Wrangling the Cowboy (Circle B Ranch #3) - Kennedy Fox Page 0,41
it is to give me some space, when I see Gavin.
“Thought that was you,” he says with the same smile he gave Sarah.
“I was about to tell you to back the fuck up,” I say, putting my attention back on the kids. From my peripheral, I see Sarah and Cooper waiting for him. My jaw locks, but I’m not sure if he notices or not.
“How are things going so far?” He keeps his eyes on me. “Wait, aren’t you supposed to be cooking right now?”
I laugh and meet his gaze. “The brisket is almost done, just waiting for Elle to pull it, then we’ll plate it. My nerves were so bad that Dad forced me to take a break to get my mind right. Though I’m not so sure how much it really helped.”
“Gavin,” Cooper speaks up, then points toward the food area.
“Your friends are waiting,” I mumble, glancing over at them. Sarah looks like she wants to claw my eyes out, and it makes me smile.
“We were going to get corn dogs and sweet tea. Have you eaten yet?”
I shake my head.
“You should come with us,” he offers. His arm brushes against mine, and I hurry and tuck my hands in my pockets, hoping he didn’t notice the goose bumps.
“I don’t want to interrupt anything.”
A hearty laugh releases from him. “What’re you talkin’ about?” He turns and looks at an impatient Sarah and Cooper. While I don’t want to be petty, I will never forget what she did to me. Sarah stole the only guy I liked in high school just to prove she could. Because of her, I was forced to go to the Jingle Bell Ball alone. Bitch.
“Nothing,” I say, refusing to allow Sarah to get the best of me. He holds out his arm, and I hesitate but grab it.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Absolutely,” Cooper tells him. “I’m starving.”
Sarah’s eyes burn into me, but she doesn’t say anything. Gavin moves past them and leads us to the food truck area. Immediately, the sweet smells of homemade cotton candy and fried everything float through the air. We stop in front of one of the trucks that’s well-known in town.
“What would you like?” he asks.
I shrug. “Whatever you’re having.”
Cooper follows him as he waits in line, but Sarah stays behind. Though I haven’t spoken to her in over a decade, she moves closer to me.
“Hey, Maize. How’ve ya been?” she asks.
I don’t even look at her. “Great.”
She crosses her arms, and I notice she’s staring at Gavin. “The things I’d do to that man.” There’s a slight pause. “I mean, unless you two are a thing.”
“We’re not official,” I admit, just in case she asks him.
“So, are you two exclusive?”
This causes me to turn to her. “I’d rather not talk about this.”
Thankfully, before she can respond, Gavin walks up with two giant corn dogs in one hand and two bottles of water in the other.
“I thought you wanted tea?” I say as he hands me my food and drink. “Thank you!”
“They were out, and it would take twenty minutes. Didn’t want to wait.” He gives a quick eye roll, then grins.
“That’s a bummer.”
Cooper hands Sarah an order of cheese fries. With his mouth full, Cooper chats about competing later tonight and how he’s feeling nervous. I quickly check the time and realize I need to get back as soon as possible.
“I’m sure you’re gonna place,” Sarah says.
Cooper beams as he takes another big bite of a cheeseburger with a donut bun. My eyes go wide because I’ve never seen anything like that before.
“How’s that taste?” I ask. I’d never thought about combining those two things, and instantly my mind reels with how to incorporate that for breakfast at the B&B.
“Delicious,” he tells me with mayo in the corner of his mouth.
A breakfast sandwich served on a donut might be added to the menu next week.
Gavin chuckles and hands Cooper a napkin as he goes on about riding. Sarah glances at me, then she focuses on Gavin. She laughs in all the right places and looks up at him with her big brown eyes. It’s pathetic. After we finish eating, I listen to Gavin talk about rodeo life and how he nearly broke his hip.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it from my pocket then answer.
“Where are you?” Kenzie asks. “Brisket has been resting for thirty minutes, and we’re waiting for you to cut it open, or at least that’s what Grandma says.”