She’s My Kind Of Rain (Rawlings Ranch #1)

Chapter 15

15

DAISY - JUNE 25, 2024

Kaylee and I approach Southern Sip, which has wildly taken off in the last few weeks, after a magazine noted it as Dolly Parton’s favorite coffee shop—which wasn’t even true. She now has a manager to help run her cute little coffee shop for the days she chooses not to. I won’t lie, I love the new change. It gives us more time to hangout on the weekends, and less worry for her to be in the shop at the crack of dawn for opening tasks. Kaylee being Kaylee, though, loves control and to know things are running well, hence our surprise visit during this morning’s rush hour to make sure things are going smoothly.

We sit down at one of the high-top tables placed off to the side of the checkout counter and I begin telling her about my phone call earlier this week with Sawyer.

“Wait, you think you might be interested in the singer from the other night? Why didn’t you mention this sooner?” Kaylee’s eyes fill with interest, a smirk forming on her lips.

My cheeks flush, Great, now I have to say out loud what I said on the phone, while I was plenty content just pretending it had never happened.

“So, he called Telluride Records right before lunch Monday.” I hesitate, mostly because saying what happened only solidifies that it was real and can’t be taken back. “The moment I heard his voice, I felt, I don’t know…a crush? He had such a soothing tone and how he said even simple things made me smile. And…well…you saw him.”

I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, struggling to meet her gaze. Blushing, embarrassed for admitting a huge part of my attraction is physical. I’ve never really had much of anything to point out about my first interactions with the guys I liked, nor were any of them as good looking as he is.

“Well, I got in my head, and it’s been a while since I’ve flirted with anyone honestly, and I felt a little starstruck. Like, how could a guy like that like a girl like me...ya know?” I look down, starting to feel a little self-conscious.Oh God, I really didn’t want to make this awkward. I’d been trying to avoid that.. “So, I ran through the business spiel and then I was gonna shoot my shot, but I panicked and decided a compliment might be my best option.” I roll my eyes, reliving the moment once more. “I told him I really liked the song he sang, but then I full on panicked, thinking that it could lead to a conversation I didn’t really want to have with literally the best looking guy I’ve ever seen, so, I told him to tell Rhett I said hi and then hung up the phone.”

Kaylee’s eyes bug out of her head, not a single ounce of composure to her thoughts that are written all over her face. “For real? You did not seriously do that, did you?” Kaylee looks as mortified as I feel. “Daisy, what the hell?”

“Yeah, I so did, and now all I can think about is how sketchy that sounds. He’s going to think I’m either crazy for telling him to say hi to someone he doesn’t know, or, if he does know him, that I’m interested in Rhett, isn’t he? He’s never gonna like me now. Heck, I don’t even know if that’s who Rhett wanted us to see, so I could have just told him to say hi to some random guy he doesn’t even know.”

“Take a chill pill, girl. You’re right, we don’t even know for sure that they are friends, but let’s be honest, we have heard a lot of people play and we have had zero people stick their neck out for someone besides Rhett. No one else has been at the level of Sawyer, that has to be who the cocky cowboy wanted us to see. So, they have to be friends.” Consideration shows in her eyes. “Even if Sawyer does think that you were trying to get Rhett’s attention, you have plenty of time to clarify. And if that cowboy is half the man he pretends to be, he could solve the issue before you even have to.” Contemplation flickers to life in her eyes. “Wait, can you even date Sawyer? I mean, like, with Telluride being a huge factor in your current relationship , for lack of a better way to describe it. Like, isn’t that some huge human resources issue? You’d be his boss if he chooses to sign.”

And if my embarrassment hadn’t already been bad enough, I never even considered the factor of my job affecting any potential relationships I had moving forward.

“Well, shit.” I drop my head into my palms. Muffled by my hands, I let out an exaggerated whine. “That was such a noob mistake. Like, clearly I shouldn’t have tried to sign someone without thinking it over for a day or two. Now I just made it impossible to be anything other than his boss .”

Ding. The sound of the coffee house door drags our attention away from the conversation and straight toward whoever created it. There, at the end of the customer line, stands the handsome cowboy that we were just talking about—Rhett.

Kaylee’s gaze darkens as she lets out an evil little laugh at the obvious coincidental timing. “Looks like the answer to our problem just walked through the door.”

I furrow my brow in question, looking from the cowboy, to her, and back again.

“Well, it’s not his fault I’m stupid, so you better retract those talons if you’ve got them out.” I laugh to lighten the mood, but I’m truly a little worried that my best friend’s distaste for cowboys might lead her to just tell Rhett how to act on my behalf, which could make things even worse.

Rhett looks around the room and his eyes land on us.

No way to hide now. I hope Sawyer just didn’t say anything.

