Page 57 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy
“Oh, this should be good,” June murmurs.
“I want everyone to write down one name,” Lorettaannounces, shaking the cauldron with glee. “One man in this town you’d bind yourself to for seven lifetimes. No judgment. No explanations. Just go with your gut or whatever body part is talking the loudest tonight.”
A chorus of cackles ripples through the room.
She starts passing out little slips of red paper and glitter pens. Some of the women immediately lean over their wineglasses with wicked grins, scribbling fast like they’ve been waiting their whole lives for this moment.
I glance at June. She bites her lip to keep from laughing, then scrawls something on her paper before dropping it into the cauldron.
“I don’t really know enough people,” I whisper, hesitating with the pen.
Then I picture Ridge in the moonlight, whiskey in hand, jaw tight, eyes shadowed. That stubborn set to his shoulders like he’s holding up the whole world and refuses to let it fall. Before I can stop myself, I write his name.
I fold the paper quickly and toss it in.
Once everyone has contributed, Loretta gives the cauldron a theatrical shake and begins pulling names one by one, reading them aloud like the results of a very inappropriate county fair raffle.
“First up… Earl from the hardware store.” She cackles. “That man alphabetizes his nails and screws. Nobody organizes screws that meticulously without dark secrets.”
The women giggle in agreement.
“Next—ooh, Sheriff Cade.” Loretta raises her brows. “You just know he’s got a tragic backstory and a single tear he lets fall exactly once a year. Classic book-boyfriend material.”
Someone fans themselves dramatically.
“Dr. Hendricks,” Loretta reads next, her voice going dreamy. “That vet has forearms built by God and hands that cradle baby goats. You know he’d make a woman feel seen… and stretched.”
June chokes on her wine. I have no idea what kind of book club we’ve just entered, but I’m rolling with it.
Loretta plucks out a slip and squints. “No great Betas in town.”
A few of the ladies make sympathetic noises, then all turn to give June a pointed look.
“You know,” Dolly says, shaking her head. “Alphas accept Betas too. It’s not all Omegas and heat drama.”
June snorts, swirling her drink. “Sure they do. Right after they win the lottery and grow wings.”
The room erupts with knowing laughter.
Loretta pulls the final slip and pauses. Her gaze lifts, locking on me with a twinkle. “Ridge Colter.”
The room falls quiet just long enough for every head to turn and glance my way.
I sit frozen, cheeks warming. June doesn’t help, as she’s already grinning at me.
Loretta fans herself with the paper. “Silent type.Brooding. The man reeks of demonic potential. I respect it.”
“Maybe too much potential,” someone mutters.
“Oh, no,” Loretta says with a wink, “that’s half the fun.”
“All that auburn hair and those shoulders.” Rita sighs, horns blinking in what might be Morse code.
“Plus he’s got that whole damaged hero thing,” Dolly adds, wings drooping sympathetically. “Nothing sexier than a man with scars and secrets.”
My face is on fire. The whole town seems to know about his accident, though no one has told me specifics. What happened to him?
“I just… he seemed… I mean, I barely know him,” I stammer.
