Unlucky in Love by Maggie McGinnis Read Free Book Online Page B

down to look at the shelf under the washcloths. “And books for reading
in
that bathtub!”
    “You
are
in your own personal little Heaven, aren’t you?” Katie laughed, then sobered. “What do you mean, Tristan’s going to have to go out there? Alexis?”
    Lexi cringed. Oops. “Nothing. Slip of the tongue.”
    “Lex, this summer’s not supposed to be about him. It’s supposed to be about
you
.”
    “I know, I know.”
    Katie growled, clearly not believing her, but thankfully, she didn’t push, so Lexi barreled on with her description of the cabin. She walked back out into the bedroom, loving how the evening light slanted over the shiny wood of the dresser and the rocker under the window.
    “There’s a rocking chair by the window, and it has a little table that’s the perfect size for a teacup. I could sit here for hours, every night, just reading.”
    Katie paused. “But…you’re not going to, right?”
    “Why wouldn’t I? It’s perfect.” Lexi stopped. “I mean, no. Absolutely not. Because that would be boring and sedate and exactly the kind of thing that sends men running.”
    “Exactly. You’re in a beehive of a ranch, with a whole bunch of single people who want to have a good time. It’s the perfect place to
not
be the old you.”
    “I know. You’re right.”
    Katie paused. “And just so we’re clear, I
like
the old you just fine. I’m just trying to be supportive here. You’re the one who wanted to shake things up and try on a different person for the summer.”
    “Says the girl who filled out the traveling nurse application for me?”
    “Well, you just needed a little push. I was facilitating.” Katie laughed, and Lexi could picture her shrugging innocently as she painted her nails some shade of fuchsia while she held her phone to her ear with her shoulder. “And given that you’ve already met hot cowboys, I think we’re going to have to agree that I was right to do so.”
    “Are you ever
not
right?”
    “Um—”
    “I know.” Lexi closed her eyes. “You were right about Tristan.”
    “I didn’t want to be, if that gives me any points.”
    “I know. I do.” She yawned.
    Katie laughed. “Okay, cowgirl. You sound exhausted. Go get some beauty sleep, but in the morning, don’t you dare put your hair up in a ponytail. Embrace the power of your blow-dryer.”
    “Yes, ma’am. Any other instructions?”
    “Yeah.” Katie giggled. “Embrace that hot cowboy.”

Chapter 5
    The next morning, after a tour of the spa and the empty space next to it that she’d be turning into a little medical office, Lexi was already starting to understand why no one ever wanted to leave Whisper Creek Ranch once they’d arrived. Everyone had been super friendly at breakfast, and she’d had to practically kick herself to stop pausing in the middle of pathways to gape at the mountains in the distance. So far, she hadn’t found one single spot on this ranch that didn’t have a postcard-perfect view.
    She stepped into the stable, finding it quieter than she’d expected. The stalls were all empty as she passed by, but she checked out the names of the horses as she walked down the center of the stable. Sky Dancer, Scooby, and Gumdrop were on the left, while Rocket, Vader, and Solo were on the right, and she felt herself smiling at the names. Someone here had a sense of humor.
    The stalls were all neatly swept, and a fresh breeze circulated from one end to the other through the huge doors. Lexi found herself breathing deeply, loving the mixed scent of hay and leather and horse, and it brought her back to the one summer she’d gone to horse camp.
    She wrinkled her nose, remembering how she’d been too scared to get on a horse all week, even though half of the horses at the camp were elderly ones who could barely be counted on to stay on their feet, let alone do something wild and crazy like dump a kid off.
    She’d pretended to be happy doing arts and crafts and swimming, but as she’d watched