Diesel’s loud voice, making me jump out of bed with fists swinging. Considering I’m barely awake, I miss, and he starts laughing.
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I see the faint hint of the sun shining through my curtains, then rush toward him as he walks toward the door.
“The fuck?” I push his back, forcing him forward into the hallway. “Gonna kick your ass for that.”
“Yeah, right.” Diesel chuckles, knowing damn well he has sixty pounds and five inches on me. He didn’t get his nickname for being small. Built like a fucking house and loud as a diesel truck, he’s had that nickname since middle school. “Besides the fact that you couldn’t, you wouldn’t hurt the birthday boy.”
I snort, following him into the kitchen. “Your birthday was yesterday.”
“But we’re celebrating this weekend!” he shouts, and he’s way too damn excited. “So technically, it’s my birthday till we get our drunken asses back here on Sunday. Till then, it’s fuckin’ party time!”
“We still have a workday to get through,” I remind him while pouring a mug of coffee. At least he managed to start a pot before waking me up by dumping water on my face. We’ve been roommates since he graduated from high school three years ago. Our house is on the Circle B Ranch that my family owns, and most of the Bishops live and work here in some capacity too. Diesel’s originally a townie, meaning his family isn’t in the business, and though he had no real experience, he applied to be a ranch hand like me. For some reason, my dad hired his ass, and we’ve gotten into more trouble than ever. Having been raised on the ranch, I live and breathe this lifestyle and don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. Just like the generations of Bishops before me, I was born for this.
