“You—” She caught up to him as he hit the rise of the dune. “How do you know that?” she snapped, making him chuckle again.
“I feel it about you. Almost everyone watches the sun set. But seeing a sunrise—that takes effort. Sure, some see it because they have to get to work that early. You, on the other hand, chose the bistro for a reason, and enjoying sunrises must have been part of that.”
Her brows knit together. “That’s almost too perceptive. Did my aunt tell you that? I’m going to—”
“Hold on, don’t go wringing your aunt’s neck or anything. I’m really just shooting in the dark here, but I saw all those sunrise and sunset photos on the walls of your bistro and had a hunch.” He led the way down the dune, then set the basket down about twenty yards away from the water’s edge.
“Oh, this is . . . ” Her voice trailed off as she stepped past him to gaze out at the water. “Just spellbinding.”
The posse waved from farther down the beach. She waved at them, then turned back to him and took one side of the blanket. “Is that why you ride so early?” she asked.
She was so beautiful. Focus, Corbin. “There is nothing like the quietness of a morning just before the sun comes up and my horse and I are stirring up dust. It’s as if it’s just the two of us alone in the world. And then the sun starts to rise, and I stop to watch it and say a prayer for the day.” He didn’t normally share this detail with anyone. Kelsey was different.
“I . . . I do that too. I’m usually on the deck before I unlock the bistro and I say a prayer for the day.” She looked at him as if she was really seeing him for the first time and not the cowboy that she was constantly trying to deny.
He couldn’t help feeling a triumphant jolt—a hopeful jolt like the adrenaline burst of a runner when the finish line comes into view. “I knew it.”
She looked away, breaking the thread of contact. Backing away, she shook out her end of the blanket and he did the same. It fanned out, then settled over the sand. “I think we’re going to work well together, Brent. I see all kinds of possibilities.” She had neatly changed the subject.
He grabbed the basket and set it in the center of the blanket, and she dropped to her knees beside it, looking up at him. “You’ve shown me what you have, now settle in and I’ll show you what I have.”
He knelt beside her, his heart thudding. Kelsey could believe what she wanted, but she was wrong.
This was much more than working well together.
She could run scared and deny all she wanted, but he knew he didn’t want to watch sunrises by himself anymore.
He wanted to watch them with Kelsey.
What do you mean, you’re leaving?”
Why was she surprised? This had been coming all weekend.
Still, for them to tromp back over the sand dune and inform her they suddenly needed to get back to Mule Hollow, pronto, was a little overboard even for them.
“Yes, we need to get back. Millie nearly took another dive into the ocean, and the last thing we want is a repeat,” Norma Sue said. She surveyed the food Kelsey had spread out on the blanket. “That looks great, Kelsey. You two will really enjoy that.”
“That’s right,” Aunt E said, trying to control a soaked and squirming Millie. “Norma Sue had to run in and grab Millie before she got swept out to sea again.” She looked genuinely upset. “I’m never bringing her to the beach again. It’s just too dangerous for everyone. But that looks so delicious. Y’all stay here, have lunch, then ride the horses back to the barn.”
“Nope, you’ll need me to drive y’all back,” Brent said.
Norma Sue yanked her chin up indignantly. “Son, I’ve been driving wagons since before you were a twinkle in your daddy’s eye. I’ll drive that carriage back to the barn.”
“She can do it too,” Adela assured him.
“She surely can.” Esther Mae might have been upset about Millie, but she had quickly gotten back on board with the matchmaking.
Kelsey really had wanted to talk to Brent about the catering, but her emotions were not behaving. She was struggling not to get personal. The trip into the stable had awakened some long-ago feelings she’d shut away deep in her heart. And then, he was just so stinkin’ charming. He was a hard man to ignore.
“No, we’ll all go,” she said, deciding the safest thing to do was go. “We can talk about this another day.” Staying out here alone with Brent was just too dangerous.
