Stranded with a Grumpy Cowboy, page 1
STRANDED WITH A GRUMPY COWBOY
MAROONED FOR A NIGHT
HOPE FORD
CONTENTS
1. Maddie
2. Rhett
3. Maddie
4. Rhett
5. Maddie
6. Rhett
7. Maddie
8. Rhett
9. Maddie
10. Rhett
11. Maddie
12. Rhett
13. Maddie
Epilogue
Marooned for A Night
Also by Hope Ford
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Be a Hottie!
About the Author
Stranded with a Grumpy Cowboy © 2023 by Hope Ford
Editor: Kasi Alexander
Proofreader: Nicole Graf
Cover Design: Lori Jackson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
CHAPTER 1
MADDIE
Just walk out there. You’re an adult. You help run a successful ranch. You’re smart. You’re beautiful. You’re all the things.
It doesn’t matter that Rhett is here to see your brother and will most likely ignore you. This is your home.
Once I’m done with my little pep talk, I pull my shoulders back and walk out the back door and make my way over to the barn. I get half the distance when I realize I forgot my hat. Luckily, I have my sunglasses. I pull them off the top of my head and put them on my face. It’s not really bright out today, but I don’t trust myself looking at Rhett without some kind of barrier between us. I’ve been able to keep my attraction to him hidden for this long. There's no reason I need him to see lust in my eyes now. With my glasses on my nose, I keep my eyes on my brother’s friend. The man that has been a neighbor to us for the last ten years. The man that has been in my dreams most nights and the man that has a big part of my heart. Even if he doesn’t want it.
He’s in worn Wranglers, a tight black T-shirt, and a black Stetson that’s hanging low on his brow. He has the same look on his face that he always does. It’s like he’s deep in thought or thinking of something that is bad. I would give anything to see him smile, but after all these years, I know it’s a rare thing. He is the grumpiest cowboy around here, but no one calls him out on it. If anything, after everything he’s been through, he deserves to act however he wants. I do wish he was just a little less grumpy, though.
As I get closer, I wave and instantly feel stupid. “Hey, Rhett.”
He frowns and doesn’t respond. I act as if it doesn’t hurt when in fact, it eats me up. How hard would it be to just smile at me? Or heck, just a “hi” would suffice.
I turn away from him and smile at my brother. “All ready for your trip?”
He searches my eyes, and I hate the pitying look he’s giving me. My brother is twelve years older than me. We’re close, and I’m happy to have him, but because we’re so close, he knows me well, and he knows how I feel about our next-door neighbor. I force a smile to my face. “Try and relax while you’re gone.”
He reaches over and ruffles my hair, and instead of resisting him, I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. He pats me on my head. “I’ll relax when I’m dead.”
I pull back with a gasp and smack my hand on his chest hard. “Don’t say that.” Just the thought of losing my brother makes me crazy. He’s the only family I have left. “I’m serious, don’t joke about that, Elliott.”
I try to pull away, and he stops me. “Sorry, sis. Bad joke. Okay, I will relax while I’m there, and I’ll see you when I get back.”
I can never stay mad at him for long, so I nod my head. “Okay, good. You should relax, you deserve it.” I glance at Rhett, and he’s watching my brother and me. I force my eyes back to Elliott. “Well, call if you need anything.”
Walking away, Elliott stops me. “Sis.”
I start walking backwards and wait for him to continue.
“You still going into town tonight?”
I can feel Rhett’s eyes jerk to mine, but I keep focused on Elliott. “Yeah. It’s Cammy’s bachelorette party. Of course I’m going.”
He gestures over to Rhett. “She’s going to a bachelorette party at a bar.”
I stop walking and put my hand on my hip. “I’m thirty years old, Elliott. I think it will be okay.”
He takes his hat off and wipes his arm across his brow. “I wouldn’t be worried if I was in town.”
I shake my head. “What exactly do you think is going to happen, Elliott? A bunch of girls get drunk and have some fun. I think I can handle myself.”
He’s shaking his head. “It’s not you I’m worried about. Wes is back in town, and he’s been warned to stay away from you, but he’s not the sharpest tack in the box.”
I open my mouth to interrupt him, but he holds his hand up. “Forget it. I know you’re thirty, I know you can handle yourself, but I also know that I’m going to be around a thousand miles away. I just need you to be okay.”
I blow out a breath. My face is hot, and I hate that we’re having this conversation in front of Rhett. “I’m going to be fine. I promise, everything is good. I can handle Wes.”
He stuffs his hat back on his head and starts walking toward me. “You shouldn’t have to.”
I open my mouth to argue when Rhett surprises us both. “I’ll be in town tonight.”
My brother stops mid-stride, and both he and I look over at Rhett. “What?” I ask because I know I didn’t hear him right. Surely, he didn’t say that he would be in town tonight.
