Page 77 of Untamed

Me: Fine.

*HAYES*

“Why’re you smilin’ like a fool?” Rhett asks as he walks out of the barn. Wells is close behind, wiping his hands on an old rag. We’ve been getting the cattle transported and settled in for the last six hours, and we’re all filthy and fuckin’ tired.

I only checked my phone when we were done because I thought maybe she’d had enough time to think about my note. I was hoping for a text. But when I saw the bubbles pop up and disappear, pop up and disappear, I knew she just needed another nudge. So I decided fuck it and messaged her instead. Happy to report it worked.

“River finally cave?” Wells asks before I can answer.

“She’s coming out this evening.” I shift anxiously from foot to foot. This woman kills me, leaves me anxious and excited all at the same time. I know the rest of this afternoon is gonna go by so slowly. “Gonna give her a proper little date and then take her dancin’.”

“Well, you smell like shit,” Rhett says, clapping me on the shoulder. “Maybe take a shower first.”

“Everything settled?” I ask, hoping we can head back now to give me enough time.

“Settled enough.” I get one of Rhett’s rare smiles as he notices my excitement. “We can head back. I’ll finish in the mornin’.”

The truck reeks on the way home, the cab filled with three very dirty, very smelly men. We have to roll down the windows because I just can’t handle the filth. I practically fall out of the truck when we finally make it back, desperate to get away from the stench.

“Spare Poppy the eye-watering smell of you and throw those clothes out. Honestly, just have her leave the house until you’re clean.” I hold my nose and wave my hand in front of my face.

I only get an annoyed grunt from Rhett.

“Good luck tonight, man,” Wells says, clapping me on the shoulder before tugging me into a hug.

“I’ll see you guys tonight,” I tell them. “I’ll be bringing River to the dance.”

“I tried to get out of it,” Rhett groans. “But Poppy really wants to go and experience it. So do the kids.”

The locals always get together and put on a party in one of the show barns on the first night. It lets everyone come together and chat. There are people from all over the county that come in, bringing their families with them. So we all get to know each other, and it’s nice to have a night to hang out and have some fun before all the hard work starts up.

River has always loved the fair. We used to go as kids, running all over the grounds, eating far too much sugar and riding all the rides. We’d sneak into the animal barns so she could look at all the bunnies and pet all the pigs. And while the adults were catching up and line dancing inside, we’d be outside, practicing our own dance moves in the grass. Close enough to hear the music but far enough away that we wouldn’t get caught being out too late.

I can’t wait to see her and hold her. It’s taking all my strength not to run over to the little cabin she’s staying in and wrap her in my arms. Right now, though, I’m afraid she’d gag. So I go home instead, washing my body and my hair a few times to make sure the sweat and stink is out. I dress in the Wranglers that always make her stare at my ass and a shirt of mine she liked to wear to bed. I like having a little piece of her with me.

Finishing touch: a backward baseball hat. Because that girl goes nuts for it.

I’ve been rehearsing all the things I want to say to her in my head for days now. Honestly, since I got home the day of our fight, I’ve been trying to find the words I want to say. There’s so many, and I don’t want to ramble on and on. I just want to get my point across. I want her to know that I love her and that I need her in my life. That she’s my best friend and the person I want to spend my life with.

It’s simple. I love her, and I’m tired of us getting in the way of that.

I text her as I climb into my truck.

Me: Meet you at the front gates in an hour?

River: See you there, cowboy.

Hayes is waiting on me as I pull up to the front gates. No one is there to open them yet, so he does it for me, and I park off to the side where I won’t be in anyone’s way. The nerves are really churning now, making my hands shake as I turn off the engine. He’s back there, locking the gates again while I try to control my breathing.

“You can do this, River.” I look at myself in the visor mirror. My hair is straight and down, and I’ve done my makeup a little. I’ve even paired my dusty boots with a dress. “Woman up.”

He knocks on my window and makes me jump so high I almost whack my head on the roof of the car. Hayes just laughs as I flick the visor back and climb out.

“Good to see you, firefly.” He’s all happy smiles and sexy eyes. That backward baseball hat does something to my lady bits, and it’s really unfair that he can make something so simple look so good.

“Hi” is all I manage. My mouth seems to have stopped working.

“So, I thought we could have a little dinner. Almost all the trucks are set up, and we can get what you want and then take it to the grandstands.”

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