“You will do no such thing.” Holding Millie tight, her aunt came over and gave her a one-armed hug. Millie licked her cheek. “You’ve prepared all of this, and Brent’s mouth has got to be watering. It looks and smells so delicious. It would be cruel for you to leave.”
“I can leave him the basket.”
“No,” Adela said, coming over for her hug. “We have a long drive ahead of us, so we need you to stand in the gap for us with this wonderful man. And eat that cheesecake.”
As frustrated as she was, Kelsey laughed. Who could say no to Miss Adela? “All right. I’ll stay.” Her stomach fluttered when she glanced at Brent.
“You sure you’ve got this?” Brent asked Norma Sue.
“Does a chicken lay eggs? Yes, I have got this.”
That said, the posse climbed into the carriage with Norma Sue in the driver’s seat.
“You know, my great-grandmother was a stagecoach driver,” she called from her perch, tugging her Stetson down low on her eyes and grinning so big her plump cheeks were shiny. “I’ve always felt the hankerin’ to live a month or two back then. But today, this will do just fine. Girls, hang on to your hair.”
She flicked the reins, and the horses started moving so abruptly that Esther Mae and Adela had to grab the sides of the carriage.
“Norma Sue!” Aunt E shrieked. “Don’t you dare drive like a crazy woman. We are not Wells Fargo or the Pony Express!”
Norma Sue hooted with laughter and maneuvered the team and the carriage in a perfect semicircle to turn them around and then off they went. Shouts of laughter rang out behind them as they charged toward the horizon.
And Kelsey was on her own, with a man who was breaking down her defenses one smile at a time.
She knew without doubt she should have gotten in that carriage. But that was just it.
She hadn’t . . .
Silence enveloped Kelsey and Brent.
“Well, they couldn’t have gotten any more obvious,” Kelsey said finally, watching them go.
Brent laughed, feeling a lightness sweep over him. He liked the ladies, he really, really did. But lunch on the beach—just him and Kelsey—won hands-down. “I don’t think they try to be secretive. I think they’ve grown quite comfortable with their role as the matchmaking posse. And”—he paused as the ocean breeze lifted strands of her hair across her face—“I think they’re really good at what they do.” He reached for the strands, his fingers brushing her forehead as he pushed them from her face.
She swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”
The need to kiss her overwhelmed him. “You know what I mean.”
“I . . . I don’t,” she stammered. Her gaze dropped to his lips.
He breathed in the sweet scent of her. “They know how to spot people who match up well. They recognized exactly that when I carried you out of the ocean.”
She shook her head. “We don’t match. I’m not interested in a cowboy. Or a ranch.”
“Your eyes say differently.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked, her gaze flaring with indignation.
He chuckled, letting his finger trace the curve of her jaw. And then, lifting her chin up just a little, he kissed her.
He hadn’t planned on it. Not since Kelsey was in denial about the amazing chemistry between them. Not since she wouldn’t recognize that what was happening between them went much deeper than just chemistry and attraction.
She gasped as he claimed her soft lips with his, and all thought went up in smoke. For the briefest moment she melted int
o him—met the kiss with equal emotion. Their hearts thundered together as he tightened his embrace. This was all he ever wanted; his breath grew ragged. Whoa! Alerts clanged inside of him. Whoa! Immediately, but not without regret, he pulled back.
He was playing for keeps and that required self-control.
God had sent Kelsey his way, and he was not going to be the one to mess this up. Not when his world had just clicked into place.
Kelsey looked stunned. She planted a hand to his chest as if to push him away and glared at him with confusion. “What?” was all she said.
“Yup, there is definitely something going on here.”
He would be lucky if she didn’t hop on her horse and leave him in her dust after that line. Needing something to do, he bent and grabbed a couple of cans of cold sodas from the hamper. His fingers shook slightly as he popped the tops. He held one out to Kelsey.
She cocked her head to the side and studied him. He smiled and wiggled the soda. She huffed and snatched the can, sloshing the caramel-colored liquid out of the lid as she took it.
