Page 67 of Knot Your Problem, Cowboy
I fill in the date and sign it off, then hit Send before I can second-guess myself. Next, I pull up my messages with Meredith and start typing.
Me:Hey, so I’m giving notice on my apartment.I can’t afford to pay Chicago rent while living here. Going to move out, figure out what comes next after the 3 months.Might need your help if the landlord wants me out quickly and I can’t get back in time.
Meredith:Girl, you know I’ll help.
Me:Maybe we can do it together if I can get away for a weekend?
Meredith:Just tell me when. So… how’s ranch life going?
I pause, fingers hovering over the keyboard. How do I explain that this place is nothing like I expected? That I wake up looking forward to each day instead of dreading it? That I have constant butterflies in my stomach around the cowboys.
Me:It’s… different than I expected.And don’t freak out, but I think I kind of like it here.
Meredith:I’m not surprised.Does it have anything to do with three hot cowboys? Been reading your blog… I NEED DETAILS!
Me:There may be some details to share.We need to have a proper phone call. Maybe tonight if you’re free?
Meredith:Ugh, I have that stupid work event. The one where we pretend to like our clients?
Me:Oh right, the quarterly schmooze-fest.
Meredith: But tomorrow for sure. I want EVERY detail.
Me: Deal.
A knock at my door interrupts me. I glance at the clock, six on the dot. Dinnertime at the ranch, and I’d been planning to bring a full plate back here and keep working on this social media campaign.
Me:Someone’s at the door, talk tomorrow! Good luck tonight.
Meredith:It’s totally the cowboys, isn’t it?GET, IT GIRL!
I close my laptop with a laugh and head to the door, expecting maybe Cookie with a dinner reminder.
I’m not expecting Cash and Walker looking like they stepped out of a country lifestyle magazine.
They’re both in crisp button-down shirts, the kind that look like someone actually ironed them. Walker’s is a deep forest green that makes his brown eyes look impossibly warm. Cash chose navy blue that sets off his perpetual tan and those sinful eyes. Clean blue jeans that fit just right, not the work-worn ones from this morning. Their good boots, polished to a shine. And, of course, their hats, not the everyday ones but what I’m learning are theirgoing outhats.
“Well,” I manage, gripping the doorframe because my knees have forgotten their job. “Don’t you two clean up nice. What’s the occasion? Hot date with some cattle?”
Walker’s chuckle rumbles through the evening air.
“There’s a rodeo about an hour out,” Cashexplains, and that grin of his should require a warning label. “Thought you might want to come with us.”
“A rodeo?” I try not to sound as intrigued as I am. “Like, an actual rodeo with cowboys and horses and extremely dangerous activities?”
“That’s the one,” Walker confirms with that sexy deep voice. “They’ve got good food too. Best corn dogs in three counties.”
“You’re bribing me with carnival food?”
“Is it working?” Cash asks, leaning against my doorframe in a way that makes the simple pose look like art.
I glance between these two men who showed up at my door looking good enough to eat, inviting me to something that sounds both thrilling and terrifying. The smart thing would be to politely decline, finish my work, and eat alone.
“Maybe,” I admit. “But this feels very…”
“What?” Walker prompts when I trail off.
“Formal? Like you’re properly asking me out or something.”
