When I got close, the mustang bucked.

“Stop,” she said calmly. She said something else to the horse.

“I brought you some treats for him.” I showed her an apple and a carrot. The mustang reared again as I took a step forward. So I tossed her the apple instead.

The woman was fearless. She held out her hand, palm up, with the apple there. That horse could bite her, but she acted like a seasoned pro when the horse bit the apple and not her.

Then there was a crack from above. I hadn’t noticed the storm clouds. The sound, however, was enough to send the mustang scurrying away.

She glanced between the horse and the truck. “I’ll get the groceries,” I said.

The rain started as a sprinkle. By the time I got the last bags in, I was soaked, as was Sunshine, who’d let the horse go to help me.

“I’ll get us some towels,” she said.

“You are a little wet,” I teased until I caught the unintentional double meaning.

She laughed and seemed to miss that, for which I was grateful. “Maybe just a little.” Her eyes said something different, like she’d gotten both messages loud and clear. She turned away before I could see if I was misreading her.

Dad came around the corner. “I’m going to warn you like I warned Nate. Leave Sunshine alone. I want her to stay, and I don’t want you boys scaring her off.”

“Nate’s into Avery,” I said, dryly.

“Yeah, but the warning remains.”

“I have been meaning to speak to you about Sunshine.”

SIXTEEN

Sunshine

It had been a few days since I’d seen the mustang. Every day, whenever I’d had a free moment, I’d sat on the porch waiting, just as I did now, but nothing as I stewed over Shaina’s advice. She suggested I stay and not leave the ranch.

The truck pulled into the drive. It was Mitchell and the truck bed was full. Surprised, I walked over to him. He stood there with his arms across his chest. “What’d you do?” I asked.

“I bought some grass hay for your horse.”

I could have kissed him, but I stopped myself. “Why?”

“It’s only neighborly to offer food and drink to all our guests.”

I poked his chest. “You are a good man.” Just like his dad had said.

“Maybe I did it to impress you.”

I couldn’t hold back a toothy grin. “Maybe you did it because that’s who you are.” I lifted on my toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. As I shifted back to my feet, his hands caught me around the waist.

“Just a little to the left,” he teased.

“I don’t kiss my boss.”

“We don’t have to tell anyone.”

“We’d know.”

Reluctantly, I stepped out of his hold. We met at the back of the truck, and I helped him move bales of hay to the barn. We left a couple out near the barn and filled a trough with water.

“That should do it,” he said.

I’d forgotten that he’d grown up on a ranch. Since there weren’t any animals here now, and with the way he’d showed up in a suit, it was hard to imagine him as a cowboy.

“Thank you,” I said.

“You don’t have to thank me.”

“I should probably go inside. Zoe will want lunch soon. And don’t forget I’m going out tonight.”

He dipped his head and kicked at the dirt. “I haven’t forgotten.”

“It’s for the best,” I said and went back into the house.

I found Zoe with her grandfather. He had an album of pictures between them. “This is your grandmother,” he was saying as I walked past.

It had been some time since I’d felt like I was home. I felt it here. It was the main reason I couldn’t mess up and fool around with Mitchell. If things didn’t work out, it would be super awkward.

Hours later, I stood in my room and looked at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t sure I was dressed right for a night out. Everything I owned was practical, except this green top my former roommate had urged me to buy. It had been on clearance. I hadn’t had an occasion to wear it until now. It was a little tight in the bust area for me, but I had a feeling Shaina would approve.

I heard the knock on the door downstairs. Shaina was here. I grabbed my phone and went downstairs.

Mitchell and Zoe stood with Shaina. Zoe was peppering her with questions. “Where are you and Sunshine going?” Zoe asked.

“To Pony Up,” Shaina said.

Zoe looked like she was in awe. “You’re going to ride ponies?”

“No, sweetie. It’s a bar.”

Zoe didn’t look surprised. “Mom and Aunt Avery used to go to bars sometimes. I miss them.”

Mitchell picked up his daughter. “I heard that Aunt Avery might come back soon.”

“Really?”

“Great news,” I said, stroking a hand down her hair.

“Have fun tonight,” Zoe said.

I gave her and Mitchell a little wave and followed Shaina out. When I glanced at Shaina, she was looking in Mitchell’s direction. “What?” she asked when she caught me looking.

Tags: Terri E. Laine Romance
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