Lone Star Burn: Broncos & Bouquets (Kindle Worlds Novella)

Broncos and Bouquets

by:

Stephanie Haefner

For anyone who’s ever made a mistake.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank Ruth Cardello for writing such a fun world. So excited to be a part of it! Huge thanks to Nicole Kuhn for inviting me to be a part of such an amazing adventure. I’ve always wanted to write a cowboy romance, so thank you for giving me this opportunity. And thank you for my cover!! Thank you Piper Denna for all your hard work on this project. We still make a great team! And thanks to all my beta readers for giving me your feedback. It’s so appreciated!

Chapter 1

Terror swirled through Laney Parker’s gut as she turned onto the driveway leading up to the Double C Ranch. Between the Texas heat and her nervousness, her deodorant had probably melted off leaving her smelling like a rotten hunk of meat.
Perfect
. One of the biggest meetings of her life and she was about to assault her possible client’s senses.

Still pretty new to Fort Mavis, Laney was the owner and founder of Bridal Blossoms Wedding Bouquets and More. She only did the bouquet part for now, and was desperate for clients, but someday soon she hoped to expand to the more part. She needed this new business venture to succeed. She needed this new life to succeed. There was no going back to where she’d come from.

Laney parked her decade-old Toyota behind a mud-spattered pickup truck and stepped out. Her heart raced as she smoothed her sweat-dampened sundress and collected her things from the back seat: current issues of every bridal magazine on the market, a binder full of the newest trends in wedding flower design, folders filled with photos and articles, a box of ribbon samples, and of course, the most important item, her portfolio. She had everything she needed to impress her soon-to-be client.

Laney had met Sarah Dery at Java Jane’s coffee shop, where she worked. Sarah was a writer and Laney served her writing fuel a few times a week when Sarah used the coffee shop as an office. Being a barista wasn’t glamorous work, but Laney had needed a job and the owner was wonderful with her wacky schedule.

With no available hands, Laney kicked the car door shut with her cork wedge heel and headed for the massive white farmhouse. Anxiety swirled once again and she wondered just how bad she smelled. As she attempted to sneak a whiff of her armpit, the load in her arms came loose. She held tight and lifted her knee to catch the item that was dangerously close to sliding out of her grip. As she tried to hoist it all back up onto her chest, the hanging item fell to the ground.

Oh, shit.
Literally. Her portfolio had fallen into a pile of what she assumed was horse shit. She blinked back tears as she shifted the weight of her load to the left side then started to lower herself to the ground.

“Whoa! Let me help you.”

She straightened and over the top of her armload of stuff, she watched a man trot toward her.

He bent and picked up her book. “I hope this wasn’t important.”

“Actually, yeah. It’s probably the most important thing I own.”

“Then I guess we better see if we can clean it up. Come on.”

He led her to the barn nearby and she followed, trying not to drop any more of her belongings. Once inside, she took advantage of a wooden bench and set down her stuff. She watched him wipe the poop off the faux leather cover with some paper towels, then ran one under the faucet, squeezed it out, and wiped some more. It wasn’t looking too bad, but then he opened the book and her heart sank. The shit had smooshed in between some of the pages, damaging the tops of them. What the hell was she going to do now? It was all she had. The only representation of her design work. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes once again.

“It’s okay. We’ll clean it up. You’ll hardly be able to tell.”

Obviously he had recognized her panic and was trying to help, but no amount of calming words were going to placate her.

She met his gaze. “I can’t lay a shit-covered portfolio on her dining room table.” Five minutes ago, Laney’s biggest worry had been that she smelled. Horse shit had never been a thought. Oh, how she wished she could go back and deal with that problem instead.

“Calm down.”

Had any woman in the history of the world ever calmed down by being told to do so? “I can’t calm down. This is my life!”

“And I’m trying to help you.”

Laney sucked in a deep breath. He was right. Becoming irate with him over her own stupidity wouldn’t help the situation. He continued to clean her book, using up the roll of paper towels. When he was done, it actually didn’t look too bad. The tops of the pages were a little wavy from the moisture and surely they stunk, but it was better than she expected. He handed it over.

“Thank you,” she said as she took it and met his gaze, finally absorbing his appearance. White Stetson, blue and white plaid button-down, rolled to the forearms, faded jeans held up with the standard issue belt and bullet-stopper belt buckle, worn leather boots.

“You’re welcome.” He was a typical southern boy, but those baby blue eyes and smile were nothing short of exceptional.

“I better go. Sarah’s waiting for me.” Laney gathered her massive pile of belongings.

“Let me help you.”

She didn’t argue. Last thing she needed was another disaster. She handed him half her things then followed him up the porch steps of the house.

Sarah answered the door. “Laney! I’m so excited you’re here!”

She might not be when she got a whiff of her stinky body and stinky book. Laney forced a smile. “Me, too.”