He’s been leaning against the side of my brother’s truck, relaxed with his arms over his chest. Now he’s standing straight up with his hands on his hips. “I said I’ll be in town tonight.”
I shake my head. “No. No, Rhett. This is not happening. I do not need a babysitter.”
My brother walks over to his friend. “Thanks, brother. I appreciate it. Don’t go getting your ass thrown in jail or anything, but make sure my sister can have a little fun without worrying about that asshole.”
I walk over and stand between my brother and Rhett. “No. Absolutely not. No. I’m thirty years old. This is crazy.” I look over to Rhett. “You are not going to babysit me.”
His gaze travels down my body, and I feel it like a caress. It feels like a zap, and electricity zooms through me. I cross my arms over my chest, hiding my traitorous erect nipples. Rhett lifts his hands from his hips and crosses his arms over his chest as he stares at me. “You won’t even know I’m there.”
I bark out a laugh, but he just stares at me. “You’re serious.” I look at my brother and point at Rhett. “He’s serious right now.” I’m shaking my head and start walking. I have to put some distance between us. “I won’t know you’re there? Yeah, right, you won’t stick out at all. Don’t bother coming. I’ll be fine.”
Before he can respond, I point to Elliot. “I love you, brother. See you next week. Don’t worry about things here. I got it.”
“Love you, sis,” he calls out and then turns to his friend.
They’re talking to each other as I walk away. There’s no reason for me to stay and argue. I know Rhett, and no matter what I think about it, he’s going to do what he wants. I keep walking and stomp into my house, letting the screen door slam behind me.
I groan as I walk through the house. I pick a pillow off the couch, cover my face, and scream into it. “Ahhhhhhhh!”
When I’m out of breath and can’t scream anymore, I uncover my face and throw the pillow onto the couch. The frustration is real. For years, I wanted Rhett to see me as more than the young girl next door. I was attracted to him, but I forced myself to stay away. I told myself it would pass and that it was just a crush. I even started dating Wes to try and move on, but that blew up in my face.
As I pace back and forth, all I can think about is how Rhett will always see me as Elliott’s little sister. He will never think of me as a woman he could be interested in. I’m a favor to his best friend. He’s going to check on me and make sure I’m okay like some child that can’t even take care of herself.
I fall onto the couch and lean my head back. As I stare up at the ceiling, I make my mind up. It’s not like I have a lot of choices, but I’m not going to let this interfere with my night. I’m going to go to my friend’s bachelorette party and have a good time.
And then after tonight, I’m going to do the thing I should have done a long time ago. I’m going to completely forget about Rhett. It’s time I moved on, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. All I have to do is get through the night and make sure I don’t stare at the grumpy cowboy any longer than necessary. He thinks I won’t even know he’s there. He obviously doesn’t know the hold he has on me. If it’s up to me, he’ll never know.
CHAPTER 2
RHETT
Elliott is staring at me, running his hand through the scruff of his beard. I feel like he’s analyzing me or something. He’s definitely looking at me a little too closely, and I turn my back to him and stare out at the ranch. “Does Matt have everything under control? You need me to help with anything at the ranch while you’re gone?”
Elliott comes to stand next to me and looks out at the horizon. Thank goodness, because I’m afraid of what he would see if he was looking me in the face. I don’t know what it is,
I shrug, and he continues, “Plus, Maddie will be here. She can handle anything that comes up.”
I just nod my head. “Should you get on the road?”
He laughs. “Yeah, probably. About tonight…”
I make sure to void any expression off my face and try to look uninterested. “What about it?”
He doesn’t answer, and I’m forced to turn and look at him. “What is it, Elliott? What’s on your mind? You might as well spill it.”
He laughs and holds his hands up. “I’m just asking. Are you sure you’re up to it?”
My forehead creases. “Up to making sure some dumbass leaves your sister alone? Yeah, I think I can handle it.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t joking. You can’t do something stupid, Rhett.”
I smirk. Well, I think it’s a smirk. It probably doesn’t look anything like one because my lips aren’t accustomed to turning up. “I’m not going to do anything stupid. Why would you think that?”
He shakes his head side to side and laughs. “Oh, I don’t know. How about the fact that the last time you and I went out drinking, you got into a fight, and I had to bail you out of jail.”
I cross my arms over my chest and roll my eyes. You would think I’d have lived that down by now. “That was at least five years ago.”
He nods. “Yeah, it was, but it doesn’t change the fact that it happened. And this is my sister we’re talking about—”
I cut him off. “You surely don’t think I’d let your sister get involved.” I hold my hand up like I’m some kind of boy scout or something. “I promise you, your sister will be safe tonight.”
He lifts his shoulders in a shrug. “I have no doubt you will protect my sister, it’s just…”
His voice trails off, and I throw my hands up. “What? It’s just what?”
“You’re protective of her, and I won’t be there to keep you calm, that’s all I’m saying.”