“You might be right,” she snapped. “The problem is, it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to do something I don’t want to do. And dating a cowboy—even one I’m attracted to—is not an option.”
He’d gone too far. He knew it, and also knew he’d better fix it now. “Fine. Let’s have lunch and then enjoy a ride back to the barn.” She stared him like he’d lost his mind. He believed he had.
“Relax,” he urged. “I promise. I’m not going to kiss you again today. Even if you decide you want me to.” He winked, still humming inside from the kiss.
She grunted and sank to the blanket. “You are incorrigible.”
“Thanks. I’m trying.”
“That’s not a compliment, you know,” she said dryly. She plucked a plump strawberry from the dish.
“I don’t know.” He hiked a brow that had her pausing with the strawberry halfway to her lips. “From what I know about that word, it means persistence, and my middle name is Persistence. When it comes to getting something I really want.”
Her azure eyes narrowed. “Oh,” she said, then plopped the strawberry into her mouth and yanked her gaze from his to study the ocean intently.
A slow smile spread through Brent. She had been more affected than she was letting on, and he was thankful for that. He knew she could easily continue to push him away and maintain she didn’t want anything to do with him or the life he led. But he could tell she was wavering and that gave him hope.
Score one for the cowboy.
Kelsey sank to the blanket right after the kiss. She wanted to run away—on legs as flimsy as wet noodles—but that was not happening.
So, she’d been stuck eating a picnic lunch with Brent and pretending there was nothing growing between them.
In truth, she was scared out of her mind.
She was falling for Brent Corbin.
He had really done a number on her. And she’d completely forgotten about the reason she’d come to his ranch in the first place. Catering. What catering? She wasn’t sure she could do this. Not after that kiss. Not after the way being here on the ranch with him was affecting her.
“Brent, let’s ride.” She jumped to her feet, the instant her legs felt steady, and went to check the saddle of the horse she’d picked to ride earlier. His name was Ransom, and he looked sleek and fast. Just what she needed.
“How long has it been since you rode?” Brent asked, coming up beside her, dangerously close and yet not touching.
“About two years.” She stepped away from him. She planned to have a little conversation with the Lord when she got home. God had gotten her through the breakup with Lance, and he was the only one who knew exactly what she’d felt afterward—how low and worthless she’d felt. So what was he doing now by putting Brent in her path?
Yes, they were going to have words.
“You’ll do fine,” he encouraged.
She’d realized over the weekend as she’d gotten to know him that he was good at encouragement. Now it made her chuckle.
“Yes, I’m sure I will,” she managed. Reaching for the saddle horn, she stepped expertly into the saddle and swung a leg over. He had to back up to get out of the way.
Her tennis shoes felt alien in the stirrup when she’d always ridden in her broken-in boots that she’d had for years. She’d thrown those boots into the sea that morning after Lance left her. And she’d never planned to put any back on.
She still didn’t.
Settling into the saddle, she looked down at him, feeling more in control now from the higher position. “I may not have ridden in a while, but it’s not something you forget.”
“Not when you can ride well. You can, can’t you?” The warmth of his touch sent a jolt rocketing through her. She jumped and Ransom jumped too, dancing sideways; his ears flattened and he threw his head back. She tightened her hold on the reins, feeling Ransom’s flight instinct even more than the horse did.
She glanced down at Brent, who had started to reach for the horse’s bridle when it had started acting up. At his touch, her pulse had instantly taken flight again. “Let’s find out. Race you.” She saw the glint of surprise in Brent’s eyes, and she imagined a little fist pump of triumph that she might have put him a little off balance, like he’d done to her.
With just the slight squeeze of her knees, she set the gelding moving. Brent’s husky laughter followed her as Ransom charged down the smooth dirt road. The wind in her hair, brushing across her skin, and the thrill of the run had Kelsey smiling wide. Leaning slightly forward, she laughed with exhilaration . . . She’d missed this.