The cowboy’s face, now covered in an ear-to-ear grin, nods a gentle hello in our direction. We both smile in response, but another worry hits me like a ton of bricks.

“Oh no, Kaylee, what if he thinks I like him? I never even considered the fact that he might take that hello differently as well.”

Kaylee rolls her eyes so far back into her head that, for a moment, I’m afraid they’ll get stuck. I don’t know why she hates cowboys so much, but, boy, do I know what to bring up if I ever want to get her going. “Girl, he’s a cowboy, they all think everyone likes them. Something about wearing a stupid ass hat makes them feel like everyone is a buckle bunny. He probably didn’t give it a second thought.”

A buckle bunny?

Who hurt my best friend. Clearly a cowboy, but a boyfriend? Someone else? No matter who it was, it’s definitely something greatly affecting the one solid friend I’ve had since moving here, and since she’s done nothing but have my back I want her to know I have hers, too. I table the thought because of our location and proximity to a cowboy, but make a mental note to ask her the moment we aren’t surrounded by people.

Good thing I did, because just like that, Rhett is already through the line and right at our table.

“Mornin’, Miss Daisy.” He nods to me, then looks at Kaylee. “Angel,” he nods a second time.

“My name isn’t Angel, dumbshit.” She rolls her eyes, her lips pulling into a frown.

“Well, ain’t that something.” His smile never waivers, in fact, it almost seems to deepen. “My name ain’t dumbshit, yet here we are.”

A laugh escapes my lips, and the moment it does, Kaylee glares at me like it’s my fault that they can’t get along. I mouth, sorry, and decide to let her lead the conversation.

“So, cowboy, your ears must be as big as your ego. We were just talking about you.”

His smirk shifts to pleasant surprise. “Is that so?”

Please don’t bring up the phone call, please don’t bring up the ? —

“Yeah, but settle down. We were just talking about the fact that you had sent us to The Red Fern which had helped Daisy spot a really good singer. Mr. Sawyer Mason. Is he the friend of yours that you were so eager to have us hear?”

“Yes, he sure was. Sounds like I didn’t have to tell y’all that though. Seems Miss Daisy here already knew. She told him to tell me hi.” His undeniably gorgeous eyes peer from mine and back to Kaylee’s.

“It was a good guess,” I say shyly.

“Well, it’s lucky I’m running into ya. I was actually going to call Telluride myself if I didn’t see you tonight.”

“What..I mean..why’s that?” I try to recover, but Rhett doesn’t miss a beat. His lips somehow pull wider.

“Don’t ya worry. No more friends with talents that need agents or any sort of representation,” he says, calm and collected, not offended by my reaction in the slightest. “Cowboys honor.”

“Great,” huffs Kaylee.

At this point, their song and dance has become second nature to him, or at least it appears to, and he continues on every time she scoffs at him as unaffected as the last. A part of me wonders how he isn’t fazed by her. It’s almost like he likes it.

“I talked Sawyer into going out tonight. Not entirely sure which bar we’re headed to or if we’ll be headed to a few, but I figured maybe he can sing or he can just sit back and enjoy himself for once. Y’all are welcome to join.” He looks at Kaylee. “Or not.” He winks, then turns to leave saying, “See ya, Miss Daisy.”

“Bye, Rhett.”

The prospect of seeing Sawyer causes butterflies to erupt in my chest. Maybe Kaylee was just being paranoid with our talk earlier. People have workplace romances all the time, right?

Shortly after, we too leave Southern Sip and walk toward my house.

“We don’t have to go out tonight. I know you’re sick of seeing him and I don’t blame you.” I say, glancing at her beside me.

I don’t want to make her any more uncomfortable than she already seems to be anytime he’s around.

“Who said I was sick of him?” She smirks. But her and I both know she’s done nothing but push that very message every chance she gets.

“I’ve got to know why you don’t like cowboys. You’re obvious…” I pause, trying to find a word that doesn’t sound awful “…distaste doesn’t seem Rhett-specific. But also, like, if it’s something you don’t want to share, you can totally tell me to mind my own business and I will!” I add hastily, not wanting her to feel like I’m prying.

For a moment she seems to contemplate whether or not she wants to share, and I am afraid I maybe pushed on a topic I shouldn’t have.

Her expression gives nothing away, then she offers up a shrug, saying, “Growing up here, I’ve known my fair share of cowboys, but the first cowboy I ever met was my dad. He rodeoed for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, for my mom, he also enjoyed any buckle bunny that would have him.” She must notice the confusion on my face when she adds, “A buckle bunny is basically a groupie, but for rodeo stars.When a cowboy wins their event, they get a big belt buckle to wear and show off. It’s basically like a beacon for women wanting to ‘ride a cowboy’. My dad won a lot of them.” Fury shows in her eyes. “He stuck around until I was about twelve, which looking back now, is a lot longer than he should have. He didn’t really want to have a family. Or at least not ours.”

