“Damn it, Miranda.” Craig’s words had a harder edge now. “You’re my fiancée and you should be here with me.”
Miranda let out a harsh laugh. “I haven’t been your fiancée for nearly a year, so don’t even go there. Let me make this clear. We are finished and I don’t want you to call me again.”
“Please, Miranda.” Now he’d turned to begging. “Don’t do this. I need you.”
“No.” She gripped her phone tighter. “Do not call me again.” She softened her tone. “Take care, Craig.”
She disconnected the call and completely shut down her phone. If he called her a hundred times, she wouldn’t even feel the phone vibrate. She needed the break from technology anyway.
The Superstitions rose up from their isolated location in the valley. A beautiful monument to nature.
Hiking was a real good idea. She didn’t have any clients for the rest of the afternoon and she needed to get away.
Her thoughts turned from her frustration with Craig to meeting Justin McLeod. Holy hell, she’d never wanted anyone like she wanted him. The feelings had come out of nowhere and she had no idea how to deal with them. And on top of it, he’d asked her out. At least she’d managed to shut him down.
But she hadn’t wanted to. She’d wanted to say “Yes” in the worst way.
She closed her eyes for a moment. It had been way too long since she’d had a healthy relationship. She’d been with Craig for a long time, and before he became an addict, it had been a good relationship. But they’d both changed, unfortunately Craig for the worst. She would never allow herself to be in that position again.
Miranda headed for her temporary home. It was a nice mobile home, but she wanted her own house as soon as possible. One that didn’t have wheels and that she could settle in permanently.
She glanced at the spot where ground would be broken in the next week. It would take several months for her home to be complete, but it would be worth the wait. She loved the floorplan and it would be in the perfect spot for her permanent new home.
Time to take a break and head for the hills.
Chapter 3
It didn’t take long for Miranda to change into comfy worn jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and sturdy walking shoes. It was warm in the valley, but it would be cool once she got into the mountains. She packed a lunch and stuffed it, her jacket, a small purse, and her phone into a backpack. She grabbed her keys and headed out the door to her bright orange jeep. She brought her phone for emergency’s sake but kept the power off.
The twenty-minute drive went by quickly as she sang to one of her favorite soundtracks that played over the expensive stereo speakers she’d insisted on. She loved good music and hearing it via quality speakers. Her mood improved drastically on the drive.
Peace. Quiet. Alone time.
She parked at the head of a popular trail for those on horseback as well as those on foot. Sometimes she brought Star or Socks, but today she needed the physical workout of walking on her own two feet. Since it was Tuesday, she didn’t have to worry about weekend warriors, and should have a peaceful walk.
It was a moderate trail, so she got a good workout without feeling like she was dying. The spring sunlight flickered through the tree cover, causing shadows to dance on the trail. Her long-sleeved T-shirt barely kept the cool air from chilling her too much, but the workout from her hike did help warm her. She didn’t meet anyone on the trail, which made the feeling of being alone in nature even better. She kept hydrated with bottled water that she’d stuck in the outside holder on her backpack.
The end of the trail broke through the tree cover, and she stood on a rock in the sunshine. She smiled as she looked at the valley from her perch. In the distance, she could make out ranches and homes, but it was all far enough away that she felt at peace and alone. She thought she might even see where she lived but wasn’t sure.
Miranda plopped down on a good-sized rock and slung her backpack off her shoulders and settled it on the ground between her feet. She pushed her sleeves up to her elbows then dug out her lunch. She munched on a ham, cheese, and pickle sandwich, and homemade sweet potato chips, followed by homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Even the bread was freshly made—she loved making her own.
On the hike, she’d managed to push all thoughts of men from her mind. They were nothing but trouble, and she didn’t need one in her life. She was a long way off from having a relationship with any man.
Who needs men, anyway?
Unfortunately, she had a terrible time trying to get a certain cowboy off her mind.
The clip-clop of approaching horse hooves cut through the silence. She sighed. So much for being out alone in nature. She did love horses, though, and she always enjoyed meeting them.
The sound came from the opposite side of the trail, which puzzled her. She’d never encountered anyone off the trail. She looked down the slope and saw the top of a cowboy hat, and flashes of a black horse coming closer. The horse’s powerful muscles bunched as it eased up the rise.
Miranda remained relaxed on her seat on the rock, her hands braced to either side of her, the sun warm on her face. She smiled at the sight of the magnificent beast as it climbed onto the trail as easily as if it was on an easy stroll.
The cowboy on the horse’s back caught her attention after the horse. She couldn’t see his face due to his straw western hat, but something about him seemed familiar—which was surprising since she didn’t know many men around here.
He brought the horse to a stop and pushed his hat brim up with one finger.
Justin McLeod.
Her face grew warm as his lips curved into a deadly sexy grin and he eyed her like he’d just found a gift in front of him.
“Well, hello, Miranda.” Justin’s voice was enough to send a second flush in her cheeks. “Fancy meeting you up here.”
She swallowed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you followed me.”
He gave a low chuckle. “What would you say if I did?”
She pushed herself so that she was sitting straighter. “That I’m not into stalkers.”