The thundering of hooves behind her signaled that Brent was in pursuit. A glance over her shoulder had her heart racing at the challenge of the chase. Brent rode hard, holding the picnic basket balanced on one knee, reins in the other hand. He had a disadvantage, but he’d also had more saddle time than she’d had over the past two years.
Ransom was fast. She’d thought he would be by the look of him and had appreciated his beauty, as well as Duke’s, Brent’s horse.
Concentrating on what was ahead, she could tell by the pounding of Duke’s hooves growing louder that they were gaining ground.
Leaning down low, Kelsey felt Ransom’s mane tickling her nose. She rubbed his neck. “Come on, boy,” she urged and let him have his freedom. Instantly she felt his muscles bunch and another gear kicked in as if he knew she’d given him control.
Laughing with joy, Kelsey glanced over her shoulder again and saw that Brent and Duke were barely two horse lengths away. Brent should be proud at Duke’s speed. She let Ransom enjoy the moment of pure abandonment before pulling back.
Conceding, though it wasn’t her favorite thing to do, she reined Ransom in and slowed him to a trot so he could cool down before they reached the barn. Brent did the same with Duke, pulling up beside her.
“That was amazing,” she said, breathless with elation.
His smile was dazzling, his gaze dangerous. “I knew you were a cowgirl.”
“I’d forgotten how fantastic it feels to ride. To just let go and fly,” she said, high on the ride as she smiled at him.
“It is pretty amazing. And so are you, Kelsey. You belong here, no doubt in my mind.”
It was the perfect dash of ice-cold reality for her and doused the flame of excitement as it hit.
Kelsey was out of the saddle in one fluid movement and had Ransom tied to the rail before Brent and his picnic basket were dismounted.
Seething inside, she rushed toward her car. What had she been thinking?
“Hey, wait up,” Brent called.
She kept on going, making him jog to catch up with her.
“So, you’re just going to leave? Are you upset?”
Was she upset? She spun and glared at him. “Yes, Brent, I am. You are relentless. Relentless. I had a great time, all right, I admit it. I did. I find you—” She almost lost herself in his expressive eyes before she
snapped out of it. “I find you amazing. You rescued me, ruined a suit and probably those expensive boots with all that salt water. So, yep, I like you. And yes, I also like your ranch. And again, I like you. There, it’s admitted. Out in the open. Done. Does that make you happy?”
His jaw had dropped, his brows scrunched as if she’d just slapped him with a fish or something. “Yes, it does,” he said, snapping out of his momentary stupor, the confusion in his gaze clearing, his expression turning serious.
She poked a finger in his chest, backing him up a step. “The problem you don’t seem to understand is that it doesn’t make me happy.”
“You’ve had a blast. You said it. I saw it.”
“For a moment I almost felt like . . . like I was back home. But I don’t want to go back home. Don’t you understand? I have a new life that I love.” She slapped her hand on her hip. “I’ve only known you for a weekend. But you should know this about me—I’m not changing for any man. I can’t give up who I am. Not again.” Yanking her gaze from him, she turned back to her car and pulled the door open.
Brent grabbed the door and crowded close. She could feel him at her back, even though he wasn’t touching her. The sudden urge to lean back into him overcame her and she started to get inside instead.
“Kelsey, wait.” His voice was soft. “Just wait.”
She closed her eyes, one hand rested on the roof of her car and the other on the door. He placed his hand over hers on the door. “Don’t leave upset. I shouldn’t have pushed. It’s just . . . you were amazing the way you were riding after being out of the saddle. You ride with such grace . . . Stay. Would you? Just stay.”
Turning, she found herself almost encircled by him with the car at her back. “Maybe I overreacted,” she admitted, confusion clouding her judgment.
“I’m going to do everything I can to change your mind so you’ll give us a shot. I really think we have a lot of things going for us.”
She couldn’t think straight with him standing so close. The man muddled her mind. She forced herself to harden her heart. “Good-bye, Brent.”
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