“Luke and Chase have always been handsome,” I say. “The Wilds are genetically blessed, for sure.”
The sleeves of Luke’s collared shirt are rolled halfway up his forearms, and his blue eyes contrast with his dark hair. His younger brother, Chase, is blond and all muscle.
“I mean, they could all seriously be models,” Ginny gushes.
“Shh. They’re coming this way,” I murmur as they cross the room toward us.
“Hey, Mace. Gin.” Logan winks at Ginny like he saw her staring. “Y’all remember Luke and Chase.”
Luke makes a big show of kissing Ginny’s cheek and then mine, and Chase follows him. Then they both glance at Logan, who quickly shifts over to my side and steps closer to me possessively.
Luke smirks. “That took two seconds. You’ve gotten faster, Wild.”
Logan shoots him a lazy smile. “Go on back to Montana where you belong, cousin.”
I elbow Logan in the ribs. “Be nice. Luke and his family were so kind when I went to Montana with you.” I turn to Luke and Chase. “Y’all are more than welcome in Darcy.”
“You boys sure clean up nice.” Ginny tilts her chin at Luke and Chase. “The cocky cowboys in Darcy don’t have enough competition.”
“I think Blake’s got enough game in him for the whole town,” Luke drawls.
“I’ve got a break coming up,” I say. “Y’all sit down, and I’ll bring us drinks.”
They all leave except for Logan, who insists on helping me carry the drinks over.
“So,” he murmurs into my ear as he follows me over to the booth where Ginny’s boyfriend, Dave, is waiting. “You ready for Saturday?”
“I am.” I turn back and put my hand on his chest. “Are you?”
His eyes darken. “You have no idea.”
I force myself to turn back around. Just a little while longer, and I’ll have Logan Wild all to myself.
But for now, we’ll hang out with our friends. I sip on a Shirley Temple, and Logan and Luke stick to water, but the rest of our group shares a bunch of beers.
A few drinks in, Blake starts blabbing about the derby.
“Whoever rides their horse the fastest wins. It’s that simple,” Blake says. “Logan, you up for it?”
“Of course,” Logan says confidently. “I’m going to win for sure.”
“And you need to win—why?” Chase asks Logan.
“To be Macey’s husband for the night,” Logan says with a wink at me.
Luke breaks into a laugh and turns to me. “He needs to win a race to get a date with you? I thought you two were sort of…” He trails off, clearly uncertain on how to define what Logan and I are.
“Macey and Logan aren’t exactly definable,” Blake mutters. “But the derby wouldn’t even be happening if it wasn’t for Jane Austen’s ghost being locked up in this bar.”
“What’s that story again?” Chase asks. “Every time I ask, I’m drinking, and then I need a reminder.”
Ginny, who’s as buzzed as Blake, happily fills him in.
“Two soul mates have to legally marry at The Cowherd in order to break the spell that keeps Jane Austen’s ghost held captive in her jail cell,” she says dreamily. “They have to do it by July fourth of next year, which is the hundred and fiftieth anniversary of our town’s founding. If they don’t, Jane’s ghost will be forever trapped and unable to rejoin her ghost lover in England.” She giggles. “I like to believe the story is true and that the soul mates will marry here in time because I’m a romantic at heart.”
“My best friend, Bailey—she’d believe,” Chase says. “She’s into tarot cards and shit like that. I’m not into that stuff, but she’s actually scary accurate.”
“Has anyone ever seen Jane Austen’s ghost?” Luke asks skeptically.
“Several have claimed to.” I point at several blurry photographs hanging over the bar. “None of the images are super clear.”
“So there’s no proof,” Ginny says as she finishes her drink. “That doesn’t mean a damn thing.” Ginny pointedly stares at Dave, whose eyes are tracking a pretty redhead strolling across the room.
Blake points his beer bottle at her. “Do tell us more, Ms. Rattles.”
Dave turns to glare at Blake.
“Just because the pictures aren’t clear doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” Ginny explains as Dave noticeably reddens. “Kind of like how there’s no way to be sure when you have a feeling that maybe your fiancé’s cheating on you.”
Luke clears his throat.
“That girl came on to me when I left the restroom!” Dave insists. “I didn’t touch her!”
Logan and I catch eyes, and he shakes his head at me like he knows what I’m thinking. And he’d be right—I think Ginny can do better than Dave. I have for a while. And Logan agrees with me. But we try to support them as best we can.
Chase’s phone rings. “That’s Bailey, the tarot reader I told you about.”
“Facetime her!” Ginny says, her cheeks pink from the alcohol and possibly anger at her significant other, who’s currently rubbing her leg even as she keeps slapping his hand away. “Ask her if she’ll do a tarot reading for me, please. I desperately need guidance.”
Five minutes later, Bailey has “met” everyone and also kindly agreed to read for Ginny.
She flips through her tarot cards as we all stare at Chase’s phone screen. Bailey’s auburn hair is worn loose, and her gray eyes are bright even through the screen.
“Okay,” Bailey says to Ginny. “I’m getting some time in the next year, you will receive a surprise that will knock you on your ass. Nothing dangerous, or anything like that, but definitely unplanned.”
Ginny gasps and then begs her to read for me.
“Oh, that’s okay,” I assure her.
“This is fun for me,” Bailey insists. “I’d be happy to if you’d like.”
I agree, and she pulls my cards.
“So you’re in a relationship, yes?” she asks me.
Everyone but Logan and me laugh.
“No,” I say with a glare at all of them. “I’m not.”
Bailey scrunches up her nose. “I’m getting the relationship card very strongly. Romantic relationship.”
Feeling my face heat, I shake my head. “Nope. I’m single.”
“For forever,” Logan adds. “Like me.”
“That’s right,” I say. “We’re not planning to ever…you know, commit to anyone.”
“Huh.” Bailey stares at her cards and then shuts her eyes for a moment before opening them and looking at me. “That’s weird because I keep getting a vibe like you already are in a relationship.”
Blake points his beer bottle at Logan. “This guy would be her ‘non-boyfriend.’ Right here.”
Logan flips Blake off, his eyes never leaving mine. And I want to disappear into the ground. My cheeks burn with embarrassment. This tarot reading was a terrible idea.
But Bailey is unfazed. “Well, if you’re not in one now, you’re definitely going to be.”