Page 8 of Will to Run

“I don’t want to date a Wills. I just want a connection should the need for a wedding venue ever arise.”

“Jesus, they do weddings there, too?”

“It’s one of the most beautiful ranches in the state, no joke. They do everything. I actually think this is a perfect distraction. They’re not in high season yet, so I bet they have space,” she offers.

I’m not exactly sure what she’s talking about, but my hesitations and cynicism about following Jaxon have faded.

The sun is getting lower in the sky as we arrive at wrought-iron gates, and I can’t help but feel the tiniest bit of relief. I know it’s not Driggs, but I can at least catch my breath here tonight. Since I caught Tripp in the penthouse, I have been running. Tonight, I can just sit and deal with the fallout. I’ll have to contact my friends and coworkers. What am I going to do about my job? How is this the first time I’ve considered that piece? I guess I have some extra time on that because I’m supposed to be on my honeymoon come Monday. Thank God, Tripp and I haven’t combined our accounts yet, so I still have access to money. Not a lot, but I could bartend until I find a job as a physical therapist assistant. But before I go down the job-hunting rabbit hole, I have to figure out where I want to be. Driggs could be a place to land for a bit, but only until I decide on my next step. That’s too small a town for me. Maybe I’ll continue all the way out west and end up in California.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice that Jaxon has stopped. Slamming on my brakes, I mostly stop, but hit his bumper anyway. You have to be fucking kidding me. I get out at the same time Jaxon is hopping out of his giant truck. Of course, I hit the vehicle of a car guy.

“Maybe could have followed a little farther behind there, Della,” he walks to where I hit him.

“Jaxon, I am so sorry,” I stutter. “I was thinking of where to go next, and my job and money, and I just got lost in my thoughts. I am so, so, so, so sorry. Is there a lot of damage?”

He looks at the point of impact and then back at me.

“Well, this is pretty significant. I’m thinking at least four, possibly five figures of repair…”

I know so little about cars that one time my father told me my blinker fluid needed replacing, and I believed him. But I do know that this truck looks nice, and is probably stupid expensive, and screams fancy sensors on it or something. My heart deflates. So much for having a little money to start my new life with.

“I’ll pay you for all the damage incurred, Jaxon,” I say with defeat, leaning in closer to see it.

“Oh my God, Della, no. I’m joking. This is nothing.”

As if we’ve been friends forever, I swat his chest for the ill-timed joke. “You ass!” I say with equal parts relief and laughter. “My heart was in my stomach!”

He laughs back at me. “There’s a little paint transfer between our cars. This is a twenty-minute fix.”

His arm goes around me in a side hug. It’s unexpected, but I lean into it all the same and breathe a sigh of relief. I didn’t even get out of the car to hug Quinn when I left because I had to leave before Tripp’s mother or sisters saw me. The warmth of the gesture seeps into my bones, bringing a smile.

“Nothing to worry about, Tatroe,” he says. Then he gestures with his hand towards the lodge, and it takes my breath away. “Welcome to Heart of Will Ranch,” he says, then drops his arm and steps away from me.

No, Quinn wasn’t lying. This looks like it is out of a movie set. My eyes bounce around, taking in every detail. The building is two stories tall, and its base has a huge flagstone patio with rustic chairs and a small fire pit. When you walk up the ten steps, a giant wraparound porch with more chairs greets you. Every detail combines to make perfection.

“This is yours?” I manage to say.

“My family’s, yes,” he answers.

“Wow. This is beautiful. So how many rooms are inside?”

He chuckles before answering. “This is the lodge and it houses reception, the spa, and dining area. The cabins are all around the property.”

I turn to him with my mouth agape. “So, like, can I ask how many acres it is now?”

“Asking a rancher how many acres he has is kind of like asking a dick size, Della. Do you really want to know?” he raises his eyebrow.

My hand shoots to my mouth, and I can feel the blush rising in my cheeks.

“No one says that, you freaking oaf,” a woman says as she comes down the steps. She is as stunning as the lodge. This has to be the girl sibling Quinn was talking about. “The ranch is two thousand acres. It’s not like talking about dick size because no man could ever be as impressive as this. I’m not sure what else he told you, but on the property, we have a lake, about sixty horses, miles of trails, and a lot of fun. Hi, I’m Hazel. Sister to this absolute menace to society. Welcome to Heart of Will.”

6

JAXON

Ican’t believe I made a dick joke to Della. Even my questionable self knows that was shotty. But things defaulted to comfort so quickly, my filter was suspended. And even though she’s the one that leaned into me earlier, extending the time my arm was around her was questionable behavior, too. Granted, I’m sure she needed the hug after running like she did. While Della and Hazel are chatting, another truck drives up. Because, of course it does.

My oldest brother, Everest, would never miss a show. He hops out and introduces himself to her before looking at me with a shit-eating grin. Granted, he didn’t travel far because he lives on the ranch; we all do. Each of us, including my parents, have four acres and a house on the far east side of the property, removed from all the chaos and daily ranch living. But make no mistake, it is a family compound. I keep up my uncle’s place behind his mechanic shop, so I have a little bit of space to myself. My family gets along better than anyone I know, and I love them dearly, but distance makes the heart grow fonder and all that stuff.