Page 106 of One Wild Chance

Jaxon: You just made Wyatt’s entire week. Apparently, he is buying us all special Lucky Chance cowboy hats. He’s completely dedicated to this new persona. I think he wants to give Hank Branford a run for his money.

Me: Tell him Hank Branford has nothing on the Chance brothers in custom cowboy hats. I might just swoon.

Jaxon: Then I guess I’ll have to catch you.

Me: I’m counting on it, cowboy.

Jaxon: Now he’s looking at belt buckles. You’ve created a monster.

Me: I’m surprised you agreed to the hat.

Jaxon: It’s growing on me. Might have something to do with you. When can I see you again? Breakfast seems like a lifetime ago.

Me: You’re very bad for my productivity, you know that?

Jaxon: Good. Being productive is overrated. Also, Wyatt wants to hire a band. He says live music makes it feel like an event.

Me: I didn’t even think about music.

Jaxon: He’s already texting people in Nashville. BIG names.

Me: Wait. Does he need an opening act? Because my friend Larissa would love to do it.

Larissa couldn’t work up the nerve to talk to Wyatt when we saw him at the Blue Moon Saloon. If Wyatt contacts her about this gig, she’ll probably say yes before he finishes the sentence.

Jaxon: He says he’ll call her tonight if you send her number. Also, he’s hiring a caterer.

Me: Jaxon, we cannot afford food for everyone in town!

Jaxon: It’s Wyatt. He has connections. Also, he’s been hating the fact that he’s not allowed to just write a check and fix the farm debt. This is something he can do to help. Parties are basically his love language.

Me: I love your brother.

Jaxon: Don’t tell him that. His ego is already inflated enough wearing a cowboy hat. Now he’s looking at very expensive chaps.

Me: I’m sorry, CHAPS FOR A PARTY?

Jaxon: He found a website where you can get them custom-made. Someone needs to stop this man.

Me: Please talk him out of it.

Jaxon: Nobody has authority over Wyatt when he’s in party-planning mode.

Me: Tell him he can keep the chaps for personal use. But you’re still wearing the hat.

Jaxon: Told you I might keep wearing it. Guess I’ve officially decided.

Me: Don’t get cocky, cowboy. I can still outride you any day.

Chapter 30

Jaxon

“Never thought I’d see the day when all my brothers look like legit cowboys,” I mutter to myself. My brothers are standing in the middle of the old barn, wearing cowboy boots and brand-new matching white cowboy hats, entirely at home in their getups for the Golden Springs Gazette interview.

“I know,” Summer says with a satisfied smile that tells me she’s been waiting for this since Wyatt’s cowboy-hat text. She adjusts the collar of my denim jacket and brushes her fingers against my neck, sending sparks through me. “The Chance brothers look like honest-to-goodness cowboys.”

Grady overhears and holds up a finger. “To be clear, we’re not actual cowboys; we’re athletes, running a horse farm on the side.”