“Hey, Sawyer,” Sarah said as she pushed on the screen door. “Come on in, guys.”

He held the door. “Ladies, first.”

Laney gave a soft “Thanks” and tried to ignore the flutters of attraction spinning through her body. She followed Sarah to a huge oak table filled with wedding paraphernalia.

“Welcome to Wedding Central,” she said.

“I’ll leave you ladies to your business.” Sawyer set down the items he was carrying and turned to leave.

“Thank you. Again,” Laney said to his back.

He turned toward her, that sexy smile again. “Anytime.

She watched him walk away. Broad shoulders, the body of a man who worked real damn hard. And holy shit did he have a nice ass!

“Ahem…”

Laney spun toward Sarah, her face feeling as if it were in flames. “I’m so sorry.”

Sarah giggled. “Don’t be.”

In a desperate attempt to forget about the last ten minutes and focus on the importance of the meeting, Laney arranged her magazines and ribbon samples on the table. “Have you given any thought to your flowers yet?”

Laney and Sarah brainstormed about all the different floral arrangements and bouquets for her and Tony’s wedding. Simple but elegant, chic meets country.

“What do you think about this?” Laney asked and opened her portfolio to a page of pastel wildflower bouquets with peonies, mini sunflowers, delphinium, and dahlias. She then noticed the top of the page. “Sorry about the book. It kind of had a run in with some horse poop.”

Sarah laughed. “I wondered what I had missed out on earlier. I could tell something was up with you and Sawyer.”

“I dropped my book and he cleaned it for me. That’s all.”

“Looked like a whole lot more to me. I saw some sparks flying.”

“No sparks, just pity.”

“Well, I think he likes you. I never see him smile like that.”

Smile or not, the last thing Laney needed to think about was a cute guy and whether or not he liked her. The last guy that had liked her had ruined her life. She definitely didn’t need that again.

*   *   *

Sawyer Williamson finished dishing out feed to the horses then started cleaning the barn. The trashcan was filled to the brim with crumpled paper towels. He had to laugh. She may not have been used to things being covered in horse shit, but he sure as hell was.

He’d been working at the Double C for almost three years, and even though he’d never stepped foot on a ranch before that, it was the only real home he’d ever known. The day he’d been hired was the start of a new life, a chance to work his ass off and get it right. Make up for the sins of his past.

The faint sound of a screen door creaking perked his ears up. He stepped to the open barn door and watched the woman—
Laney, was it?—
head toward her vehicle. She was far more relaxed now. Her blond hair trailed down her back in waves, a smile on her face that couldn’t be described as anything but giddy.

He jogged toward her. “How’d it go?”

“Really good. She booked with me.”

“That’s great. So you’re some kind of flower person?” He recalled the photos in the book that had meant so much to her.

“Yes. I’m a floral designer. I specialize in weddings.”

“That’s pretty cool.”

“It kinda is. I really love it.”

They stood there for a moment, the Texas sun beating down on their bodies, but he hardly noticed. He was too mesmerized by her eyes, her smile, that cute button nose.

“I should go,” she finally said.

He shook out of his haze. “Let me help you.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got it under control this time. But I really appreciate all the help earlier. It meant a lot to me.”

“My pleasure.”

With one last flash of a smile, she continued to her car. He stood by, making sure she got in without any trouble, then watched her drive away.

“She’s a sweet girl.” Sarah had sidled up next to him. “Am I wrong in thinking there’s a spark between you two?”

Was he attracted to Laney? Hell yes. He’d have to be dead not to be. But a spark? Did he even know what that felt like? “I don’t know.”

“Maybe it’s just me being all lovey dovey with the wedding planning, but I think everyone deserves to find someone who makes them happy. Especially you.”

He didn’t know if he believed that, if he deserved anything good.

“I think you should go for it,” Sarah continued. “She works in town at Java Jane’s.”

She walked away, not giving him the chance to say anything more.

Sawyer didn’t know anything about life or love, taking it all day by day, vowing never to repeat his mistakes. He rarely gave much thought to his future. Hard work and a job well done were all he cared about. He didn’t know how to date a woman or be in a relationship. Did he even have anything to offer her?

Chapter 2

Laney filled an order for two plain coffees and handed them over, then moved to the next customer in her line. Her morning was filled with lattes, cappuccinos, and all sorts of pastries to accompany them. The first few hours of business were always hectic, but she liked it that way.

She never dreamed she’d be working in a coffee shop while also attempting to start her own successful business, but she’d been new in town and needed a job that paid money. While browsing want ads, sipping on her own café mocha, she’d noticed the help wanted sign on the wall. The hours were perfect and the owner was wonderful.

