Page 11 of Fall or Nothing

Ranch hands loved to pull pranks, but on a chilly night like this they didn’t strip a man down and leave him on a county highway just for fun. Not Ash’s crew.

“Not them. We got separated. The locals carried me away from them. It got chaotic.”

“Chaotic,” I repeated.

“Very.”

I pressed my lips together. “I will absolutely have words with those boys the next time I’m at the ranch. Initiation? What were they thinking?”

His head snapped to me like I’d surprised him—and for a second the charming-stranger performance dropped, and there was just a man sitting in my passenger seat, cold and tired and a little thrown.

“Please don’t do that,” he begged. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing it would be if you chewed them out for this? I’d never hear the end of it. There’s a bro-code for pranks. I just have to take it and think of a way to get back at them. We can keep this between us, can’t we? Please, Sage-with-the-pretty-lavender-scent?”

His charm came back then, voice warm and deliberate, his hand resting on the back of my seat, thumb tracing a slow circle on my shoulder that sent sparks racing down my spine.

“Do not even try to be cute with me right now.” I shook my head.

“I’m asking nicely.”

“No, you’re very smooth. There’s a difference.”

He laughed. “Is it working?”

I said nothing. Because yes, him mostly naked in my car seat trying to butter me up was absolutely working.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he grinned. Cockiness was a good look for him.

“You’ll take that as amaybe,“ I purred. “Conditional on you telling me right now—are you actually okay? Honestly.”

“Honestly?” He hesitated. “I’ve been better. I’ve also been a lot worse.”

I knew nothing about this man except that he’d appeared at a barn dance and practically made me forget my name before vanishing entirely. But something about him grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go.

“After tonight, I don’t think I could smell lavender ever again without thinking of you.” He reached up, resting his hand on the back of my seat, his thumb circling lightly on my shoulder.

A thrill worked down my spine, but I kept my expression where it needed to be. Pretending he had no effect on me whatsoever.

He eventually grew quiet. I glanced over. His eyes were closed, head hanging down. The coat had slid off his lap. His legs stretched out, knees wide, one muscular thigh brushing dangerously close to my hand on the gear shifter. I licked my lips, eyes drifting up to the edge of those tight boxers before I caught myself.

“Get a grip, Sage.” It had been far too long since I’d been touched by a man who actually interested me. I reached over and pulled my coat back up without waking him.

Lavender, he’d said.

God help me, but this cowboy might be my undoing—and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be saved.

FIVE

Anchored

CARTER

I wokeas Sage slowed down a street lined with darkened storefronts. A banner we passed under announced: “Forest Grove Community Thanksgiving” coming soon at the church. Everything appeared quaint enough.

She parked in an alley behind one of the stores and cut the engine.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“My place,” she said, reaching for the door handle.