I feel sick to my stomach for her and a little surprised she hasn’t shared this sooner, but even more disappointed in myself for not asking. My dad had always been my rock. It seems wild to me that, for some little girls, their dads were the first man to purposely break their hearts.

“It wasn’t the only incident though.” Kaylee blows out a breath, running a hand through her blonde hair before she continues, “I wanted to, I don’t know, like, prove that not all cowboys were the same. But, you know that saying of how girls go for guys that remind them of their father?” She rolls her eyes and huffs a bitter laugh, but it does little to hide the anger and sadness lurking in her gaze. “Yeah, well, I managed to find myself constantly going after the same type of guy over and over. With the same result. If I wasn’t crawling into bed with them, someone else always was. Just like my dad.”

“Oh, Kaylee, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to stir up so much heartache.”

“No, that’s ok. Best friends get to know the good and the ugly.” She offers up a soft smile, but pain still lurks close behind it. “You get to be a part of the good, and I haven’t been too shy about who I think the ugly is.”

“You really think Rhett is like the rest of them?” I say, hopeful that not only he, but also Sawyer, are different from all the dirt bags Kaylee’s met.

“Hard to tell, but the hat and the huge buckles he’s always got on lead me to believe he’s mostly just a pretty face. But, probably one with some talent.”

Huge buckles? Plural? I never even noticed. Come to think of it, I don’t actually know a single thing about Rhett or his friend, he just has such a good energy that I forget to question him and his motives. If he even has any. I don’t want to invalidate Kaylee’s feelings, but I don’t think Rhett is like those other guys. Something in my heart makes me feel like he’s a pretty stand up guy. At the very least, he seems to be a good friend.

“I hadn’t even noticed,” I say. “I wonder if that means he also does rodeos? You don’t think he would wear one just because of how some women react to them, do you?”

“Maybe, but I doubt it. As much as I don’t like him, he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would need to draw girls in with fake buckles. Now that asshole we ran into at The Westmore...he’d be the type to do that to try and get a girl.”

I laugh at the idea. Wow, who knew there was so much drama with cowboys and rodeoing. Not that I knew much about either, besides how to properly wear a hat—thanks to my dad. My cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I can’t help but feel like I need to defend my lack of knowledge. “I’m sure you can tell that cowboys and rodeos aren’t really as huge back in Tansy. Honestly, The closest person to a cowboy I’ve ever had experience with is my dad.”

A soft smile returns to her face. “Yeah, sounds like there is an exception to the general rule that cowboys suck. And that exception’s name is Hank Holloway.”

I smile at the kindness in my friend’s heart even after all the hurt she’s been through.

Kaylee’s expression shifts from tender back to her normal mischievous self. “You know what? The girl I know came here for an adventure, so let’s give her one.”

We make our way down the sidewalk on Broadway. For the first time since starting my job at Telluride, I actually take in my surroundings. This street never seems to sleep. Every corner has a different performer singing their soul out to whoever will listen. There are groups of friends and family cycling between restaurants, bars and shops, cowboy hats as far as the eye can see, and neon lights of every color competing for attention. It’s probably one of very few places where someone is always praying to have their dreams come true right where they stand, which is beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time, and yet it’s the very place that brings my soul to life.

Unlike most days that we have gone out, today is for fun, not for business. We each went overboard with our outfits, but that makes this day all the more enjoyable. Kaylee looks like she was taken directly off of a Country Music stage. Her black top is tight-fitting and bedazzled with little silver rhinestones outlining the boning of its structure. She chose a cute little denim skirt and the most amazing matching cowboy boots that are the same shade of denim as her skirt with rhinestone tassels cascading from the top—every bit as beautiful as they are impractical.

Luckily, my best friend has a wardrobe filled with outfits made for the stage. I chose a silky white v-neck button down tank that just covers my belly button, slightly distressed bell bottom jeans, and a pair of white cowboy boots that are embroidered with pink flames up the sides, as well as on the welt. I’m the furthest from it, but in the outfit I’m wearing, I feel like a total badass cowgirl.

We both wear our hair straight, Kaylee has her’s in a bump holding back her grown out bangs, and I wear mine half up in a claw clip with my front pieces hanging out. Honestly, we look like we fit in with half of the stars Telluride Records represents and something about the thought of that imprints a permanent smile upon my face.

“Rhett didn’t say where they were going to be tonight. We should have grabbed his number,” I mention.

I had thought of it when he brought up the invitation, but I couldn’t read his intentions and I truly don’t want to lead him on just in case he thinks I’m interested in him.

“If we see them, great. If we don’t, equally as great because there are plenty of other people we could meet tonight that are just as exciting as Sawyer, and definitely more exciting than Rhett.” Her words drip with sarcasm.

