Page 36 of Burning Skies
“What else?”
He chuckles. “That’s a pretty big deal, Honey. Not every rancher can brag about being able to call up any politician at the drop of a dime. It’s my understanding your father can do that.”
Now that I understand what Ian’s after, I start to relax. “I’m not marrying you if I don’t like you as a human. So please don’t snap at our waitresses. It’s rude. Around here, we don’t do that.”
His eyes brighten with amusement. “My apologies. I’ve been on calls all day, and it makes me forget my manners. If I leave the waitress a big tip, will that make up for my shitty attitude?”
“Depends on the tip.” From what I overheard Maybelle tell one of her friends at the Blackbird Coffee House last week, she needs money to buy her kids new winter coats. Maybe I can get Ian to cover that.
Anxious about how this is going to play out, I eat my fries as fast as possible while Ian picks over his food. When I’m done, I flag down Maybelle. “Can we get the check?”
When she drops it off, I give Ian a look, and he laughs. After he pays, he drops a hundred on the table. “Does that satisfy you?”
I nod. “Thank you.”
We walk out to the street, and I point to my SUV. “I’m over there.” He leans in for a hug, and I hold out my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ian.” He shakes it with a little smirk on his mouth that annoys me. “Maybe if I didn’t feel like a heifer up for auction, I’d be more amenable, but I’m not a fan of how you and my father are pressuring me to do this.”
He holds his hand over his chest. “I’m sorry for how this appears, Honey, but I swear my intentions are honorable. Do you think you could give me a chance? Let me wine and dine you for real next time? Who knows, we might have fun.”
Ian is handsome. Well dressed. Has money. A good job. And yet there’s absolutely no spark between us, at least on my end.
While the man who lights my body on fire doesn’t want me.
I guess it can’t hurt to try this with Ian. As we walk around to the driver’s side, I nod. “I’m open to being persuaded.”
He chuckles and opens his arms. “Can I at least have a hug?”
13
BEAU
“You heading home?”Coop asks as I walk into the locker room after a quick shower.
“Need to run an errand first, but then I’m planning to crash for the next twenty-four hours straight.” We’ve had one of the toughest shifts I can remember. The fire at the high school, two car crashes, a hunting accident, and kids playing with fireworks—we’ve been running around Wild Heart nonstop nearly the entire time.
“Jesus, me too. What the hell is up with all the crazy shit in this town? I swear they save it up until we’re at work.”
“Everything always goes haywire around Halloween,” I say as I tug on a fresh t-shirt. “See you next week.”
As I head to Honey’s place, my heart beats harder the closer I get. I’ve been dying to talk to her since I saw her barefoot in her backyard, hosing stray embers. I smile at the memory of the fierce expression on her face.
I park a few houses away in case her brothers swing by, though I can’t remember the last time I saw the three of them together. Probably at the ranch rodeo last spring.
When she doesn’t answer the door, I return to my truck.Maybe I’ll wait a little while to see if she comes home. I lean back and close my eyes.
Images of Honey immediately fill my mind.
Hot damn, she was gorgeous that day at the rodeo with her cowboy hat, tight Wranglers, and fierce scowl. She kicked ass in the team penning event, moving and cutting around the cattle like a pro. While I applaud her going after teaching because that’s a noble profession, she’d make a damn good rancher.
As I sit in my dark truck, I let my imagination run with that image. Me and Honey working my ranch together. Riding horses, having picnics, maybe skinny-dipping in the river.
When my dick swells in my jeans, I know I’m getting ahead of myself. I look up at Honey’s house. All of her lights are still off.
I decide to track her down tomorrow after I’ve showered and napped because I’m fucking exhausted. As I make my way through town, I stop at a light and take in all of the shops and restaurants, which are decorated for Halloween. Goblins in one storefront window, spiders and cobwebs in another. I’m looking forward to taking Gabe, Austin, and Ella trick-or-treating next week.
As I wait for the light, I see a flash of blonde hair. Honey. She’s standing next to her white SUV.
I smile, ready to pull over and explain why I haven’t been by to see her and maybe ask if she’d like to get dinner with me sometime.
