Her Grumpy Cowboy (Fit Mountain Cowboys #3)

4. Luke

Chapter Four

LUKE

The bonfire blazes as Jasmyn and I walk hand in hand toward the crowd.

The fire is mesmerizing - flames licking at the starry night sky, embers floating up and disappearing into the darkness. The heat radiates out, warming my face as we approach. But I can barely focus on any of it, not with Jasmyn’s hand in mine, her body so close.

She looks incredible in those painted-on jeans, hugging her curves in all the right places. And the flannel top, tied at her waist, revealing just a hint of smooth brown skin... Damn. It’s taking every ounce of my self-control not to pull her close and bury my face in her neck.

I clear my throat, trying to shake off my desire before I embarrass myself. “So, is this bonfire everything you thought it’d be?”

Jasmyn looks around, her eyes wide, clearly mesmerized by the scene. The flickering firelight dances across her face, highlighting her high cheekbones and full lips.

“It’s great,” she says, but there’s a hint of uncertainty in her voice. She glances down at herself, then back at the crowd. “I feel a bit underdressed though. Everyone else has their cowgirl outfits on, and here I am without a hat or boots.”

I can’t help but grin at that. She looks perfect to me, but I get what she means. Without a second thought, I reach up and take off my own well-worn cowboy hat.

“There, now you’ll fit right in,” I say as I gently place my cowboy hat on Jasmyn’s head.

Jasmyn reaches up to touch the brim, her eyes meeting mine. In that moment, the rest of the world falls away. No bonfire, no crowd, no music. Just us, our gazes locked, the air between us electric with tension.

But then Maisey’s voice breaks the spell. “Daddy, daddy! Can I go play with Lila and Rosie? They have sparklers!”

I blink, the world coming back into focus. I look down at my daughter’s eager face, her eyes shining with excitement in the firelight.

“Sure thing, little darlin’,” I say, crouching down to her level. “But you stay where I can see you, alright? And be careful with those sparklers.”

“I will, I promise!” Maisey gives me a quick hug before darting off to join her friends.

As I stand back up, I catch sight of Jace and Lindsay smirking at us. They’re not even trying to hide their amusement. Lindsay catches my eye, tilting her head toward Maisey with a grin. “Jace and I will keep an eye on the munchkins. You two enjoy the fire.”

I mouth a “thank you” as they head off in Maisey’s direction, leaving Jasmyn and I alone in the crowd. We find a spot near the fire, the heat warming our faces as we sit close together on one of the log benches. Jasmyn leans into me, her shoulder brushing mine, and it feels so natural, so right.

“So, the bonfire is a big Clayton tradition, huh?” she asks, her eyes reflecting the flickering light.

“Oh yeah, it goes way back. My great-grandpa Jack started it as a way to bring the community together, celebrate a good harvest, that kind of thing. But it’s become so much more than that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s a time for family, for celebrating the good times and supporting each other through the bad. I can’t tell you how many heart-to-hearts I’ve had with my brothers around this fire. It’s where we come to connect, to remember what really matters.”

Jasmyn is quiet for a moment, taking this in. “That’s beautiful. To have a tradition like that, something that ties you all together across generations.”

“Yeah. “I reach out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear, my fingers lingering on her soft skin. “I guess it is.”

Jasmyn’s gaze soft as she looks at me. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

She hesitates for a moment as if choosing her words carefully. “What happened to Maisey’s mom? If you don’t mind me asking.”

The question catches me off guard and I feel a familiar pang in my chest.

I don’t talk about Maisey’s mom much. The hurt of her leaving is still raw even after all this time. But there’s something about Jasmyn that makes me feel like I can open up to her. Like she’ll understand.

“Maisey’s mom left us when she was six months old,” I look out at the fire, watching the embers drift up into the starry sky. “Just packed up her things one day and left. No warning, no explanation. I came home from working the ranch to find Maisey crying in her crib and a note on the kitchen table.”

Jasmyn reaches and touches my arm. “I’m so sorry, Luke. I can’t imagine how devastating that must have been.”

“It’s okay. My family stepped up big time. My parents were still around back then. Between them and my brothers, they rallied around me, helped me keep my head above water. Brought casseroles, changed diapers, took turns rocking Maisey to sleep so I could catch an hour or two of shut-eye. I wouldn’t have made it through without them.”

I pause, lost in the memories for a moment. The countless nights spent pacing the floor with a colicky Maisey. The days where I was so exhausted I could barely see straight. But also the first time she smiled at me. The way her tiny hand would curl around my finger as she drifted off to sleep. The little moments of joy amidst all the chaos.

“Looking back, I realize Sarah wasn’t right for me, for this life. She never really fit in here, never understood what it meant to be part of a community like this. But still, I hate that Maisey’s had to grow up without a mom. That she’ll never know what it’s like to be tucked in by her mom at night, to have someone braid her hair or take her shopping for dresses. I try my best, but I know it’s not the same.”

