Page 34 of Untamed

“Mhm,” I hum. “Whatever.”

Maybe she’s right. Maybe Hayes has changed. The thought of that fills me with hope that maybe he does feel something for me? If he does, would he want something more than sex? There’s no way I could sleep with him and then go back to being friends. My heart couldn’t take it.

God, it’s been over ten years, and this all just throws me right back into all of those feelings. You’d think growing up and separating myself from him and this town would mean that I could come back here and live a normal life. It should mean that. It should mean that he wouldn’t have this stupid nauseating effect on me anymore.

But here we are.

“Where is Sawyer taking you this weekend?”

“No clue,” I tell her. “I figure he’ll pop by the rescue barn at some point and make plans.”

“You didn’t give him your number?”

“No.” I look at her like she’s crazy. “I don’t just hand out my number to random people.”

“River.” She laughs. “He’s not some random dude. He works on the ranch, and he asked you out. How do you expect him to get in touch with you?” Now it’s her turn to look at me like I’m crazy. Which, I guess I understand, but the thought of a guy having unlimited access to me like that kind of freaks me out. That probably says a lot more about me and my still-present feelings for Hayes than anything else.

“He knows I hang around the ranch. Or if he doesn’t, someone else will tell him, and he’ll come find me. Get off my back,” I tease.

“I expect a full rundown after this date. I want to know if Hayes shows up and throws you over his shoulder like a white knight coming to rescue his lady.”

“You are delusional.” We both laugh. “Hayes would never. Are you kidding me? Plus, I’m not telling him where we’re going.”

“Like he couldn’t find out. Please. No one in this town can keep a damn secret. And even if they could, Hayes could literally just walk down Main Street and check all the restaurants.” She winks at me. “He’d find you if he really wanted to.”

“That’s creepy as hell. That is, like, stalker behavior.”

“It’s hot. Have you never read a romance book where the hero gets all possessive and stalkery? Hot as hell.” She fans herself and smiles. “What I wouldn’t give for a man to love me like that.”

“That stuff is only hot in books, Evie.” I grin at her dramatics. “Those are walking red flags in real life.”

“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.”

She shrugs, and I’m desperate to change the subject.

“Are you dating anyone?”

“Uh, no,” she says, her face falling a bit. “I was, but it didn’t work out.”

“Why not? If you don’t mind me asking…”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t really like to talk about it, but he just couldn’t put me first. Had some issues he needed to work through.”

“I’m sorry.” I reach across the table and give her hand a little squeeze, making her smile in my direction.

We fall into a comfortable silence, eating our snacks and listening to the animals snore quietly in their crates. It’s so nice in here when everyone is settled, and there aren’t a ton of dogs walking in and out to screw with the ones that are boarding. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to bring Betty here with me.

A few of the other girls that work here have dogs and bring them in most days so that they don’t have to be alone all day. It would be a great way to get Betty some socialization, and she seems okay with the dogs at the ranch. Maybe I could work her in slowly.

“Alright, I need to go give out the afternoon meds,” Evie says, getting up and throwing her trash away. “Almost time for you to go home?”

I check the clock on the wall.

“Only fifteen more minutes, and then I’m free.”

“If I don’t see you again before the weekend, have fun. And I’ll pray that Hayes comes to his senses and stakes his claim, carrying you out of that date like a caveman.”

I just smile and roll my eyes.

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