She’d only taken a step when she felt his hand on her arm. The warmth of his touch sent tingles all the way to her toes in less time than it took her to exhale. This wasn’t good. Brandon had been perfectly clear that he only wanted to be her friend. And given the whopper of a secret she was keeping, it was for the best. Throw in the fact that she was returning home to Baltimore, and the physical attraction was not something she needed. But how in the world could she control something that had her longing to toss away her good sense and see where another kiss would lead?
“Are you busy now?”
“Not really. Why?”
“My friend Jericho’s wife died five months ago. I’ve been trying to get in touch with him for a couple of days. The last time I went to check on him, he said he was doing fine, but I suspect he was lying. He practically threw me off his property the minute I got there. I was thinking about taking a trip to his ranch this afternoon. Would you go with me? We can pack a lunch and ride horses. I can leave the leftovers for him.”
“Are you sure about this? If he doesn’t want you to visit, he definitely won’t want a stranger hanging around.”
“I’m sure. He may get angry with me, but he’ll be polite to you. I’d get Joni to go, but she’s still visiting the folks. This way I can get a look at him and leave some food so I know he’ll have something to eat for the next couple of days. He won’t accept the food if I just bring it to him. But if I ask to borrow some horses, he’ll consider it an even trade. I know it doesn’t make sense, but nothing about Jericho makes sense now.”
She nodded. “You can count me in.”
“Great. I’ll whip up some food. We can leave in a couple of hours.”
“Okay.”
As Arden watched him stride away, she tried to control her pounding heart and racing imagination. She was going on a picnic with Brandon. True, she was only going because Joni wasn’t around, but she’d take it. Spending time with a man who cared so deeply about his friends was a win no matter how it came about.
* * *
Brandon sealed the lid on the plastic container and set it into the wicker basket. He added ceramic plates and wineglasses, cloth napkins and silver before closing the top. Even as he worked, his mind flitted between worry about Jericho Jones and his own growing attraction to Arden. Jericho was one of the first people Brandon met when he’d moved to Sweet Briar. Jericho and his wife had been regulars at the restaurant. Brandon knew Jericho was in serious pain. Jeanette had been more than his wife. She’d been the driving force behind everything he’d done. He had turned a small ranch into a successful horse operation. Since Jeanette’s untimely death, he’d lost all interest in the horses. From what Brandon could see on the rare occasions Jericho allowed him to visit, he was no longer trying to improve his business; rather, he worked sunup to sundown doing the most physical labor he could find. It was as if he wanted to work himself to death.
Brandon didn’t claim to know what Jericho was going through, but Brandon knew it wasn’t good for him to continue to isolate himself from his friends. From the world. Jericho had ignored Brandon’s many invitations to dinner or to drop by the house or restaurant whenever he was in town. And now Jericho wasn’t answering his phone. Brandon knew from personal experience that if someone didn’t intervene, Jericho could spiral into serious depression. Joni and his parents had been there for him at his lowest point. He wanted to be there for Jericho.
A date with Arden provided a good excuse to drop in.
He wiped down the counters, rinsed the sponge and tossed it into the sink. After glancing around to be sure the kitchen was clean, he grabbed the basket and blanket and headed out the door. He had just placed everything in the back of his truck when Arden called out to him. Apparently, she must have been looking out her window. He smiled despite himself. Clearly she was as eager to spend time with him as he was with her.
Dressed in jeans and gym shoes and a pink-and-gray-striped shirt, she looked fresh yet sexy. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“I was watching for you,” she said, confirming his earlier assumption. “I’m so excited to be going to the ranch. I love horses, although I haven’t ridden in quite a while.”
“Then let’s not waste another minute.” He helped her into the truck and set off down the road.
“How far away is this ranch?” Arden was peering out the window like a young girl, eagerness on her face. She turned to look at him when he didn’t answer right away.
He was struck again by just how beautiful she was. Her caramel skin was perfectly clear, her eyes so open, hiding nothing. She should never play poker because her every emotion was reflected on her face. There was no way she could keep her cards a secret.
“The ranch is about ninety miles inland so it’ll take us an hour or so to get there. Do you think you can contain your enthusiasm that long?”
She ran a hand over her hair. It was about an inch longer than it had been when she arrived, but it was still short and emphasized her delicate features. The style was growing on him. “If I have to. It won’t be easy. My brothers always make fun of the way I get impatient. They still tease me about the time I got out of the bed in the middle of the night and slept in the car when we were going to Disney World. My parents were frantic when they woke up and I was gone. I don’t think I’ll ever live that down.”
He caught the wistfulness in her voice. She rarely mentioned her family. Suddenly he wanted to know more about her life before she came to Sweet Briar. “You don’t talk much about your family. Why is that? Aren’t you close to them?”
She shrugged and seemed to consider her response before answering. Finally she nodded. “Not in the same way that you’re close with Joni. What the two of you have is pretty special.”
“I know. We have another brother who we don’t see as much because he’s in the military. We all love each other, but I can’t say that he’s as good a friend as Joni.”