Jasmyn’s hand finds mine, her fingers intertwining with my calloused ones. “Luke, you’re an amazing father. Anyone can see how much you love Maisey, how devoted you are to her. She’s so lucky to have you.”

Her words wash over me, soothing a part of my soul I didn’t even realize was aching. “Do you really mean that?” I ask, my voice rough with emotion.

“Of course I do,” she says without hesitation. “Luke, you’re one of the most dedicated, loving fathers I’ve ever met. The way you are with Maisey, the way you prioritize her above everything else, the way you’ve created this wonderful life for her here on the ranch - it’s incredible. She’s thriving, and that’s a testament to you.”

Her words settle into my chest, warming me from the inside out. I’ve spent so long focusing on everything I can’t give Maisey, everything she’s missing out on, that I’ve never really stopped to appreciate what we do have.

“Thank you,” I murmur, squeezing her hand. “That means a lot, coming from you.”

Jasmyn smiles, but there’s a tinge of sadness to it. She takes a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “I understand what it’s like, you know. To be raised by a single father.”

I look at her in surprise. “You do?”

She nods, her gaze drifting to the fire. “My mom died when I was six. Cancer. It was just my dad and me after that.”

“Jasmyn, I’m so sorry,” I say softly, my heart aching for the little girl she once was.

Jasmyn smiles softly at me, her eyes glistening in the firelight. “It’s okay. It was a long time ago. And my dad, he was amazing. He did everything he could to make sure I had a good life, that I knew I was loved. Just like you’re doing for Maisey.”

She squeezes my hand, her touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. “But enough about the past. Tonight is about celebrating the present, right? About being grateful for the good things in our lives.”

Her words wash over me, soothing the ache in my chest. She’s right. We both know what it’s like to experience loss, but we also know the power of resilience, of finding joy in the face of adversity.

I find myself getting lost in her eyes, in the way they sparkle with warmth and understanding. The firelight dances across her face, highlighting the elegant slope of her nose, the fullness of her lips. My gaze travels down to where my cowboy hat rests on her head, the brim casting a shadow across her face. It’s like it was made for her.

Fuck.

Everything about Jasmyn draws me in - her beauty, her kindness, her quiet strength. The way she is with Maisey, so patient and nurturing. The way she’s opened up to me tonight, shared a piece of her own story. I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this kind of connection with someone.

Suddenly, the inches between us feel like miles. I ache to reach out and touch her, to feel the softness of her skin under my fingertips. To taste the sweetness of her lips. The air between us crackles with tension, with unspoken desire.

“Luke...” Jasmyn breathes.

And that’s all it takes. I close the distance between us, my hand coming up to cradle her face as I bring my lips to hers.

The kiss starts slow, a gentle brush of lips, but it quickly deepens into something more urgent, more passionate. Jasmyn’s hands come up to tangle in my hair, pulling me closer. I lose myself in the taste of her, in the feel of her body pressed against mine.

Around us, the bonfire crackles and pops, sending embers floating up into the starry sky. The laughter and chatter of the crowd fades away until it’s just us, lost in this moment, in each other.

When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathless, our chests heaving. Jasmyn looks up at me from under the brim of my hat, her eyes dark with desire.

“Wow...” she whispers, a slow smile spreading across her face.

“Yeah,” I agree, my heart pounding in my chest. “That was...”

“Amazing,” she finishes for me, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck.

I grin at her, feeling lighter than I have in years. “It was amazing. You’re amazing.”

I brush a thumb across her cheekbone, marveling at the softness of her skin. She leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment.

The firelight flickers across her face, casting a warm glow. She looks ethereal, almost magical, with my cowboy hat perched atop her dark curls. Like a dream I never want to wake up from.

We stay like that for a long moment, foreheads touching, breathing each other in. The rest of the world falls away until it’s just us, cocooned in the warmth of the fire and the depth of our connection.

“Jasmyn,” I murmur, my lips brushing against hers as I speak. “I know this might be fast, but I have to see you again. A real date, just the two of us.”

Jasmyn’s eyes sparkle as she looks up at me, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Luke Clayton, are you asking me out?”

“Darlin’, I’m asking you out, taking you out, and everything in between. I want to do this right. Dinner, dancing, the whole nine yards. What do you say?”

“I would absolutely love that,” she whispers, her fingers playing with the collar of my shirt.

My heart soars at her words. I capture her lips in another kiss, this one slower, deeper. A promise of things to come.

When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers, savoring the closeness. “You just made me the happiest man at this bonfire.”

We settle into comfortable silence, my arm around her shoulders, her head resting against my chest.

In this moment, with Jasmyn in my arms and the promise of a future together on the horizon, everything feels right in the world. The struggles of single parenthood, the hard work of running the ranch, the lingering pain of past heartbreaks... it all fades away.

All that matters is this incredible woman beside me and the happiness expanding in my chest. For the first time in a long time, I’m excited for what tomorrow might bring.