Page 43 of Untamed Heart
Jesse tipped his hat.
‘Course, ma’am. What’ll it be? There’re all kinds of fancy drinks here. A cocktail? Glass of wine?’
I looked up at the food and drink stalls gathered on the manicured grass, hundreds of people milling around in front of the large, newly built ranch house. Elk Creek was a completely different operation to Diamond Back – one with big pockets.
‘Just a water, since I’m working,’ I replied with a quick smile, noting his inquisitive look as he nodded and wandered over to the stalls. Gaggles of women watched as he approached, their eyes and mouths working overtime.
Shit, so sorry,I replied, hating that my mess had impinged on her life.
It was kind of funny tbh,she replied.Especially when Cal offered to show him out of the studio.
I smiled, imagining Cal – more ink than skin – escorting Kyle back onto the street.
Just be careful, though,she added.He threatened to get in touch with your parents and find out where you were. I didn’t tell him, of course, but please God tell me you’ve found a beefy cowboy to pummel the shit out of him?
Biting my lip, I considered telling her everything. It wouldn’t fit in a message.
Maybe. But it’s complicated.
The thought of Kyle besieging my parents pissed me off.
WHAT THE FUCK! I need every detail!
I’ll call you – too much for messages. So sorry about Kyle, hopefully he won’t be back. Prick.
Too much for messages? A photo will do?!
I laughed, looking up and seeing Jesse walking back over, two beers in hand.
I’ll see what I can do. Love you, Hes xxx
UGH. I hate you being so far away. But love you too. London sucks without you xxx
‘One water for the pretty lady in the tan hat,’ Jesse announced, handing over a bottle and standing next to me. ‘Free bar, too – they’re really putting their money where their mouth is, I guess.’
‘I had no idea it was such a big place,’ I said, looking up and tucking my phone back into my jeans pocket. ‘Sorry about that – just catching up with Hestia, my best friend at home.’
He nodded, studying me for a moment.
‘She anything like you?’ he asked, sitting down next to me.
I laughed, imagining his reaction if Hestia and I had been standing next to each other right now.
‘On the outside, no. But under the surface, yeah. She’s about as sassy as they come, as you guys would say.’
In the same moment, we watched as a much older woman, straight-backed and elegant, walked across the bottom of the field, next to a tall man. His suit was conspicuous, clearly expensive, his grey cowboy hat clearly never worn for the purpose of anything other than show.
‘I think I recognize her.’ I squinted against the sun, holding my hand above my eyes. ‘Who is she?’
‘That’s just about the queen of sass in this state, second only to your grandma. That’s Dotty Sinclair – she owns this place. And the piece of shit with her is her eldest son, Zach.’
I remembered her now, as she had been, hair a little longer and a warmer shade of blonde, now replaced with white.
‘Oh man, me and Lil were fucking terrified of her. I remember when she gave my dad a piece of her mind about something. I’ve never seen him intimidated in his whole life, but she razed him to the ground in less than a minute.’
Jesse chuckled, swigging his beer.
‘Yep, that’s about right, I’d say. About as close to celebrity in Jackson as anyone will get. It’s always been the Sinclairs and the Deans here, a hundred years of it.’ He shook his head, smirking at me again. ‘Guess that’s not very old to a Brit, huh?’
