Page 23 of Cozy Cabin for Two
“We’ll work on that. Today, enjoy the shopping.” As we parted ways, she called back to me.
“You left your keys in the ignition.”
Confused at first, I shook my head. “We’re in the middle of Montana in a very small town. Trust me, the truck is safe.” As I walked away, I noticed Ivy waving from the window of the Wylde West Outfitters.
An hour later, errands complete, that’s where I found Willow. Once I stepped inside Ivy’s shop, laughter drew my attention to the back. Willow’s laugh, bright and genuine, more carefree since she’d arrived at the ranch, warmed my chest from the inside out.
“Are you sure I don’t look ridiculous?” Her voice carried as I approached.
“Honey, you’re the spitting image of every cowgirl fantasy men have ever had,” Ivy assured her.
I almost tripped over my feet—and not from some boxes of quirky bowls made of dried gourds that were lying around. I recognized Elijah setting up a display ofthem. He was one of our ranch hands who had a penchant for fashioning things from gourds as a side business. I waved to him and nodded for him to carry on.
What I nearly stumbled over was the way Ivy had turned Willow into a bona fide country girl.
Fuck me. I whistled low and slow at the sight of her.
“Do those long legs come with a warning?” My eyes travelled up and down boot-cut Wranglers over red boots. Might I add how they accentuated her ass?
Willow spun around from the mirror when she saw me gawking at her.
My chest ached to hold her. An ivory lace top and brown leather corset cinched her waist, marking the outline of every curve, and pushing her already perfectly perky tits even higher. And what about the way Willow’s hazel eyes peeked out coyly from under a tan Stetson? Where’d she learn to flirt like that?
“Cat got your tongue, Ash?” Ivy smirked.
“You might as well ring it all up, because Willow’s leaving with that outfit.” I held up my hand to Willow’s protests and reached for my wallet.
“How about this cute outfit for little Ro we put together, too?” Ivy, the genius salesperson, knew what she was doing.
Of course I nodded and tried to keep my eyes off of Willow as she continued to admire her outfit in the mirror.
“Someone has it bad,” Ivy sing-songed under her breath so Willow couldn’t hear. “You can’t fool me, not with those eyes you made at her.”
“Stop. She’s family.”
“Not by blood. And since neither my sisters nor I have caught your eye, it’s about time someone does.”
“Can you just ring it all up, please?” I leaned my hands against the counter and sighed heavily, fighting off every impulse to ogle the red-booted woman behind me.
Ivy didn’t know when to stop. “Okay, okay. I don’t mean to pry. I just think that now with your cozy cabin, you should fill it with someone special in your life.”
I already did—with Willow and Ro. Where I fit in, I didn’t know yet.
“Should I get changed back into my leggings?” Willow sidled up to me, a little taller now in her new heeled boots.
“Don’t you dare,” I growled, the feral sound stirring deep inside of me. “Er, I mean—Ro would probably like to see your new outfit when she gets home fromschool.”
“Then I guess I’m all dressed up before noon with nowhere to go.” She picked up a flyer from the counter and studied it—a wanted poster for the escaped convict from the state prison.
With her beside me, I could hardly focus on signing my name on the credit card receipt. Couldn’t see the total. Didn’t matter the cost. I liked what I saw, so I bought it.
Ivy clicked her tongue at me. “Ash, it’s Friday. Why don’t you two come back to town later and have a drink at the Sapphire Saloon? I hear there’ll be a live band tonight. I think Daisy mentioned Knox and Colt and some of the guys are coming out tonight, too.”
“Well, I’d need someone to watch Ro,” Willow answered like she was interested in going. Little did she know, the Sapphire is our town’s version of a meat market.
“Poppy can watch her. You leave it to me. I’ll tell her to show up at Ash’s cabin by seven.” Ivy gave me a shit-eating grin, with her eyebrows raised in a challenge.
“Sure. If you want to go, Willow, I’ll take you.” What choice did Ivy leave me? Not that I didn’t want to take Willow out. I sure as hell wouldn’t let her out of my sight in that pretty outfit in a cowboy town like this.
