Page 43 of Wild Rivals

MADDIE

I stand at the edge of the room, watching Chloe as she snaps pictures of the Great Barn. My mind somewhere else entirely. I’ve set up a few tables, just like we would for a wedding, and even though it’s the middle of the day, we’ve switched on the fairy lights twisted around the high beams.

The smell of fresh paint lingers in the air, and streams of light flood the space as Chloe moves with practiced ease around it. The soft click of her shutter echoes in the otherwise quiet room. It’s just the two of us, and given this room isn’t currently being used for events, there isn’t a chance of us being disturbed.

“So,” Chloe says, dragging the word out. “Have you thought about what we spoke about the last time I was taking pictures for you?”

She’s talking about how she tried to convince me to take some headshots for the ranch’s website. “Yes, and I don’t think we need photographs of me all over the place. People only come here for the view and experiences we offer, not because I’ve got my picture plastered everywhere.”

Chloe lifts a shoulder, turning toward me before holding up her camera and pressing the button to snap a picture. “You never know. Besides, you could put them on a dating app too. Maybe find the love of your life and finally get some help running this place.”

“I have help,” I reply, pushing away from the wall, annoyed that I let her catch me off guard.

She raises a brow as if daring me to continue with the half-truth. My brothers help, just not as much as I would like. But if I need something, they will step up.

I’ll be the first to admit that I carry the burden of responsibility around here, but that’s because I love it a lot more than my brothers do. None of them have any interest in helping people plan their special days, or once-in-a-lifetime events. I have to force Rhett and Sawyer to hold some of our excursions and Deacon is always off somewhere tinkering with something. I can’t imagine how disastrous it would be to ask them to hold meetings with our brides or corporate clients.

Chloe takes another picture of me before turning her attention back to the room. “I notice how you didn’t say that you have no interest in getting on the dating apps, though.”

I can hear the smugness in her tone at my error.

Dammit. I need to pay more attention.

“I have no interest in doing that either,” I huff, annoyed with myself for the faux pas.

When she faces me this time, she brings her camera down. Her honey-blond hair is tied back in a ponytail, and it swings to the side as she tilts her head in question. “Is that because you’ve already found someone?”

Suddenly I’m hot, even though the air conditioning is blasting. It feels like the air has been sucked out of my lungs.

I shake my head in denial because I can’t formulate words, but I can tell she’s not convinced. There’s a smirk on her lips, as if she knows something and is just waiting for my confirmation, even though she doesn’t really need it.

“Did he tell you?” I choke out, alarm making my heart pound in my ribcage as a pressure sits on my chest and blood rushes in my ears.

God, if Deacon finds out… I don’t even want to think about that.

Chloe wiggles excitedly, undeterred by my obvious panic as she exclaims, “I knew it. I freaking knew it.”

I rush toward her, urgency fueling my movements. “Please, Chlo, you can’t tell anyone,” I beg, holding on to her arms and barely resisting the urge to shake her.

She pulls her fingers across her lips before pressing them together. “I promise I won’t, but you have to tell me who he is.”

Fuck.

She didn’t know and I fell right into a trap I all but set up for myself. How could I be so stupid? I panicked, that’s how.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I turn away and pace across the floor in front of her before coming to a stop with what I hope is a stern look on my face. “It only happened two times and I swear it will never happen again.”

She pouts as if that’s the worst news I could have delivered. When I don’t say anything, she replies, “I won’t tell anyone, I swear. It happened two times and never again. Got it.”

I inhale a sharp breath before blowing it out and saying, “I was the one that gave Wyatt the hickey.”

The silence that follows feels heavy with my mistake, but it doesn’t last. Chloe lets out a squeal of delight that releases the pressure on my chest like a captured wild horse finally being set free. She pulls me into her arms, holding her camera above us as she squeezes me and moves from side to side. I think I might be sick.

“Oh my God, I never would have guessed. Like, at all. I knew something was up with you at Chapters and Crumbs, but I never would have thought that something happened with Wyatt of all people.” She sucks in a breath before adding, “I’m going to need all the details. Like how did this even happen? Was he any good? Did he make you”—she wiggles her eyebrows—“you know.”

I run a hand through my hair as I turn away. “It shouldn’t have happened,” I say, more to convince myself than anything as I face her again. “It was a mistake.”

“One you made twice,” Chloe teases before falling serious. “Okay, you don’t have to give me all the details, but you clearly need to get this off of your chest.”