Most Eligible Cowboy (Peach Valley Romance Book 1) by Carly Morgan Page A
Authors: Carly Morgan
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for to long. You must be exhausted.” He took their plates and glasses to the kitchen sink, rinsed them off, and placed them in the dishwasher. Maya couldn’t help but think he looked good in her kitchen. “I should get going. I have an early morning ahead of me.” He smiled. “Is there anything else I can do for you before I go?”
Maya returned his smile. “No, I can manage. But thanks for hanging out with me.” She didn’t say that it was still difficult to sleep alone, even after all these months, and that she hoped one day the lonely feelings would do away.
“All right.” He’d removed his hat at some point during the night and Maya had admired his short blond curls. She didn’t even mind his hat ring. It only added to his handsomeness, she thought. “Thank you for showing me your incredible pictures. I see why your aunt asked you to come.” He placed his hat on his head and tilted it at her. “Goodnight, Miss Vance.”
“Night.” She went over and locked the door once he’d gone, leaning against the door for a second. She appreciated she hadn’t thought about her ex once. That surprised and frightened her. And it was those thoughts that she fell asleep to.
6
M aya and her aunt Patty went to church that Sunday. They arrived early so that Patty could introduce Maya to Reverend Jenkins. He was a middle-aged man with thinning brown hair that was graying at the edges. If aunt Patty hadn’t introduced him as the reverend, Maya wouldn’t have guessed. He was unassuming in his dark gray pants, gray boots, and a light green shirt unbuttoned at the collar. With one hand he held a Holy Bible to his chest and shook hands with the other.
Maya liked him immediately.
His sermon was on the verse in Matthew, chapter five, verse forty-four, which talked about loving our enemies, and praying for those that persecute. Maya couldn’t help but think of her ex and how much she hated him. She wanted to stop feeling that way, to forgive him, but each time she tried it was like she saw red. The memories caused her pulse to race until she felt feverish.
In his sermon, he mentioned several ways the congregation could have a change of heart. The first was to pray and ask for God’s help. Another was to visit those who’d done wrong and talk with them, thus finding some kind of closure. He also suggested that they serve their fellowman. Maya found that interesting, and that was the concept she clung to. Maybe if she lost herself in others she wouldn’t see Quin and Violet’s faces anymore. She wouldn’t hear their voices as they told her about the bet, and she wouldn’t feel like such a fool.
The rest of the reverend’s sermon faded into the background as Maya pondered ways she could serve. It was more difficult than it sounded since she was new to the area. One idea that came to mind was taking a Bale family photo. She didn’t know how she’d ask or bring it up, but if it was possible, she wanted to do that for them. More than that, she didn’t know. So she resolved to put herself out there, and get to know the people of Peach Valley.
After church, she stood, eager to start befriending people, but her eyes immediately singled out Jackson from the crowd. She had been about to smile until she saw the woman sitting beside him. He’d brought a date to church. The woman was lovely with full lips and bouncy red hair that curled and pooled against her shoulders. The woman even had a slight smattering of freckles. The look on her face was like that of a cat that swallowed the canary. She sat up straight, her chin tilted upward and a smug smile on her face. One of her hands was wrapped around Jackson’s arm, her long, red fingernails a stark contrast to his white shirt.
Maya looked away before the woman or Jackson saw her. Aunt Patty hadn’t noticed her apprehension and went about introducing Maya to more people. Maya exerted all of her effort to be kind and cordial to everyone. When her aunt asked what was
Maya returned his smile. “No, I can manage. But thanks for hanging out with me.” She didn’t say that it was still difficult to sleep alone, even after all these months, and that she hoped one day the lonely feelings would do away.
“All right.” He’d removed his hat at some point during the night and Maya had admired his short blond curls. She didn’t even mind his hat ring. It only added to his handsomeness, she thought. “Thank you for showing me your incredible pictures. I see why your aunt asked you to come.” He placed his hat on his head and tilted it at her. “Goodnight, Miss Vance.”
“Night.” She went over and locked the door once he’d gone, leaning against the door for a second. She appreciated she hadn’t thought about her ex once. That surprised and frightened her. And it was those thoughts that she fell asleep to.
6
M aya and her aunt Patty went to church that Sunday. They arrived early so that Patty could introduce Maya to Reverend Jenkins. He was a middle-aged man with thinning brown hair that was graying at the edges. If aunt Patty hadn’t introduced him as the reverend, Maya wouldn’t have guessed. He was unassuming in his dark gray pants, gray boots, and a light green shirt unbuttoned at the collar. With one hand he held a Holy Bible to his chest and shook hands with the other.
Maya liked him immediately.
His sermon was on the verse in Matthew, chapter five, verse forty-four, which talked about loving our enemies, and praying for those that persecute. Maya couldn’t help but think of her ex and how much she hated him. She wanted to stop feeling that way, to forgive him, but each time she tried it was like she saw red. The memories caused her pulse to race until she felt feverish.
In his sermon, he mentioned several ways the congregation could have a change of heart. The first was to pray and ask for God’s help. Another was to visit those who’d done wrong and talk with them, thus finding some kind of closure. He also suggested that they serve their fellowman. Maya found that interesting, and that was the concept she clung to. Maybe if she lost herself in others she wouldn’t see Quin and Violet’s faces anymore. She wouldn’t hear their voices as they told her about the bet, and she wouldn’t feel like such a fool.
The rest of the reverend’s sermon faded into the background as Maya pondered ways she could serve. It was more difficult than it sounded since she was new to the area. One idea that came to mind was taking a Bale family photo. She didn’t know how she’d ask or bring it up, but if it was possible, she wanted to do that for them. More than that, she didn’t know. So she resolved to put herself out there, and get to know the people of Peach Valley.
After church, she stood, eager to start befriending people, but her eyes immediately singled out Jackson from the crowd. She had been about to smile until she saw the woman sitting beside him. He’d brought a date to church. The woman was lovely with full lips and bouncy red hair that curled and pooled against her shoulders. The woman even had a slight smattering of freckles. The look on her face was like that of a cat that swallowed the canary. She sat up straight, her chin tilted upward and a smug smile on her face. One of her hands was wrapped around Jackson’s arm, her long, red fingernails a stark contrast to his white shirt.
Maya looked away before the woman or Jackson saw her. Aunt Patty hadn’t noticed her apprehension and went about introducing Maya to more people. Maya exerted all of her effort to be kind and cordial to everyone. When her aunt asked what was
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