Page 23 of Holiday Friend Zones
Damn.I really need to get out here more often.Being stuck in the bar all the time, I rarely get to come riding.
The barn comes into view, and it’s like Lollipop knows it’s home and picks up her pace.
Stowing the saddle, I head back to brush her out as she chomps on hay.Even though the ranch isn’t in the best shape, the barn is toasty.Perfect for all the horses.
“Think you’d want to go riding again?”I ask her.
This time, I get a whinny in response.
I smile at her.“Yeah, I’ll come back out, Lollipop.”
Closing the gate behind me, I head back up to the main building to drop the keys off on Verne’s desk.Walking through the lobby, I stop short when I see a familiar face.
“What are you doing here?”I ask, shocked to see Rylee out here.
She smiles at me, leaning against the front desk.“I was going to pick Joey up to grab dinner tonight, but Max is sick.”
I nod, scrubbing a hand down the back of my neck.“I know.I offered to take dinner over, but my mom is taking care of it.”
“Poor guy.Not the time of year to be sick.”
“Better than being sick over Christmas.”
Her eyes skim over me.I feel it everywhere.“Do you have to go to the bar tonight?”
“No.I got the guys to cover since I was out in the fields all day.”
“Do you want to go out with me then?”
“Really?”
“Why not?”She shrugs a shoulder.“I’m free and you have to eat.”
I should say no.Being alone with Rylee?It’s a temptation I don’t need.But apparently my mouth doesn’t get the message from my brain.
“As long as you let me pay.”
“How chivalrous of you.”
“C’mon.I know there are extras in the kitchen.There were some cancellations tonight.”
Rylee looks around the main building.It’s nothing like it used to be.“I can’t imagine why.”
Cobwebs stick to the corners of the ceilings.Wallpaper peels from the old plaster.Carpets are worn thin and the windows need a good scrubbing.
“I keep trying to tell Verne he needs to fix it up or he’s going to lose the whole ranch because no one wants to come visit.”
“He’s a stubborn old man.Harvey has to make his breakfast special every day at the diner even though his order hasn’t been on the menu since Arlene died.”
I shake my head.“It’s that attitude that is going to get him in trouble.”
Waving to the chef, I grab two plates and carry them out to the dining room.One couple is eating by the fireplace as another is finishing up.I lead us to a table in the corner to give us some privacy.
Pulling the lids off the plates, I slide one over to Rylee.
“Well, I hope you like burgers.”
“I love burgers,” she says, tearing into it, smiling around the bite in her mouth.She squirts ketchup onto her plate and drags a fry through it before eating it.
