She felt breathless.
She also felt the boys’ full attention on them. Morgan must have, too, because he broke for the door, snagging what was left of the volcano experiment on his way out. “I’ll toss this in the back of my truck and put it in the Dumpster. Unless you want to use it again.” He held it toward her with a half grin.
She smiled. “You might want to save it. That volcano will probably become part of Sunrise Ranch legend. It could be valuable someday.” When he chuckled, she said to the boys, “Clean up a little more, fellas. I’ll be right back.”
And she followed him outside.
Morgan tossed the volcano in the back of his truck and then turned to face her as a soft breeze sent wisps of hair splaying across her face. To her surprise Morgan lifted his hand and gently brushed them off her cheek. A wave of emotion made her heart race and suddenly she was thinking about kissing him...and wondering if he was thinking the same thing.
His eyes darkened as he caressed the strands of her hair between his fingers. Butterflies fluttered inside her chest—no one had ever made her feel the way Morgan did with just such a simple touch.
“I better go,” he said suddenly, letting go of her hair and reaching for the door handle. “Hold it down in there,” he added with a wink, then climbed into his truck and drove away.
Jolie didn’t move as she watched him go. She was unsure exactly what she was feeling...but it felt like hope. Could it be that there was a chance for them? Was she crazy to even think it?
As she turned to head back into her classroom, she was startled to see the windows full of grinning faces.
Unless she was mistaken, she wasn’t the only one wondering if she and Morgan had another shot at love.
* * *
Morgan entered the stable, on his way to take a look at the new foal. It was quiet and sunlight filtered in through the windows, giving the stalls a glow.
The foal was a beauty. He was lanky—all legs with a sleek body that promised one day to be a beautiful cutting horse. If he was as talented as his daddy, they might have another champion on their hands. Rowdy had won the title on the foal’s daddy two years in a row.
“He’s looking good, isn’t he?” Rowdy said, coming from the barnyard.
“Yeah, he looks just like Pep.” Pep’s bloodline was famous and a good building base for the ranch.
“Good ol’ Pep, he knows how to mark ’em. Now if we could just get a few of his colts with some of his talent, we’d be in the money.”
Though Rowdy grinned, Morgan knew he was serious. On a ranch the size of Sunrise, they pursued multiple avenues that could generate revenue as well as give the ranch a reputation for quality in every way. It also gave the boys exposure to different aspects of ranch life, and different possibilities for their future.
“Jitterbug’s going to do us proud. You know he is,” Morgan said, hanging his elbows over the stall gate next to his brother.
“He’ll do. So, how’s it going with Jolie? Y’all sure were looking cozy at supper during the roundup.”
“We were just talking.”
Rowdy studied him. “You going to throw in with her again? Forgive and forget and see where it goes?”
Morgan studied his boots. He’d almost kissed Jolie. But he was a grown man with responsibilities—he needed to have a clear head, and he wasn’t sure he could do that around her.
Tucker had told him to give it to God and have no regrets.
Today he’d been tempted to do just that.
“I’m just asking,” Rowdy said when Morgan remained silent. “I’m not sure I could do it in your situation. I like Jolie—always have—but that was harsh the way she led you on like she was going to marry you and then the minute she got the offer to join that kayak team, she jumped ship and bailed. My question is, can you ever trust her again?”
Bingo.
Morgan rubbed his jaw—startled by Rowdy’s unexpected advice. Instead of being reckless it was on target with Morgan’s thoughts. “She’s here to teach the boys and work out a few issues she’s had since the accident. I’m not going to kid myself into thinking she’s sticking around this time. I’m not throwing in with her.”
But I am going to help her get back in the water.
Rowdy slapped him on the shoulder. “Be careful.”
“It’s under control, but thanks for being in my corner.” Morgan hadn’t thought Rowdy was in his corner, and it felt good to know differently.
“What are brothers for?” With that, Rowdy sauntered out of the stable and disappeared into the bright sunlight. Morgan turned back to the foal.
Can you ever trust her again? Rowdy’s words echoed in his head—and his heart. Truth was, he couldn’t. He didn’t.
And that was the answer he’d been searching for. The attraction was obviously still there, but without trust, it didn’t matter.
He was going to help Jolie get back in the water because it was the right thing to do. But it didn’t mean he’d give her his heart on a platter again.
Morgan had a good life and he’d come to enjoy it. If it got lonely sometimes, so be it, because finding a woman to share his life had proven to be more trouble and heartache than he ever wanted to risk again. First Jolie and then Celia—though truth be told, Celia had hurt far less than Jolie. Still, he’d opened up to both of them, bared his soul and let them into his life—and they’d both left.
Nope, Morgan wasn’t ever going to trust a woman with his heart again.
He would help Jolie, and ensure that she moved on at the end of the semester. And it would be the best thing for both of them.
Chapter Eleven
Gulping air into her burning lungs, Jolie leaned forward and grasped her knees. She’d been doing sprints for thirty minutes and was covered in sweat, her muscles on fire. She’d let herself get out of shape in the month since she’d arrived at the ranch, and now she was paying for it.