Justin laughed, louder this time. “And I’m not into stalking. Glad we got that out of the way.”
She couldn’t help a smile at the sound of his laughter.
He swung off his horse, lightly landing on his booted feet a few steps in front of her. His powerful presence filled the space around them. “Do you hike here often?”
“I hike different trails.” She shrugged. “It’s nice to get away from civilization. Peace, quiet, and no people.”
He grinned. “Except for me.”
She gave a dramatic sigh. “Yep.”
He settled on a large rock a few feet from her and looked out upon the valley. “Beautiful view from here.”
She nodded. “I love it. There’s nothing like this where I lived in Texas.”
“I grew up here.” Justin’s gaze remained fixed on the view, and she couldn’t help but stare at his handsome profile. “I can’t imagine ever leaving this country. It’s a part of me.”
“I think I understand.” Miranda tipped her head to the side. “I’ve grown to love it in the short time I’ve lived here.”
He turned to face her. “When did you buy that piece of property from Maxine? Can’t have been too long. I was out by Maxine’s maybe three months ago.”
“Just over six weeks.” Miranda swung her legs. The rock she sat on was high enough her feet didn’t touch the ground. “I had a barn built as soon as I moved onto the property for the horses. The construction country is breaking ground in a few days for my home.”
“You move fast,” he said.
She nodded. “When I make up my mind, watch out.”
The corner of his mouth turned up into a grin. “I’ll do just that.”
A flush stole over her at the look in his intense gaze. He’d said it in a way that made her offhand comment have more meaning. Like she’d meant when she made up her mind about him.
As if she hadn’t already.
She brushed aside the feelings he stirred inside her, of wanting to be close to him. Wanting to get to know him better.
“What are you doing up here?” she asked.
“I let Thunder have his head and he decided to come up here,” Justin said.
“Do you do that often?” She looked at Thunder. He was a gorgeous stallion, perfectly proportioned and powerfully built. “Let your horse pick where you’re going to go?”
He shrugged. “Every now and then, when I can tell he’s feeling restless. Going for a ride isn’t always enough for him. He likes adventure. Kinda like his owner.”
She studied Justin now. “What kind of adventure do you like?”
He shifted on the rock. “I like to travel, go whitewater rafting, and camping.”
Miranda brought her feet onto her rock and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Where do you like to travel.”
“Hell, anywhere.” He smiled. “I’ve been all over Mexico and South America. I’d like to travel to Europe next. Always wanted to spend time in Spain and Italy.”
“I take it you’re fluent in Spanish?” she asked. “Living so close to Mexico and with all of your traveling in the South?”
He nodded. “Grew up with a lot of Spanish-speaking friends, took Spanish courses in college, and immersed myself in the language in my travels. How about you?”
“It was part of my degree program,” she said to Justin in Spanish. “It helps me with my Hispanic clients, too.”
Justin had the kind of smile that made her insides tingle. He responded in the same language. “I can take you parasailing in Mexico. You’d like it.”
She laughed and switched back to English. “Sailing yes, parasailing, no.”
He flashed her a grin. “So that’s a yes to going sailing with me?”
“What?” She shook her head as she realized what she’d said. “No. I mean I just meant that I’d sail, but not parasail.”
“Wasn’t how it sounded to me.” He was still grinning.
“Well, it wasn’t what I meant.” She needed to take control of the conversation and change the subject. “Where do you raft?”
“Mostly Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Upper Salt River Canyon, and the Verde River.” He took off his western hat and pushed his fingers through his hair. “I’m ready to go again. Been a spell since the last time.”
“I’ve never been.” She hugged her knees to her chest. “Whitewater rafting sounds exciting and terrifying all at the same time.”
“It’s a high like you’ve never felt before.” Justin had a gleam in his eyes. “Raw, wild…you and Mother Nature. Can’t beat it.” He held her gaze. “I’ll take you sometime.”
She held up her hands. “I’m not so sure about that.”
He grinned. “Me or the whitewater rafting?”
“Both.” The answer came out faster than her thoughts could keep up. “Well, definitely not you. We’ve talked about that already. Whitewater rafting is an altogether different subject.”
“Is it?” He raised a brow. “I’m kinda thinking you’d enjoy a weekend up in the Grand Canyon with me.”
“Think again.” She gave her best scoffing tone as she replied. “Not on your life.”
“Why not?” He looked genuinely interested. “Other than the parent of a client thing.”
“Like that’s not enough?” She shook her head. “Your reputation proceeds you around town.”
He smirked. “So, you’ve been talking about me.”
Her cheeks burned. “No. Just heard about you.”
“I don’t suppose you’re hearing things from Jennifer White?” he said.
The heat in her face didn’t let up. “What if it was.”
He shook his head, but still smiled. “I broke up with her a few months ago thanks to her activities when she wasn’t around me. She’s been spreading around rumors ever since. I didn’t realize she was the vindictive type until I told her I wanted to end it. It’s been interesting just how far she’ll go.”
Miranda thought about it. Jennifer had seemed a little vindictive. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so fast to judge Justin. She usually didn’t pay attention to rumors, but she’d heard about Justin more than once.
