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“This is decent! We don’t need Spotify.” I swayed and hummed to “The Heart Won’t Lie.” I knew every word to the Reba McEntire and Vince Gill song, but refrained from singing. I loved Reba and knew all of your songs by heart.
Nostalgia was creeping in and took me back to a time when I was with Cade. We’d only ever listened to country music on our favorite radio station. Life had been so easy back then…
“Country?” Jake made a sour expression.
“Yup! We’re in my territory now.”
“Great,” he grumbled. “I didn’t know you liked this twangy shit. You never ask to listen to it. What else don’t I know about you?”
I belted out a hearty laugh. “There’re all kinds of things you don’t know about me. Like I’m a huge Travis Tritt fan.”The reason I never listened to country music in California was because it reminded me of home andpeopleI’d wanted to forget.
“Who’s that?”
“Really?” I gaped.
“No, I’ve heard of him.” Once the song ended, Jake changed the channel.
I was both relieved and sad. The emotions I had locked away deep in my soul were digging themselves out and resurfacing.
This can’t be good.
“That’s the Thompsons’ farm. They have alpacas. And over there is the Clarks. They raise sheep and pigs. Mr. Clark is a master woodworker.” I pointed and held my breath, praying Jake had lost interest and didn’t want to hear anymore.
“What about that place? Is it a farm or a ranch?” He was referring to Cade’s property.
Crap!“A cattle ranch.”
“I suppose, hence all the cows. And what family?”
Why did he care? “Norris, and they’re angus beef cattle.”
“Interesting. I guess that’s where the restaurant Black Angus comes from.”
“I guess. Turn right. My parents’ place is two miles down the road on the left.” I couldn’t see any activity at Cade’s, but then it was almost dinnertime. If he was home, he’d be on his horse, making sure all was secure before calling it a day.
“That’s close to the Norris ranch.”
“Mhm.” My nerves snapped, crackled and popped like live electrical wire as we drove by Cade’s. Suddenly, I didn’t want to be here, and wished we could turn around and return to California. I’d honestly do it in a heartbeat, but my parents would be disappointed and Jake would ask a million questions. Hell, he was going to ask them, regardless.
Couldn’t I put on a pair of magic ruby-red slippers and click my heels, and I’d be back on the West Coast? Nope, I was in South Dakota, not Kansas.Dammit!
“No gushing? What? Are the Norris’s your fam’s enemies?”
“Nope, they’re like family.” I grabbed his hand and entwined our fingers. “You should come out during harvest next year so we can pick apples in the orchard.”
“Yeah, sure.” He sounded disinterested.
“Carving pumpkins and running through corn mazes is tons of fun. But the very best is eating kettle corn.” I hummed, practically tasting the salty sweetness, and corny crunch on my tongue. I was trying hard to take my mind off my ex.
“Popcorn ruins your teeth.”
“Ugh, you’re so not fun. What about apple sundaes? They’re the best treat with caramel and whipped cream. A little sprinkle of nuts and a cherry on top to finish it… It’s a heavenly treat.”
“Who in the hell am I talking to? You eat healthier than me.”
I groaned. He wasn’t wrong. “I’m home now and I don’t drink green smoothies or eat avocado toast here.”
“Excuse me,” he said with an attitude.