Straightening, she wiped her brow with her fingertips and continued to breathe heavily. The hill she stood on was steep—pure torture, and excellent for a workout.
She smelled the sweet scent of pure country air. It was hot air—even though it was now September, the temperature still hovered in the low nineties—but it was Texas country, her country, and she’d missed it.
She hadn’t told Morgan the whole truth last week when he’d asked her how she was staying in shape. She’d exercised a bit, but not like she needed to in order to be in ultimate physical condition to hold her own against the rapids. Her endurance had to be in top form. If it wasn’t, it could mean life or death.
Embarrassed by her half truth, she’d begun a rigorous exercise routine the very next day. She’d needed to work out her frustrations over how Morgan raced away from her when she’d told him she thought she’d made a mistake in leaving six years ago. That the workouts helped her to feel more like herself was an added bonus.
The feel-good endorphins were definitely working their magic, and she needed them. Until today, she’d thought there was no hope for Morgan and her. But standing beside his truck earlier, he’d thought about kissing her—she’d seen it in his eyes. And she’d thought about kissing him. Thinking of that moment sent shivers through her.
Heading through the woods toward the farmhouse, she made herself think of everything she had to be thankful for instead of thinking about kissing Morgan. Being alive was top of the list, and coming home to the ranch, and meeting the boys. And Morgan was up there, too.
Since she’d been back, Jolie realized a bunch of things, including the fact that she’d felt adrift even before the accident, as if caught in a backwash. What had driven her for so long had come to mean less and less, and things she’d put on the back burner had begun to tug at her.
In the beginning of her career, it had been different. Driven by the n
eed to conquer as many rivers as possible, she’d been hard to stop in those first four years. Regrets over how she and Morgan had parted always trailed her, but her desire to be the best female professional kayaker in the field overshadowed her regrets.
Not so these last two years—things had begun to change. When her friends and competitors began slowing down, getting married and beginning families, she’d become restless. And sad. It took two for her dream of a family to become reality. Her love life had dwindled to almost nonexistent after she gave up dating, which had been nothing but disappointing. And she’d begun to really regret her past...and regret hurting Morgan.
After the accident, she’d known she couldn’t run from it any longer. She’d told herself she was coming here to make amends, but now she knew she was here for more than that. Much more.
So here she was, her entire life in flux, so full of unrest that she was confused. And so full of longing, she was toying with fire.
The white wood and cheerful red shutters of her house came into view through the trees. Nothing fancy, but homey. And after being on the road so much, homey was exactly what she needed.
Stepping onto the back porch, the loud rumble of a diesel pickup signaled she had company. Going to investigate, she rounded the corner just as Morgan got out of his truck looking tall, dark and dangerous for her heart. Jolie sent gravel flying skidding to a stop.
She knew after a workout in scalding heat that she looked like a red lobster. Still, her pulse jumped despite her sweaty self.
“Jolie,” he said, his eyes moving over her, probably taking in just how terrible she looked. “I was on my way to check some mares close to foaling and the boys told me I should see if you wanted to go.” He grinned. “Just for the record, I thought you might want to come, too. I know you used to love the baby crop.”
Jolie clapped her hands together. “Oh, Morgan, I would love, love, love to see the babies—are there any running around yet?”
“A few.” He chuckled.
So the boys had sent him, but Morgan had thought it was a good idea. If she’d been wearing any boots, that fact would have just about busted them clean off her feet. “I’m a mess. Can you wait while I change?”
“You’re fine. I mean—”
“Are you kidding? I don’t want to be closed up in a truck with me right now, so I’m pretty certain you wouldn’t want to, either. Give me ten minutes. Okay?”
“You got it.” Following her to the porch, he sat down on the old wicker rocker that had been there when she moved in. “I’ll be right here,” he said, looking up at her with those blue troublemakers. Jolie almost tripped over the doorstop.
Her mind going wild, she raced into the house. Morgan had come for her. Heart pounding, she made quick time in the shower, not even giving the water time to warm up. Then she proceeded to sling clothes all over the place in search of the right thing to wear. The clock was ticking when she finally decided on the fourth shirt she’d tried on, along with the second pair of white shorts. Slipping her feet into her sandals she hurried to yank her wet hair into a ponytail, put on some moisturizer, a hint of mascara. Finally she gave herself a nod in the mirror, noting the tint of pink from the sun.
Or was it from being flustered?
With a minute to spare she raced from her room and ran hard into an end table with her knee. Ouch.
Through the screen door, she glimpsed Morgan fingering his Stetson between both hands, studying the hat like it held the secrets of the universe. Her heart clutched as he raked a hand through his ruffled hair and took a deep breath.
Was he nervous?
The very idea sent a tingle zipping through her. It was a good feeling to know she wasn’t alone in this.
“All done.” She pushed open the door, forcing herself not to sound too breathless, too eager. “Ready if you are.”
Who am I kidding? she thought when Morgan looked up at her with those perfect blue eyes. I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready for this at all.