As the Monday morning crowd died down, Laney cleaned some tables then sat for her lunch break. She often took advantage of the shop’s free Wi-Fi and made it a working lunch. The perfect time to answer emails and update her social media accounts for the business. At her favorite corner table with her iPad, she logged on and checked her feeds. Two new followers on her Facebook page. Not bad. She needed to get her name out there more though. She did a search for local bridal shows, the types of events she’d participated in often in her previous life. And of course, the entrance fees were way more than she could afford right now.
Figures.

“This seat taken?”

Annoyed, Laney lifted her chin. She expected some random rude stranger who obviously hadn’t noticed the plethora of empty tables, but instead found a familiar face. A
gorgeous
familiar face. “Oh. Hi! No. Have a seat.”

Sawyer set his hat and coffee cup on the table then pulled out the chair.

“I wish I would have seen you come in,” she said. “I would’ve made sure your coffee was on the house.”

“Not necessary.”

“I’m so thankful for your help yesterday. It’s the least I could do. So next time you come in, it’s on me.”

“All right.” He flashed that sexy smile.

“How are things at the Double C today? Anyone drop anything in horse shit?”

“No. Thank God. Cause I’m out of paper towels.”

“I’ll make a mental note to pick up a few extra rolls next time I’m at the store.”

“In my experience, it’s best to just hose it off. Unless it’s something delicate, like your book.”

“I imagine you know better than anyone.”

“I’ve definitely dealt with my share over the years. I wish I could say I didn’t know what it’s like to fall face first into it, but it comes along with the job. It’s actually part of the initiation process. I think I took five showers that day. Went through a whole bar of soap.”

Were they seriously engaging in silly banter about horse shit and the proper removal techniques? And was it weird that she wasn’t weirded out by it?

“I’m sure you have a million great stories from the ranch. How long have you worked for Tony?”

“Almost three years.”

Laney continued with another typical getting-to-know-you question. “Did you grow up in Fort Mavis?”

His eyes diverted from hers as he sipped his coffee, this question seeming to make him uncomfortable. “A few towns over. How about you?”

“I grew up outside Dallas. I’ve only been here six months. I needed a fresh start and this seemed like a good place.”

“It’s a good town for that.”

It sounded like he knew from experience and she wondered what his story was. He’d seemed a bit reserved when it came to the question about his past, hesitant to share too much. She could relate. “I’m still getting used to small town life though. I’m used to having everything I want at my fingertips. I’m dying for some cupcakes from my favorite bakery.”

“Lucy at the diner makes great pies.”

“She does. I’ve tried every one. But they’re just not a proper substitute for that sugary buttercream frosting I love. I can’t help it. I have a huge sweet tooth.”

“I’m not much of a sweets fan myself. I like comfort food.”

“Me, too. I like all foods, actually.”

“Have you been to the new Italian place yet?”

“No. But I’ve heard good things.”

“Do you wanna go on Friday? With me?”

Flutters tickled her stomach. Was this what she thought it was? “Like, a date?”

His cheeks pinkened and a different kind of smile blossomed, a shy one. “Yeah.”

Sawyer was sweet and kind but Laney was just not in a place to be dating anyone. “I can’t.”

“Oh. You have a boyfriend?”

“No, I just…” Was there any way to say this that didn’t sound lame? “I just can’t date anyone right now. I need to concentrate on my business.”

“Okay.” She couldn’t miss the disappointment on his face. He downed the last of his coffee and stood. “I guess I’ll see you around then.”

He tossed his cup in a nearby trashcan and headed for the door.

Laney felt like crap. Here was this nice, funny guy, who was totally gorgeous, and she’d rejected him. These types of guys were totally rare.
You’re so stupid.
She then noticed his hat on her table.

“Sawyer! Wait.”

He turned just before he reached the door. She hurried to him. With only steps to go, her feet slid out from under her. Pure terror surged through her, a feeling of helplessness only felt when one’s body was sailing toward the ground.

But then the warmth and strength of Sawyer’s arms were around her, her body now filled with a whole different sort of feeling. He pulled her to him, her heart racing, his eyes locked on hers. He was close enough to kiss, with lips that looked soft and delicious.

“You saved me. Again.”

“It appears I have.” That damn sexy smile. “Were you coming to tell me you changed your mind?”

Her brain won the fight and gave the answer her body didn’t want. “Um… No. You forgot your hat.”

She straightened and stepped out of his embrace, a shiver running through her at the loss of his heat, and handed over the hat.

“Thanks,” he said as he put it on, but an all-knowing smile bowed his lips. “I’ll see you later.”

He stepped out into the Texas sun and she wondered if that was a pleasantry or a promise. Which did she want it to be?

“Sorry, Laney.” Her coworker stepped to her, mop in hand. “I was just about to clean that up.”

She turned and looked at the floor behind her. A coffee spill, a typical hazard of the job. But it wasn’t so much feeling like a death risk. Not when it landed her in Sawyer’s arms.

