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Boone
“Stormy is put away for the day. She did much better than expected today and I have high hopes that she’s going to be okay.” I give my afternoon report to my boss and best friend, Cole.
“Sounds good.” Cole smacks me on the back and falls into step next to me. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“It doesn’t sound like I’m going to like whatever it is,” laughing I slow my stride. “Am I going to be mad at you or someone else?”
“Well, probably lots of people.” Cole rubs his hand over the back of his neck, a sure sign of being nervous and I’m kind of enjoying seeing him squirm.
“Then just tell me. It’s not going to get any easier if we stand her chatting about it like two old women.”
“You were put up in the auction and someone bid on you and won.” Cole takes a step back as he continues, “And the woman that you get to spend the day with is Georgia Duncan.”
“Georgia?” I ask. “Why would she bid to spend the day with me? She avoids me at all costs.”
Cole laughs and steps back toward me. “I wasn’t sure what your reaction was going to be. I don’t think that she bid on you, it was her girl squad. They did it as a birthday gift.”
“Her birthday was two days ago.” I absently add to the conversation.
“Uh, I guess.” Cole continues, “So you are kind of her birthday gift. I will warn you though that she’s not thrilled about any of this and has tried to get out of it.”
“Get out of it? Like not paying the money? That doesn’t sound like Georgia,” I say, even though I don’t really know her anymore. We dated twelve years ago when we were kids. I’ve kept up with her and I know that through her family’s ranch she donates to a lot of animal causes. I can’t see her not wanting to help the horses which is the point of the auction.
“No, in fact, she offered to double her donation if she didn’t have to spend the day with you.”
Now, that sounds like Georgia and Cole’s wife, Elly, probably took her up on it. More money for the ranch and the horses is always the goal. “So that solves that problem. I’ve done my turn in the auction and raised a lot of money. Plus, I don’t have to give up time that could be spent doing my job.”
“Not so fast. I thought it was a great idea and if it was up to me, I would have let her double the donation and moved on. Elly said no.”
“Does your wife hate me?” I’ve always thought Cole’s wife liked me, but now I might have to rethink that.
“She doesn’t hate you,” Cole says. “Sometimes I think she likes you more than me. She might be trying her hand at a little matchmaking.”
“With me and Georgia?” That’s a disaster waiting to happen.
“She said that when the two of you are in the same place in town the temperature goes up and that you both watch each other. That you can’t keep your eyes off her and that when you’re not looking Georgia checks out your ass,” Cole shivers as he finishes repeating what his wife told him. “I didn’t repeat any of that to you and I will never talk about your ass again unless it’s about kicking it.”
“What do I need to do for this thing? Do I contact Georgia and arrange a day?” I might as well get this over with.
“Her contact information should be in your email by now. I would try and get it over with as soon as possible. You know Georgia, she’s just going to keep trying to get out of it. Of course, that could be fun too.”
Cole walks off with a wave. He’s right, Georgia can be a little impulsive and wild, but she’s not the flighty airhead most people think she is. I can’t remember how that reputation started, but people have always discounted her, and she lets them.
Why doesn’t she want to spend time with me? After all these years, you would think that we could spend time together and it wouldn’t be a big deal. Of course, every time I see her all I can think about is touching her and all the ways I could take her. Maybe that’s why she doesn’t want to be alone with me. She’s still attracted to me and doesn’t trust herself to be with me.
I pull out my phone and look for the email with her information. I copy her number and put it into my phone. Debating with myself whether to text or call her, I walk back to the bunkhouse.
I make it to my bunk and decide that I will text first and if she doesn’t respond then I’ll call. I save her number in my phone and send the first text.
ME: Hey, Georgia
WILD GIRL: Who is this?
ME: It’s Boone. I got your number
off the auction paperwork
WILD GIRL: Oh, ok. Can I help you with something?