* * *
“Great, let’s get this show on the road,” Morgan said, jumping up from the chair. A little shaky in the knees, he caught the scent of her freshly washed hair. Whatever she’d used made him dizzy it was so sweet.
Get a grip, he told himself. He was in trouble and he knew it. Better to get this over with. He turned and headed for his truck, then remembered his manners and hurried back to open her door for her.
“I am so excited,” she said, looking up at him like she had at the school the day before. Her eyes were so luminous he could practically see his fool face in their reflection.
He gave a stiff smile and put his hand on her elbow, assisting her into the truck. His fingers tingled as he touched her soft skin. Hurrying back around the truck, he slid behind the wheel. He’d never been happier that truck manufacturers had started making trucks bigger—he needed as much space as possible between him and Jolie.
Driving down the lane, the trees hung over the paved road like a canopy. It was a beautiful, sun-dappled section of road that he loved. And apparently so did Jolie.
“I’ve always loved this part of the road. When I was in Kauai, I saw a road with magnificent canopy over it. It’s been painted and photographed an unbelievable amount of times. Every time I drove it, all I could think about was this little stretch of road in Texas and how much I’d loved it.”
He glanced at her. “I didn’t know there were any rapids in Kauai.”
She shook her head. “I was there for a promotional event. My sponsor also makes rafts and wanted shots of me on the Na Pali Coast rafting. I loved it there—it was so gorgeous. And I got to swim with dolphins—one of the cool perks of my career.”
“It sounds great.” What else could he say? She certainly wasn’t going to get that kind of perk here on the ranch. All the more reason to be cautious. In the end, he was certain Jolie would pack her bags and go back to the life that took her all over the world and let her swim with dolphins.
“It was great,” she said. “And yet, Morgan, it’s so good to be home.” Her voice wavered slightly. They cleared the tree canopy, turning into the drive that led to the mares. When they stopped, she quickly pushed open her door and hopped down, as if to get away from what she’d just admitted. “Let’s see these mommas and their babies.”
Sliding from the truck, he followed her to the fence where she studied the mares and their rounded forms.
“They are beautiful.” She pointed out some of her favorites, talking a lot about each one. She was as nervous as he was, he realized. “You always did have a great eye for a good horse.”
They were standing close again, as if drawn to each other. “Thanks,” he croaked, his nerves getting the best of him. “It’s just a talent God gave me.”
“Well, we all have different talents. Yours is definitely cattle and horses.”
And hers was riding a river in a plastic banana, as Rowdy always called her kayak.
“You have a wonderful talent with the boys, too, Morgan. They love you so much.” She turned so that she was facing him, leaning her shoulder against the wooden fence post. The sunlight sparkled off her drying hair in a way that he liked.
“I try.” It was the truth—he really did. “We’ve had some great kids come through here. I thought about leaving a few years ago, then decided instead to take on more responsibility and become involved. It’s been a blessing to me.”
In more ways than he could ever tell her. When his life had crashed around his feet after she’d left, he’d jumped into his relationship with Celia too quickly. After that had fallen apart, he’d almost left Sunrise. But deciding instead to be more involved with the ranch had been a turning point in his life, and the only way he could describe it was to say that he’d found his calling.
And now he would help her get back to her purpose in life so that he
could continue on with his own. Maybe even take a chance on love without being on the rebound this time.
“And you’ve been a blessing to them,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “I think of Sammy and how lost and alone he must have felt when he came here. But you and this ranch, and Nana, and Randolph and Rowdy and everyone here...you’re rebuilding his life, and the lives of all the boys. You know that, don’t you? You’re putting a new foundation of love beneath their feet.” Her voice broke and it touched his heart.
He couldn’t speak.
“Morgan,” she said, her eyes brimming with sincerity, “I have to thank you for letting me stay. I love being a part of all this.” When he still didn’t say anything, she turned back to the horses and pointed at a very pregnant chestnut mare. “I predict she’s next. What do you think—tonight?”
He forced himself to disengage from her and look at the mare. “I might have a good eye for horses, but you’re the one who always had the eye for due dates. We’ll see if you’re right. I’ll have Pepper bring her into the stalls just in case.”
Opening the gate, he led the way into the pasture. Jolie spent the next little while patting and talking to all the mares. Morgan stilled his heart against how much he loved seeing her with the horses on Sunrise Ranch. He reminded himself that this was not her dream.
“Oh, what a sugar you are,” she said, laughing when a gentle bay tried to nibble at her ponytail. Each mare she talked to got some sort of encouragement along with a gentle, loving touch of her hand.
It made Morgan more jealous than he wanted to think about.
About ten horses later, he realized visiting the mares had been a bad idea. Clearing his throat, he decided, purely for self-preservation purposes, that it was time to talk about getting her back in the water.
“Can we go over there to that tree? I’d like to talk to you about something.”
Curiosity lit her eyes. “Sure. Lead the way.”
Pushing old memories from his mind, he led the way to the tree, checking for snakes before letting her sit. She placed her palms on the trunk behind her and leaned back to study him, her lanky legs crossed.
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