*   *   *

Sawyer hadn’t planned on stopping into the coffee shop when he’d gone into town that morning. He was supposed to pick up the new stall gates Tony had ordered then head back to the ranch. But he’d seen the sign for Java Jane’s and felt a sudden craving for a good cup of coffee. And maybe a craving for something else—some
one
else—too.

He hadn’t planned on asking Laney out on a date, either, but it spilled out of his mouth before he could stop it. It sucked when she’d turned him down though. But he wasn’t believing the dumb excuse she’d used. Not once he’d seen the way she’d looked at him. The hunger in her eyes. He’d felt the beat of her heart, and it wasn’t just adrenaline from the slip. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

He’d tossed and turned last night, unable to get her out of his head. Unable to get Sarah’s words out of his head. He hadn’t known then what a spark felt like, but he sure as hell did now. When he caught Laney at the coffee house, her grasp on him, her chest pressed to his, he felt a spark all right. More like a friggin’ lightning bolt that radiated to his groin, his heart, his head. Every part of him wanted her. And he was prepared to annoy her until she broke, just like the wild horses he was so good at taming. He had a talent for it.

Sawyer finished his day of work with a grin on his face, Laney on his brain. He went to bed and rolled out of it before dawn the next day. He got a jump on his work then drove into town for feed. They weren’t all that low, but better to be safe than sorry. And while he was there, he might as well stop at the coffee shop.

“Are you here to claim your free cup?” she asked as he stepped to the counter, unsuccessfully trying to hide a smile.

“No. I’m here to ask you out on a date, but I’ll take whatever you’re offering.”

“Just coffee.” She poked her tongue out at him and filled a cup. “What do you want in it?”

“Nothing. I don’t need fancy coffee.”

“I figured. You don’t seem like a fancy kind of guy.”

As she waited on other customers, he moved aside and took a seat at the same table they’d sat at yesterday. When the line dissipated, she moseyed on over.

“Can I get you something else?”

“Just a date with you on Friday.”

She rested her hands on her hips. “That’s not on the menu.”

“Damn. Cause that’s all I want.”

She was fighting that smile again. “Then I guess you’re shit out of luck.”

Sawyer finished his coffee, said goodbye, and went back to the ranch. Next morning, he went through the same routine, finding another reason to drive all the way into town. And again headed to the coffee shop.

“How’d you get into the flower thing?” he asked as she wiped down the tables around him.

“When I was sixteen I took a design class with my mom at a community center. The lady told me I had potential. Asked if I’d like to come help out at her flower shop for Mother’s Day. It sounded fun, so I did it. It was hard work and I learned a lot that week. I didn’t know it if was something I really wanted to do or not, but then I watched one of her designers make a wedding bouquet. I was hooked. I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

“Wow.” He’d never known anyone who just knew like that. He sure as hell hadn’t, and definitely not when he was sixteen. He was older when he fell into ranching and found a love for it after it kicked his ass. He’d never had dreams or goals when he was a kid. He did what he had to do to get by. If he’d known then what he knew now, he would have made damn sure to make some goals. Maybe things wouldn’t have turned out so bad. “So what happened after that? How’d that lead to starting your own business?”

“Um…” She turned away from him, back to the tables, straightening chairs. She continued, but her demeanor had changed. “I found a college in Dallas with a design program. I worked at the shop while I went to school and after I graduated she hired me full-time. Six months ago I moved to Fort Mavis and started my own business.”

She’d definitely skipped over a chunk of time, but he wasn’t going to ask about it. He definitely skipped a chunk of his own timeline when people asked about his life. “I don’t know anything about flowers, but I got a glance at that book of yours. It all looked really pretty.”

“Thanks.” The smile returned.

“So, what time should I pick you up on Friday?”

She looked at him, those plump lips in a smirk, an eyebrow cocked. “How about thirteen o’clock?”

All he could do was shake his head and drain his cup.

He was back again on Thursday, learning more about her, sharing a few laughs. Who knew there was another person in his age bracket who held a love for classic country music like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams? He felt comfortable with her. It was something he hadn’t ever felt with another person.  He actually shared a few details of his own life, skipping the parts he didn’t want her to know. The parts only few people knew.

Friday morning, he was ready to pull out the big guns.

“I made a reservation for seven o’clock. You’re not gonna make me eat pasta all alone, are you?”

She sighed dramatically, a smirk on those gorgeous lips, and he knew he was inches away from her saying yes.

“I have to wash my hair.”

“That’s the worst excuse ever. Is that the best you can do?”

“Aliens are coming for me tomorrow so I have to pack.” She could barely contain her giggles.

“I give you points for creativity on that one.” He stood and set his coffee cup and the plate from his muffin on the counter. “See you on Monday. If you decide to stay in Fort Mavis and not go with the aliens, that is.”

She was something else. And it all just made him like her more.