“That’s how it is with us. My brothers are close friends. They’re both older than I am and still treat me like their baby sister. And to be honest, I wasn’t the most mature of teens, so I might deserve it. On the plus side, I know I can always depend on them when I need them.”
Brandon nodded. The van in front of them was driving too slowly, so he signaled and passed it. “Do I need to worry about your brothers coming to see me in the near future?”
She laughed and squeezed his bicep. “Don’t worry. I think you can take them.”
“I wasn’t worried about that.” He glanced over at her. “You didn’t answer. Do you expect them to come and check up on you?”
“No. Why would they? I’m on a vacation.”
“That’s what you’re calling this? A vacation?”
“Yes. It may not be what I planned, but it is definitely turning out great.”
“Having your car break down and being stranded in a small town is vacation? I think I need to see your bucket list. It might need a few adjustments.”
Arden laughed. “John called me today. My car is finally fixed. I’m no longer stranded, as you call it.”
“So does that mean you’ll be moving on?” He spoke as casually as he could, hoping to mask the anxiety that suddenly grew inside him at the thought of her leaving so soon.
She bit her bottom lip. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I’m really enjoying my time here. Do you mind if I stay for another week or so?”
His heart thumped in his chest. She’d be in town for a while longer. He shouldn’t like that as much as he did, but he couldn’t help himself. He knew the relationship or whatever it was between them had an expiration date. He just wanted to enjoy her company a bit longer. At least that was the story he was telling himself. “Sure. You’re welcome to stay.”
“Thanks.” She flashed him a blinding smile that had him doubting the wisdom of letti
ng her remain longer. But it was too late to turn back now. And, right or wrong, part of him was glad.
* * *
“This place is beautiful,” Arden exclaimed, trying to find the right words to describe the Double J ranch. So far she’d exhausted every superlative the teachers at the exclusive girls school she’d attended had drilled into her. She’d nearly run out of words and yet there was so much more to describe.
Jericho Jones, the thirtyish owner, flashed a devilish grin. The expression on his face had been grim when Brandon pulled onto his property, but he had turned on the charm when Arden hopped out of the truck. Brandon had been right about his friend’s reaction. He was all smiles for her. Too bad the smile never reached his eyes, which could only be described as bleak. Her heart ached at his obvious pain. “Thanks. I’m kind of partial to this piece of land myself.”
Brandon stepped closer to Arden and placed his arm around her waist, making her heart skip a beat. His hand was warm and she felt the heat through the fabric of her shirt. She immediately pictured them alone, his fingers caressing her bare skin, and a moan nearly escaped her lips.
“I was hoping we could borrow some horses,” Brandon said. “Arden loves to ride. I’ll show her all of the best spots. We’ll be back in a couple of hours if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure. Take your time.” Jericho’s smile broadened slowly. He led the way across the brick patio, past the in-ground pool, to the stable. Arden heard horses neighing and saw a few more in the corral. “I’ll saddle Buttercup for you, Arden. She’s a sweet mare who’ll give you a gentle ride.”
Arden rubbed the sorrel’s nose and was rewarded with soft nuzzling on her shoulder. “She’s a pretty girl.”
“That she is.” Jericho moved to a large black horse. “Of course it’s Diablo for you, Brandon.”
“Thanks. We’ll take good care of them.”
“I know you will.” The rancher nodded and walked away.
“You’re right. He is sad,” Arden said when Jericho was out of hearing range.
“Most people wouldn’t pick up on it because of the way he was laughing and making jokes.”
“It’s so awful to see how hard he was trying to cover his pain.” That was something she was familiar with. She hadn’t been quite as obvious. At least she hoped not. But maybe others could see the sorrow she tried so hard to keep hidden.
“He’s barely hanging on since Jeanette died in childbirth five months ago. The baby died the next day. I know that’s not a long time, but I don’t think he is making progress in his healing. But then, I could be wrong. The grieving process is different for everyone. I just can’t help worrying.”
“You’re a good friend and an even better man,” Arden said, meaning every word. Too bad he only wanted to be her friend. Her foolish heart wanted him to be so much more. Apparently, she didn’t need as much time to recover from Michael-the-dirtbag as she thought.
Brandon seemed embarrassed by her compliment. He quickly helped her settle on her horse, then swung onto his mount with surprising ease. For someone from Chicago, a place not exactly known for its open spaces and horses, he was incredibly competent on horseback.
He led her away from the house and across a meadow. They walked until she became comfortable on her mount.
“Let’s go a little faster,” Arden said, increasing to a canter.
“Sure.” Brandon’s horse sped up eagerly. Clearly Diablo preferred a faster speed. In a few minutes they began to gallop.
“This is so much fun,” Arden said, her spirits soaring. It had been quite a while since she’d felt so carefree.
Brandon nodded.
After a while, they arrived at a small lake surrounded by tall trees. Brandon dismounted and then helped Arden from her horse. She spread out her arms and turned in circles, lifting her face to the sun. The sky was perfectly blue and there wasn’t a cloud for miles and miles. A gentle breeze blew, rustling the leaves in the trees, cooling her skin.