“Then there’s Nancy the hairdresser,” Miranda counted on her fingers. “And Katie, who owns the fudge shop.”
Justin suddenly looked chagrinned. “I might deserve the comments from Katie, but not Nancy. She just didn’t want to let go.”
“Is that because you play the field?” Miranda asked.
He shook his head and looked a little more serious. “They just weren’t the right women for me. We dated and it didn’t work out, and that’s that. You don’t expect me to stay with a woman when I don’t think she’s the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, do you?”
“Fair question.” Miranda bit the inside of her lip. “No, I don’t suppose I do.”
“You don’t know if you don’t try.” His expression remained serious. “You have to step out and explore, and if it’s not right, you move onto the next thing that interests you. Or the next person. It’s just the way things work.”
She slowly nodded. “I guess you’re right. I didn’t think of it that way.”
“Don’t be so quick to judge, Miranda.” He focused on her. “Find out for yourself if I’m as bad as they say.”
This time the heat was in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to find out so badly she could taste it. “I told you, I don’t date parents of clients.”
“It’s not like you’re seeing a client, which I could see as a problem,” he said.
“What if things didn’t work out between us?” Miranda cocked her head. “What about my sessions with Kaycee? We have to think of her, first.”
Justin moved so that his boots were planted on the ground and he leaned forward, his arms on his thighs as he held her gaze. “I always think about Kaycee. I can promise you this, if things didn’t work out between us, we could just be friends. I have no problem with that. Do you?”
“No, I wouldn’t.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, if I did make an exception to my policy.”
“I have a good feeling about you, Miranda. You’re sexy, intelligent, down-to-earth, and caring.” He maintained his focus. “I’ve learned a lot over my past relationships, and I don’t think you’re the gossipy, rumoring type, and definitely not vindictive.
“I’m not,” she said quietly. “But I’m the cautious type. I’ve had bad experiences, and I don’t take dating lightly.”
Truth was she didn’t have a lot of experience with other men since she’d been with Craig off and on since she was young, until he proposed to her when she graduated college. Her ex-fiancé was her only truly bad experience, but it had been bad enough. It was true, however, that she didn’t take dating lightly.
“I used to.” The honesty in his words was endearing in a way. “But I’m older now. Wiser I hope, too. I’m ready for the real thing, and you don’t know if you don’t try.”
She looked down at her hands before looking back at him. “I’m coming off a bad experience, Justin. It’s been almost six months, but it’s not something that you can get over easily.” She should probably tell him about the final divorce document she was waiting for, but she couldn’t get herself to talk about the whole thing.
“Do you want to tell me about it?” Justin asked, surprising her.
“No.” She met his gaze again. “I just want you to know.”
He gave a slow nod. “Why don’t we find out. If it doesn’t work out, no harm. We’ll consider ourselves friends, okay?”
She took a deep breath as she considered his words.
“Why don’t we go into Scottsdale, to a nice Italian restaurant I know? We’ll be away from the gossipy small town we know affectionately as King Creek.” He smiled. “A night out, where we get a chance to know each other better.”
Her nerve endings started to tingle as she seriously considered
his invitation. Her mouth kept running away before she thoroughly thought out her response. “All right.” She nodded slowly. “But if either one of us decides to stick to friends, we’re good with that.” What could it hurt to dip her toe in the water?
“Yes.” He gave her another sexy grin. “I have a feeling it won’t be a problem. We’ll have fun finding out though.”
She responded to his smile with one of her own. “I think it just might be fun, too.”
“Thursday night?” he asked. “After dinner we could do the artwalk, which is Thursday nights in Old Town Scottsdale.”
“Yes.” The tingling in her body traveled from head to toe. “I’d like that. What’s the dress?”
“Nice casual.” He straightened.
She took a deep breath to tell him about her divorce, but he said, “Are you ready to head back to your vehicle? I can give you a ride on Thunder.”
“I’d like that.” She slid off the rock and got to her feet and slung her backpack onto her shoulders. “He’s a magnificent animal.” Talking about Thunder seemed safer than talking about anything else right now.
“He is.” Justin patted the side of the horse’s neck before he swung up into the saddle. He reached his arm out to her. “Come on up.”
With his help, she mounted the horse and settled into the saddle behind him. The feeling was far more intimate than she’d considered.
She swallowed, then looked down. “It’s a lot farther from the ground than it is with Star and Socks,” she said.
He laughed. “Thunder is seventeen hands, so he’s a good sight taller than your mares.”
“They’re closer to fifteen hands, so yeah, that’s a bit of a difference.” She didn’t know what to hold onto—the saddle or Justin. Wrapping her arms around his waist seemed a bit much and might look like she was too interested in him.
“Hold onto me,” he said, breaking into her thoughts.
“Okay.” She slid her arms around his waist.
Oh, my God was his body solid and muscular. He felt so warm that her long-sleeved T-shirt seemed almost hot despite the chill in the air. And his scent—he smelled incredible. She wanted to bury her face against his jacket and keep breathing him in.
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