Page 56 of Honey Bee Hearts

I smile and take a seat on the bed. “I’ll go easy on him. Promise.”

She nods. “Now, what are you wearing? Because I expect you to look every inch the cowgirl tonight. Trust me, you’re gonna need to.”

We spend the next hour going through clothing options I’ve been making and those I purchased in town. In the end, we settle on a pretty, floor-length western dress I’d made and a large western belt around my waist. Callie helped me add a few cute things to my regular cowgirl hat I bought. In the end, I look every inch a cowgirl she wanted me to be when I pull on my boots.

She steps back and nods her head. “Perfect. He’ll be in love with you before the night is done.”

I blink and hesitate, but before I can say anything, she prances over to the door with a “see you tonight” tossed over her shoulder before she’s gone.

I’m leaving this place soon. Is it really wise to go on this date with Gunnar? Am I making a mistake? It probably isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done to fall in love with a cowboy.Besides, it’s also against the rules, I think, laughing. But I don’t get much time to worry about it.

Ten minutes later, there’s a knock at my door, and when I open it, Gunnar is standing there with a bouquet of handpicked flowers, a cheesy smile on his face.

Weirdly, there’s another orange sitting on my banister.

Chapter 31

Fable

Apparently, the Steele Livestock Show & Rodeo starts this weekend, and that’s where Gunnar takes me for our date. He hoists me up in his truck’s driver seat and hops in the passenger side without question, genuinely happy to be with me. He’s so excited, his eyes flashing bright as he directs me past Steele and out to a large field and building where the rodeo is set up.

“So our rodeo is bigger than you’d expect,” he explains as we find a parking spot and hop out. “We’re the birthplace of Frederick Savage, so our rodeo is on the map because of him. The Savage family still plays a big part in things. His grandson is making waves on the bull riding circuit to this day, and you’ll probably see him tonight. He always makes an appearance. They’re out from Fairfield Acres.”

“Ah yes. Rhett and I ran into Darla Savage in town,” I reply.

He wrinkles his nose. “Not a fan of the woman.”

“Seems no one is really,” I say as he helps me up into the stands. We take a seat on the bleachers, our eyes on the arena in front of us.

The next hour is filled with rodeo bulls and the men who ride them, barrel racing and the bad ass bitches who set records over and over again, and even mutton busting which is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. I’m clapping my hands along with everyone else, cheering them on, laughing as the kids get up and roar their excitement. Gunnar wraps his arm around me, and it feels perfect, like we belong here. When the show is done, he drags me from the bleachers over to the carnival set up beside it.

“Now, I’m a master at these carnival games,” he explains. “They’re rigged so the trick is to know how they’re rigged.” He stops at the darts game where you have to throw them and pop balloons. He hands over ten dollars and the bored guy behind the counter passes over a handful of darts. He holds it up for me to see. “The tips are dull, so they won’t just pop a balloon. You gotta throw them hard at the center of the balloon to make a difference. If they were sharp, everyone would win.”

“Good to know,” I say, grinning.

He hands me one of the darts and I throw it. It hits one of the balloons and bounces off. “See,” he answers. “Now, watch a master.”

He proceeds to throw all the darts, hitting a balloon and popping it each time. He’s throwing the darts hard enough that they pop the balloon and embed in the wood behind them despite the blunt tips.

“Winner,” the guy says, his voice monotone and unamused. He doesn’t even seem to care about Gunnar explaining how the game is rigged right in front of him. He reaches up to a medium sized stuffed pig and hands it to Gunnar who immediately hands him to me. I grab him excitedly.

“Thank you! I’m gonna name him Chowder,” I gush. I don’t think a man has ever won me something at a carnival. He’s so insanely sweet.

“Wanna go in the mirror maze?” he asks, pointing over to the large trailer turned into maze. I can see kids screaming and laughing as they trickle out, their parents waiting patiently in a group.

“Sure,” I shrug, following after him. “I don’t think I’ve been in one of these since I was a teenager.”

He hands a few dollars to the guy at the entrance who immediately gestures for us to go inside with the screaming and laughing kids inside. Gunnar lets go of my hand.

“Catch me if you can, Florida Girl.”

I laugh as he both disappears and appears a hundred times around me, the reflections only making things more confusing.

“Come back!” I cry, following after him and running into a mirrored wall. “Fuck,” I laugh, turning in a circle, reaching out to press my hand against the wall, looking for openings. When I find one, I step through and screech when he reappears in front of me, presses a kiss against my lips, and disappears again. “You butthole!” I laugh, chasing after him, but he’s gone so fast, I can only see a reflection and then nothing.

I turn in a circle and push deeper, searching for him, but he doesn’t reappear. I frown, my fingers tracing against the glass as I look for a way out. I turn, and the reflection in front of me changes. Jinx appears behind me, her brows drawn together.

“Watch out, Everhart,” she whispers.

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