and Sarah shook her head sadly. “I wish. Lucy implied this isn’t a good time to visit after all. Honestly, I’d rather turn around and go home than stay where I’m not wanted.”
Tony narrowed his eyes and said, “Long drive back.”
“No kidding.” Deciding to make the best of it, Sarah shrugged and said, “It won’t be that bad if I can get rooms in the places I stayed on the way down. At least it’s not a straight drive home.”
“You must be disappointed.”
“That’s an understatement.”
He lifted and settled his hat on his head, pondering something as he did. “Your horse could use a rest before traveling again.”
Sarah shook her head. Did I hear that right? Her pulse sped up. “What are you suggesting?”
“No reason why you can’t stay another night while you figure it out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Just don’t do anything that would get a person asked to leave.”
I have no idea what that means, but not heading home right away is tempting. Okay, quick review of pros and cons. Con: I don’t know this man and he might expect me to pay for room and board with sexual favors. Sarah inhaled a shaky breath, closed her eyes and admitted to herself: That particular circumstance could also qualify as a pro. She opened her eyes again and found him glaring at her. Much more likely con: I make a complete idiot out of myself over a man who is simply inviting me to stay here because he feels bad for me. On the other hand, one pro that cannot be denied is that I won’t have to end this adventure before it has a chance to even begin. I won’t have to go home and explain to my parents and my brother that they were right and that the trip was a waste of time. I could stay right here and at least outline the story that is coming to life in my head.
Con: Melanie.
“It won’t be an issue for anyone?”
“I said it wouldn’t.” And that’s all that matters, his tone implied.
Straightening her shoulders, Sarah gave herself a pep talk. I’m not going to let a grumpy housekeeper ruin the fact that I’m in freakin’ Texas on a horse ranch with a gorgeous man who is asking me to stay. “Okay, I’ll do you . . . I mean, it. I mean, I’ll do it and stay here with you. On the ranch. In the spare room. Like last night.” A flush of embarrassment heated her cheeks.
The corners of his eyes crinkled ever so slightly. He’s laughing at me again.
Hands on hip, Sarah said, “It’s not nice to laugh at people.”
His expression darkened and his tone held both a warning and a tinge of regret. “I’m not a nice man.”
She stepped off the porch to stand in front of him. He was a good foot or so taller than her, so she had to tip her head back a bit to see his face. Standing so close, she searched his face and was moved by a pain she sensed within him. In those freakin’ save-me sad eyes.
Like animals, injured people could be dangerous. She’d seen her parents’ marriage take a dark turn after the death of her youngest brother. Something that should have brought people together—loss—had turned her happy family temporarily against each other in a way they had never fully healed from. There had been a time when she and her family had been close, but that was a different life, when they were different people.
Something awful had happened to the man who stood before her. She’d bet her life on it. And whatever it was, he hadn’t healed from it either. Beyond any attraction she joked about in her mind, this connection to him touched her heart, overshadowing any self-consciousness she felt or second thoughts about her decision.
Sarah reached out, took his hand in hers, and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She smiled up at him sympathetically and said, “I don’t believe that.”
He looked down at their hands and met her eyes with that guarded expression she was getting accustomed to. Just when she thought he was about to pull away, his hand shifted and his fingers laced with hers.
They stood
Tony narrowed his eyes and said, “Long drive back.”
“No kidding.” Deciding to make the best of it, Sarah shrugged and said, “It won’t be that bad if I can get rooms in the places I stayed on the way down. At least it’s not a straight drive home.”
“You must be disappointed.”
“That’s an understatement.”
He lifted and settled his hat on his head, pondering something as he did. “Your horse could use a rest before traveling again.”
Sarah shook her head. Did I hear that right? Her pulse sped up. “What are you suggesting?”
“No reason why you can’t stay another night while you figure it out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Just don’t do anything that would get a person asked to leave.”
I have no idea what that means, but not heading home right away is tempting. Okay, quick review of pros and cons. Con: I don’t know this man and he might expect me to pay for room and board with sexual favors. Sarah inhaled a shaky breath, closed her eyes and admitted to herself: That particular circumstance could also qualify as a pro. She opened her eyes again and found him glaring at her. Much more likely con: I make a complete idiot out of myself over a man who is simply inviting me to stay here because he feels bad for me. On the other hand, one pro that cannot be denied is that I won’t have to end this adventure before it has a chance to even begin. I won’t have to go home and explain to my parents and my brother that they were right and that the trip was a waste of time. I could stay right here and at least outline the story that is coming to life in my head.
Con: Melanie.
“It won’t be an issue for anyone?”
“I said it wouldn’t.” And that’s all that matters, his tone implied.
Straightening her shoulders, Sarah gave herself a pep talk. I’m not going to let a grumpy housekeeper ruin the fact that I’m in freakin’ Texas on a horse ranch with a gorgeous man who is asking me to stay. “Okay, I’ll do you . . . I mean, it. I mean, I’ll do it and stay here with you. On the ranch. In the spare room. Like last night.” A flush of embarrassment heated her cheeks.
The corners of his eyes crinkled ever so slightly. He’s laughing at me again.
Hands on hip, Sarah said, “It’s not nice to laugh at people.”
His expression darkened and his tone held both a warning and a tinge of regret. “I’m not a nice man.”
She stepped off the porch to stand in front of him. He was a good foot or so taller than her, so she had to tip her head back a bit to see his face. Standing so close, she searched his face and was moved by a pain she sensed within him. In those freakin’ save-me sad eyes.
Like animals, injured people could be dangerous. She’d seen her parents’ marriage take a dark turn after the death of her youngest brother. Something that should have brought people together—loss—had turned her happy family temporarily against each other in a way they had never fully healed from. There had been a time when she and her family had been close, but that was a different life, when they were different people.
Something awful had happened to the man who stood before her. She’d bet her life on it. And whatever it was, he hadn’t healed from it either. Beyond any attraction she joked about in her mind, this connection to him touched her heart, overshadowing any self-consciousness she felt or second thoughts about her decision.
Sarah reached out, took his hand in hers, and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She smiled up at him sympathetically and said, “I don’t believe that.”
He looked down at their hands and met her eyes with that guarded expression she was getting accustomed to. Just when she thought he was about to pull away, his hand shifted and his fingers laced with hers.
They stood
Similar Books
