head over to the MacKenna ranch with you?”
Clay stroked his hand over his mustache and Rylie imagined what it would feel like
to have that hand stroking her instead. “I’d like to check everything out myself.”
Luke said, “Suit yourself. Check out whatever you want, but I’ve given it a real thorough
once-over.”
Check out whatever you want. Rylie studied Sheriff God-bod. No shit. Can’t wait to check out every inch of that.
Clay’s eyes met Rylie’s and for a moment she was sure he’d read her mind. He smiled
and tipped his hat. “See you later, Rylie Thorn.”
Chapter 5
“Finally? Seriously?” Rylie nearly dropped the phone onto the kitchen floor in mock
surprise.
“I know, I know.” The excitement in Skylar’s voice was unmistakable. “We know it’s
late for a reception, but we got married so fast in such a small ceremony; it’s time
to celebrate with all of our friends.”
Rylie relaxed against a counter, unable to stop grinning. Skylar sounded so giddy
and happy. “So when? Where?”
“We haven’t decided on a place or day yet. I just wanted to know you’d be on board.
It wouldn’t be a party unless you showed up.” Rylie was sure she heard Zack in the
background, murmuring something like “Party with me. I’m the desperado.”
Rylie pulled her pocketknife from her jeans and flicked it open and closed. Open and
closed. “Honey, if it’s a party, you know I’ll be there. It’s just... I still can’t
get used to the idea that you’re married.”
“ Zack. Not now.” Skylar giggled and Rylie rolled her eyes, imagining the sickly sweet, almost-newlywed
crap going on at the other end of the line. “I know what you mean,” Skylar continued
into the phone, “I keep thinking I’ll get used to it too, but so far it’s still one
giant head-rush.”
Even though she was dead-set against marriage, Rylie crammed her pocketknife in her
jeans and tried to muster up joy for her friend who sounded so happy, and put a smile
in her voice. “Tell that cowboy he’d better take good care of you, or I’ll kick his
ass.”
“I’ll let him know.” Laughter bubbled up from Skylar. “What do you think about our
having the reception next Saturday? We could have a barbeque and dance here at the
ranch. Trinity will already be gone, but I think the timing would work for everybody
else.”
“Sounds perfect.” Rylie held the phone with one hand and tugged at her earlobe with
her other as she did her best to put some enthusiasm into her voice. “And don’t worry
about me and all my rules against marriage. You know I wouldn’t miss it. I’d never
let you down, Skylar.”
“Great. Be here at noon.” Skylar sighed, a sound of contentment. She was so damn happy
that Rylie couldn’t help but feel pleasure for her friend. “What’s new with you, sweet
pea?”
Rylie’s body warmed at the mere thought of the sheriff.
“I’m going out tomorrow night with Clay Wayland,” she said aloud.
“The sheriff?” Skylar’s voice perked up. “I’ve met him—talk about one hell of a sexy
man. I just knew you’d find him hot. Promise to give me all the juicy details.”
“Don’t I always?” Rylie’s smile was wistful. Their night-long girl gabfests had come
to an abrupt end with Skylar’s getting shackled. She didn’t see them cranking back
up anytime soon. That’s what marriage did to a person. Isolated them. Took them away
from their friends and family. It started out all sweetness, but it would end with
yelling and distance and pain.
After they said their good-byes, Rylie punched the phone off and set it on the countertop.
Married. What the hell had Skylar been thinking when she eloped last October? Rylie shook
her head. It had been good to hear Skylar’s excitement all these months, but Rylie
just hoped her friend had made the right decision and would be happy next year and
the year after that. Skylar
Clay stroked his hand over his mustache and Rylie imagined what it would feel like
to have that hand stroking her instead. “I’d like to check everything out myself.”
Luke said, “Suit yourself. Check out whatever you want, but I’ve given it a real thorough
once-over.”
Check out whatever you want. Rylie studied Sheriff God-bod. No shit. Can’t wait to check out every inch of that.
Clay’s eyes met Rylie’s and for a moment she was sure he’d read her mind. He smiled
and tipped his hat. “See you later, Rylie Thorn.”
Chapter 5
“Finally? Seriously?” Rylie nearly dropped the phone onto the kitchen floor in mock
surprise.
“I know, I know.” The excitement in Skylar’s voice was unmistakable. “We know it’s
late for a reception, but we got married so fast in such a small ceremony; it’s time
to celebrate with all of our friends.”
Rylie relaxed against a counter, unable to stop grinning. Skylar sounded so giddy
and happy. “So when? Where?”
“We haven’t decided on a place or day yet. I just wanted to know you’d be on board.
It wouldn’t be a party unless you showed up.” Rylie was sure she heard Zack in the
background, murmuring something like “Party with me. I’m the desperado.”
Rylie pulled her pocketknife from her jeans and flicked it open and closed. Open and
closed. “Honey, if it’s a party, you know I’ll be there. It’s just... I still can’t
get used to the idea that you’re married.”
“ Zack. Not now.” Skylar giggled and Rylie rolled her eyes, imagining the sickly sweet, almost-newlywed
crap going on at the other end of the line. “I know what you mean,” Skylar continued
into the phone, “I keep thinking I’ll get used to it too, but so far it’s still one
giant head-rush.”
Even though she was dead-set against marriage, Rylie crammed her pocketknife in her
jeans and tried to muster up joy for her friend who sounded so happy, and put a smile
in her voice. “Tell that cowboy he’d better take good care of you, or I’ll kick his
ass.”
“I’ll let him know.” Laughter bubbled up from Skylar. “What do you think about our
having the reception next Saturday? We could have a barbeque and dance here at the
ranch. Trinity will already be gone, but I think the timing would work for everybody
else.”
“Sounds perfect.” Rylie held the phone with one hand and tugged at her earlobe with
her other as she did her best to put some enthusiasm into her voice. “And don’t worry
about me and all my rules against marriage. You know I wouldn’t miss it. I’d never
let you down, Skylar.”
“Great. Be here at noon.” Skylar sighed, a sound of contentment. She was so damn happy
that Rylie couldn’t help but feel pleasure for her friend. “What’s new with you, sweet
pea?”
Rylie’s body warmed at the mere thought of the sheriff.
“I’m going out tomorrow night with Clay Wayland,” she said aloud.
“The sheriff?” Skylar’s voice perked up. “I’ve met him—talk about one hell of a sexy
man. I just knew you’d find him hot. Promise to give me all the juicy details.”
“Don’t I always?” Rylie’s smile was wistful. Their night-long girl gabfests had come
to an abrupt end with Skylar’s getting shackled. She didn’t see them cranking back
up anytime soon. That’s what marriage did to a person. Isolated them. Took them away
from their friends and family. It started out all sweetness, but it would end with
yelling and distance and pain.
After they said their good-byes, Rylie punched the phone off and set it on the countertop.
Married. What the hell had Skylar been thinking when she eloped last October? Rylie shook
her head. It had been good to hear Skylar’s excitement all these months, but Rylie
just hoped her friend had made the right decision and would be happy next year and
the year after that. Skylar
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