Page 19 of Finding Chloe

Hunter and I had agreed that one day we would share a woman. We hadn’t been best friends growing up or brothers like a lot of the other couples on the ranch. We joined the team at different times but grew close. Honestly, it had been quite intimidating with the other cowboys here. I didn’t feel like I fit in. Thomas had taken me under his wing and entrusted me with his favorite horse. Hunter and I bonded over horses and being on the team together, and we looked up to Thomas and Declan. Their Cosland ways may not have been conventional in the States, but we believed wholeheartedly in their custom that women came first and should be the center of our worlds.

Except… Matt had also found her. And that made things complicated.

I knocked my head against the wall over and over. The thumping calmed my nerves, but I groaned as I replayed the meeting in my head. Why couldn’t I have been smoother? Did she think I was weird? Should I have talked more? Asked her more questions about herself?

I hated second-guessing everything.

“What’s eating you?” a deep voice rumbled nearby.

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Gavin had popped out of his office and leaned against the doorframe. My location wasn’t exactly the best for a meltdown, but I didn’t have many places to go. Plus, I’d been headed here in the first place when I decided to walk through the second barn. Blake was expecting me. We were going to go over my performance at the show and create a plan for what to focus on during training.

“I met Chloe.” No use hiding the truth. Everyone around here knew.

“Chloe?” Gavin’s eyebrows knitted together before rocketing up his forehead. “Oh, Chloe.”

“Yep.” I let the p pop at the end.

“How did it go?” Gavin asked, crossing his arms. I knocked my head against the wall a few more times, and Gavin chuckled. “It couldn’t have been that bad. What happened?”

I went over our encounter, and I could see Gavin’s mouth twitching as he fought not to smile. “It’s not funny.”

“Kyle, what part of that did you think was bad?”

I shrugged. “I’m not good around women like Hunter is. Plus, she’s gorgeous. Way out of my league.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself. I’ll agree she’s out of your league, but that’s for her to decide. I’ve seen the guys she used to date. I would much rather you being with her than them. That’s including Hunter.”

I felt my eyebrows brush against my too long hair. “Really?”

“Really.” He clamped his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about being smooth. It’s overrated. Also, don’t try to be like Hunter. Just be yourself. If a relationship like ours is going to work, you each have to bring someone different to the table. She doesn’t need two of the same. Think about the twins. Their appearance may be the same, but they have two completely different personalities.”

I nodded. “Makes sense.”

“Don’t let anyone know I said this, but you are way more sensitive and caring than most of these guys around here.”

I groaned.

“It’s a good thing. Especially if what I heard was right and Matt and Hunter are clashing. She’s going to need someone like you. Someone she can talk to. Use it to your advantage.”

“Thanks. I needed that.”

“Now, I hope it goes without saying, but if you break her heart, I’ll break your legs. She’s family, and you don’t get to mess with my family.” His hand squeezed my shoulder.

It didn’t hurt, but I winced, thinking about any possible future pain. “Got it.”

Retreating to his office, Gavin left me in the aisle to my thoughts. Zeus poked his head out of his stall and nickered. It wasn’t that long ago that his owner, Liam, met his woman, Abbey.

Just then, the door to the barn burst open, and Hunter stepped through. He stopped in his tracks as soon as he spotted me. I gave my head one last tap on the wall before pushing off. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for this conversation.

“What’s with the face?” Hunter nodded as I stepped forward.

I took a deep breath. “I just met Chloe.”

Hunter’s face lit up. Of course he was excited. He wanted things to work out, but how did I tell him I didn’t think it was love at first sight for her like it was with them?

“How did it go?”

“About as good as I could expect. It was brief, but I got to meet her.”

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