When she opened her eyes, she found Brandon staring at her, an odd expression on his face. She couldn’t quite name it, but it almost looked like longing. Wistfulness. That was it. He looked wistful. Then he blinked and the expression vanished.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said.
“Starved. Which is funny when you think about it. I had a huge breakfast, which would normally tide me over until lunch. But I’m really hungry when I haven’t been doing much of anything. It’s crazy.”
“Not really. You were riding a horse.”
“The horse did all the moving. All I did was sit.”
“People underestimate just how much work is involved in horseback riding. You worked. You just enjoyed it.”
Arden spread the blanket while Brandon unloaded the basket. He’d filled it with the most delicious-smelling food and now placed generous portions on the plates. She opened a bottle of sparkling water and poured it into two glasses, keeping one for herself and handing the other to Brandon, then accepted the plate he handed to her.
“This all looks so good.”
He grinned. “Nothing but the best for you.”
She lifted a small quiche to her mouth. “You’re totally spoiling me.”
“I’m loving every minute of it.”
“Me, too.” No man had ever gone to so much trouble to please her. Although this was a spur-of-the-moment date, he had taken care of every detail.
“So what do you plan to do now that your car is working?”
She sipped her sparkling water. “I’m not sure. Do you have any suggestions?”
He leaned back on his elbows, the movement drawing her attention to his muscular chest. She took another swallow in an attempt to cool down.
“Have you been to the beach yet? It’s beautiful at sundown.”
It probably was. And more than a little romantic. “Sounds nice. Maybe you would like to go with me some night.”
He inhaled and then blew out his breath slowly. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? Don’t you like beaches or sundown?”
He straightened, then reached out and touched her cheek. “You know why not. I don’t want to lead you on. I’m not interested in a relationship. Not now. Not ever. I feel like we’re walking a fine line now.”
They were. And she was losing her balance. If she wasn’t careful she would fall over the line and end up in love with him. No matter what they did, she knew it was going to hurt like heck when she left.
But she wouldn’t worry about leaving now. Instead, she took another sip of her drink, determined to enjoy the wonderful meal and Brandon’s company.
Chapter Ten
“So, what’s going on with you and my brother?”
Arden jumped and nearly dropped the basket of folded clothes in her arms. Although the garage apartment was great, it lacked a washer and dryer. Joni had offered to let Arden use the ones in the house, but she’d refused. She didn’t want to blur the lines further between tenant and landlord. Of course she’d blurred so many other lines she was beginning to think there weren’t any left. Still, she felt she was doing her part to maintain order by using the machines at the Laundromat a couple of blocks away.
“You scared me.”
“Sorry. I thought you saw me.” Joni had just returned from her weeklong visit with her family and was wasting no time before she pounced. “Well, what’s the scoop? Inquiring minds want to know.”
“Inquiring minds?” Arden closed the trunk of her car and grabbed the basket off the ground. “Or is it just one mind and that would be yours?”
Joni laughed and followed Arden up the stairs and into the cozy apartment Arden had come to think of as home. “You can change things if you want. Make it your own.”
“I like it just the way it is.”
&n
bsp; “I used to live here.”
“You did?” Arden hung a couple of shirts on hangers and laid them across the back of a chair.
“When I first came to town. I moved here a few months after Brandon. I needed a space of my own, so he renovated it for me.”
“Do you miss being on your own?”
“Nah. I like living with my brother. It’s not like he tries to tell me what to do or interferes in my life. We’re roommates. And we’ve become really good friends. Plus, he’s a better cook than I’ll ever be.”
“That must be nice. Being friends with your brother, I mean.” Arden heard the yearning in her voice.
Joni leaned forward in the chair, pouncing on that comment like a dog on a T-bone steak. “You and your brother don’t get along?”
“Brothers. I have two. And it’s not that. They’re best friends and I’m sorta out there.”
“Don’t give up hope. Brandon and I weren’t always close.” Joni twirled her hair around her fingers. “But the real question is, how close are you and my brother?”
“Back to that, are we?”
“Yes. Notice how smoothly I transitioned.”
Arden laughed.
“So come on, friend, spill.”
Such a simple word. Friend. And yet it meant so much. A friend was someone to share good times and bad. Someone to laugh with about a guy she liked. And knowing that Joni included her in that category was great.
“There’s nothing to spill. We’re friends.” The word didn’t make her as happy when she thought about it in relation to Brandon. But he’d emphasized that they were just friends after they’d shared kisses so hot her lips were singed. Message received.
“Really? What about him carrying you up the stairs? That sounds like something serious and totally out of character for Brandon.”
“Who told you that? Certainly not Brandon.”
“Girl, please. Getting information out of him is harder than prying open clams with your fingernails.”
That was a relief. After having a so-called boyfriend who was going to share the most intimate details of her life with the entire internet if she hadn’t caught him first, it was nice to know that Brandon respected her privacy.
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