She’d been raised with brothers, with her father. She knew that men were motivated by sex, and that they often had it indiscriminately, that they went to great lengths to get it, even. She understood that with a kind of detached certainty.

But there was a whole language here being spoken between Gabe and this woman. And suddenly, those feminine accoutrements that Jamie had always thought unnecessary seemed like an essential part of speaking in this language. Communicating in this nonverbal way that Jamie didn’t understand.

She had never once in all her life envied another woman.

She had always felt like she’d chosen to be what she was.

Like the fact she was plain, the fact that she didn’t wear makeup or pay attention to clothing, was a choice she made. A skin she could shed at any moment if it ever grew too tight.

But it was too tight now, and she couldn’t breathe. And she couldn’t change, either.

She didn’t know how. And she felt like she was drowning in that fact.

Like there was a piece of herself that was missing.

Not makeup. But this innate understanding. This sense of being a woman.

McKenna had been half-feral when she’d come to the ranch, and even she seemed to understand it. Bea was very light, delicate and tough all at once, petite and with bouncy curls that drew the attention of any man in the vicinity.

And then there was the...this...this sex bomb that was detonating across from Gabe right now.

She had always written these things off as silly, frivolous.

And now she just felt like they all knew something that she didn’t. That she couldn’t even hope to understand. And worst of all, she felt envious.

Envious of the way those too-blue eyes looked at the blonde. At the way his hand moved over her hip.

She felt like an ache had opened up inside her, and it had nothing to do with the bruise she had sustained earlier. Nothing at all.

But that bruise hurt. That bruise right on her hip, right where he’d touched her earlier.

Where he was touching this other woman now.

Gabe moved, his head turning toward Jamie, and his eyes clashed with hers. His dark brows lifted upward.

Jamie looked away quickly, and saw that McKenna and Beatrix were looking at her intently.

“What?” She nearly growled.

“We lost you for a second there,” Bea said softly.

“I just...”

“You saw Gabe?” McKenna asked, her tone knowing. And right now the knowing was about to send her over the edge.

“Yes,” she responded through gritted teeth. “I didn’t realize he’d be here. Kind of a buzzkill to see your boss when you’re trying to hang out and have a good time.”

“Yeah,” McKenna said, her expression strangely tender.

“I told you,” Jamie said, feeling itchy.

“What did you tell us?” McKenna asked.

“About Gabe. About the fact that he’s just like every other rodeo cowboy. She couldn’t be more of a buckle bunny if she tried.”