Page 39 of Breaking the Cowboy's Rules

“I know Ben likes nuts.” The woman held out her hand. “I’m Sage. This is my shop.” She smiled as Nico introduced herself. “The dark chocolate salted caramels are also some of his favorites that he picks up for poker night. And I have some whiskey truffles I’m trying out. He promised to be my taste tester, so I could include a few of those.”

“Lovely,” Nico marveled at the low cost of the specialty chocolates. She added a large tip that Sage waved away. “You’ll be back for more. I’ll fleece you then. Do you prefer milk or dark chocolate?” Sage asked.

“Dark.” Fewer calories. More antioxidants.

“Bodhi prefers dark as well.” Sage added two dark chocolate cowboy boots—one for her and one for Bodhi, although how Sage had sussed out Bodhi was the stated boyfriend was a mystery. “Have fun. Three Tree Ranch is beautiful. I’ve heard there are hot springs, and the Three Bs have engaged in all sorts of shenanigans during their teen years when they summered here, but they are younger so I never got the opportunity to partake. Hopefully, Bodhi will show you around.”

Nico nibbled on the toe of a boot Sage had given her as a sample. What should her next move be?

Should she buy flowers for Bodhi’s mom who was arriving—much to his dismay—tomorrow, or was that too much? Whiskey for Granddad as well?

Condoms?

Her mouth dried at the thought. But she wanted to break out of the gilded cage she’d helped to construct around herself. She was only as tied to her past as she wanted to be. After cooperating with the FBI to save herself and her standing with the state bar, and to make some sort of amends, her family wouldn’t ever welcome her back into the fold, and after this year, if she’d come to one conclusion, she knew she didn’t want to go back to that life.

No home.

No job.

No family.

Plenty of money to figure out her next step.

She had the gift of time. She should make it count. Assist Bodhi in his Rodeo Bride Game to help secure his granddad’s future and reconcile Beck and Ashni and have some fun along the way. Win-win, as Beck had put it. So different from her world and her business. Someone always had to lose.

She liked the idea of everyone winning.

Nico, who’d stood hesitating outside the local pharmacy, walked inside.

She hadn’t packed for a long trip. And she hadn’t packed with any rhyme or reason or ounce of practicality. The pharmacy carried none of her normal brands, but she did find a decent supply of toiletries and personal products. And a variety box of condoms.

“Looks like you’re aiming to have a good time this week,” the cashier—an older, plump woman with an avidly curious expression and sour mouth—said while she looked at each item before ringing it up. “Got your mind set on a special cowboy or just hoping to roll the dice when the rodeo comes to town?”

Rude!

But wasn’t Nico supposed to be spreading a little gossip? Bodhi hadn’t told her to, but he hadn’t met her anywhere private, and he did want them to appear to “be an overt item,” this week.

“Just one cowboy.”

“Anyone local?” Her eyes gleamed. Her nametag read Carol.

“Bodhi Ballantyne,” Nico said firmly. “He’s bringing me home to meet his family.”

Again, no lightning, except Carol seemed utterly flummoxed.

“I’ll be,” she finally muttered. “Ben will be over the moon. I think he despaired of any of those boys settling down.” Carol finished ringing up the purchase but held on to the bag, her eyes eating up Nico as if trying to discover the magic of snagging a Ballantyne.

Guilt niggled.

She felt phony, and she’d wanted to get away from that feeling. Be authentic.

So why agree to play essentially a game of pretend?

Escape. Nico answered her own question and squashed her moment of doubt. She’d thrown her hand in with Bodhi, and she’d opened her big mouth, playing her part. No backing down. No surrender.

“Thank you.” She tugged the bag away from Carol and walked out head held high.

Part of improv was making actional choices and seeding the town with gossip was definitely that. Another rule was no blocking, and that was where things might get tricky. Bodhi had asked her what she wanted out of their charade. To live in the moment and have fun had been her pithy answer and also pretty absurd for an overthinker and over-planner such as herself.

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