I shrug. He’s right. I am protective of his sister. The truth is, if I get the chance to lay out Wes, jail time would be worth it. “It’s going to be fine. I got this.”
He turns his head to the side and glares at me. “What?” I ask him.
“Don’t hurt my sister, Rhett.”
He’s stalking around to the other side of his truck, and I follow behind him. “Hurt her? What the hell is that supposed to mean? I would never hurt her.”
He takes his hat off, tosses it into the passenger seat, and climbs into his truck. When he shuts the door, he leans out the window. “You wouldn’t hurt her intentionally.”
My mouth drops. What the fuck is he even talking about? “I wouldn’t hurt her… period.”
He tilts his head and looks at me. “Rhett, don’t be dense. My sister has been in love with you since you bought the land next to us. I’m just saying, don’t hurt her.”
He puts the truck into gear, and I grab the door. I physically can’t hold him where he’s at, but there’s no way he’s dropping a bombshell like that and then leaving. If I have to block his truck with my whole damn body, I’ll do it. “What the fuck are you talking about? She doesn’t… she isn’t…”
I’m speechless as I stare back at him. His eyebrows raise in surprise. “Wait. Are you saying you had no idea? You didn’t know…?”
His voice trails off, and I shake my head. “No fuckin’ way. She doesn’t… she was engaged.”
He looks up at the house and then back at me. “Shit, I really thought you knew. I just thought it was something we didn’t talk about, you know.” He shakes his head, and his eyes fill with regret. “Forget I even said anything. I can’t believe you didn’t know. How in the world did you miss that? Oh well, look, all I’m asking is for you to look after my sister while I’m gone. Wes—”
I cut him off. I hate Maddie’s ex-fiancé, and I will take great pride in dealing with him. “Wes will not come anywhere near her.”
He blows out a breath. “Okay, fine. I have to go before I miss my flight. See you, Rhett.”
I take a few steps backward. “See you, brother.”
He waves his hand out the truck window as he drives away. As soon as he’s out of sight, I’m staring up to the main house. I’ve been in the house a bunch of times, but I’ve never been in there without Elliott being home.
I should just leave. I should leave well enough alone and go back over to my small piece of land next door, but the temptation is too strong. I know I heard Elliott right, but I’m not sure I believe it. Before I can talk myself out of it, I start walking to the house. I pound on the screen door and open it. “Maddie,” I call out.
She peeks around the wall at the end of the hallway before she comes into view. She looks surprised as she comes walking toward me. I take her in from head to toe. Her hair is in a ponytail that swings side to side as she walks to me. She’s beautiful in her tight jeans and tucked-in T-shirt. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to her. “Hey, Rhett. What’s up? Does Elliott need something?”
I’m watching her closely. Her cheeks are a ruddy pink, and her breath is hitched. How have I missed that? “No, he’s gone.”
She stumbles a little on her feet, and I reach out for her, wrapping my hands around her waist. She grunts as she falls, and I pull her against my chest. I hold her a little too long before I help her get steady on her feet and let go. My hands go to my sides, and I keep watching her.
Her cheeks are bright pink, her breathing has picked up, and she’s crossed her arms over her breasts. She takes a few steps backward. “Thanks, uh, I’m such a klutz. So uh, did you need something?”
I clear my throat. “Where is the party tonight?”
Her eyes widen. “Rhett, really, you don’t have to go.”
I grunt, “I want to.”
She laughs. “I don’t believe that for a minute. You are definitely not the type to hang out at bars.”
I shrug. “I’m going, but I need to know where I’m going.”
She throws her hand up. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is? I’m thirty years old, and my brother thinks I need a babysitter.”
I walk over to the counter and grip the side of it. “No, he doesn’t. He’s just worried about you… we both are.”
Her eyes flare to mine. “You’re worried about me?”
I gulp. There’s no way I would ever lie to her. “Yes, I am. I don’t trust Wes, and I’m not willing to just stand by and leave you unprotected—”
She holds her hands up. “He’s never hit me.”
I don’t even recognize my voice. “I’d kill him if he did.”
Her eyes widen. “He’s just an ass. I can handle him.”
I plant my feet and match her stance, crossing my arms over my chest. “You don’t have to. You go tonight and have a good time. I’ll be somewhere in the corner, and I’ll stay out of your way.”
She tilts her head to the side. “You know, this could all be for nothing. Wes may not even be there.”
I shrug. “So I get a night out, no big deal.”
She’s not buying it. “And you want a night out?”
A night out where I get to watch you laugh and have a good time? Absolutely. I think it, but I don’t say it. Instead, I tell her, “Yes, I could use one.”
She looks at me with pity, and I know what she’s thinking. It’s been ten years since my wife died, but I still get the same look of pity from people. Instead of dwelling on it, I ask, “What time do you want me to pick you up?”
She gasps. “You’re not driving me.”
I shrug. “Why not? We’re going to the same place.”
