7

Boone

Portugal? She’s so funny. I’ll move to Mars before Georgia moves to Portugal. I’ll have to find out what made her think of that country as her destination.

She still hasn’t told me that she’ll meet me, but I haven’t given up hope. I worked with the horses today and just put up the last one, giving her a little extra love. She’s new and still very nervous in these surroundings. I quickly shower and walk toward my truck. I’m going to head into town. I’m too restless to sit at the ranch waiting for Georgia to text me back. If I happen to drive by her house and see that she’s safe and at home that’s just a bonus.

“Hey, Boone, wait.” Elly comes out of the main house and waves me down.

“Hey, Elly, how are you?”

“I’m great, you on the other hand.” She gives me a stern look. I run through everything I did today to try and figure out what I could have done to piss off Cole’s wife. I come up with nothing.

“What’d I do?” I ask cautiously.

“I talked to a certain auction winner earlier today and she wasn’t thrilled with you.”

Fuck. “What did she say?”

“Well, most of it I promised not to repeat. It was the only way I could get her to tell me the truth. She did try to tell me that she was allergic to horses and then she hated horses. She doesn’t want to spend a day with you.”

“She told me she was moving to Portugal,” I admit. “Maybe we should just let her pay double and let it go. Maybe I’m pushing my attention where it isn’t wanted.”

“Don’t give up,” Elly says grabbing my arm. “I can’t tell you what else she said, but you shouldn’t give up. Just go slow and easy, like you would with a skittish horse.”

I smile. “Did you just compare Georgia to a horse?”

She nods. “If the horseshoe fits.”

We both burst out laughing and Cole comes out of the house. “You making a move on my woman because you can’t get your own, Lowe?”

“Don’t be absurd, love,” Elly says, giving her husband a quick peck on the cheek. “I’m helping him get his woman.”

Cole rolls his eyes and gets an elbow to the belly.

“I need to go think about what you’ve said, Elly. Thanks for the help.” I sneak in a kiss on her cheek and Cole chases me away.

I hop into my truck and drive quickly to the edge of the property. It borders Georgia’s family’s ranch and we used to meet out here sometimes when we were in high school. This pond was the site of some of our teenage fumbling kisses and our first taste of romance.

What do I want from Georgia? That’s what I need to know. Do I want to go on a few dates and let this run its course to a natural conclusion, parting as friends? A torrid love affair that ends in drama and hatred? Or that forever kind of love like Elly and Cole have?

I want forever with Georgia. I have always wanted to be with her. If I’m honest with myself, I wanted it at eighteen and it scared the shit out of me.

Now, I just have to convince Georgia that I’m a good bet. That she can count on me to always be there for her.

I’m watching the sunset from the tailgate of my truck when I hear someone approaching. I turn and find myself mesmerized by the sight in front of me.

“Hey, cowboy,” Georgia says as she rides up on her horse, Sugar.

“Hey, wildflower. I thought you were allergic to horses or was it that you hated them?” I say with a smile.

Georgia frowns and starts to turn her horse around. I jump off the tailgate and slowly walk toward her. “Shit, Georgia, I shouldn’t have said that. I promise that is all that Elly shared. I don’t know what else was said between the two of you.”

“It’s fine. I’ve just been cementing my reputation this week. There’s something about you that makes me act crazy. I don’t like the feeling but don’t want it to disappear. Now, isn’t that crazy?”

“Can we talk?” I ask, hoping she’ll give me a few minutes.

“Yes, but clothes stay on.”

I help her off her horse and we tie Sugar to the nearest tree. Georgia pulls a treat out of her pocket and sneaks it to her horse. “Good girl,” she whispers.

“How could anyone ever think you hate horses?”

“Horses are better than most people.”

“I agree.”

I pick her up and sit her on the tailgate before sitting next to her. “I have a blanket if you get chilly.”

“I’m okay.”

“We need to come to some sort of truce. I can’t keep coming up with plans to not go to Cowboy Day, it’s starting to interfere with my actual job. Plus, Shelby read over your shoulder at the store and freaked out thinking I was moving to Portugal.”

“You could just hang out with me for that one day, see how it goes, and then maybe hang out with me some more,” I suggest.

“I’m going to offer up this deal. I will do the Cowboy Day if we can do it on a Saturday, and if we just annoy each other all day we cut our losses and stay on opposite sides of the street when we see each other in town.” She looks pretty proud of the strong offer she’s presenting.

“Saturdays aren’t a full day. So, I’ll agree to a Saturday as long as it’s this upcoming Saturday and I get to take you to dinner that night.” I know I’m pressing my luck, but I have to at least try.

She looks out at the horizon and then back at me. “Okay, but you promise that this will be it. No more texts, calls, booty calls, anything.”

“If we don’t get along and decide together that we want nothing else from this then yes, I promise no more.” There’s no way I want nothing more from Georgia Duncan.

We shake hands and I use every bit of willpower I possess to not pull her toward me and kiss her stupid. Why she’s fighting what’s between us, I don’t know, but I have three days to make sure that Saturday is the best day she’s ever had in her whole life.