Page 27 of Will to Run

“You’re going to need some new clothes,” Molly chimes in.

“I definitely do. But in good news, Tripp refused to live together before marriage, so I was living with my aunt. She got back to Chicago yesterday and is working on packing up my stuff to ship. It was going to be to Driggs, but I guess I’ll have her send it here. That being said, even with that, I’m not sure my wardrobe is ranch appropriate,” she says as she gestures down herself. I take the opportunity to drag my eyes over her again. God, this woman is fucking hot.

I laugh to myself knowing the question isn’t if I’ll give in, it’s how long I’ll hold out.

The night continues from there, and I’m captivated by our city girl, but it flies by, and before I want to, Molly suggests heading home. Everest offers to take her, and I offer Hazel and Della to jump in with me. We split, and the three of us make our way back to the ranch.

Pulling up to cabin three to drop Della off, I realize there’s a gray area here. Now that I’ve effectively hired her, I shouldn’t be doing what we did last night, but the other part of me wonders if she’ll be okay being here by herself.

Before any of that can even be breached, she’s got her hand on the door handle. “Thank you guys so much… for the authentic experience, peanuts, and dice games, of course, but most of all, thank you for giving me a place to land for a little. I don’t know what I’m doing yet, but I’ll figure it out quickly, I promise.”

“You’re safe here, Della,” Hazel says. My eyes shoot to my sister because it’s the same exact thing I said to Della last night: great minds and all.

Della just looks at us, nods as if she wants to say something else, but hops out instead.

The door isn’t fully closed before Hazel is climbing into the front seat of the cab, purposely knocking me with her elbow on her way up, before settling in the seat and giving me a face.

“Give me a break, I say, knowing exactly what Hazel will bring up. “She’s been here a literal day.”

“Maybe. But you look at her differently. It’s a pretty charged look… on both ends,” she responds.

“Well, she’s gorgeous. And some may say I’m not bad-looking myself.” I reply.

“Gross,” my sister replies. “Plus, you slept there last night.”

“Correct. There. Not with her.”

“Double gross.”

“And it’s a damn good thing I did,” I talk over my sister’s disgust. “Because we would have had the cops here at two in the morning.”

“Sure. Keep telling yourself that,” Hazel laughs. “What are you going to tell Case? He’s going to shit an actual brick when he hears you hired her as a temp.”

“Fuck, I know. I’m opening with the fact that you and Molly did it.”

“And I super can’t wait until you tell him that you’re not putting her in the ranch bunkhouses because I would bet my share of this place that you wouldn’t dare do that. Tell me I’m wrong?”

I can’t help my laugh because she’s correct. There’s no way I’m sticking Della in the bunkhouses. They’re fine and all, but it’s essentially a hostel. I’ll stick her in a long-term cabin for the next six weeks. Hell, I’d put her in my house before the bunks. “I’ll have to figure out how to throw you and Mol under the bus for that one, too,” I laugh.

Her chuckles continue as she gets out of the car. “Good luck with that, Jax.”

She’s right; my brother might actually shit a brick. Or his head might spontaneously combust. Attempting to gauge Cayson’s reaction is short-lived, though, because my mind flips back to Della pretty quickly. Out of curiosity, of course, because checking up on someone isn’t a booty call. The intent isn’t to sleep with her or anything, just to make sure she’s okay. Or maybe that’s too much.

Christ, I’ve never second-guessed myself with a woman; not even once. First time for everything, I guess.

15

DELLA

Ispent all of Monday morning in the nearest town forty-five minutes away, gathering everything I needed for my six-week stay: clothing, food, and toiletries. It felt like I was shopping for college. Plus, I stopped at the Painted Heart on the way back. If I were going to be here for an extended period, I would need more painting supplies. I’m also hoping that buying said additional supplies will help me actually start. Even after I bought all that stuff last time, I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but stare at the blank canvas while memories looped in my brain.

When I return to the ranch, I put on some appropriate clothes and meet Hazel and Molly at the barn in the late afternoon. They introduce me to people, and begin to teach me what I’ll need to know over the course of my tenure here.

Everything seems simple enough. I’m certainly not a stranger to working hard, but it’s my first time doing anything like this.

Of course, I’m paying attention, but my mind is wondering if my newest employer is going to show face while I’m out here. I’m a bit surprised he didn’t text me or come back over based on how we were flirting last night. Though I guess why would he? I’m just thinking too highly of myself. And especially now that he’s my boss. But it doesn’t stop the hope that I’ll see him again.

After the verbal instructions and introductions, we tackle some stalls.