* * *
The next few days are a bore. I barely see Chase. It seems he’s staying away from me. That’s fine. It’s strange, though, because I’ve never found life on the ranch boring, just peaceful. Now, peace is unattainable.
Still, I try to find it, either by whittling, cooking or playing the guitar.
One morning, I’m sitting under a tree by the storage barn, strumming the strings of my old guitar, and the clop-clop of hooves approach. I stop playing and rise, scan the horizon for my unexpected guest.
A chestnut Arab horse approaches and the woman on its back is radiant. Her blond hair flows from under her black riding helmet and bounces off her shoulders, her horse galloping in my direction.
Kelly Monroe.
The girl from the ranch next door who pops up every summer like the heat wave, the same girl I used to catch fireflies and take dips in the river with before she discovered Cosmopolitan and nail polish.
She spots me and her perfect lips curve into a smile above a pointed chin. She reins in her horse and comes to an abrupt stop a few feet away from me. It rears upward and whinnies. Its hooves crash down to the earth with a thud, and she jumps from the saddle in a practiced move that’s as smooth as silk.
She removes her helmet and shakes her out.
Yup. That’s Kelly. She’s outgrown a lot of things over the summers we’ve spent together – her braces, her ponies, climbing trees – but not her flair for the dramatic.
She’s grown some things, most notably the pair of mounds sticking out from her chest, the top of which are visible above the low round neckline of her red shirt.
Show-off.
“Lauren!” She presses her powdered cheek to my dust-covered one as she places her hands on my shoulders. “It’s so good to see you again. How have you been?”
“Good,” I answer, putting down my guitar.
She steps back to give me the customary once-over. “Your… hair looks longer.”
Of course, it is. I haven’t cut it since last summer.
I narrow my eyes at her. “And your eyes are green.”
“I know, right?” She flutters her eyelashes. “I’m wearing contacts now, not that there’s anything wrong with my eyes. I got so tired of my blue eyes, you know.”
Okay.
“So…” She crosses her arms over her chest. “What have you been up to this past year?”
I shrug. “College.”
Her face lights up. “You’ve finally gone to college?”
I nod.
“I’m so glad. College is so amazing! I mean, the men are so hot, totally different from the ones in high school, and the parties are out of this world. And the girls are cool, too. Last year, I got into this cool sorority where all the girls have Manolo Blahnik booties.” She touches my arm. “What about you?”
“I’ve been studying,” I say. “The university has a nice library and spacious grounds, plenty of trees to sit under.”
Kelly gives me a look of dismay.
“And one of my professors is really nice.”
She places her arm around me. “Anyway, I’m so glad it’s summer again. There’s something about being here in the countryside that makes me feel so alive.” She takes a deep breath. “Must be the air.”
I don’t answer.
She turns to me. “Besides, I get to see you, my oldest friend.”
I guess I am. She’s been spending summers next door since I was four.
“When did you arrive?” I ask her as we start walking.
“Just yesterday,” she answers. “I…”
She stops talking, her jaw dropping and her eyes growing wide.
Chase approaches, shirtless, sweating and with a bundle of firewood on his shoulder.
I look away.
“Good morning,” Chase mutters as he passes by.
Kelly’s jaw drops even further. I swear it’s dislocated. A snake about to devour its prey.
I place my hand on her shoulder, throwing her a look of concern. “Um, Kelly…”
“Holy shit,” she gasps. “Am I in heaven or…?”
“No. You’re still in boring Little Peace Ranch,” I tell her.
She furrows her eyebrows at me. “Then that guy is…”
“A farmhand.”
Chase puts his load on top of the large pile of firewood by the barn.
Kelly stares at him, toying with a strand of her hair. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope.” I shake my head. “I don’t have a sense of humor, remember?”
“Said who?”
“You.”
She looks puzzled.
“You told me last summer,” I say.
She brushes it off then nudges me. It’s more of a shove, really, and I almost lose my balance. “Why didn’t you tell me you had such a hot farmhand?”
“Um, because I only saw you today.”
She hooks her arm through mine. “Come on. You have to introduce me.”
I try to wriggle free of her hold and think of an excuse not to introduce her but I fail at both. We close in on Chase and halt.
Kelly clears her throat, and he turns around, wiping the sweat from his face with the towel around his neck.
As soon as our eyes meet, my breath catches. I lower my gaze and stare at the ripped muscles of his abdomen. Yes, the bruise is still there but it doesn’t take away from the beauty of that sweating six-pack.
I lower my gaze further, only to find myself staring at his crotch.
Shit.
I avert my eyes.
Kelly clears her throat again.
“Kelly, this is Chase,” I say. “Chase, Kelly.”
“Hi.” Kelly finally lets my arm go and steps forward to offer Chase a hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Chase looks at his hand then shows it to her. “I’d rather not get your hand dirty.”
“How sweet.” Kelly simpers. “I live next door, by the way. Well, not next door, because there’s no door, but I live on the next ranch. I stay there every summer.”
“I see.”
“So…” She moves even closer to him, sticking her chest out. “How long have you been working here?”
“A few weeks,” Chase answers and fixes the firewood.
“You know…” Kelly touches his arm. “You can come work at our ranch if you like. I’m sure you’re a very good farmhand and we can pay you better. Why, we even have…”
This time, I clear my throat.
Kelly glances at me. “I’m kidding.” She turns back to Chase. “I keep telling Lauren she needs to have a sense of humor.”
I roll my eyes.
“Well, kidding or not, I’m afraid I can’t accept your offer,” Chase tells her, shrugging her arm off as he picks up another piece of wood. “I like this ranch, and Isaac pays me enough.”
I boil sunshine and rainbows – he’s happy.
“Ooh.” Kelly touches her chin. “He’s loyal. I like that.”
“He’s not… very well-mannered, though,” I blurt out.
“Really?” Kelly raises an eyebrow then grins. “Well, I don’t really mind. Actually, I quite like a man who’s a bit rough around the edges.”
I let out a sigh.
“So, Chase…” She touches his arm again. “Are you seeing anyone right now?”
Chase’s gaze meets mine. “No.”
Kelly pumps her fist. “Well, then, would you…?”
“I’m sorry but I have a lot to do,” Chase says, and enters the storage barn.
“Told you he was rude,” I tell Kelly.
She frowns.
“Well, I actually have other stuff to do, so…”
“Wait.” Kelly grabs my arm. “I haven’t told you why I’m here.”
“Oh.”
I didn’t know she had a reason for coming. I thought it was to show off and gloat as always.
“I’m throwing a party tomorrow night, you know, to celebrate the start of summer. My friends from college are coming and you should come too.”
A party?
I shake my head. “Kelly, you know I don’t like parties.”
Especially Kelly’s parties, which always get out of hand.
“Oh, come on.” Kelly holds my hand in both of hers. “Please? Just this one time. It will be fun, I promise.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
“You know how to have fun, don’t you?”
I don’t answer.
“Wait. You’re not still a virgin, are you?”
“Kelly,” I scold, frowning as Chase comes out of the barn.
“All I’m saying is that you should loosen up a little.” Kelly tugs on my arm. “Come to my party. Drink. Meet my friends. Meet a cute guy who can put your panties in a twist.”
Chase snorts.
I narrow my eyes at him. What? Does he think he’s the only guy who can affect me? That I can’t be interested in anyone else but him?
“You know what?” I tell Kelly. “You’re right. I should go to your party and have some fun. It’s summer, after all.”
“Great!” Kelly gives me a hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
“I’ll be there.”
“And oh…” She looks to Chase, who scowls. “Feel free to bring Chase along.”