“Go along, Bree, you haven’t seen your sister, or this sweet boy, in ages. I can get somethin’ in town.”
“Don’t you want to go?” She looked wounded.
Jace was glad to see Tucker walking back in the front door. He didn’t want witnesses to what was going on with Bree and him.
“Of course I do, but…you know.”
“Please, don’t avoid me, Jace.”
“Oh, darlin’,” he stroked the side of her face. “That’s the last thing I want to do. Please, don’t think that.”
“Then go to the Pattersons’ with us.” Her cheeks turned pink. “Listen to me, inviting you along. They know you so much better than they know me. Maybe I should head back to Palmer Lake instead.”
“Now, now, that’ll make me feel as though you’re avoiding me. You don’t want that, do you?”
He wanted so much to tug her closer to him, hold her tight, and never let her go.
Instead, he stood. “I bet Lyric’s comin’ tonight, with her brother. Have you met him yet?”
“Uh, yeah. He slept on our couch the other night. That was interesting.”
“Yeah? Hear tell there’s somethin’ about the cowboy women can’t resist. Don’t tell me he’s got you under his spell too.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped at him. “That’s just silly.”
“You know what they say when someone protests too much. I’m thinkin’ you got a crush goin’ on that young man.”
“Jace, you can’t be serious.”
She looked perplexed, and he loved it. Here goes, he thought. He was going to walk away, and then keep his distance. She knew how he felt. He hadn’t hidden it, but he was going to show her they could be together, with their families, and he wouldn’t stalk her. He’d give her space if that’s what she wanted. He prayed hard that Liv Rice was right, otherwise, he might be making the biggest mistake of his life.
“I gotta go talk to Billy. I’ll see you later, Bree.”
He didn’t wait for her to answer, he just walked away. Talk about interesting. He seemed fine.
He was so…easy-going. And relaxed. Why was he so relaxed? And that damn confident swagger of his. He knew how hot he looked, and he used it to his advantage. He was just the sexiest thing…oh, God, what was she doing? She was fantasizing about Jace Rice while she played in the yard with Cochran. Thank goodness he didn’t try to eat grass, or dirt, or worse—a bug. She hadn’t been paying any attention to her nephew. Every thought had been on his uncle.
“Come on, baby boy, let’s go find your mama before your Aunt Bree lets you wander off on your own.”
Bree walked around to the back of the house, hoping Jace was still in the front. Instead, she came around the corner, only to see Jace climbing into his truck. He waved at her before he started it and drove off in the direction of Patterson Ranch.
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to jump back out, walk over, and kiss the daylights out of Bree. Instead, Jace closed his eyes, said a little prayer, and started the truck. Maybe he should skip dinner tonight. Staying away from her, keeping his hands off her, was going to be near impossible.
For the next couple of hours, he had business to take care of, and he hoped to hell he could keep his mind where it belonged.
He was meeting with Billy in the Pattersons’ dining hall by the bunk house. Dottie and Bill were serving dinner to the cowboys who worked the ranch, and invited them to join in. He missed Dottie Patterson, not that he’d spent much time with her, but when he had, she always made him feel welcome, and boy, did she give good hugs. Jace was in need of a really good hug.
“Damn time you showed up,” Billy smirked at him. “Thought maybe you’d be babysittin’ all night.”
Jace slugged him. “As if you aren’t daddy of the year. Don’t give me any shit about wantin’ to hang out with Cochran.”
“Cochran, my ass. Tucker told me the two of you were with Bree. And you looked mighty smitten.”
“Change the subject, Billy. No kidding. The last person I want to be thinkin’ about right now is Bree.” He adjusted his jeans before he sat down on the bench, which only made Billy throw his head back and laugh.
Billy told him Ty Rinaldo, the guy who raised bucking bulls in a town just outside Monument, was joining them for dinner. Since Billy was pressing hard for his dad to bring more broncs to the ranch, and didn’t want to take on bulls too, with TZ Bucking Bulls so close, he thought they could partner instead.
“What about contracting to ranch rodeos?” Bullet asked when he joined their conversation.