Page 65 of Knot Her Cowboys
“How does it feel to be back in the kitchen?” Morgan asked.
“I love it. This one is way lower stress than the other kitchen jobs I’ve done.”
“I bet the ranch hands wouldn’t be opposed to you trying out recipes on them.”
“Oh, hell yeah. It’ll be so easy to fuck around with different stuff when the busy season is over.”
“You’re planning on sticking around that long?”
I shrugged. “I’m trying not to plan too hard, but it seems kind of miserable if I can only think about one day at a time. I can be excited for the future and still change my mind later.”
“Too true, you can. Where the hell is Cooper?”
“Not a clue. He was gone when I woke up.”
Morgan paused, coffee halfway to her lips. “Like he left the house or left the bed?”
No sense giving her anything to read into when I had no fucking idea myself what Cooper’s acquiescence had meant last night. “The house.”
Morgan sighed. “He’d better not be being weird again.”
“Cooper’s always weird. It’s part of his charm.” Cash settled up next to me with a heaping plate. “What time are you heading out?”
As if on cue, Dakota stepped inside, and I replied to Cash, “I’m assuming now.”
“Have fun,” Cash whispered in my ear, nipping the lobe. What the hell did he mean by that? What was fun about going to town to get a death certificate?
“Ready?” Dakota asked. “We can go later, if you’d rather.”
“Nah, might as well get it over with.”
He nodded and turned to Cash. “Let me know if there’s any last-minute additions for the supply run. We’ll be back this afternoon.”
“Sounds good.” Cash kissed my cheek and dragged my coffee cup closer. “Don’t worry about your dishes. I’ve got it.”
Morgan gave me a fierce hug and I squeezed her right back. “Don’t be a stranger,” she ordered.
“I won’t be. Have a safe drive back.”
I followed Dakota out to his truck, a flatbed hooked to the back of it. “Where’s Levi? I haven’t seen him yet today.”
“There’s a sick cow on a neighboring ranch. He left before the sun was up.”
“And Cooper?”
“On the trail.”
“How do you know?”
“His horse was gone from the stables when I checked on them before coming here. If Ranger’s not there, he’s off with Cooper.”
I slipped into the passenger side of Dakota’s truck, watching him move around the vehicle for a final check, the sun catching his dark hair and showing off teasing strands of red that were all but invisible most of the time. When he finally settled in his seat, he brought with him the scent of sweetgrass and sandalwood, making goosebumps dance down my arms and legs.
“It’s an hour drive,” he told me. “You’re in charge of music unless you’d rather talk.”
I turned the radio on low, loud enough I could make out what song was playing in case one of my jams came on, but not enough to interfere with conversation. “Tell me about yourself.”
“What do you want to know?”
