O'Hares Ranch by Lee Jacquot

Author:Lee Jacquot [Jacquot, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-17T18:30:00+00:00

Having something so close you can literally brush your fingertips across it, only to have it ripped away, is a feeling I can only describe as a subset of grief. Loss, disappointment, even a dash of anger swirls in a vicious tornado in my chest as Andrew lifts me to my feet and releases me. His eyes are still on my face, his chest rising and falling as he catches his breath.

The crowd around us have already broken from their partners and are bouncing around, getting ready. Twenty minutes ago, I would have been giddy to show Tammy how much I practiced for this damn song, but now, it’s just another obstacle between me and what I so desperately want.

“I’m gonna go grab a whiskey. You want anything?” My forearm tingles from where his hand is still wrapped around my flesh. It’s like he’s scared that if he lets go, I’ll float away. “Fancy city girl wine, maybe?”

I scoff at his smirk, the tension softening the smallest fraction in my chest. “Water would be great.”

He nods, his eyes flashing behind me. “I’ll be right back.”

His hand drops from me, but before I can process how annoyed that makes me feel, another grabs me. “Come on, sugar. I wanna see if you really got this.”

I whirl around to Tammy, trying to ignore the cavern in the middle of my sternum. I wanted that damn kiss. “You know I do.”

She shakes her head. “You could have sent me some kind of fake video or something. This is a test of our friendship right here.”

We both laugh and get into position as the song finally starts. Like before, I let my body take over, repeating the steps in my head as I move with the beat. One thing I didn’t realize about line dancing until Tammy introduced me to it is that you can’t line dance while being sad. It’s impossible. The beat, the bouncing, the heal clicks, the slides—they all make it impossible not to let the energizing atmosphere infect you. It’s instant serotonin.

Hell, even dancing with Steve was fun. There’s just something about it that fills my heart and rejuvenates my soul.

There’s a saying I heard once, one that springs to the forefront of my mind as a man saddles up next to me and joins us as we hit the left grapevine step.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

Steve is no devil, but lord have mercy, he doesn’t take a hint.

He smiles bright as we k-step, tipping his hat in a fast greeting. “Hello again, little lady.”

I internally grimace. It’s not the first time I’ve heard that term, seeing as I live in Texas and all, but coming from someone in my age range, it has always felt gross. It’s something a grandpa says to his granddaughter.

Tammy cackles when we turn. “He must have a death wish over there.”

I open my mouth to tell her Andrew doesn’t seem the type, but I quickly close it. I know little about Andrew.

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