At this point, I can’t tell if she’s trying to convince me or herself that no matter who we see this will be fun, but the experience alone is something new and exciting for me. Especially since I, for once, am not worried about proving myself or finding the brightest star in a sea of many.

I loop my arm in hers and we head into yet another bar we haven’t been to named Opeachies. It’s filled with a younger crowd than that of The Red Fern, and even more so The Westmore. Since we’re both only twenty-three, I wouldn’t say we’re the oldest, by any means, but you can tell that the people in this specific bar are here for the party more than the music. Something I’ve always been the opposite of. The ambiance is fun, upbeat, and overall happy. And in the spirit of letting go and having a bit of fun, I do my best to give this place a chance, even though I find part of me screaming to leave.

We grab drinks and wander through the crowd toward the stage. The bar is packed to the point that we have to nearly force our way through, but, luckily, once we get within a few feet of the band playing, there is space to breathe. They start their next song and I stand in the most upbeat crowd who all sings along.

Opeachies is a nightmare. At first, it started out really fun and the crowd seemed overall rather happy-go-lucky, but the longer we have been here, the more it’s gone wrong. Some of the patrons have been well overserved and I’ve had to politely walk away from a number of men that probably can’t even see me because they are so trashed. Multiple fights have broken out amongst the crowd, and I’ve seen more girls crying than I can count. This place is not my place, and all I want to do is leave.

Hopeful that my best friend feels the same, I set down my third drink of the night, suddenly feeling like maybe I, too, have had a little more than I could handle so quickly. It has been about five minutes since she left to go to the bathroom, so I decide to shoot her a text, not something I do too often because I went for the cheaper plan when initially signing up for my cell service. Something I should probably now adjust, since it’s Kaylee’s favorite form of communication.

HEY, WHERE R U?

I type out and click send, hoping she will reply sooner rather than later so we can be anywhere but here.

A large man bumps into me, not even excusing himself, but I’m way too intimidated to say anything. So, with a squeaked apology, I try to scooch myself even closer to the bar.

A hand grasps my shoulder and I turn, ripping it away as an immediate response to the unwelcome touch. An apologetic look replaces Kaylee’s smile and she leans in to scream to me over the loud music.

“Let’s leave. I think we’ve both had enough of this place for one lifetime.”

I nod and grab her hand. Snaking through the crowd toward the front door, we do our best not to stop until we reach it, but fall about fifteen feet short. There in front of us, is Russ, this time not getting away with being a prick. He’s yelling at a man twice his size that he can flirt with whatever hoes he wants to . The bouncer rushes to separate the argument, and probably even save his life. Not that he deserves it. What he lacks in couth, he makes up for in luck. I let out a buzzed giggle, imagining if Kaylee had hit him the day he pissed her off. Not a moment later, he’s being taken out of the building and Kaylee and I do everything in our power not to be seen by him. Luckily, he heads in the opposite direction on wobbly legs, making a phone call to who I can only assume is his mom.

We scurry as fast as we can to the right and make our way toward The Westmore.

“Okay, I’m not gonna lie, I’m glad we weren’t any prick’s target tonight in that bar. I think I’ve had maybe a little too much alcohol, a little too fast, to deal with someone as disrespectful as him.” Kaylee releases a huff and continues, “I could use a tall glass of water, and for once, I just mean that.” A hiccup makes its way out of her mouth, followed by a drunken giggle.

“I agree, on both parts, but specifically the water and maybe a seat,” I add, considering how wobbly my legs feel—probably from all the dancing, not necessarily the buzz I currently have. “When I moved here, I thought it was nearly impossible to see the same person twice. I hope that was the last time we see that loser.”

“Hah, yeah, most of the time that’s true, but we keep running into Rhett too. I’m surprised he wasn’t mixed in with the Opeachies crowd. Seems like his kind of people.” She scoffs. “But then again, that doesn’t seem like his friend’s type of people, so maybe he picked where they landed tonight.”

We continue down the street, the warm, inviting glow of The Westmore looming before us with its red velvet curtains and beautiful guitar pillars.

Stopping short of the entrance Kaylee turns to me. “I’m going to go to the restroom, the other bar’s was filled to the brim with people, and it was honestly rather disgusting, so I was going to just hold it. Get us a spot on Nancy’s side of the bar. Might as well enjoy the company of at least one person tonight.” Another drunken giggle makes its way out.

I nod. “I’m going to call my mom real quick, then I’ll meet you at the bar.”

She nods back, making her way through the front entrance of The Westmore.

Dialing Moms number, I realize the time and decide against waking her up. I shoot her a quick text to let her know I’m okay, but I just wanted to check in with her, because, well, I miss her.

She responds right away with an, “I Love you. Have fun.” With a smile, I make my way through the doors into a thick crowd and take the long way around to the bar.